PLOT THAT FAILED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 71, 21 September 1933, Page 18

PLOT THAT FAILED

EFFECTIVE INTERVIEW

A STORY OF THE YUKON

(From "The Post's" Representative.) VANCOUVER, August 17. Tlio story of the "Yukon Rebellion," of a projected capture of.the bariks and Government in 1901, at the height of the gold rush, by 500 members of the Order of the Midnight Sun, mainly Americans, led by a small group of desperadoes, and of how it was quashed by a single member of the 'Northwest Mounted Police, was told for the first tiino by Major A. E. Snyder, retired, as lie tended his garden on Granville Heights, overlooking the flawless vista of the Gulf of Georgia and the Pacific beyond.

Major Snydcr had just returned from the South African War, and was assigned to the command of a detachment of the Mounted Polico at White Horse, Yukon. An unguarded remark, let fall by a man who was seen among a group that had been assembling regularly for a week, put Snyder on the track. He sent for a prospector some distance away who was acquainted with some of the group,and asked him bluntly what his friends were, plotting. The miner, a 'British subject, frankly admitted that it was the most foolhardy scheme he had ever heard, and told the facts. , ' The leaders, six of whom were at Dawson City and three at White Horse, had recruited 500 men, ostensibly to capture the Yukon for the United States. But the leaders alone knew the real objective of the plot, which, was that they should seize the gold in the banks as soon as the rising was under way and make their way out to civilisation. Snyder posted his headquarters at Ottawa of what .was afoot. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was Prime Minister, satisfied that the United States authorities were not in any way .associated with ' tho scheme, telegraphed in his own name to Snyder:—"Do nothing to cause international complications. The leader of the threatened war was a German who lived in the United States. As ferryman at White Horse, he met everyone coming in and out. He was a man of powerful physique, a noted gambler, of an affable disposition. , A week before the freeze-up, which was to be the sign for the revolt, Snyder sought.him out. "Fine job, this bank hold-up scheme, eh?',' said-Snyder. . • The general had not heard or it. "Don't you know about the Order of the Midnight Sun, the'new organisation?" . , p ■ , .The general was becoming contused, but again professed ignorance. "I thought you'knew," said Snyder, watching his man closely. "It's an outfit of fools that think they can rob the/banks at Dawson and White Horse.' ' ■ '-.'.''Do. you know about it?" stammered the general. . //All about it," replied Snyder, smiling, broadly. What are yougoing to do?" asked the ferryman, hesitantly. ' "That's up to me, but we'll give .them a .merry time," said Snyder, as he walked away. An hour later Snyder got word from one of his troopers that two men had 'ius.t started south, walking the railroad ties, travelling, light and fast. Snyder immediately wired his detachment1 at Carcross that, if two pedes: trians < came, down the railway track their 'description be reported and they be allowed to pass. They came, at night, were seen by the light of the midnight sun, and' were allowed to pass. : ' Thus. also at Summit; and, as far-as the interest ,6f ' the-Mounted Police went,, they walked to the Equator. ■ ' ;.__ -