The herald., 1898-02-19
THUGGERY AT SKAGUAY
MAKES THE NEED OF TROOPS
APPARENT
AUTHORITIES ARE HELPLESS
Against the Horde Of Lawless Men and
Women Banded Together to
Run Things
Associated Press Special Wire

WAo1lN0ION, req. lo-Secretary
Bliss is in receipt of letter from Governor
John G. Brady of Alaska descriptive of the
lawless condition of affairs at Dyea and
Skaguay. 1t was referred to at the cabinet
meeting today when Alaskan affairs were
under discussion and was considered suf-
ficient notification by the members for the
dispatch of the additional military force
already authorized to be sent to Alaskan
territory. The following is a copy of the
letter:
News from Skaguay by the steamboats,
in port is serious. The United States
deputy marshal has been shot dead in the
discharge of his duty. Another man was
shot dead at the same time and place. Re-
Gently 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 Skaguay and Dyea and appear to have
combined to carry things with high hand.
The best people at these places are power
less. as they have no municipal form OF
government. The United States marshal
is powerless, because he can appoint only
few deputies, and when they undertake
to act they are singled out as targets by
this lawless element.
"One of this class was tried in the United
States district court last December for
the killing of United States Deputy Mar
shall Watt in January, 1897, and was ac-
quilted by the jury in the face of positive
testimony. In fact, these influences seem
to be Joined hand-in-hand, and will surely
go unpunished unless the government
takes immediate action and provides the
necessary force at Skaguay. .Dyea and
other points.
Congress should grant immediate re-
lief. for both naval and military officers
can act when requested by the civil au-
thorities. The United States marshal
should have patrol vessel at his command
with necessary accommodations for depu-
ties and proper attendant. I do not see
how he can perform his duty as executive
officer of the court unless he has such
means of locomotion at his command
"At the present time large and important
mining property is held by a number of
miners at Berner's bay. This property>,yas
recently placed in the hands of a receiver
by the court, but up to the present time
1t is still occupied. There is much to be
said in favor of the self-control of the bet
ter element there. The marshal has no
means of reaching that point and no suf-
ticient force to carry out the instructions
of the court. Judge Johnson leaves by this
boat to settle the affair amicably If pos
sible.
Two weeks ago. or little more. a gang
of men commanded Captain Patterson
of the steamer Al-Ki to discharge the ma
tives who were handling freight on the
wharf. They attacked these natives and
beat them cruelty in the presence of the
deputy marshal. The captain was obliged
to compromise with them by paying them
so cents per hour for work on the wharf,
but he insisted that the natives should
work on the vessel
II am sorry to report that the court
house at Juneau has been burned to the
ground.
80 far the winter has been remarkable
FOR mildness and this tends to bring the
crowds sooner than they were expected"
The letter was dated February Sd.
RELIEF STILL STUCK
SEATTLE, Wash, Feb. 1S-The govern
ment pack train, which left here on the
ship Lucille to join the main body of the
Alaska relief expedition in Dyea Is fav-
ing all kinds of trouble. The Lucille is now
at Departure bay, B. c., and can get no
farther for lack of tug. The tug Mon
arch towed the Lucille from this city TO
Departure bay but she would go no far
ther as the pilot was not familiar with the
northern waters. 1t was the expectation
when the Lucille left here that the tug Lion
was to tow her from Departure bay to
Dyea. The Sea Lion, it Is claimed, is out
of repair and cannot carry out the original
plan. The matter has been placed In the
hands of the United States attorney with
the view Of compelling the owners of the
Lucille to carry out their contract with the
government. The long confinement which
the animals would be forced to undergo
by an ordinary voyage is heightened by
this unexpected delay, and meanwhile the
season is advancing and the possibility of
taking relief into Dawson is growing less
The steam schooner Navarro arrived
this afternoon from Alaska. When she left
Juneau no survivors of the Clara Nevada
had been found. The Navarro encountered
very stormy weather. G. w. Reeves, Wal
ter Kerrin, ]. E. Dyer and L. E. Munson.
from Dawson, were passengers on the Ma
varro. They brought no important news.
THE PORTLAND SAILS
TACOMA, Wesh., Feb. 18-The steamer
Portland arrived this morning from San
Francisco to take on a supply of coal for
consumption on her voyage to Unalaska
with a cargo of stores and supplies con-
signed to the Alasga Commercial company,
and shipment of lumber. The vessel
left for Alaska this evening.