Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-09-17
Stole GOLD BULLION
WHILE 1T WAS EN- ROUTE TO
SEATTLE FROM ALASKA,
Was Worth sos, O0o-Part of 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
a 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 papers.
Find Pig Lead in Seattle.
The boxes were opened again at the
United States assay office in Seattle
last Friday noon ..andr 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 OPP
portunity for robbery in the assay of
fee or in the short railroad run from
White Horse to Skagway.
The gold weighed $50 pounds, and
the disposal of such heavy plumber
must have required time and prepare
ton. The gold was in the purser's
cabin, and it is not customary on the
gold ships to take elaborate precau
tions against robbery.
Like Robbery Four Years Ago.
Detectives working on the case hay,
made no arrests, and say they have NJ
clue on which to work. However, thu
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 river-Skagway route, was stolel
from a wooden strongbox and lead sub
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 i
to White Horse. Miller concealed tn
gold in his stateroom, got it back Il
} Fairbanks and secreted it so well tina
after his arrest on suspicion the own
ers of the bullion were glad to maxi
terms with him. He was promised
short prison sentence if he returned
the gold, and he produced $4,000, al
leging that the other $40, 900 had beer
stolen from him.
Uncle Sam Not Concerned.
United States Assayer Calvin E
Villas says that the federal authoritie
were absolved from all responsiblllt,
by the vault being opened and locked
by the telephone company electrically
The box arrived at the office with seal
unbroken, was locked up and the mex
day was brought out with the seal
intact. The United States has no con
Germ in the matter and will make NJ
effort to capture the robbers.
The Humboldt sailed for Skagwa,
before the robbery was discovered anC
is now at sea.
PAY MILLIONS IN PENSIONS.