The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-12
Gold Bullion Of Value of $751;
500 Stolen in Transit
From Alaska.
BARS OF LEAD PLACED
in BOX TO DECEIVE
Seals Appeared Intact When
Box Was Opened, Indicating
Skillful Work.

SEATTLE, Wash, Sept 11.-Geld
bullion valued at $57,500, part Of a
shipment of $4,000, from the Wash
ington Alaska bank Of Fairbanks, Alas
ka, to the Dexter. Horton National bank
of Seattle, on the steamship Humboldt,
was stolen in transit and lead substi-
tuted in the strong box that had con-
tanned it.
When it left Fairbanks on a Yukon
river steamer for Dawson and White
horse, the gold was contained in three
wooden boxes and was in the care of
the Alaska Pacific Express company.
When the boxes were opened by the
Canadian customs officers at Dawson,
the gold bars were found to be as stated
in the express company S papers. The
boxes were opened again at the United
States assay office in Seattle Friday
noon, and the theft discovered. One
contained pigs of lead. instead of gold.
The seals Of the box were intact when
it reached the ASSAY office. and it was
evident that the robbery had been com
mitted on board sh.. The gold was
insured against loss 5y the express com.
pany.
Robbery Evidently Planned.
The boxes we're received at the assay
Office Thursday morning and remained
there until the agents of the conSIgnee
arrived next day 20 check up the ingots.
1t is supposed that the gold was stolen
on the Yukon steamer between Dawson
and Whitchorsc or on the steamer Hum
bodt between Skagwav and Seattle.
There would have been small oppor.
tunity for robbery in the assay office
~, uhn fa
horse to Skagway. The gold weighed
$50 pounds. and the disposal of such
heavy plunder must have required time
and preparation. The gold was in the
purser's cabin. and it is not customary
on gold shipments TO take elaborate
precautions against robbery.
Detectives working on the case have
made no arrests. and say they have no
clue on which TO work.
Recalls Similar Theft.
The robbery was very much like one
four wears ago In this case 500, 900
consiced to Seattle by the Washington
Alaska bank of Fairbanks over the Yu.
kon river-Skagway route was stolen
from wooden strong box and lead sub
stitutcd. The theft was committed by
Bobby Miller, night watchman on q
Tanana river steamer which was carry
ing the gold from Fairbanks to tho
Yukon steamer that was to convey II
to Whitehorse. Miller concealed the
gold in his stateroom, got II back TO
Fairbanks and secretcd it so well that
after his arrest on suspicion the owners
of the bullion were glad to make terms
with him. He was promised a short
prison sentence If he returned the gold
and he produced S50.00o. alleging that
the other $4,000 had been stolen from
him.
United States Assayer Calvin +. Villas
said tonight that the federal authorities
were absolved from all responsibility
by the vault being opened and locked
by the telephone company electrically.
The box arrived at the Office with seals
unbrokcn, was locked up. and the next
day was brought out with tho seals In
tact. The United States has no con-
ccrn in the matter and will make no
effort 10 capture tho robbers.
The Humboldt sailed frfom Skagway
before the robbery was discovered ard
is now at sea.