The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
North of 60 Mining News - October 4, 2024
During the tumultuous days around the turn of the century, lawlessness prevailed, and bounty hunters often sought infamous outlaws, leading to the rise of reward posters like this one, highlighting the desperate measures taken to restore order in a chaotic frontier.
Born in 1860, Jefferson "Soapy" Smith led a life of incredible crime that was mostly petty in nature but by no means harmless. In 1898, Smith would meet his end to angry vigilantes in Skagway, Alaska.
The cabin of the Mad Trapper of Rat River, where Albert Johnson would flee from RCMP. His post-mortem photograph was too graphic to be used.
Photo of Ezra Allen Miner, better known as Bill Miner, taken in 1906. He is reputed to have been the originator of the phrase "Hands up!"
Newspaper headline and story of Pennycuick and McGuire's work in convicting George O'Brien.
Alexander McKenzie, a powerful political figure in early North Dakota, orchestrated a corrupt scheme to seize gold claims in Nome, Alaska.
As the nights grow longer and the chill of October creeps in, we gather around the flickering glow of campfires, drawn to glimmering tales of the Gold Rush and a darkness drawn by the riches pulled from northern streams and golden beaches.
The Far North, with its untouched wilderness and promise of wealth, drew all sorts: brave souls seeking fortune, dreamers, and adventurers. But in the shadows of their light also lurked figures of a different kind –those whose pursuit of gold wasn't through honest labor, but by exploiting, deceiving, and even terrorizing those around them.
"Might was right; murder, robbery, and petty theft were common occurrences," wrote Sir Samuel Steele, then a Superintendent of the North-West Mounted Police, during a visit to Skagway in 1898. His words captured the brutal reality of those wild days, when law was often absent, and danger was a constant companion.
Tonight, let us step back into the dim past of the Arctic, where might was often right, and law was a distant notion. It was an era when both Alaska and the northern reaches of Canada were filled with whispered fears, hidden dangers, and a few infamous characters who left behind echoes of unease that still linger on cold northern nights.
These were the villains of the mining frontier – people who preyed on the ambitions of those hoping to strike it rich, and who in turn became legends of their own, their reputations fueled by both fact and folklore. From the western beaches of Nome to the remote wilderness of Northwest Territories, their stories are as chilling today as the frostbitten wind that swept through their lawless domains.
Gather round, if you dare, and hear the stories of five of the most notorious criminals who haunted the early days of mining in Alaska and Canada. Their deeds may be history, but the shadows they cast over the golden dreams of the North remain.
Born in 1860, Jefferson "Soapy" Smith led a life of incredible crime that was mostly petty in nature but by no means harmless. In 1898, Smith would meet his end to angry vigilantes in Skagway, Alaska.
Name: Jefferson Randolph Smith II
Alias: Soapy Smith
Date of Birth/Death: November 2, 1860 – July 8, 1898
Known For:Conman and crime boss of Skagway, Alaska
Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith was not your average swindler. He was a showman, a master manipulator, and one of the most notorious conmen to ever stake a claim in the North.
Soapy earned his nickname running the "prize soap racket" – a scam that promised cash hidden inside bars of soap but only delivered to accomplices who were in on the trick. This small-time hustle was the start of a career that would span from Denver, Colorado, to Skagway, Alaska, turning him into the self-proclaimed "king of the frontier con men."
By the time Soapy arrived in Skagway in 1898, he had left behind a trail of scams, gang operations, and extortion. Skagway, at the time, was a chaotic gateway to the riches of the Klondike-a lawless land of prospectors, drifters, and hustlers.
Smith saw opportunity in the gold rush, but not in the usual sense. He set up shop, opened a saloon, and began to establish his own criminal empire, preying on the hopefuls passing through.
He formed a gang, bribed officials, and even tried to control local media to keep his activities under wraps. Under Soapy's watch, Skagway became a place where danger lurked in every alley, and even the most streetwise prospectors feared losing their fortune to his cons.
Smith's scams were as varied as they were effective. From his infamous "prize soap" trick to elaborate fake telegraph offices that charged desperate miners to send messages to loved ones (despite there being no actual telegraph line), Soapy's operations were geared toward squeezing every last penny out of anyone passing through Skagway.
His gang often posed as honest citizens, drawing unsuspecting victims into rigged gambling games or bogus investments, ensuring that any "winnings" stayed firmly within Soapy's grasp.
Soapy's reign over Skagway was brought to an end not by the law but by the people of Skagway themselves. Tired of his cons and control, the town formed a vigilante "Committee of 101" to restore order.
On the night of July 8, 1898, Soapy tried to crash a meeting of the vigilantes on the docks. In the ensuing confrontation, shots were fired and Soapy fell dead, but not before wounding Frank Reid, one of the vigilantes, who would succumb to his injuries days later.
The cabin of the Mad Trapper of Rat River, where Albert Johnson would flee from RCMP. His post-mortem photograph was too graphic to be used.
Name:Albert Johnson
Alias: The Mad Trapper of Rat River
Date of Birth/Death: c. 1890–1900 – February 17, 1932
Known For: Fugitive, subject of the largest manhunt in Northern Canada
Albert Johnson, known as "The Mad Trapper of Rat River," became infamous in 1932 when his defiance of Canadian law enforcement led to one of the largest manhunts in the country's history.
Arriving in the Northwest Territories and setting up a cabin near the Rat River, Johnson – likely an alias, as his true identity was never uncovered – quickly aroused suspicion by purportedly tampering with indigenous trappers' lines and refusing to engage with authorities.
When the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) attempted to enforce a search warrant at his cabin, Johnson responded with violence, shooting at officers and injuring a constable. This marked the beginning of a high-profile chase through the harsh Arctic wilderness.
Despite being pursued by RCMP officers, local trackers, and aerial surveillance – led by World War I flying ace Wilfrid "Wop" May – Johnson managed to evade capture for over a month, covering more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) in subzero temperatures.
Demonstrating remarkable survival skills and an almost supernatural ability to elude his pursuers, Johnson killed RCMP Constable Edgar Millen during the chase, further escalating the manhunt.
Nevertheless, the pursuit ended on February 17, 1932, in a dramatic firefight along the Eagle River, where Johnson was shot and killed.
After Johnson's death, authorities found a substantial amount of money, expensive dental work, and high-quality survival gear in his possession, but no incriminating evidence to explain his extreme hostility toward law enforcement.
His cabin was similarly unremarkable, adding to the mystery – what could he have been hiding? The absence of clear motives or an identity led to widespread speculation, with some believing he might have been an escaped convict, a fugitive from the United States, or simply a recluse deeply mistrustful of any authority.
His elusiveness, resourcefulness, and violent defiance captivated international media attention, making Albert Johnson a figure of legend. Johnson's motives and true identity remain a mystery, cementing his status as one of the most enigmatic and dangerous figures in Northern Canadian history.
Photo of Ezra Allen Miner, better known as Bill Miner, taken in 1906. He is reputed to have been the originator of the phrase "Hands up!"
Name: Ezra Allen Miner
Alias: Bill Miner, "The Gentleman Bandit"
Date of Birth/Death: December 27, 1847 – September 2, 1913
Known For: Stagecoach and train robber, folk hero in Canada and the United States
Bill Miner, known as "The Gentleman Bandit," was one of the last of the old-time bandits, embodying the dying days of the Wild West. Born Ezra Allen Miner in Michigan, Miner's life of crime began as a teenager, spurred by a turbulent upbringing on the California frontier after his father's death.
Miner quickly became involved in criminal activities, including holding up stagecoaches and eventually moving on to train robberies, which made him notorious across North America.
Miner's criminal career spanned decades, and he earned a reputation for his well-mannered demeanor and so-called gentlemanly ways, earning him the nickname "The Gentleman Bandit."
In 1904, Miner successfully pulled off Canada's first train robbery near Mission Junction, British Columbia, along with accomplices Jake Terry and Shorty Dunn. They stole $7,000 in cash and bonds worth $300,000. This heist cemented Miner's infamy in Canada, where he soon became a folk hero.
Two years later, Miner and his gang attempted another train robbery near Kamloops, British Columbia, which turned out to be a fiasco. They walked away with a mere $15.50 and a bottle of liver pills, yet the failed heist triggered one of the largest manhunts in Canadian history.
The RCMP, along with trackers, bloodhounds, and American detectives, were called in to capture the elusive gang. Miner was eventually caught, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, in 1907, he managed a dramatic escape from the BC Penitentiary, aided by what was speculated to be a secret arrangement involving stolen bonds, further adding to his legendary status.
Escaping to the United States, Miner resumed his life of crime but was eventually captured again after a failed train robbery in Georgia. By then, he was a symbol of a bygone era – a notorious figure who was also admired by many for his Robin Hood persona, though much of that reputation was embellished by Miner himself.
Bill Miner's ability to evade capture, his string of daring heists, and his audacious prison escape turned him into a legend on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. His death in 1913 marked the end of an era for the old-time bandits, but his story lived on, cementing him as a folk figure in Canadian history.
Newspaper headline and story of Pennycuick and McGuire's work in convicting George O'Brien.
Name: George Andrew Martin Lane O'Brien
Alias: N/A
Date of Birth/Death: 1864 – August 23, 1901
Known For: Murderer, perpetrator of the Christmas Day Murders
George O'Brien is infamous for his role in the Christmas Day Murders of 1899, a brutal crime that shook the Yukon Territory and captured national attention.
Born in 1864 in Jersey of the British Channel Islands, George O'Brien's early life foretold a troubled future where he was convicted of attempted murder and robbery in England, resulting in a seven-year sentence at Dartmoor Prison.
After his release in 1894, O'Brien made his way to Canada, eventually reaching Dawson City in 1898, drawn by the promise of fortune during the Klondike Gold Rush, but also perhaps motivated by darker tendencies that had festered during his imprisonment.
Here, he became embroiled in the chaotic atmosphere of the gold rush, where greed often led to desperate acts. Forming a partnership with another unsavory prospector, O'Brien devised a plan to rob unsuspecting travelers along the river trail; however, his scheme took a dark turn when money ceased to be the primary motivation, culminating in the cold-blooded slaying of three men-Frederick Clayson, Linn Relfe, and Lawrence Olsen-who were en route to celebrate Christmas together.
Despite a series of suspicious encounters and the discovery of linked stolen goods, O'Brien managed to evade capture for several months. However, the diligent efforts of local authorities led to mounting evidence against him.
The discovery of the victims' bodies, found months after their initial disappearance, ultimately confirmed the heinous nature of O'Brien's crimes.
Each body recovered solidified the prosecution's case and revealed the chilling reality of violence during the Klondike Gold Rush, a grim outcome that intensified public outrage and highlighted the darker aspects of the era.
In June 1901, after a trial filled with dramatic testimonies and compelling evidence, O'Brien was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death, and on August 23, 1901, was executed by hanging. O'Brien's story serves as a chilling reminder of the darker side of the famous rush to the Klondike, where the pursuit of fortune could lead to the most desperate and violent actions.
Alexander McKenzie, a powerful political figure in early North Dakota, orchestrated a corrupt scheme to seize gold claims in Nome, Alaska.
Name: Alexander McKenzie
Alias: None known
Date of Birth/Death: 1847 – August 1912
Known For: Political corruption, conspiracy to seize gold claims in Nome, Alaska
Alexander McKenzie, a powerful political figure in early North Dakota, is infamous for his involvement in a significant corruption scheme during the Nome Gold Rush of the late 1890s.
Born to Irish immigrants in New York, McKenzie moved to Dakota Territory at the age of 17, where he worked on the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad. By 1874, he was appointed sheriff of Burleigh County, serving five terms and establishing himself as a key political player in the region.
Known as a "senator-maker," he was influential in selecting candidates for various government positions and built a powerful political organization suspected of stealing votes and intimidating opponents.
In 1900, as the gold rush drew miners to Nome, McKenzie leveraged his political connections to secure the appointments of a compliant federal judge and other officials in the area. This strategic maneuvering allowed him to seize control of lucrative gold mines by exploiting the legal system; appointed as the receiver for these mines, he began mining their gold while the rightful owners appealed their claims.
However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals intervened after the claim owners sought justice. When McKenzie refused to comply with the court's order to return the gold, he was arrested, tried, and convicted of contempt of court, receiving a one-year sentence, only three months of which he served. His conviction was notable not only for its legal implications but also for exposing the extent of corruption during the gold rush era.
In May 1901, McKenzie was pardoned by President William McKinley, allowing him to return to a life of relative obscurity.
After the fall of his political machine in 1906, he gradually faded from public view and died in 1922. McKenzie's legacy remains a chilling reminder of the lengths which individuals would go to for wealth and power, underscoring the corrupt practices that often accompanied the pursuit of fortune during the tumultuous days of the Klondike and Nome gold rushes.
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