The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-19
SERIOUS LAWLESSNESS
SCENES AT SKAGUAY AND DYEA DE-
sCRIBED BY GOVERNOR BRADY.
Two boom Towns in Alaska Crowded
with Gamblers, Thugs and LeWd
WOmen-TroOps Needed.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Secretary Bliss
is in receipt of a letter from Governor John
G.. Brady, of Alaska, descriptive of the
lawless condition of affairs at Skaguay and
Dyea 1t was referred to at the Cabinet
meeting to-day when Alaskan affairs were
under discussion and was considered suffi-
cient justification by the members for the
dispatch of an additional military force all
ready authorized o be sent to Alaskan ter
rtory. Following IS a copy of the letter:
News from Skaguay by the steamboat
now in port is serious The United States
deputy marshal has been shot dead in dis
charge of his duties. Another man was
killed at the same time at the same place.
Recently the steamers have been carrying
great lists of passengers. Many of these
are gamblers, thugs and lewd women from
the worst quarters of the cities of the coast.
They have taken in the situation at Ska
quay and Dyea and appear to have COM
bined to carry things with q high hand.
Tho best people at these places are power
less because they have no municipal form
of government. The United States marshal
is powerless because he can appoint only
a few deputies and when they undertake
to act they are singled out targets by
this ruffianly element. One of this class
was tried in the United States District
Court last December for the killing Of
United States Deputy Marshal Watt in
January. 1897, and was acquitted by the
jury in the face of positive testimony. In
fact these influences seem to be joined hand
in hand and will surely go unpublished I'M
less the government takes immediate action
and provides the necessary force at Ska
quay, Dyea and other points.
Congress should grant immediate relief,
so that both naval and military officers can
act when requested by the civil authorities.
The United States marshal should have a
patrol vessel at his command with neces-
sary accommodations for eight or ten depu-
ties and a proper armament. do not see
how he can perform his duties as executive
officer of the court unless he has such
means of locomotion always entirely at his
own command.
AT the present time large and import
ant mining property is held by a number
OF miners at Berner's bay. This property
was recently placed in the hands of a re-
ceiver by the court but to date the re-
ceiver has not come into possession. In
this instance there is much to be said in
favor of the miners action and their self
control, but it is of such a nature that
has no means of reaching that point with
a sufficient force to carry out the instruc-
tions of the court. Judge Johnson leaves
by this boat to settle this affair amicably
If possible
1.-TWO weeks ago, or Il little more,
gang of men commanded Captain Patter-
son. of the steamship Alki, to discharge the
natives who were handling the freight on
the wharf They atfs cked these natives
and beat them cruelty in the face of the
deputy marshal The captain was obliged
to compromise with them by paying them
80 cents per hour for work on the wharf,
but he insisted that natives should work on
the vessel.
II am sorry to report that the courthouse
at Juneau has been burned to the ground.
so far the winter has been remarkable
for mildness and this tends to bring the
crowds sooner than they were expected"
lot nj 20