ANCHORAGE
WEEKLY TIMES
A1NTD COOK INLET PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. 6
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1916.
PRICE TEN CENTS
Tragic Story of
Drowning of Early
Day Stampeders
(Valdez Prospector)
A private letter received from Los
Angeles to a Valdez man tells of the
death at San Diego recently of Ed
Russell, who for several years was a
resident of Valdez in the early days.
The letter states that for a time prior
to his death Russell, or Ed. Matthews
as his real name was, had not been of
sound mind, but just prior to his de
mise he became perfectly sane.
The death of Russell brings to mind
a tragedy of the northland in which
he narrowly escaped the fate which
befell four of his companions, who
were drowned in the Nizina river in
the summer of 1903, the year follow
ing the first rush to the Nizina placer
district.
Russell, C. A. Widener and his son,
Charles Berry, August Rieschl, Miss
Lou Wheeler and L. J. Perry with
two dogs and about 1,100 pounds of
freight, started for Chititu creek in a
boat about June. 15 of that year,
bound tor the copper river and thence
to Valdez. The party was about
three days going down the river to a
point about six miles below Young
creek.
Two men were at the oars of the
unwieldy craft and a third was steer
ing. As they approached a bend in
the river they saw a rock in the
stream for which the boat was head
ed. All efforts to turn the craft were
rendered futile by the terrific current
of the stream, and Russell, who was in
the bow of the craft, seized the bow
line and jumped for what he supposed
was a shallow spot, intending to swing
the boat aside. He landed in deep wa
ter and was dragged along by the
boat. Perry and Berry jumped to his
assistance but their efforts were in
# vain, for the boat struck the rock with
terrific force, smashing it to pieces
and precipitating everybody into the
water.
Russell and Berry succeeded in
reaching the shore not far below
the scene of the accident. When Per
ry came to the surface he was near
the middle of the river. He seized
upon a sack of clothing that was float
ing down the stream and was carried
for a considerable distance before he
finally succeeded in teaching shore.
Ahead of him he saw the girl, still
afloat, when he made a landing.
Utterly exhausted by his struggle
in the water Perry rested a few min
utes, believing himself the only sur
vivor, but in a short time Berry came
down along the bank, and the two set
off down the river in search- of Miss
Wheeler, or any of the others who
might have possibly escaped. They
proceeded down the stream for some
distance, but did not find anyone, so
they returned to the scene of the ac
cident, where they found Russell, who
had injured his back severely. They
rested up for a few hours and then
went back up the river to the camp,
then known as Sourdough city, where
they related the story of the tragedy.
A short time later two men arrived
in camp and reported having seen
Miss Wheeler on a bar in the middle
of the river several miles below the
spot where the boat was wrecked.
These parties stated that they had
shouted to the girl and that she had
waved her hand to them, indicating
that she had heard their shouts. As
the river was very swift and deep at
this point they could not reach her,
but had shouted that they were going
for help. A relief party was at once
made up and started down the river in
a boat. Arriving at the bar where the
girl was last seen nothing was found
but her shoes and stockings lying on
a small log, and several pieces of sil
ver money, which she had discarded
to rid herself of any surplus weight.
From this evidence it was believed
that the girl, not understanding the
shouts of the men, and believing her
self deserted, had undertaken to reach
the shore and had been washed awav.
Her body was never recovered.
Widenieier had formerly been a
confectioner having a small shop in
Valdez. He sold out his business and
joined the rush to the Nizina, taking
with him his little son, about 12 years
of age. From the time of the acci
dent neither father nor son were seen
above the surface of the water, but
about two months later their bodies
were found on a bar in the Copper
river, and were laid to rest on the
banks of that stream, the father and
son in the same grave.
Some time later the body of Reischl
was also found on a bar in the Nizina
river and was interred on the banks
of that stream.
Such tragedies were common in
the early days of the mad rush for
gold in the north, one being forgotten
when another, perhaps more terrible,
drove it from mind, only to be recal
led, when, as in this case, something
relating to the parties concerned re
calls them to mind.
WEATHER REPORT.
7 a. m. September 1, 1916.
Station Temp. Day Wind
Ship Creek.. 46 Cloudy Calm
Mile 52 .... Line to Seward O. D. C.
Matanuska.48 Cloudy Calm
Moose Creek .... 46 Cloudy Calm
V
ATHENS, Sept. 1.—Rapid diplomatic developments indi
cate that Greece will abandon its neutrality within forty-eight
hours and enter the world war on the side of the Allied powers.
All staff officers of the Greek army have been called for active
service.
There have been frequent secret conferences between prom
inent Greek officials and diplomatic representatives of Great
Britain, France and Russia within the past few days, and the
information comes from the highest authority that Greece will
enter the world war. The action of Roumania in casting its lot
in favor of the Allies is said to have been the deciding factor.
There is great activity in military circles. Vast stores are
being gotten together and reserve troops have been called to
the colors.
Germans Penetrate Allied Lines.
PARIS, Sept. 1.—A French official report issued today
says that a detachment of the German army penetrated the
French lines at Parroy and Loraine yesterday, but after vicious
lighting, were forced to retire.
Desultory Fighting At Somme.
PARIS, Sept. 1.—Heavy rains for the past few days have
hindered the fighting in the Somme and Meuse sectors. Des
ultory lighting continues, hut no serious engagements have
been undertaken.
Roumania Places Ban On Liquors.
BUCHAREST, Sept. 1.—The Roumanian government to
day issued a decree prohibiting-the sale of intoxicating liquors
within the confix.'0 of this country. The decree is effective
from this date.
AMERICAN-MEXICAN COMMISSION TO
CONVENE TUESDAY AT PORTSMOUTH
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.—The jo.'nt American-Mexican
commission will hold its sessions at Portsmouth, New Hamp
shire, beginning Tuesday next, according to information given
out by the white house today. The Mexican commissioners
have reached Washington and are housed at the Mexican em-j
bassy.
IN DEFENDING COLORED PRISONER
COUNTY SHERIFF IS NEARLY KILTED
LIMA, Ohio, Sept. 1.—State troops have been called to
protect a colored man charged with a criminal assault on a
white woman of Lima. Soorf after the assault, the colored man
was taken into custody by the sheriff and a posse. A mob as
sembled at the county jail and demanded the colored man,
whom they planned to hang or burn at the stake. The sheriff
refused to give up the man, whereupon the mob charged the
jail, and nearly killed the sheriff who sought to protect the
prisoner. Troops were summoned to the aid of the sheriff.
DAWSON, Y. T., Sept. 1.—“Skooknm” Jim, a native, the
real discoverer of gold in the Klondike district, died here last
night, following a prolonged illness. He was practically pen
niless when death called him. At one time he was worth a
hundred thousand dollars, gained from his mine in the Klon
dike, and was the richest native in the northland. Dissipation
was the cause of the loss of his fortune.
SEWARD LOSES $85,000
BY FIRE IN ONE YEAR
At the meeting of the city council
last evening, says the Gateway, the
fire chief reported that 23 fires had
occurred in Seward during the year,
that the property loss was $95,000 and
that the property destroyed carried
only $10,000 insurance, leaving a loss
by fire to the citizens of Seward of
$85,000.
F. Broadwell returned to Anchorage
yesterday after a two months’ in
j specting trip into the Talkeetna and
[ Cache creek districts.
KETCHIKAN PEOPLE
* WIN FIGHT BEFORE
, MEMBERS OF SENATE
WASHINGTON, August 31.—The
revenue bill Vhich was reported in
the senate this afternoon has a provi
sion in it which decides against the
fish trade of Prince Rupert as being
detrimental to the revenue of the
United States. The clause provides
that fish, both fresh and frozen, shall
not be admitted to the United States
through any foreign country, except
in bond to American ports or stations.
This clause was the outcome of the
protest of the people of Ketchikan,
Alaska.
STATE MITHEN
IE ORDERED HOME
I
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.—Secretary of War Baker today
issued orders for the return from the Mexican border to state
mobilization camps'of fifteen thousand national guardsmen,
whose services are no longer required at the front, according to
the recommendation of General Funston, commander of the
border troops.
Those ordered to return are three regiments from New
York, two regiments from New Jersey, two from Illinois, one
from California, one from Oregon, Washington and Louisiana.
John Zug, engineer of the Alaska
Road commission, will leave today on
the Evans for Valdez, after spending
the past two months in Anchorage
and the vicinity looking into the
wagon road and trail conditions of
this country. Most of his time has
been spent in the Matanuska farming
country, and the Cache and Willow
creek mining districts. Mr. Zug made
the statement upon his arrival in An
chorage that it was not his intention
to do any active work at this time but
would follow out the original plan of
merely looking into local conditions
with the view of stating th6 facts to
his superiors who would then ask for
the necessary appropriation from con
gress. *
Mr. Zug has zealously followed out
this plan and has made an extensive
study of conditions as well as future
possibilities for industrial, commercial
and agricultural developments. The
population of the country also enters
into the report for it is the idea of
the commission to always satisfy the
greatest number of people, everything
being equal. Before leaving Mr. Zug
said that there was no question but
that this part of Alaska would come
in for a good share of the next appro
priation. It has been common talk
that the road work in this section of
Alaska has been rather neglected but
this visit of Mr. Zug’s will bring the
matter more forcibly to the attention
of the Alaska road commission and
they will be made to see the import
Admiral Evans
Reaches Port
The Admiral Evans on her 41st voy
age reached the Anchorage dock at 7
o’clock this morning with 37 first-class
passengers and four touvi ts aboard.
Following is a list of tho Anchorage
passengers:
W. Ellingen and wife, Mary Web
ster, Mrs. T. J. Barton, Mrs. T. R.
Barton, Francis Dulitz, Mrs. C. W.
Hitchcock, R. A. Moon and wife, C
W. Hitchcock, T. Harris, P. Johnson
C. Duffield, H. B. Windle, E. Shannon
J. Kissel, A. Ruckart, Jenny Ruckart,
Fred Ruckart, N.* B. Bothwell, F.
Murphy, J. W. Self, W. Bolm, Mrs. J.
G. Young, Mrs. J. Ellingen, T. Sillcott,
C. L, Kemp, Mrs. Mary Hughes, E.
McFarland, Miss E. McFarland, €.
Willman, P. L. Phillips, J. D. Meen
ach, A. Eide, E. Wilton, Captain Me
haffey, Alvah Eames.
MINERS DOING WELL IN
CACHE CREEK DISTRICT
C. H. Wilson came down from the
Cache creek district yesterday and re
ports the prospectors and operators
are doing well on the various creeks
this summer. Mr. Wilson recently
closed a deal for several of the im
portant claims in this vicinity and is
optimistic over the prospects of the
entire district. He reports that Mr.
Todd of the Cache Creek Dredging
company came down on the same boat
bringing the results of the last clean
up, amounting to several thousand
dollars.
The Harper brothers and Joe
Grimes who have a lay on Nugget
creek from Dr. Herndon and Chas.
ance of this country and the rapid
strides that are being made towards
future and permanent development.
In regard to the immediate local
matter of extending a road from mile
32 to the new mining operations on
Reed creek and Little Susitna river,
at the present time, much pressure
was brought to bear on Mr. Zug who
will no doubt recommend the immedi
ate expenditure of a few thousand
dollars that it will require to put this
road in shape for heavy hauling this
fall. The development of the Willow
creek country has gone ahead so rap
idly and has reached such prominence
that it is really important that imme
diate steps should be taken at once to
alleviate the present impossible situa
tion. Such reliable and prominent men
as Wm. Martin, the big Willow creek
operator, George Palmer, Stewart
Maxwell, Gene Bartholf and other
men prominently connected with and
operating in the Willow creek district
in addition to the Anchorage Chamber
of Commerce and The Anchorage Dai
ly Times have used their influence to
bear and undoubtedly this road work
will be done'this fall by the present
crew of men now working in this vi
cinity.
The examination and reports of Mr.
Zug have been made conscientiously
and thoroughly and The Daily Times
feels that this community is indeed
fortunate in having such an able rep
resentative of the Alaska Road com
mission delegated to look into local
conditions.
Jacobs, are taking out $1,000 a pit and
clean up every six days.
These boys have a complete hydrau
lic outfit and are working ground that
was thought to be valueless with fine
results.
Elmer Carlson who has been piping
on Peters creek for the past few sea
sons is having a good season.
M. A. Ellis has made extensive im
provement in the way of ditches on
Thunder and Windy creeks and will
operate for another month or two.
George Eberhardt and Joe Ander
son have had a successful season with
their piping outfit on Falls creek.
Jack Adams is working a lay from
M. A. Ellis on Falls creek with good
success.
Several smaller outfits on Poorman
have done well, especially Monroe
Cast and Carl Larson.
Bardenberg and Bubb will have one
|of the best seasons in their history of
j Dollar creek operations and are said
to be in the money in great shape.
The season was late and lack of
water earlier in the summer made the
work backwards but the operators are
all taking advantage of the high wat
er caused by the recent rains and will
stay in until the freeze.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMANDS
ACTION ON BLACK LIST
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.—Crimi
nal prosecution against steamship
companies and all officials connected
with companies who refuse to carry
American cargoes was urged in a
speech today by Representative Will
iam S. Bennet, of New York. Repre
sentative Bennet stated that this
would be a just reprisal against the
blacklist issued by Great Britain.
Fine Job Printing at Times Office.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.—President Wilson and the chiefs
of the railway brotherhoods held a conference yesterday after
noon, over the strike situation. The brotherhood chiefs refused
to give assurances of any kind whatsoever, regardless of legis
lation passed by the congress. The chiefs declare that the de
mands of the railway men must be met in full by the railway
companies.
It is not believed, however, that the chiefs will entirely dis
regard the efforts being made to settle the strike situation and
administration leaders believe that if the eight-hour bill i3
passed before Monday, the strike will not be called.
SENATE TO TALK TO LEADERS
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.—Administrtaion men are grow
ing confident that the gerat railway strike will not be called
Monday, as announced, and might be entirely averted if the con
gress will push through remedial legislation. President Wilson
jailed at the senate chambers yesterday afternoon t oconfer with
the leaders in congress about the situation. He said: “I came
to find out what congress is doing. I find that progress is be
ing made on remedial legislation. The attitude of the brother
hoods now is that if the eight-hour bill is passed, the strike
will not be called Monday. ’ ’
ADAMSON BILL FAVORED BY WILSON
AND POSTMASTER-GENERAL BURLESON
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.—President Wilson and Postmas
ter-General Burleson have approved the bill drawn by Con
gressman Adamson, chairman of the house committee on inter
state commerce, which provides for an eight-hour day and ov
ertime on a pro rata basis.
A sub-committee of three, from the house committee on in
terstate commerce, has made a canvass of the house and senate
and say that the eight-hour bill will pass. There is much senti
ment for a provision making it a misdemeanor for railroad com
panies to work men over eight hours a day.
OLD IAW AUTHORIZES PRESIDENT
TO OPERATE ALL RAILWAY LINES
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.—Congressman Adamson, of the
house committee on interstate commerce, has discovered a law
on the statute books which gives the president power, in case
of necessity, to take over and operate all trunk and interstate
railway lines. The law was passed by the congress in 1862.
Congressman Adamson says the law was passed to meet just
such an emergency as may arise, growing out of the threatened
railway strike.
ADMIRAL CLARK LOST IN STORM
SEATTLE, August 31.—The steamer Admiral Clark, of
the Alaska-Pacific Navigation company, was wrecked in the
recent storm prevailing in the Gulf of Mexico, according to
meagre advices received by President Alexander, of the com
pany, today. Six survivors of the wrecked vessel, who escaped
in one of the life boats, landed at Port Eades, at the mouth of
the Mississippi river, late last night, bringing news of the dis
aster. Captain Danielson, commander of the Admiral Clark,
and 20 members of the crew, were drowned.
The Admiral (’lark was recently purchased for the Alas
ka trade by the Admiral line, and was en route from the At
lantic to the Pacific when wrecked.