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In The News
The Klondike Nugget.
Dawson, N.W.T.
Vol. 1, No. 1
Thursday, June 16, 1898
Page 1.
Chas. Hendrickson, a Finlander, was arrested last week, charged with the
burglary of $6500 in gold dust from No. 8 below on Hunker. Alex.
McDonald, Morrison and Bowen are the owners of the claim, and reported
the loss to the police on the 27th of May. It seems that Hendrickson had
been employed on a claim adjoining and by reason of his being extremely
flush and lavish with dust, suspicion pointed strongly to him as the
guilty party.
Hendrickson was arrested by Sergeant Richards and Constable Snell, and
after an emphatic denial when the evidences of his guilt were produced,
broke down completely, confessed and agreed to produce the dust. He had
hidden a sack in the woods on Hunker, and accompanied Sergeant Richards
to its hiding place. By reason of recent fires in that district it was
with difficulty that the hiding place was located. After considerable
search the sack was found, with the top burned off and the dust exposed.
On the return Hendrickson thought he saw an opportunity to escape, and
it required three rifle shots to convince him of his error.
The recovered sack contained but a portion of the dust and it was
finally learned from Hendrickson that the balance was on deposit in a
restaurant in Klondike City. An order soon produced all but $480, which
amount had been spent in gambling and rioting by the thief.
Justice was quickly meted out to the offender and Monday morning he was
sentenced to five years imprisonment -- the extreme penalty -- by Judge
McGuire.
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Below we give the deaths which have occurred at the hospital since it
was opened, August 20, 1897. considering the fact that since that time
275 patients have been occupants, the death rate has been amazingly low:
Fred Hart ..... Philadelphia
Andrew Johnson ..... Odd Fellows buried
Paul Meng ..... Switzerland
John Parker ..... Portland
John A. Langlois ..... Canada
Peter Shearer ..... Tacoma
Jas. S. Cooper ..... New York (Tacoma)
H. H. McQuillin ..... Chicago
J. M. Stacey ..... Tacoma
John Silva ..... (Italian)
Thos. Harvey ..... Victoria
Nels Oleson ..... (Thought Tacoma)
John Freedland ..... Tacoma
Edw. Dustan ..... Unknown
Capt. Hamlin ..... (On government survey)
Wm. McKillon ..... (Scotchman)
Theo. Valentine (sailor) ..... Norway
Andrew Skinrud ..... Wiota, Iowa
Andrew Nelson ..... Unknown
N. P. Swanson ..... Unknown
John Galvin ..... Juneau
Wm. S. Myers ..... Unknown
Wm. J. Law ..... Old Mexico
David Roebig ..... Unknown
Gus Anderson ..... Unknown
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Thirsty Dawson.
Men with money to buy whisky, and no whisky for sale, was the serious
condition of affairs which confronted the inhabitants of Dawson only a
short time ago. It was indeed a sad sight to see some of the old-timers
walk up to the bar and call for lemonade with a far-away look in their
eyes, and the apologetic manner in which their orders were filled by the
accommodating barkeeper, was enough to convince an onlooker that unless
relief arrived soon serious complications would surely arise.
On Monday night, May 31, the Opera House saloon was opened and five
barrels of good whisky came to light. In less than six days the smiling
attendants would shock the prospective regaler with the remark: "We have
no whisky. What will you drink?"
The 16 barrels, brought in by the May West were emptied at $1 per drink,
but the recent arrival of boats from above and the cargo of the Weare
have placed Dawson in her normal condition, and we now have plenty of
liquid refreshment and are willing to let the future take care of
itself.
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Page 3.
STEAMED THE ENTIRE DISTANCE
Steamer Bellingham Safely Docked at Dawson
Shots the Canyon and White Horse - The First Steamer to Accomplish the
Feat - Brings Nearly a Ton of Mail From Lake Bennett
The steamer Bellingham, owned by Messrs. Dignan, Slinger and Willnek,
formerly of Whatcom, Wash., and which was built on Bellingham bay for
the Yukon trade, arrived June 3 at 4:30 p.m. She brought 32 sacks of
mail through from Bennett and distributed eight at various points on the
upper river....
In addition to the mail, 18 passengers arrived on the Bellingham, among
whom were representatives of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, who brought
with them supplies, etc., for the bank.
The passenger list was as follows:
Thomas McMullen, the assistant manager of the Canadian Bank of Commerce,
Dawson City;
C. J. K. Nourse, of the bank staff;
W. H. McKay, barrister, formerly of Ottawa;
H. H. Cameron, of the large lumber firm of W.C. Edwards & Co., Ottawa;
Thomas Heney and Wm. Helman, Ottawa;
Messrs. Chas. and M. Eschwege, of London, representing French and
English syndicates;
James McNamee,
John Tierney,
C. Lathrop,
J. P. McNamee,
J. Wilkeson, Sr.,
J. Wilkeson, Jr.,
Thos. McNamee,
Jack Ross, Ed Ross, L. Dignan.
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Another Drowning.
Information reached the Nugget yesterday of the drowning, at the mouth
of the Pelly, of Jake Hammon, of Lateral Falls, Ore. Hammon had safely
passed all the waters that are considered dangerous andmet his death by
a peculiar accident. While rowing, his oar was broken, and in attempting
to catch his balance fell overboard. His partner was unable to rescue
him and the unfortunate man was carried away by the current.
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Dawson Banks.
There are, at present, two banks operating in Dawson. The Bank of
British North America, under the management of Mr. D. Doig, and the
Canadian Bank of Commerce, with Mr. H. T. Wills as manager and Mr. Thos.
McMullen assistant manager. The introduction of our money and checks
through these institutions will greatly facilitate business.
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Mail at the Nugget Office.
Five hundred letters ____ the office of The Klondike Nugget awaiting
distribution. A complete list can be found on our bulletin board
opposite the N. C. Co.'s store.
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PERSONAL MENTION.
Duncan O'Hara, of Seattle, is among the late arrivals.
Ex-Gov. John H. McGraw of Washington has a fine claim on Minook creek.
Geo. Crist of Seattle and party of four left Dawson June 7 for St.
Michaels.
Terry King and John Payne of Seattle, floated in with the rush one day
last week.
J. S. McLellan and David Gunn both of Seattle, will leave for the lower
country about the 15th inst.
W. S. Riblets, Jas. Dunlap, R. O. Wlets and J. W. McCreary, all of
Skagit county, Wash., left for down the river last week.
Frank E. b. Smith and Martin Harris, both of Seattle, are located on
Sulphur, and both have excellent claims.
Alf. Byers, who held a lay on 22 Bonanza, is in town. He has completed
his work on the claim and will remain in Dawson some time.
M. D. K. Weimer and party of Trenton, Iowa, arrived in Dawson safe and
sound June 11. Mr. Weimer reports a very pleasant trip the entire
distance.
Depsite three column obituary in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mr. "Swiftwater
Bill" Gates is still well and alive. Mr. Gates reached Dawson in safety
some time ago.
Dr. L. E. Benson and party, formerly of Seattle, arrived from the foot
of LeBarge the other day. The doctor expects to devote considerable of
his time to mining.
Judge McGuire, Customs Collector Davis and Captain Constantine, of the
Northwest Mounted Police, left Dawson for Forty Mile two weeks ago in a
skiff. They returned on the May West.
Mr. W. B. Ellis of the Memphis Commercial Appeal called at the Nugget
office Monday, bringing the latest news of deaths at White Horse rapids,
particulars of which appear elsewhere.
Dr. J. Ralph Barg of Cincinnati, Ohio, arrived in the city Sunday last.
The doctor who is a practicing physician brings with him a stock of
drugs and optical goods. The doctor may, at a future date, begin the
practice of his profession.
Jno. Deners and Wm. Bushay of Buckley, and chas. Forget of Osceola, King
county, Wash., left June 9 for American creek, to represent their
claims. They expect to return in about a month.
Mr. Wallace Small, of Everett, Wash., paid the Nugget office a visit a
few days ago. Mr. Small has been working a lay on 26 Bonanza, below. He
reports results fair, thought not up to expectations.
Frank Kinghorn, well known in political and business circles in the
state of Washington and who has been with Bartlett Bros. since their
leaving Sanden, B. C., six months ago, is now a resident of Dawson.
Among recent arrivals from Seattle are the following: Kerby O. Guy,
Frank Verlov, Chas. Kelly, Frank Kelly, Chas Kuntz, F. M. Davis, S. W.
Hewitt, F. J. Heman, J. P. Heman, Phil. Southmier, J. Crawford and wife.
Prof. T. S. Lippy of Seattle, owner of 16 Eldorado, was wrecked in the
White Horse rapids last week. His barge carrying a large amount of
provisions was injured, but to how great an extent has not as yet been
learned.
J. A. Bowles and Andy Weinburg of Seattle who were with J. J. Freeman at
the time of his death by drowning, near Big Salmon last fall, reached
___ _____ March 28, and have since locate several claims in the Yukon
district.
Bros. C. W. Watts, representing the Portland ________
D. E. Griffith and J. J. Doyle, who left Victoria May 23, arrived in
Dawson June 9, bring the latest news from the outside, the P.M. of May
27. Through the courtesy of Mr. Griffith a public reading of the war
news was given by Judge Miller, which attracted a large crowd.
Messrs. Ed Brant and Wm. Burke of Seattle, and Geo. Earle of Kalamazoo,
Mich., came down the river in the same barge that brought the plant and
outfit of the Nugget. The boys have not as yet developed definite plans
for the future but will make Dawson their headquarters for some little
time at least.
Jos. S. Lancaster and party from Butte, Montana, reached Dawson May 23,
and with characteristic push and energy immediately commenced work on a
fine large building at the corner of Fourth avenue and Third street.
When completed the building will be occupied as a hotel. We bespeak for
Mr. Lancaster an excellent patronage.
J. A. Miller and J. M. Crawford will leave for Seattle on the first
steamer down the river. Miller and Crawford own several good claims and
have disposed of a portion of their holdings. Mr. Miller expects to
return next spring. His brother H. I. Miller is bringing a herd of
cattle down the river. He expects to butcher in Dawson.
The following party came in on two scows last Saturday: Messrs. W. H.
Baldwin, John Leaf, Otto christinsen, all of Perry, Ia.; Clarence Argo,
John Snyder, Bert Greggs and Geo. Kilter of Sioux City; Ben Christensen
and Jake Christensen of Seattle and E. McReynold of Olympia. the party
will look around Dawson for a few days and then will proceed down the
river probably to Circle City.
H. M. Coleman, representing a London company, The Klondike Syndicate, of
which Lord Mountmorres is chairman of board of directors and Viscount
D'Aalby is managing director, arrived in Dawson last month is is
investigating certain properties which have been offered for sale in
London. Mr. Coleman expects to leave for London about July 1, making a
flying trip. We expect to be able to announce a number of large
purchases by his company in the near future.
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(This part was illegible) ....Musical talent of a high order was in the
camp, and every Saturday night a grand concert was given. We hope that
all the boys will find the fortune they are seeking. Among the crowd
were the following:
Dr. W. R. Langton and H. C. Myers, South Bend, Ind.; Albert Gabrois,
Vineland, N.J.; C. H. Parker, Tacoma Wash; David Irons, Anaconda, Mont.;
Fred H. and C. B. Fisk, Stewart's Point, Cal.; Raymond P. and Ed. S.
Foster, San Francisco; Henry Dizard, Cal. A. Johnston, Newt. Hooper, Ed.
Hering, M. E. Clough, Seattle, Wash.; B. F. Davis, Chicago; Robt. Aff,
Dubuque, Ia.' Wm. B. Ives, Ogden, Utah; Geo. H. Eastman, Omaha, Neb.;
Tom Murray and Jim Callan, San Francisco.
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LOCAL BREVITIES.
Flour was sold in Dawson on Tuesday at $3.00 per sack. This is the
cheapest figure it has ever been known to reach. Several newcomers after
looking over the situation concluded to return immediately to the United
States. On this account their outfits sold at large discounts.
Ross Livengood, Perry Hutchins, H. W. Zurdier and Julian L. Shay of the
Sandusky party of 20, who recently arrived, made a discovery on 70 below
on Bonanza and brought their clean-up into the city Monday evening. Two
hundred and fifty pounds of bear meat at $1.25 per pound is not a bad
day's work. The honor of the discovery belongs to Mr. Livengood.
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Page 4.
MURDER ON M'CLINTOCK RIVER.
Indians Shoot White Men to Rob Them of Their Supplies.
One of the most cold-blooded crimes committed since the rush to the gold
fields began, occurred on the McClintock river during the latter part of
last April.
Messrs. W. Meechan of Juneau, Alaska, and C. A. Fox of California, two
prospectors who had been equipped with their outfits on the McClintock
about 40 miles below English Post were shot by Indians, the former being
instantly killed and the latter severely wounded. The murderers, four in
number, were apprehended and are now held in custody at Tagish Post and
will be brought to Dawson during the summer for trial.
The particulars of the crime as gathered at the post are as follows: The
two prospectors after proceeding some distance up the McClintock, which
empties into Marsh lake, had concluded to return to the lake and come
down to Davson by the regular route. On the day preceding their
departure they were approached by two Indians who requested passage in
their boat some distance down the stream. The request was readily
granted, and having ascertained the time of departure the Indians
withdrew, promising to be on board the next morning.
On the following day when Meechan and Fox were ready to set out the
Indians failed to appear and after waiting some time the prospectors
started with them. They had covered but a short distance down the river
when a rifle shot was head from the shore and Fox fell to the bottom of
the boat with a bullet hole through his left shoulder. A second shot
immediately followed and Meechan dropped mortally wounded, a portion of
his body hanging over the rail. Two more shots were fired, both taking
effect on Mecham who died almost immediately.
Fox though badly wounded succeeded in raising his head slightly above
the boat and discovered on the shore the Indians who had asked for
passage the preceding day. After some talk and gesitculation among
themselves they ran into the timber.
Fox concluded that they were making for a bend in the stream where from
the nature of the current the boat would drift ashore. His left arm was
perfectly helpless but he managed with the help of a paddle and his
uninjured arm to reach the opposite bank. Hastily shoving the boat into
the stream he took a position commanding a view of the bend. the boat
drifted toward the other shore and reached the bend just as the Indians
came out of the timber at the same spot. After securing the boat they
took Mecham's body, weighted it down with rocks and a pick and sunk it
in 25 feet of water. The outfits were then removed and cached some
distance from shore and the boat turned adrift. they made no effort to
find Fox, evidently thinking his body had fallen overboard and gone down
stream.
When the murderers had left, Fox set out for the nearest camp, a
distance of nine miles. He reached the camp in an exhausted condition
and a courier was immediately dispatched to the post.
Corp. H. E. Rudd, with three mounted police, left at once for the scene
of the crime. After a vigorous search and some clever detective work the
murderers were all captured and the stolen outfits secured. Three weeks
from the time of the departure Corp. Rudd landed his prisoners and the
goods at Tagish Post. They are now guarded closely day and night and
will be until they are brought to Dawson for their final trial.
Fox was taken to the post as quickly as possible and given every
available attention. The bullet pierced his left lung, coming out near
his left breast. At last accounts he was slowly regaining his health.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DROWNING AT WHITE HORSE RAPIDS.
On the 6th inst. two men, Messrs. C. J. Herman and J. Boyd, of San
Francisco, were drowned, and A. Mattson, their partner of the same city,
narrowly escaped the same fate at the White Horse rapids. Their scow was
an unwieldy affiar with a large cabin covering the rear half. On this
account they had considerable difficulty in steering it. As the scow
neared the White Horse it struck on the rock which everyone remembers as
lying just above the entrance. Boyd was knocked from the scow by the
shock and immediately sank. Herman and Mattson clung to the boat, but
the former lost his hold and likewise was drowned. Mattson retained his
hold, and was finally taken ashore. Their outfits, consisted of two and
half tons of provisions, nearly the whole of which was lost. A number of
sacks and boxes were picked up along the shore, and these, together with
what remained on the boat, where sufficient to leave Mattson with a fair
outfit. He intends coming down the river as soon as he can perfect the
necessary arrangements. Neither of the bodies of the drowned men were
recovered so far as is known.
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Young Byrne Recovers.
Wm. E. Byrne, the lad whose feet were frozen on the way out last winter,
has been brought to Dawson and will leave for Seattle on the first boat
down the river.
Byrne and his uncle, Jas. McGuire, were proceeding up the river during
the latter part of November. Forty miles this side of Selkirk they
struck running water and young Byrne's legs became frozen. He was taken
to Co. Word's camp and given all available attention but it was feared
that he could not recover. Fortunately Dr. Beckett of Seattle was camped
some 25 miels below Selkirk and Joe Green was dispatched to bring him
up. When the doctor reached the camp, gangrene had set in and it became
necessary to amputate the legs half way to the knees. The operation was
successfully accomplished and the lad improved from the time.
Frank Knowles and Lee Croissant of Seattle took care of him during the
winter and when the ice broke brought him to Dawson.
He was reported in Seattle during the winter that young Byrne had died.
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An Inquiry.
Judge Morford brings to the Nugget office a communication from Mrs.
Juliette Prescott Mathis of Santa Barbara, Cal. Mrs. Mathis desires
information concerning the reported death of her cousin - Mrs. Monroe
Bean. According to Mrs. Mathis' letter her cousin was murdered in Alaska
by Indians in 1878. Nothing beyond a bare rumor of the tragedy ever
reached the outside. Mrs. Mathis thinks that during the present rush
some definite information regarding her cousin's fate may come to light.
Any one possessing such information may communicate same to the Nugget
office.
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