The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-16

Inc criminal element is again in the
saddle at Nome, according 10 passengers
who arrived from the North by the Cen
tennial yesterday. For week or more
prior to that vessels departure thugs,
thieves and firebugs had kept the city In
state of suppressed excitement, and
talk OF lynching was to be heard on every
street corner. The crimes were appar-
entity the work of an organized gang.
which carried on Its operations systemat-
ically, regardless OF the military.
Tho greatest indignation had been
aroused by the discovery and Illustration
OF at least three separate and distinct
attempts to burn the city. and rumor
was In circulation on the streets that A
gang OF firebugs had planned to start
fires In various parts OF the city simulta-
neousiy and loot the banks, shops and
stores during the progress OF q general
confiagration
The Nome News a conservative news
paper. published lengthy editorial Au-
gust 3. referring to the rumor as prob
ably Sroundiess. but as pointing a moral.
Citizens were advised to maintain the
strictest vigilance against fires of what
ever origin and to keep all suspicious
characters under surveillance. The edit
orfal ends with the suggestion that IL
some Of the frebugs were to find them
sesves swinging at a ropes end they
would realize that there was such q
thing az retributive justice"
The local columns. OF the newspapers
were full of accounts of the doings of
highway robbers, burglars. pickpockets
and incendiaries. Desperate burglars at
tempted TO drug and rob Mrs. NJ w. Pre-
witt. the proprietor Of a notion store, in
lishment. They Effected an entrance I by
cutting hole In the tent and decamped
leaving a strong odor OF chloroform be-
hind them when Mrs Trevitt awoke
A. J. Lindsay. one OF the foremost and
best known business men OF Nome, was
. sandbagged on the night OF July 70. and
20 badly injured that for a time his re-
covery was despaired of. The thugs OBJ
Only the fact that Nome now has a
good water system the newspapers agrec
IN saying. prevented the destruction OF
incendfary origin were discovered in one
night, but were fortunately extinguished
without serious loss
Tho law-abiding citizens OF Mono seem
military authorities should take steps to
punish as well as to prevent crime. The
statement was frequently made that the
courts were not able to dispose of GRIM
inal cases without long and vexatious de-
lays and that the deterrent effect of stern
and speedy Justice was lost.
tie by the steamer Centennial contain
sensational accounts of a slG0o robbery
perpetrated in that city August 3. Ac-
cording TO the newspaper stories Joe
Young, well and favoraby known to the
Seattle police was the robber, his victim
being an old miner whose name Is not
given.
According to the published accounts, the
miner came into the barroom Of the Mad
den hotel Nightly under the influence OF
liquor and wandered about among the
gambling tables. He stopped near one
where Young was standing and drew out
a sack of gold dust containing. 1t is
claimed Sl,6ca and laid II down
Young II is alleged. snatched the sack
and vanished through the back door OF
the saloon with the miner In close pur-
suit He was not captured.
Young lived In Seattle many years and
rained his greatest notoriety about six
years ago, when he was arrested on a
charge OF attempting 20 blackmaii a
prominent officer OF the city government:
After a sensational trial he was convicted
and served term In the state peniten-
tiarv at walla waila.
After his release he came back here and
then went 20 the Kiondike The authors
ties there heard OF his coming before ne
arrived and wore waiting for him. re
was ordered out OF the camp Coming
back 10 this city, he announced his aban-
donmept OF evil ways and for time
worked IN and about various missions u
the south end OF the city. He was looked
,,non "a a religious fanatic and commonly
veputed 10 be mentally unbalanced.
He went North with the Nome rush n
June and II IL alleged, has been making
Mis- living IN the gold camp by gambling,
working as "capper' for various games