The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-28
]. NJ. Hagerty Says Emphatically
That He Is Not.
EVIDENCES OF CORRUPTION,
How = Woman Managed to Get In
side Information From the Gold
COmmi ssi0ner's once - An Order
Relative to Saving Claims for the
Crown That Never Went Into Ef-
fect-Ogflvie's Opinion of Fawcett.

scrihed by j. NJ. Hageriy who was en-
ployed upon the Midnight Sun, as being
more audacious and greater than has yet
been told. AS the Midnight Sun is known
as the government organ" or the klon-
dixie, Mr.. Hagerty had better chances of
seeing the methods Of Gold Commissioner
Fawcett than many others.
Had such things occurred in the United
States or even on the American side in
Alaska. said he last night. there would
have been several lynchlng bees. In early
days in Montana and California it requir-
sd much less than has been done at Daw-
son TO cause the formation of vigilance
committees which dealt quick and sure
justice.
Here is an instance Of how miners are
being Jwindled at Dawson and how the
Canadian officials are making money. On
September / many reverted claims upon
Dominion, Sulphur, Esdorado and Bonanza
creeks We're to be thrown open for reloca-
ton. These claims had reverted tc the
government because of the failure of the
original locators to do the necessary amount
of work OF course. when they were TO be
opened it would naturally be supposed that
every person would have a fair chance 10
locate but that was not in the plans OF
the gold commissioners office.
Il met a variety actress, Lu kellar and
her sister Flora. during the latter part OF
August, who had started out with a party
10 get all the best claims on these creeks
before others could reach the ground 10
stake them These two women were ac-
companied by two men and were being fol-
lowed by a party OF twe.ve. They seemed
to be in charge. for Lu kellar had the
list Of reverted claims. She asked me 10
go along, saying that she would let me
have some of the very best claims.
"You'n Have to Divide
but you'u have to give up half OF the
claims you stake said she.
she had secured this list from the gold
commissioners office in advance of any
one else and was on the ground with her
party ready TO stake before others could
reach there. And the party did stake and
record siXty-four claims. Had l wanted to
mix in that kind of business l also could
have secured claim or half OF one.
illustration of the god commissioners
methods. 1t was given out at his office
that after September !. only one-nalf Of a
discovery claim. The other half was to be
Reserved for the crown, subject 10 further
instructions from Ottawa Many Claims
had been recorded under this new order.
LAS soon as l heard of 1t l went to
Fawcett to get statement from him and
he outlined this new policy. 1t seemed to
me to be such a stupendous fraud and out
rage that l wanted 10 have ind!sputahle
evidence. / wrote down the statement and
had him sign it. Then ! went TO Gov.
ogilvie for statement but he refused to
discuss the matter; he would not be quoted.
He contented himself with a declaration
that Fawcett was the most honorable man
in the klondike region. However. when l
and he saw that statement in cold type,
he considered i little TO strong. He then
described Mr.. Fawcett as being one of the
honest men of the klondike.
We'll this statement OF Mr.. Fawcett
and that OF Gov. Ogilvie We're never pub
lished: the two officials held a consultation
rescinded the order. Now then here is the
point: F'awcett claimed In his signed state
rneat that he had instructions from Ottawa
To permit the record OF only one-haif a
claim How then could these two gentle
men rescind the orders from the capital?
Is it not sufficient proof that there were no
such orders from Ottawa at all? 1t was
simply intended to ho,d open one-half of
each claim in order 10 await developments.
Wherever the original locator had a rich
claim the remaining unrecorded one-half
OF 1t would have been secured by a friend
dummy of the government ring.
What Might Have Been.
Had this policy been followed it would
have given the gang at Dawson a one-haif
interest in all the future discoveries of the
klondike. But the officials were thorough
ly frightened by the newspapers and the
storm which II was seen they would arouse.
You could not get a claim recorded at
Dawson for less than SO or $50 without
waiting IN line for several days. Then If
you did remain In iine until your turn
came you might be put off for several
days till he ring sent cut a man to learn
II your claim was valuable. II IL were they
told you that 1t had already been recorded
In fact the only way 10 do business was
10 go in the back door which cost from
$40 10 so. / know one man who paid $3.50
20 record his claim.
Il don't agree with many OF those per-
sons who believe that Fawcett was merely
incompetent; and not dishonest | know
that most OF the rascahty has been blamed
upon his chef clerk. Bolton. But in my
opinion Fawcett is dishonest and he stood
N with al these deals
There We're several syndicates in Daw-
son which handled the business for the
government officials. These syndicates se-
cured claims which real locators were
robbed Of and they worked them 7 sup
pose that they had contracts with the
officials making a proper 'divvy Of the
profits Alex Mcdonald was AT the head
az one Of these syn3icates and shat Is tho
manner In which many Of the kings Of the
klonaike made their money.
II never saw any official corruption to
sslual mat at Dawson except the operations
OF the whisky ring at Skagway and Dyea."