Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1901 — THE PLOT WAS WELL LAID [ARTICLE]

THE PLOT WAS WELL LAID

Expose of a Scheme to Capture Dawson. WOULD SEIZE TERRITORY. “Order of the Midnight Sun” Numbered Several Hundred When Conepirucy We* Discovered by Secret Service— Canadian Government Working on Case. Seattle, Wash., dispatch: The Times prints the following from Victoria, B. C.: There was an organized conspiracy to seize Dawson, secure the barracks of tae Northwest mounted police with their arms and ammunition, loot the banks and pillage the property of the rich northern gold fields. These facts are confirmed. J&mes Seeley, formerly of this city, is now head of the secret service of the Northwest mounted police. He is in this city and says that not only was there a conspiracy to loot Dawson, but the scheme hatched by the conspirators was a very feasible one. Had its existence not been discovered by the secret service of the Yukon and nipped in the bud he declares the conspirators could have accomplished their purpose, and after taking Dawson could have held that place and the Yukon for six weeks or two months. The conspiracy was born at Dawson and had a branch at Skagway, but no existence in any other place to the south of Skagway, although efforts were made to secure the assistance of pro-Boer sympathizers in Seattle and other points in the United States. It was at Dawson that the plot was made last summer. Several American Fenians, who had 'drifted to Dawson, got together and formed anprganization which was called *t£e “Order of the Midnight Sun.” A number of others were gathered in and the order grew until there were several hundred adherents in September, when the members of the secret service in the Yukon became aware of its existence. Ottawa, Ont., Nov. 25.—1 t has transpired that the mounted police have been tracing up an alleged conspiracy to seize the Yukon territory. The last dispatch which the mounted police department has received on the subject was dated November 4. It was from Superintendent Wood, of Dawson and reads: “Snyder reports he discovered whereabouts in Skagway of papers relating to the conspiracy to seize territory. United States refuses to release unless Snyder makes affidavit as to conspirators. This, of course, he cannot do. Am satisfied such conspiracy exists." Snyder is one of the policemen. It Is said that the papers have been removed from Skagway. At any rate, they were not found.