Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-18

New York, March ia dispatch to
the World from Vancouver, b. c.,
says: Carl Slummerfelt, a German,
who was a passenger on board the
steamer Lees which has arrived here
from the Lynn canal, brought the news
that a battle had been fought between
American and Canadian miners a few
miles off the Dalton trail. Four men
were reported to have been killed out
right and number Of others were
seriously wounded.
When the alien mining law of Brit
ish Columbia was enforced a few
months ago the American miners left
Atlin, the new Canadian gold district,
and struck north. They found short
distance off the Dalton trail, on the
Porcupine river, district rich in pla-
Ger gold. 1t was generally conceded
that the new placers were in American
territory, and the miners vowed that
no Canadian should stake claim.
Some Canadian mounted policemen,
however, did stake claims in the Amer
lean territory, and justified their act
by moving the Canadian flag from Mt.
Pleasant, on the trail, so as to make
the line take in rich part OF the
district. They were followed by at
least forty Canadian miners, who all
located good claims.
A fortnight ago about 100 American
miners held meeting and decided to
send notices to all Canadians to leave
the country within five days. The no
tees were sent out, but no attention
was paid to them.
Slummerfelt, who left the Porcupine
river district two weeks ago, says:
Early on the morning of the sixth
day the American miners met and pro-
ceeded to the Canadian camp. l don't
believe they intended bloodshed, al
though they were fully armed. Before
they could even state the object of
their visit some one, don't know from
which party, fred a shot, and then
everyone seemed to be shooting. Sew
eral rounds were fired and four men,
Twas told, were killed outrfght-an
American and three Canadians
THE battle was very brief, and re-
suited in the Canadians, about fifty in
number, flying across the border. The
Americans then retired to their own
camp. l did not ascertain the names
of the killed. From my location, about
fifteen miles north of the Porcupine
river, heard that squad of Canadian
Northwest mounted police had left
Lake Tagish for the Porcupine, the
news of the fight having reached them.
The Americans are determined, and l
fear there will be another conflict.
There is no doubt in my mind that the
new district is in American territory"
Washington, March 1.-THE COLI
sion between the American and Can
(dian miners reported from Vancouver
Is exactly what was Appreciated by
The representatives of the United States
government in the late Canadian con-
ference. 1t is said by one of these Off
fials that they were sadly embarrassed
In their efforts to settle the Alaskan
boundary dispute by the British Co.
lumbia legislature, which so far from
endeavoring to secure a peaceful ad-
)ustment Of the boundary difficulties,
had by the passage Ct irritating legis-
Ation, done much to retard an agree
ment.
With infinite difficulty the joint COM
mossioners had succeeded in reaching
an agreement to which all could sub
scribe, looking to the settlement of
the boundary question and Of the con-
flicting mining interests generally.
Within week the British Columbia