Digital Bob Archive

21 February 1980

JULY 31, 1883-When the mail steamer Eureka arrived yesterday and Captain J. C. Hunter and some of the passengers came ashore, they at once wanted to know what was going on and pointed to the foot of Seward Street where the body of Charely Green was still hanging from the gallows. The circumstances were explained to them by Mr. Fuller. Particularly inquisitive was a young man named Edward Pierrepoint, from New York. With his father he is making the round trip on the Eureka. Some of our people thought the two men, father and son, were very nosy about affairs here that are none of their business, but young Pierrepoint explained that he will write a book about their trip to Alaska and that he would like to have it both complete and accurate. He was furnished with details.

After the body of Green had been cut down and taken away by his friends, and while most of the visitors from the ship were in the Northwest Trading Company store looking over the large stock of Indian curios, there came a cry from the street, ?Indians! A horde of Indians is coming from the village!? The alarm spread rapidly, and men rushed to arm themselves. This proved unnecessary. It was indeed a horde of Indians, but they were peaceful Auks, and they were bringing in the escaped prisoner, Boxer, whom they had captured in the woods.

Another trial was quickly ordered, with the same jury as yesterday. One of the Auk chiefs was brought in and he related that he has been present and had seen Boxer wield the axe that killed Major Given. After due deliberation the jury found Boxer guilty and he was sentenced to hang. The scaffold used in the morning was still in place and Boxer was taken there under guard.

A touching scene took place at the gallows. As Dankert Petersen climbed a ladder to adjust the noose, the ladder began to slip. Boxer quickly stepped forward and steadied it until Petersen descended. After the noose was placed around Boxer?s neck, he recited the Lord?s Prayer in good English, then said, ?Good-by Indians, good-by white man.? A red silk handkerchief, presented by an Indian woman who was standing near, was tied round his eyes and the trap was sprung.

The Eureka passengers who have witnessed the execution returned to their vessel, which was to sail as soon as they were aboard. Dr. McLean then appeared from his cabin and reported that the guard Dennis has died from his wounds. The count is three white men dead, three Indians dead. It is hoped that this is the end of a melancholy episode in the history of the camp.