Today, October 18, 1927, marks a somber 60th anniversary for Alaska, as the rugged territory celebrates its union with the United States. But amidst the pomp and circumstance, a dark stain on the Tlingit coast refuses to be forgotten – the cold-blooded murder of a young local man, John Smith, who met his untimely demise in Sitka just 60 years ago. According to eyewitnesses, Smith was brutally slain on October 18, 1867, the very day Alaska was formally ceded to the US, as a Hessian flag was lowered and the Stars and Stripes were raised.
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Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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