Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-29
A FLAG EPISODE
AT SKACUAY.
An American Attorney Hauls Down
a British Ensign
CAUSES MUCH EXCITEMENT.
Trouble Was That English Customs
Agent Had Not put stars ana
stripes Above,

Vancouver b. c., June S.-The
steamer Islander, from skaguay, to-
day brings news Of an exciting Nag
episode at skaguay, r. S. Busby,
Canadian customs agent there, acting
on instructions from Ottawa, hoisted
the British flag on "a pole above bis
office.
Several incendiGry remarks followed
the hosting Of the ensign, and on the
following morning tail, athletc-look-
ing man glanced up at the flag, and
stopping at the foot Of the stan took
out his pocket-knife and cutting the
halyerds pulled down the flag and ran
the halyards through the block, rolled
up the colors and tossed them into a
recess Of the building
It did not take Customs Agent Busby
long to come to the defense Of the flag
Of his country When he reached the
flag furler the latter calmly pulled a
card from his pocket, and after hand
ing II to the astonshed Canadian Off
cial turned on his heel and walked
away. on the card was George
Miller, Attorney-at- Law, Euegene, ore
gon," Miller Is brother Of Joaquin
Miller, the California poet, and Is visit
ing friends in skaguay,
Miller sad II cut down the British
flag on my own authority, by virtue
Of rights resting in every American
citizen"
A skaguay paper says: "Thls incl
dent, which has caused no end OF COM
ment, has been brewing for several
days. When the flagpole was put on
the depot building the matter was
called to the attention Of C. l.. An
drews, United States deputy collector
Of customs. Mr. Andrews investigated
the matter and found nothing In his
authorities which he thought would
Justify the Canadian supervising ON
Ger in raising the flag OF his country
unless the Stars and Stripes waved
above IL, He accordingly called on MI
Busby and had q talk with him re-
gardng the proposed innovation MT
Busby showed him letter from the
chief customs official Of Canada, which
stated In substance that as American
customs officers operating on Canadian
soil I'm conditions corresponding 10 ms
(Mr. Busby's) office were permitted TO
fly the flag Of their country he was
entitled TO the same right and TO go
ahead with the flag raising.
son the hypothesis that the Cana
dian official would not go on record
with such statement IL II were not a
fact, Mr.. Andrews concluded that Mr.
Busby was within his rights, and ac-
cordlngly took no action In the matter
while II Is generally regretted that
any friction should occur between the
citizens OF the one country and
the officials of the other the
people are equally as willing
10 state that there is no occa'
sion whatever for the trouble. on TINS
strip Of land, which the United States
has occupied undisputed since the days
OF the transfer In 1857 the Canadian
officials have gradually encroached, UNI
restrained by the American govern
ment. BY leaps and bounds the Cana
dian customs-house has advanced TO-
ward tidewater. From Tagish TO Ben
net, then 70 Log Cabin and lastly to
the summit, and when then the Gus
toms ensign OF Canada Nas hoisted at
Skaguay, 1t lie small wonder that some
John Brown would not wait for tardy
action from Washington, but cut down
the flag"
The hauling down Of the flag occurred
on Saturday, June 22nd, All day sun
day there was much discussion IN
Skaguay over the incident, and on
Monday morning Canadian Customa
Agent Busby again had the flag up
Busby states that he was Informed by
a committee that the British flag was
not 10 be hoisted unless the United
States flag was raised above II. To
this Busby refused TO consent Then
according 10 Busby's statement, Judge
selbrede. Capt. jerks. United States
Marshal Shook and other American
citizens Informed Busby that unless
he took down the dag, at least until
they had some advice from Washing.
ton in the matter, they would not hold
themselves responsible Tor any action
Of Skaguay people. Busby then took
down the flag pending further lnstruc-
lions from his department at ottawa