The San Francisco call., 1901-11-23
THE YUKON CONSPIRACY.

HEN Inc (all published to the Worlq tile
N\/ first information Of plot to capture Daw
son and set up an independent government
in the Canadian portion OF. the Yukon Valley the
story was received with something of increduty,
notwithstanding the recognized reliability of The
Calls news service. One of our contemporaries ig
nored it altogether, probably with the intention of
publishing it later exclusive story. Another
devoted column of its news to dscrediting the re-
port, and then stated edtorially that it may have
started such stories usually do as the innocent
fantasy of some imaginative individual
The Call did not publish the story upon idle rumor.
1t had reliable authority for every word published,
and knew that despite its seeming mprobability the
story true. conspiracy to raise nsurrection
in the Yukon Valley, to seize Dawson and set UP
revolutionary government had been formed and,
while its full extent had been ascertained enough
known to alarm the Canadian authorities to put
American officials guard and to bring about
meeting between the officials of the two Governments
to take steps to investigate the affair and guard
against possible raid.
From sources other than that from which The Call
received the original information confirmation has
now been given to the story published. James
Seeley, head of the service of the Northwest
Mounted Police, stated to a correspondent of The
Call at Victoria Thursday that not only was there
Yukon and loot Dawson, but the scheme hatched by
the conspirators for the project feasible one,
and had its existence not been discovered by the
members of the secret service in the Yukon and
nipped in the bud the raiders could have
pshed their purpose and after taking Dawson could
have held the place for six weeks or two months.
Further confirmation given by E. S. Busby,
Canadian customs officer at Skagway, who not only
made special investigation of the conspiracy, but
is the bearer OF report the subject to the author
ties at Ottawa Busby is reported saying that
Of the features OF the plan OF the conspators to
bring from Seattle large number of men known to
be opposed to the Canadian Government and its rule
in the Yukon and to have them assist in the fight
against the mounted police Another feature OF the
plan was the shipment of rifles from this country for
the use of the consprators, and money was sub
scribed for that purpose
In addition to the statements from the British off
cias further statement obtained at Seattle from
man who claims to have been one of the leaders
in the movement His statements of course are not
reliable as those of the officials but in the main
they agreed with what had been obtained from the
official sources and to that extent serve as confirma-
ton Of the existence of the plot and of its dangerous
character.
1t is worth noting that the story is not so improb-
able as it at first sight, though we admit The
Call would not have accepted it from any other than
a thoroughly reliable source. The Yukon country is
filled with adventurous men, many of whom are des-
perate. They have staked their all upon the hazard
of striking it rich either in the mines in the gam
bling houses, and they have failed. They ready
now to resort to any of getting gold. Around
these daring ones is host of men some of whom
dissatisfied with the Canadian Government while
others cherish an abiding hostility to everything
British Among such elements it is difficult for
natural leader of men to find a considerable follow
ing, like that which. Walker took to Nicaragua or
Jameson to the Rand Fortunately the conspiracy
was detected in time and has now been exposed and
exploded 1t is not likely the Yukon conspiracy will
be any longer dangerous.