The record-union., 1898-03-04
The Queen Brings Some Important
News From Skaguay.
Report Of the British Flag Being Raised on
White Pass Confirmed.
United States Troops Prevent Seri-
Gus Trouble at the New Alaskan
Town-ComplicGti Likely to
Arise From the Various Tram
ways Being Constructed TO Car
ry Freight Over the White and
Chilcoot Passes.

SEATTLE CWash), March 3.-Five
steamers arrived from Alaska to-day
the Utopia, Hueneme, Del Norte, Pro-
lection and Queen. The Queen brought
the latest news, having left Skaguay
last Sunday. The most important news
brought down was 4 confirmation of
previous reports that the Canadian
officials had raised the British flag Oh
White Pass, regarded as American soil,
and the trouble at Skaguay with long
shoremen, who objected to Indians I'M
loading freight from steamers. The
presence of United States troops alone
prevented serious trouble.
1t is feared that serious trouble Will
grow out of the Canadians attempt to
collect duty on the summit of the White
and Chilcoot Passes, and the Ameri-
cans will resist the payment Of duty
on what they consider American
ground.
Another complication will result from
the various tramWays which are being
constructed to carry freight over the
passes. The officials of these tram
ways are reported to have declared
that any interruption with their con-
struction work, or any attempt to ex-
ercise any right of ownership. Will be
resisted. 1t is thought at Dyea and
Skaguay that the movements of the
American authorities will be to pro-
claim sovereignty over those two places.
Last summer the boundary line was at
Lake Bennett, then at Linderman. and
now at the summit of the mountains.
which is only about twenty miles from
salt water
Two days before the Queen left Skag-
uay the wind. which had blown from
the north continuously for seven weeks.
shifted and began to blow from the
southwest, causing a general thaw to
set in. The change in the weather
caused hundreds of people who had
been detained by the severe cold to
start over the trails from both Skag-
uay and Dyea, and when the steamer
left general exodus from both towns
was taking place. Both trails are re-
ported in excellent condition.
On the trip down the Queen passed
the Cottage City short distance south
of Wrangel Narrows. The latter ship
evidently had trouble, as her bow was
smashed in and covered with canvas
to keep out the water
News is brought by the Queen that
the ship Corona which went ashore on
a reef off Lewis Island on the morning
of the 23d of January, will be raised.
Two pumps were to be put to work this
morning, when it was expected the CO.
roma will be fioated.
The ship Lucille bearing the Govern
~ &c, clr
northward in tow of the tug Monarch.
She was sooken by the Queen near
Kennedy Island, and reported all well
on board
E. r. Knapp of Boston, Mass. who
arrived here to-day from Skaguay. au-
thorizes the statement that the Cana
dian authorities raised the British flag
on the summit of the White Pass on
Saturday, February 9th This has
heretofore been considered American
territory. Mr. knapps authority for
the statement is the foreman of the
Humbert Transportation Company. He
reported the affair to Mr. Knapp. who
is connected with the company, just
before the latter left Skaguay.
In reference to the report that mar
tial law had been proclaimed at Skag-
uay. Mr.. Knapp said that when he left
no such action had been taken; neith-
er was it anticipated.
Mr.. Knapp also said that the reports
of deaths at Dyea, Skaguay and on the
trails had been very much exagserat-
ed. He had made a personal exami-
nation. and ascertained that since No
vember there ha I'd been nineteen deaths
at Skaguay and thirteen at Dyea. This
is not at all large. considering the pop
ulation at the two places.
The report that two men from Daw-
son had persisted on the White Pass
with a large amount of gold dust on
them is said by Mr. Knapp to have no
foundation.
The rivalry between the towns of
Skaguay and Dyea is characterized by
Mr.. Knapp as being "at white heat
and this is the reason. he thinks. that
so many exaggerated stories of death
and hardship are sent out Each town
is doing all it can to throw discredit on
the other.
Captain Wallace gives the following
particulars OF his first experience with
the longshoremen of Skaguay:
When the Queen finished unloading
at Juneau thirty-five Indians that had
been doing the work were taken to
Skaguay. They do the work for % cents
an hour and the white men demanded
- cents. AT Skaguay the Indians went
ashore, and We're beset by a crowd of
fifty hungry men. The white men were
well organized. They did not know. how
ever. that the Queen had Federal troops
aboard. The stevadores made q rush
and the Indians fell back and were
crowded close to the edge of the wharf
AT this junctIre three shots were fired
at the Indians by one of the attacking
party. The shots did no damage. Then
the 40 soldiers in charge of Captain
F. F. Eastman We're called on by Cap
tain Wallace to protect the Indians. The
company quickly formed on deck, and
the men We're driven back at the point
of bayonets.
The fact that soldiers guarded the un-
loading of the Queen probably caused
the passengers TO give out the report a.
Victoria that martial law had been de-
clared at Skaguay.
VANCOUVER, March 3-Commis-
sioner A. B. Perry Of the Northwest
Mounted Police, who returned from