The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-18

Oleson Are Two known Victims.
That four foul murders were committed
on the Alaska trail near Minto Christi
mas day or the day following is the state
ment made by Dawson people who arrived
on the steamer City of Topeka last night.
The missing men are:
Fred H. Clayson, Of Clayson Bros.
clothing merchants. Skagway, and son OF
e. Clayson. ST., q well-known citizen of
Seattle.
-- Oieson, lineman in the telegraph
service OF the mounted police at Tag
ish.
Two Klondikers. whose names cannot
be learned.
The mounted police at Tagish are at
work on the case A man giving the
name of O'Brien is under arrest at Tagish.
and the country Is being secured for. at
least two or more men who are believed
to have had a hand in the crime, although
it is the opinion of Col. Walsh, of the
mounted police, that one of the murderers
has succeeded in getting out of the coun-
try, and 1t is even suspected that he came
to Seattle on one Of the boats arriving
here recently.
Robbery Is supposed to have been the
motive, and as none of the bodies has
been found, 1t is the belief OF the police
that they have been buried in some Sc
cluded spot and may not be recovered un-
til spring.
Among the City of Topeka's passengers
who are most familiar with the details.
as far as known when the boat sailed
. from Skagway. january 10. are A. r. Glib
son, J. r, Barg, Frank Plather and wife,
O. f. Kastner and e. La France. The
four first named were of one party leav-
ing Dawson December is. and the two
others left a week later. All were trav-
cling on foot
MISSING PARTY STARTS OUT.
Fred H. Clayson, who is well known
in Seattle. has been visiting Dawson at
regular intervals on business trips He
went there from Skagway early In No
yember. and December II started out
alone, having on his person. as nearly as
can be ascertained, between $1,000 and
5000.
About December 20 Lineman Oleson was
ordered out from Five Fingers to do some
repairs along the mounted police line. He
arrived at Selkirk December "a. Clayson
arrived there the same day. and both men
met p. C. Richardson, the we'll known
mail contractor. with whom they were
acquainted.
The three formed party and Journeyed
together to Mimic, twenty-eight miles
away. At this time there arrived at Min
to two other Klondkers who were friends
of Clayson, and were also journeying to
Skagway to take boat for Seattle. The
four men decided to travel together, as is
customary in that country. and in the af-
ternoon all bade Richardson good-by and
started south toward Carmack's.
LAST SEEN OF THEM.
That is the last ever seen Of any of the
party. P. C. Richardson went back to
Sekirk, and was first Informed of the dis
appearance some days after Its occurrence
by the police.
Clayson had notified his friends at Skag-
way of his departure from Dawson. and
failing to arrive within a reasonable time,
his brother began to make inquiries. Ole
son, who was to have reported at Tagish.
did not appear, and the police began a
search for him.
The two inquiries resulted in learning of
the organization of the party of four at
Mimic Christmas day, their departure and
failure to reach Carmacks.
1t was known that Oleson had $500, Clay
son had 5000 draft, which he secured
from the Canadian Bank Of Commerce, at
Dawson, and a large sum of money. and
the two Klondlkers large sum each, but
the amount is not known.
POLICE BEGIN a SEARCH.
Col. Walsh and his detachment then be-
gan a systematic search, but could find
nothing of the party, but did. it is said,
find what is considered evidence that four
foul murders had been committed on the
trail.
O'Brien, who is under arrest charged
with participating in the crime, claims
he was journeying from Dawson to Skag-
way on his way out. There are said to be
many suspicious circumstances concern
ing his actions and trip, and when he ar
rived at Tagish he was taken into Gus
tody On his person was found $1,000. a
portion of which was in a draft. At Le-
barge it was learned that he had pur-
chased team of horses. although he was
travelling by dog sled. and why he should
buy horses to bring out with him is one
OF the questions.
Before his arrest, from a short distance
above Lebarge to the island of Lebarge,
Col Walsh travelled with OBrien and his
party, composed of the first four Topeka
passengers named, and during this jour-
Continued on Page Seven.