Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-09-22
Stole GOLD BULLION
WHILE 1T WAS EN- ROUTE TO
SEATTLE FROM ALASKA.
Was Worth $55,0o0-Part of a Large
Shipment-Lead Substituted for the
Gold-Was Insured by Express Com
pany-Gold Weighed Over $50 lbs
Similar Robbery Four Years Ago.

Seattle, Sept. 12-Gold bullion
valued at $57, 500, part of shipment
of $4,000 from the Washington
Alaska bank of Fairbanks, Alaska, 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.
The gold, when it left Fairbanks on
Yukon river steamer for Dawson and
White Horse, was contained in three
wooden boxes and was in the care of
the Alaska 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.
Find Pig Lead in Seattle.
The boxes were opened again at the
| United States assay Office in Seattle
last Friday noon and one contained
pigs of lead, not of gold. The seals
of the box were intact when it reached
the office, and it was evident that the
robbery had been committed by remov-
ing one end of the box. The gold was
insured against loss by the express COM
pany.
The boxes were received at the as
say Office Thursday morning and re-
NAMED there until the agents of the
consignee arrived next day to check
up the ingots.
Theories About the Robbery.
1t is supposed that the gold was
stolen on the Yukon steamer between
Dawson and White Horse or on the
Humboldt between Skagway and Sc
attic. There would have been small op
portunity for robbery in the assay of
fee or in the short railroad run from
White Horse to Skagway.
The gold weighed $50 pounds, anC
the disposal of such heavy plumber
must have required time and prepare
ton. The gold was in the purser Z
cabin, and it is not customary on thu
gold ships to take elaborate precau
tions against robbery.
Like Robbery Four Years Ago.
Detectives working on the case hav
made no arrests, and say they have III
: clue on which to work. However, tn
robbery was very much like one fou
years ago. In this case 100000 con
signed to Seattle by the Washington
Alaska bank of Fairbanks over the Yu
kon -Skagway route, was stole
from wooden stronghold and lead sui
stituted. The theft was committed b
Bobby Miller, night Waterman on
Tanana river steamer which was carry
, ing the gold from Fairbanks to tn
Yukon steamer that was to convey
to White Horse. Miller concealed tn
gold in his stateroom, got it back
: Fairbanks and secreted it so well thu
q after his arrest on suspicion the owl
q ers of the bullion were glad to NAL
e terms with him. He was promised
o short prison sentence. if he return'
e the gold, and he produced $4,000, g
leging that the other $4,000 had bee
stolen from him.
Uncle Sam Not Concerned.
p United States Assayer Calvin
n Villas says that the federal authoriti
II were absolved from all responsible
= by the vault being opened and lock
v by the telephone company electrical
. The box arrived at the Office with Sc;
unbroken, was locked up and the ne
day was brought out with the SCI
intact. The United States has no &C
: Germ in the matter and will make
effort to capture the robbers.
The Humboldt sailed for Skagw
before the robbery was discovered a
is now at sea.