VOLUME NO. 5.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA, December 5, 1930.
NUMBER 20
Another Witness For Tom
Billings Speaks
Major Vincente R. Barros, U.
S. Army, retired, a native of the
Philippines, 43 years olci gave the
■Jnited Press the statements
which follow. He served for al
most three years in the Philip
pine Constabulary before being
commissioned a second lieuten
ant in the Scouts, native infan
try, which also forms two regi
ments of the Regular Army. He
was at the corner of Market and
Stewart Streets, San Francisco,
the day of the Preparedness Day
explosion and he declares that
the man who placed a suitcase
at that corner was neither Torn
Mooney or Warren Billings.
“I saw him running away and
grappled with him on the street,’
Major Barros, now a planter at
Davao, said. “His features and
characteristics were those of a
Latin. He was not of the Moon
ey or Billings type.”
Mooney and Billings were con
victed of the bombing which oc -
curred July 22, 1916, claiming
the lives of ten persons and in
juring forty. They are now
serving life sentences in prison
The California Supreme Court
just recently refused to allow the
pardon of Billings.
Feared Publicity of Trial
Asked why he had remained
silent for fourteen years, Major
Barros explained it was because
of his rank in the Army and
that he did not want to become
involved in a sensational crim
inal trial.
“I was commissioned a lieu
tenant in the United States Army
in 1912,” a statement by Major
Barros said. “Four years later I
obtained a leave of absence to
visit the United States, arriving;
in San Francisco from Manila
on July 13, 1916.
“During the Preparedness Day
Parade (July 22, 1916) I posted
myself on Market Street near
Stewart. I saw a man fifty
yards away place a suitcase on
the sidewalk and then he start
OUK COMMUNITY
CHRISTMAS TREE
At the meeting of the City ]
Council Monday evening a sug-!
gestion was received from the
faculty of tlie Petersburg Schools
offering to furnish a program
for a community Christmas-tree
service to be held at or near the j
city hall and asking the council
to provide a suitable tree and
arrange for the lighting effects.
The city dads were willing |
enough to do that, and more.
What does a Christmas-tree
mean to the kidaies unless they
get something off of it? So the
council in turn appealed to the'
Commercial Club who have ac
cepted the responsibility for col-:
\iy; uorn the various lodges,
clubs and fraternal organiza
tions sufficient funds so that
every child in Petersburg may
receive a bag of candy and nuts
off the community tree. We do j
not know when anything has
en suggested in Petersburg
that appealed to our sympathies
more than this. We are sure
every organization will find
pleasure in contributing its
share and Bill Holt says if any
individual or firm wants a share
in the fun don’t be a bit bashful
send in as much as you like to
him as secretary of the Com
mercial Club and it will all be
used to spread Christmas cheer.
3 sure and watch for further an
nouncements and odn’t miss
the fun. After all, what cancom
pare with the satisfaction of
having made some child happy
at Christmas time?
ed running at top speed toward
me.
Becoming excited, I did not
know whether to give him the
right or left on way and we
bumped against each other. I
fell and he landed on top of me.
f was angry and grabbed his leg,
but he jerked away, cursing me
in a foreign tongue.
Getting to ray feet as speedi
ly as possible, I pursued him but
be .lined ground and was soon
lost in a throng of people.
‘ While still running I heard a
loud detonation and found my-,
self stretched on the street and
saw people running in all di-'
ructions. Being in uniform andj
fearing a repitition of the un-'
foitunate experience with the,
excited man who bumped into
me, I hurried home.
Not Mooney or Billings
“I saw pictures of Mooney and'
Billings many times. The man
vho bumped into me had fea
tures characteristic of the Latin
ace. He wore a dark cap and
heavy woolen suit. His fare was
laggard with big penetrating
"yes.
“I make this statement con
scious of my obligations to socie
ty and to atone so far as pos
:ib'e for the suffering of two un
fortunate victims behind prison
bars for fourteen years.
‘My sincere belief is that
Mooney and Billings are inno
cent. In my eighteen years of
[jubiic sei vice I have met many
persons of different nationalities1
aid I am convinced that the!
man who caused the bomb out
rage was not of the same na-1
tionality as Mooney or Billings.
“My facts, as herewith pre
sented, may not free Mooney and
Billings from prison but if my
declaration can assuage the suf-!
fering they have endured forj
fourteen years, I am willing to i
make whatever sacrifices may;
be required of me in order to do
so.”
i
Orpkange Provided
For Younger Children
-X
In his report to the Secretary
of the Interior last year, Hon.
William John Cooper, U. S. Com
missioner of Education indicat
ed that he did not favor admis
sion of smaller children to the
Territorial industrial schools. He
believed that the effiiciency of
each institution would be better
served by enrolling only the old
er pupils. Under the general sys
tem little tots were enrolleu so
that such schools became in fact
orphanages or homes for the lit
tle tots.
i
In keeping with this recom-1
mendation, one of the buildings'
of old Fort Gibbon has been op
ened as an orphanage for Alas-!
kan orphans and other homeless
children too young for school, i
Hereafter attendance at the
territorial industrial schools will
be limited to students of suit
able age, while a matron and
nurses will care for the younger
brothers and sisters.
Ninety-three schools and 195
teachers were maintained during
the past year for 3,899 pupils.
The enrollmei fc in the bureau
schools being approximately 1,
000 less than enrollment in the
territorial schools.
Miss Nea Mathisen has been
confined to her home for some
days suffering from the effects
of a fall. Mrs Sigurd Mathisen is
substituting at the Blue Bird in
her absence.
j Portrayor of Christ
Sued for Wages
-x
Labor squabbles involving
leading characters in the Ober
ammergau Passion Play, have
been carried into the courts a
gainst Anton Lang, who played
the part of Christ this year, and
nearly a hundred others.
Anton Lang, sued for overtime
wages by a pottery worker, has
an wered that his wage scale was
so high as to make overtime
payments unnecessary. The
courts threw out a suit for wages
against Allois Lang. The other
actions involve claims of house
hold servants who charge they
did not receive their share of
tips automatically added to the
bills of'the town’s guests during
the Passion Play season.
-x
Will Stage Indian
Costume Folk Dance
The Alaska Native Sisterhood
is planning to stage an old cos
tume Indian Dance, in the Mac
Gregor Theatre on the 15th
of this month. This is for
the purpose °f securing funds to
carry on with their local pro
gram for the year.
Only a few of the older Thlin
net people of Petersburg and
other towns can still sing the old
Indian songs and dance the old
dances. They are fast becoming
hnt a vague memory as modern
civilization with its thin veneer
steps in with ether things to
lake fhe time and attention of
the younger folk. However
enough of the older pecnle re
main in Petersburg to drill the
younger in song and dance and
this will be put before tfw local
people as above indicated
The lore of the totem is ne
longer understood by even the
Thlirget people themselves and
their language is fast distppeo
ing. In the course of the next
fifty years it is not improbable
that the only records o', these
folk songs and dances will be
what has been recorded by the
phonograph and motion picture.
The past ten years the prcgres:
of these people has been mos
noticeable. Ten years back the
records of the Bureau of ^idea
tion show that there was an
average daily attendance of only
67 per cent and most of the
families were remaining out of
•own on most any kind of excuse
and thereby keepmg the children
out of school. Last year the
school records indicate an aver
age daily attendance of 95 per
cent with much larger enroll
ment than ever. Which means
the early death of the native
language, ideas and customs.
Which also means the greater
assimilation in the body politic
in civic affairs.
-x-:—
WANTS INFORMATION
REGARDING ROCKY PASS
-X
The Petersburg Commercial
Club has been requested byMaj.
Malcolm Elliott, Dist. Engineer
to submit information relative
to needed improvements in Keku
Strait (Rocky Pass). The War
Department at this time desires
the recommendation of the Club
as to the character of improve
ments that would be justifiable
and the probable effect on pre
sent and future commerce thru
the straits.
SEZ HE!
-x
Bernie Stone, editor of the
Fairbanks-News Miner says:
| “The Bible says” ‘Ask and ye
shall receive.’ We did, and we
got it. Thanksgiving looks quite
, bright now.’
Will Build New Marine
Ways In Petersburg
-X
Johnny Sales has sublet a con
tract for delivery of piling to be
used in the construction of a
ship ways near the old sawmill
for the Anderson Boat Shop ol
Wrangell. Lawrence Paul, Carl
Williams and Charley Wilson
have undertaken contract to de
liver the piling at an early date.
For some time report has been
current that the Anderson Boat
Shop of Wrangell was contem
plating entering this field with
a complete boat shop. With the
undertaking of this project it is
understood that the shop will be
ready for operation at as early
a date as possible.
This year it has been almost
mpossible to get any rush work
completed in the Anderson yard
in Wrangell with the work all
piled up ahead. A.s work enters
he shops it is listed for its turn.
With this new shop in Peters
burg work that they have had to
turn away will be taken care of.
\11 of whi"h means another pay
roll in Petersburg.
“Mother” Jones
Is Now Deed
Throughout the entire United
States, labor unions and other
labor organizations and individ
uals are mourning the death of
Mother Mary Jones—100-year
old militdnt crusader for the
rights of laboring men. She died
!n her home in Maryland on the
10th day of November.
For more then 00 years, Moth
er Jones was'a fwceful charac
ter in ’^bor circles with a follow
ing which was always sincerely
earnest. Wherever strikes and
'abor troubles cnmo, there could
be found Mother Jones with her
biting eloquent tongue. At times
she crossed the will of the high
er-ups in the labor world and
still her following did not dimi
nish. Her most spectacular acti
vities were in the Colorada coal
mine strikes and in the coal
fields of Virginia and the cotton
mills of the South. She saw plen
ty of hardship andsuffering and
took part in many conflicts and
made considerable history in the
annals of the labor world.
x
“Silver Horde” Is An
Alaska Story
-X
The picture coming to Mac
Gregor, with the above title, is
an Alaskan story written by
Rex Beach and has for its theme
the fisheries of the Bristol Bay
district when the Alaska pack
ers had full sway and when their
word was the law of that land.
The story is well carried out
with Evelyn Brent in the role
cf Cherry Malotte.
The scenes of this picture are
taken in and around Ketchikan
with many local boats in the
picture. The picture pleased the
Ketchikan audiences which have
had the opportunity to see it.
When viewing this fine picture
it will be remembered that the
photographers had to take cer
tain liberties with the story and
with the scenes to make the
continuity of the story. There
fore the Alaska audiences will be
| less critical for every Alaskan
who sees this picture will be
| hundreds, aye, thousands of
! others in the States who know
j nothing about Alaska and its
manifold problems.
i Mrs John Steers of Point
Agassiz, left on the S. S. Victoria
for an extented visit with her
son and daughter in Portland
I Oregon.
The Beauty Shoppe
Staged 17-18,
What promises to be just
about the biggest and most ela
borate theatrical event in the
history of Petersburg is now in
the making and will be offered
to the public in the MacGregor
Theatre on the nights of Decem
ber 17th and 18th.
The local members of the Be
nevolent and Protective Order of
Elks have arranged with Mr. and
Mrs. C. H. Lewis, professional
directors, to produce the musical
comedy, “The Beauty Shoppe,”
under their auspices, the pro
ceeds to be turned over to the
Parent Teachers’ Association j
for their gymnasium fund. More |
Than sixty local ladies and gent
leman have been enlisted for the
big cast and chorus and inten
sive rehearsals are now being
held both night and day in pre
paration for the affair. More
than twenty- five musical num
bers, all beautifully costumed,
will be offered, many new and
clever dances will be introduced,
several snappy chorus numbers
will be offered by the entire
company of sixty, and the lines
and story are said to contain
ccmedy of an unusually high
quality, making it a three hour
show filled with snap, speed and
sparkle. This comedy has been
given in Ketchikan on two oc
casions with three performances'
each time, and also in Juneau.'
and was said by press and public!
to have been the finest thing of
the kind ever seen in Alaska. It!
has also scored successes in Se-j
attle at the Metropolitan Thea-|
’n Tacoma. Portland Van
couver, B. C., Victoria and in
more than one hundred cities
throughout the United States
and Canada.
The group of sixty which will
te seen in the local production
consists of our most prominent
and talented citizens and many
new voices wili be heard. More
than two hundred and fifty cos- ]
fumes and special scenery and j
lighting effects are carried toy i
the producers. The cause for|
which the performances are be
ing given is a most laudable one
in which every citizen is inter
ested, so, all in all, we bespeak
a highly successful two night
engagement of “The Beauty
Shoppe.”
-x
Kelly Brown and Helen James
of Kake were united in matri
mony by Commissioner Clausen
last Saturday. The happy couple
left out for Kake during thej
week.
Rev. and Mrs. David Waggoner
of Juneau passed through this
port Tuesday homeward bound
from the West Coast of Prince
of Wales Island. A considerable
c-uantity of canned goods donat
ed for the benefit of the Haines j
Home will be transshipped at
Juneau. Mr. Waggoner planned
Ion staying at Kake until after
| Sunday, before going on to Ju
neau.
-x
Tom Daine,erstwhile Peters
burg barber, passed through on
1 the Alameda this week bound for
Cordova.
-x
j Col. Daniel J. Carr, 75, who
was in charge of the Washing
ton-Alaska cable and telegraph
system in 1910 and 1911, died in
Nice, France, recently.
-x
About 20 members of the Ma
sonic Order of. Ketchikan, in
cluding R. G. Hall, Master, arriv
ed in Petersburg today on the
Northland. They will visit with
the local Masons tonight. Some
• degree work and a big feed isin
store.
Territorial Tax Case to Go
To U. S. Supreme Court
The territorial tax of $250 on
each non-resident troller has
been declared unconstitutional
by the Circuit Court of Appeals
m San Francisco. The suit a
gainst the tax was started in
Juneau last year by Wood Free
man of Seattle, backed by the
Seattle Trollers’ Association
which is financing the suit. De
cision rendered by Judge Justin
W. Harding of the U. S. District
Court for this Division was in
favor of the Territory. Freeman
carried the case on an appeal to
the Circuit Court in San Fran
cisco. Recently Attorney Gener
al John Rustgard went to San
Francisco to appear for the Ter
ritory in the case. Decision rend
ered last week declared the tax
un-constitutional.
After a conference between
Attorney General Rustgard and
Governor George A. Parks, it was
announced that the Territory
would carry the case on to the
United States Supreme Court.
Speaking of the case Mr. Rust
gard stated that the Alaska
Packers’ Association intervened
in the case, filing a brief in the
Appellate Court which was serv
ed on the Attorney General
upon his arrival in San Francis
co. inis benevolent corporation
alleges that it employes some
4.000 fishermen in Alaska and
that the effect of tne tax would
be to destroy its business and
render its property valueless.
Counsel for packers also made
Aviator Burke Safe j
Among Indians
—X —
Capt. E. J. A. “Paddy” Burke for
whom several planes have been
searching, is safe among the,
Liard River Indians. His plane
was spotted last week and it v/as
definitely learned that he had
made a forced landing without
injury to his plane. Snowshoe
wireless from the Liard River
country indicates that Burke
and his companions were not se- |
riousiy injured by their forced
landing about six weeks ago.
I
That section is without tele- j
graph service and word of the
safety of Burke and companions
was brought to I^azelton, B. C.,
by Indians.
-x
FINDS RICH ORE
IN WRANGELL NARROWS
-x
What promises to be a mineral
strike of unusual proportions
was unearthed recently by Frank
Pyghie, et al, near December
Point in Wrangell Narrows. The
ore carries gold, silver, copper,
lead and zinc and is apparently
of very high grade. The lode is
approximately 150 feet wide and
extends from December Point
across Mitkoff Island in the di
rection of Woodpecker Cove. It
has been traced and staked for
two miles already without ap
parent diminution in quantity
or quality. Samples have been
sent to Denver for complete
analysis.
-x
“Black Matt” Berkovich, re
puted bootleg king of Ketchikan
is on trial on a liquor conspiracy
charge. Phil Dohm, his alleged
partner, is said to be government
witness in this case and it is
raid he will not be tried on the
same charge. Ugly rumors of
more serious charges being the
outcome of this case are percol
ating around. It is said that this
arrest is the outcome of orders
from the Department of Justice.
jan oral argument, Mr. Rustgard
i said.
Previous Descision of Like Case
In a previous case, also argu
by Attorney General John Rust
gard in which the argument of
the Packers was set forth by a
certain herring operator, the
Court ruled that the Territory
was within its own rights if it
taxed a corporation out of
business. That was a taxing pow
er that was conferred upon the
Territory by Congress. This case
was one wherein the packer pro
tested payment of a tax on her
ring which tax they said was ex
orbitant and would tend to des
troy their business and render
their property valueless. This
decision of the Supreme Court
is of record.
In the present trollers tax
case the agrument set forth by
the trollers is that the act is un
constitutional in that it gave
preferential tax rate to resident
trollers over citizen trollers of
another state.
In event this taxe is declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court, it will be interesting to
learn what the Juneau politi
cians will do to remove the
foreign competition which local
fishermen must contend vith. To
legislate a one year re. i lenti, i
requirement would be a ui -diu r
fisheries legislative act which
power is not within the scope ct
the duties of the Alaska legis
lature.
Doak Appointed to
Succeed Sec. Davis
William Doak, legislative re
presentative of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen, was ap
pointed as Secretary of Labor to
succeed Secretary James J.
Davis, who resigned to assume
his duties in the United States
Senate as representative for the
State of Pennsylvania. Confirm
ation of the appointment of Mr.
Doak by the Senate is expected.
-x
WEST PETERSBURG TO
GET ROAD
A communication from Assis
tant Divisional Forester Meritt
was read at the meeting of the
Petersburg Commercial Club
Wednesday evening saying that
the territorial road building
program has been approved in
cluding the West Petersburg
road. This project contemplates
the construction of some three
miles of roadway along the wa
terfront of West Petersburg a
cross the narrows at a cost of
something like eighty thousand
dollars. This will mean employ
ment for local labor and the
building of a highway that has
been badly needed for a long
time.
-x
NOME SENATOR TO MARRY
-x
Senator “Dick” Sundquist of
Nome is to be married in Issa
Quah, Washington soon. Engage
ment of Senator “Dick” was an
nounced by Robert Tousaint of
Nome at the home of Harold C.
Dill of Issaquah. The happy
bride to be is Miss Beulah Eades
of Issaquah.
“Dick” Sundquist has an en
viable reputation for progres
sive legislation and for fighting
and beating the Loman Reindeer
Trust of Nome. In all matters of
legislation he fought for the
rights of the labor class and for
the benefit of the Territory. His
many friends in the Territory
will wish him and his bride to be
a bon voyage.