The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
British Flag HOisted ON the summit
of white Pass, One of the Gate
ways of the kIOndike.
OTHER PASSES ALSO CLAIMED
ATTEMPT TO COLLECT DUTIES LIKE
LY TO BE RESISTED.
Martial Law Declared at Skaguay-
Death Rate Increasing - Two
Rich Men Frozen.

SEATTLE, Wash. March Sc. R.
Knapp, of Boston, Mass, who arrived here
to-day from Skaguay, authorizes the state
ment that the Canadian authorities raised
the British flag on the summit of White
pass on Saturday, Feb. 26. This has
heretofore been considered American
territory. Mr.. Knapps authority for
the statement is the commander
of the Humbert Company He re-
ported the affair to Knapp, who is con-
nected with the company, just before the
latter left Skaguay In reference to the re-
port that martial law had been proclaimed
at Skaguay, Mr.. Knapp said that when he
left no such action had been taken, neither
was it anticipated. Mr.. Knapp also said
that the reports of deaths at Dyea, Skaguay
and on the trails had been very much ex-
aggerated. He had made personal exam
ination and ascertained that since Novem-
Der there had been nineteen deaths at
Skaguay and thirteen at Dyea. This is not
at all large, considering the population of
the two places. The report that two men
from Dawson had persisted on the White
pass with large amount of gold dust on
them is said by Mr.. Knapp to have no foun-
dation. The rivalry between the towns of
Knapp as being at white heat, and this is
the reason, he thinks, that so many exag-
gerated stories of death and hardship are
sent out. Each town is doing all it can to
throw discredit on the other.
Five steamers arrived from Alaska to-
day-The Utopia, Hueneme, Del Norte.
Protection and Queen. The Queen brought
the latest news, having left Skaguay last
Sunday The most important news brought
down was a confirmation of previous re-
ports that a Canadian official had raised
the British flag on what is regarded as
American soil, and trouble at Skaguay with
'longshoremen who objected to Indians I'M
loading freight from steamers. The pres
erce of United States troops alone pre-
vented serious trouble.
1t is feared that serious trouble will grow
out of the Canadians attempt to collect
duty on the summit of the White pass and
Chilkoot pass, and the Americans will re-
sist the payment 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 tramways are reported to have de-
clared that any interruption of their con-
struction work or any attempt to exercise
any right of ownership will be resisted 1t
is thought at Dyea and Skaguay that the
movements of the American authorities
will be to claim sovereignty over those
two places. Last summer the boundary line
was at Lake Bennett, then at Lindermann
and now at the summit of the mountains,
which is only about twenty-five miles from
salt water.
Two days before the Queen left Skaguay
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 Skaguay and
Dyea, and when the steamer left a general
exodus from towns was taking place. Both
trails are reported in excellent condition
On the trip down the Queen passed the
Cottage City a short distance south of
Wrangel narrows. The latter ship evil
IDENTIFY 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 Jan.
23 will be raised to-day. New pumps were
to be put to work this morning, when it was
expected the Corona would be fioated. The
snip Lucille, bearing the government party.
is slowly vending her way northward in
tow of the tug Monarch She was spoken
by the Queen near Kennedy island and
reported all well on board