News items from

The Bennett Sun, September 30, 1899

An Atlin Road Agent

Masked Highwayman Holds Up a Stage in Real Western Style and Gets $3.55

Atlin has had a genuine stage holdup. The work of the robber was shockingly crude. His method, or rather lack of it, demonstrated that he was not an expert in the profession, and that he was thoroughly in want of experience. His ignorance can only be excused by his boldness, from which it originated.

It happened Monday evening, Sept. 16, about 8 o'clock. Walker's stage was enroute to Pine City from Atlin when a masked highwayman stepped out in the road and at the point of a Winchester commanded the driver to halt. The command was obeyed and the passengers were ordered to get out of the stage and line up with their hands in the air. Four of the passengers, Messrs. D. Patterson, C.H. Dewitt, J. Dillon and Mrs. Nelson took to the woods.

The others were Driver Walker, Photographer Draper, T.Shirley, W. Waters, J.Emmett and Miss Maud Biggs.

They had considerable money about them, but most of them managed to lose their purses in the stage before leaving it. The highwayman's order to them, therefore, to throw their money in a pile on the road resulted in only $3.55 being contributed to the road agent. This he sulkily picked up, and backing into the brush, he disappeared.

The police were immediately notified and vigorous search made for the daring robber, but up to late reports he has not been caught.

TWO PAPERS FOR CAPE NOME

Cole Bourk and George E. Story, both former employees of the Klondike Nugget at Dawson, have gone to Cape Nome with a complete newspaper and job plant, where they will start the Nome Nugget. G. B. Swinehart, formerly with the Yukon Sun, preceded them with a paper to be called the Arctic Gold News. Cape Nome will not be behind in the newspaper line.

After 18 months' of hard fighting Thomas V. O'Brien has received from the Canadian government a franchise to build a narrow gauge railroad from Dawson to Grand Forks, where Eldorado empties into Bonanza, a distance of 15 miles. The estimated cost is $200,000.

The Bennett Sun became the Whitehorse Star upon moving to Whitehorse from Bennett Lake, B. C. in July of 1900. The Whitehorse Star's first publication was on July 18, 1900.