The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-19
HELD BY THE RABBLE.
Skaguay and Dyea at the Mercy of
the Lawless Element.

Washin gton, Feb. 19.-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 Yesterday when
Alaskan affairs were under discussion
and was considered sufficient justihca-
ton by the members for the dispatch
of the additional military force already
authorized to be sent to Alaskan terri
tory.
The following is a copy of the let
ter:
News from Skaguay by the steam
boat now in port is serious. The Uni
ted States deputy marshal has been
shot dead in discharge of his duty. An
other man was killed at the same time
at the same place. Recently the steam
ers have been carrying great lists of
passengers, many of these are gamb-
lers, 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 a
high hand. The best people at these
places are powerless, because they have
no municipal form of government. The
United States marshal is powerless, be
cause he can appoint only a few depu-
ties and when they undertake to act
they are singled out as targets by this
ruffianly element. One of this class was
tried in the United States district court
last December for the killing of United
Z
airy, 1897, and was acquitted by the
jury in the face of positive testimony.
In fact these Influences seem to be join
ed hand in hand and will surely go I'M
punished unless the government takes
immediate action and provides the nee
essary force at Skaguay, Dyea and 9TH
er points. Congress should grant i'm
mediate relief so both naval and mill
tary officers can act when requested by
the civil authorities
The United States marshal should
ma troll al ut h 4
with necessary accommodations for
eight or ten deputies and a proper at
tendant. I do not see how he performs
MS duties as executive officer of the
court, unless he has such means of 10
comotlOn always entirely at his own
command.
At the present time a large and i'm
portant mining property is held by a
number of miners at Berner's Bay. This
property was recently placed in the
hands Of a receiver by the court, but to
date the receiver has not come into pos
session. In this instance there is much
to be said in favor of the miners &C
ton and their self control but it is of
such a nature, that violence may be the
of reaching that point with a sufficient
force to carry out the instructions of
the court. Judge johnson leaves by
this boat to settle this affair AMIGA bly,,
if possible. Two weeks ago, or a little
more a gang of men commanded Capt.
Patterson of the steamship A1xi to dis
charge the natives VINO were handling
the freight on the wharf. They attack
ed these natives and beat them cruelty
in the face 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.
I am sorry to report that the court
house at Juneau has been burned to the
ground.
So far the winter has been remarka-
bic for mildness and this tends to bring
the crowd sooner than they were ex-
pected.