The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-22
Alert Officials Find
the Traces of
Plotters.

dreams of empire since the days
of Louis Riel, that concocted by
a band of plotters scattered along
- the valley of the Yukon from the
Upper Lakes to Circle City Is
probably the most extraordinary yet re-
corded. A few days ago The San Fran
cisco Call published exclusively the story
of the exposure of the conspiracy al
Skagway and of the hurried measures
that were taken by both the Canadian
AMI American officials to thwart the
scheme of the plotters to make Of the
Yukon and Northwest Territory a repub-
lie.
This remarkable story was discovered at
the time by persons claiming to be in
formed concerning Alaskan matters. Inc
Call correspondent here has, however, Sc
cured absolutely authentic information,
which completely corroborates the first
story of the plot to overthrow BRUSH
authority in the great gold fields OF the
ukon. The Jameson raid in South Al
RIGA was not more daring or reckless in
its conception than the general plan OF
malcontents and ambitious men In the
Yukon country to seize the sources OF
power and authority in the country, Tor,
depending on the rigorS of an Alaskan
winter they planned to set up repub-
ican form OF government and fortlfy
themselves against invasion from either
British Columbia or Canada.
DOCUMENTS of Conspirators.
Proof that such a conspiracy existed is
furnished in documents which were OBJ
tanned from one of the ringleaderS In the
plot. The organization was formed in
December, 1900, at Dawson. Its headquar-
ters for months last summer was at
Skagway. 1t was called THE Order of
the Midnight SUM-" Its members took
a hair-raising oath to reveal none of its
secrets. Death was the penalty for VIC
lation of this oath. 1t might have sue
ceeded temporarily, as did Riel when he
invaded the Northwest Territory with a
band of half-breeds But the members
of the conspiracy lacked the requisite
nerve.
A vision of power and affluence of
golden wealth stored in the government
offices in Dawson and other places in
the great YUKON Valley of authority over
the richest placers in the worlds history
for at least a brief period animated the
minds and strengthened the nerves of
of the secret organization. The uprising
would probably in the belief of the lead
ers, have been temporarily successful be-
cause of the fact that the Dominion Gov
eminent had abandoned the precautionary
measures 1t took several years ago to
prevent Just this sort of thing.
Skagway was the headquarters Of the
conspiratOrs. Fred Clark, for three years
stage manager of the Seattle Theater, who
went to the Klondike in 1898, was-the ring
leader at Skagway. He was run out of
the country by secret service men in the
employ of the Dominion Government. He
is here now and confeSseS to his part of
the plot. He had charge of the records OF
1.-The Order of the Midnight Sum- Clark
makes no defense further than to say
that the miners in the Yukon are horribly
oppressed by the Dominion Government.
Plotters Along the Yukon.
Copies of the records of the organiza-
ton have been secured. These tend to
show that a systematic agitation was
started in December last along the valley
of the Yukon. The first camp Of the order
was organized In Dawson in 1900. Follow
ing this came the organization of local
lodges at White Horse, Hootalinqua, Ben
nett, Circle City and Atlin. Later the
Skagway camp was organized. More than
ton.
Early last spring the Dawson camp is-
sued a manifesto, which was circulated
up and down the valley of the Yukon in
British Territory. 1t contained a state
ment of grievances. These may be emu
merated as follows:
Defective mining laws; corruption in
office; excessive taxes mining, includ-
ing 10 per cent royalty on placer gold and
5 per cent on quartz; unlicensed gam
bling in the Territory; the revenue from
which goes to officials in power; leasing
of Government mineral and timber lands
to corporations only; absence of a lieu
law and general maladminstration of JUS
tice in the courts; foolish legislation, in
Guiding the alien law, inimical to the