Iiistorial Sketches and Experi
ences of Trail-Blazers Who Made
Alaska the Empire of the North
PIONEERS OF ALASKA
EDITED BY
CHARLES L. KEMP,
Secretary Anchorage Igloo No. 15.
RECEIVER, GETS
BIG JUDGMENT
JESSON AND OTHERS MUST PAY
OVER BIG SUM TO DEFUNCT
FAIRBANKS BANK.
JUDGMENT FOR NEARLY $300,000
United States Supreme Court Up
holds Decision of Lower Court in
Barnette, .lesson et al Case, But De
clines to Disturb Decision in the
Wood Suit.
WASHINGTON, June 4.—The
United States supreme court yester
day handed down an opinion sustain
ing: the decision of the circuit court
of appeals and the district court of
the Fourth division in Alaska in the
noted case of F. G. Noyes, receiver of
the Washington-Alaska bank of Fair
banks, against Captain Barnette, J.
A. Jesson and other officers and di
rectors of the defunct fiduciary insti
tution.
The lower courts awarded Noyes,
as receiver, judments aggregating
$297,000 against Barnette, Jesson, et
al. who were alleged to have squan
dered the bank’s funds and thus
brought about the financial crash
which caused the closing of its doors.
The high court also declined to dis
turb the judgment for $13,000, grant
ed by the lower courts against R. C.
l Wood, former cashier of the bank.
The decision of the supreme court
brings to an end a case that has been
bitterly fought for years passed,
dragging its way through the dis
trict court in Alaska, the United
States circuit court of appeals in
San Francisco, and finally through
the highest court in the land.
The founder of the Washington
Alaska bank of Fairbanks was Cap
tain J. A. Barnette, at one time quite
a noted character in Alaska. J. A.
Jesson is a rich mining man of the
territory.
CHIEF NICOLAI IS
AT DEATH’S DOOR
AGED WEATHER PROPHET OF
COOK INLET PATIENTLY
AWAITS FINAL SIMMONS.
The snow of eight-three winters and
the .-uns of eighty-four summers have
laid low the burning spirit of Nicolai,
the sage of the Knik Indians and the
chief of the tribe, and has brought
him to a little white bed in the govern
ment hospital where his needs and
wants are administered to by the
soothing hands of the fair nurses.
The chief for years has been known
throughout the Cook Inlet as a great
and a wise weather prophet. His
erudition along these lines has come
jto him through a careful study of the
scientific relationship between the
astral influence and the terrestrial
conditions that obtain in the region
between Knik and Mt. Kamai, where
the valley of the Ten Thousand
Smokes was recently discovered. Chief
Nicolai agrees with an eminent pro
fessor in the states who claims that in
^-the Valley of the Ten Thousand
Smokes local weather is made on a
large scale. The Smokes are jets of
steam which are constantly arising
frim the interior of the earth near the
big volcano.
The venerable sage was taken from
his spruce domicile about a week ago
at the instance of A. H. Miller, super
intendent of native schools for the
southwestern district of Alaska and
T-inee then has been a patient at the
hospital, suffering with an affection
of the lungs.
While the chief is a patient at the
hospital his progeny is running as
usual at their home near Chester
3*eek and preparing to take up prog
nosticating where their venerable sire
has left off.
ALASKA NEWS NOTES.
Word was recently received of a
Strike at Takotna. There are three
gulches running into Hidden creek
w hich will pay better than wages. The
pay is said to run as high as 20 cents.
The great drawback in the Rampant
district is the lack of roads. All the
bridges have been washed away and
there are no funds on hand to rebuild
them.
About 35 men are wintering in the
Kantishna this year. Some are engag
ed in prospecting and some are hunt
ing.
The work of erecting a bridge at
the Nenana crossing is going on rap
idly, the nine bents of 11 piles each,
(double rows of five piles with -me
pile at the upstraem end), supporting
25 foot spans across the main chan
nel of the Nenana river, having been
; driven, squared and cut in readiness
| for the trusses. Residency 4 is now
j the busiest camp on the whole division
, and boasts of quite a population as
such go in construction camps.
Beavers in Alaska may not be hunt
led or killed until after January 1,
1323, according to a statement made
today by Samuel Cowan, special fur
warden for Alaska. Advices to this ef
fect were received from the federal
bureau of fisheries at Washington.
November, 1918, was the date under
the old game law when the closed sea
son for beaver expired. The extension
of the closed season from November
of this year to January, 1923, will
mean, said Mr. Cowan, that the bea
ver of Alaska willl be saved from ex
tinction.
TOM GRAHAM OF OLD
SCHOOL OF PROSPECTORS
Toni Graham, whose funeral was
held this afternoon from the Under
taking Parlors of C. W. Young Co.,
was one of the best known and most
liked of the real old-timers in Alaska.
He came north in January, 1S88, and
j for a number of years was a resident
’ of Southeastern Alaska, where he was
employed in mining. In the spring of
1894 he went over the Chilkoot Pass
and down the Yukon to Forty-Mile
where he spent the summer and win
ter of that year, going to Circle in
’95. He was one of the original locat
ors on Deadwook creek in the Circle
district and remained there until the
Klondike stampede from Circle. With
his partner, Sid Wilson, he worked
lays on several of the good claims on
Bonanza creek, and lived in the Klon
1 nike for three years. I.ike many of
the old-timers of the territory, he was
a great stampeder and until he re
turned to the coast in 1912 he had
been in the Fairbanks, Nome, Ruby
and Iditarod rushes besides several of
the smaller stampedes. Since 1912 he
: has been employed almost continuous
ly at Treadwell, with the exception
of a stampede to the Chisana district.
In the death of Tom Graham, Alas
ka loses one of the true northerners
who for over a quarter of a century
have been working and giving their
lives for the development of the ter
ritory and one of the men who has
not confied his activities to any one
section, but has been for Alaska, first,
last and all the time. Interment was
in Evergreen cemetery, Rev. Conriit
officiating.
GOOD NEWS FROM OUTSIDE.
Captain A. E. Lathrop writes Sid
ney Anderson, of the Bank of An
chorage, that James E. O’Reilly will
return to Anchorage on one of the
early boats. Mr. Anderson is also in
j receipt of a letter from George M.
| Campbell, from Eldorado, Kansas, ad
j vising that he and Mrs. Campbell will
j return sometime this month. This is
certainly welcome news to the people
of Anchorage for both O’Reilly and
Campbell are live wires and can take
the place of any number of pessimists
and knockers.
The Anchorage Daily Times is the
largest newspaper in Alaska.
ALASKA’S NEED OF FULL
HOME RULE URGENT
WASHINGTON, May 22. — Never,
in the opinion of Charles A. Sulzer,
delegate from Alaska, was the need
of full home rule for Aalska more
clearly shown than in the fight row
being made against the bill “to regu
late the killing and sale of certain
game animals in Northern Alaska.*’
Here is a matter in which hundreds
of Alaskan are interested vitally, and
with the conditions surrounding which
they are thoroughly familiar. They
are more interested in the preserva
tion of the game of Alaska than any
other people in the world, and they
have more deeply at heart than any
one else the desire for proper laws
regarding the killing and sale of the
big game of the territory, the dele
gate points out; yet great pressure
is brought upon congress by gun clubs
and others of the states, who do not
know conditions in the north, urging
the defeat of the game bill which was
introduced by the representative of
the people of Alaska at the request
of his constituents. And there is a
possibility that this interference may
prove disastrous. If Alaska had full
home rule this matter could be han
dled by the territorial legislature,
without interference; and laws could
be enacted for Alaska by legislators
of Alaska in accordance with the wish
es of the people of Alaska.
This is but one instance of inter
ference in Alaska matters by outsid
ers. Few bills ever come up in con
gress pertaining to Alaska that do not
meet with serious opposition from out
siders who think they know condi
tions in the north, but who, in fact,
have only the most vague idea of the
people, the country, the business, the
life and the needs of the territory.
Such interferences make the dele
gate more and more determined to
secure for Alaska such home lule that
the people of the territory will have
the power to make such laws as will
be suitable to the country, and he be
lieves they are more capable of en
acting legislation pertaining to their
own affairs that any congress could
possibly be, and more capable than
any state in the union.
Another good effect that home rule
would have on the territory, Mr. Sul
zer points out, is that the people will
realize the importance of sending
their best citizens and most able men
to the legislature. The capable men
will be more willing also to assume the
burden of office, even though at a loss
to themselves, realizing the import
ance of having men in the legislature
who are in a position to draw up and
enact into law such acts as will best
serve the interests of the territory.
IN MEMORIAM.
WHEREAS,
It has pleased an all wise providence
j to remove from our midst Brothers J.
' A. Westlake, and Wm, H. Gilmour and
; 'Whereas,
This going has brought sorrow to
I many hearts’ and especially to the
members of Ketchikan Igloo No. 16,
Pioneers of Alaska of which our two
brothers were honored members,
Now therefore,
Be it resolved by members of Ket
! ehikan Igloo No. 16, Pioneers of Alas
ka, that these resolutions of sympa
thy be extended to the families and
friends of the deceased Brothers and
that these resolutions be spread upon
the minutes of the meeting of the
Igloo No. 16, Pioneers of Alaska, and
that the charter be draped in mourn
ing for a period of thirty days, and
that they may be given to the local
newspaper, for publication and a copy
sent to the relations of our deceased
Brothers.
WM. J. MORGAN,
JOSEPH ULMER,
T. R. NEEDHAM,
Committee.
Mining in the interior has Shut
down nearly altogether. At Dawson
and along the Yukon most of the
gold mines have been forced to close
down on account of the expenses of
operation, and will not be reopened
until the close of the war.
ALASKAN TELLS OF
FRENCH WAR DOGS
Graphic account of the cleverness
of French war clogs, glowing pictures
of the devotion and fortitude of tire
French women and other noncombat
ants of Paris, and severe denun
ciations of German brutalities com
mitted upon their prisoners of war
and the women of occupied territory,
characterizes letters received by the
editor of The Empire, from L. F.
French, now a lieutenant-commander
in the United States navy detailed to
dock and troop and supply movements
in France. Major French is well
known in Alaska by reason of his long
residence at Nome and southwestern
Alaska.
In part, Major French writes:
“The French war dogs are wonder
ful. The sentry dogs are trained not
to bark and when they scent a Ger
man, which they can do at 200 yards,
long before a man could see or hear
him in the dark, they poke their mas
ters with their noses and the French
soldiers have time to escape and save
their outposts.
“The ambulance dogs do splendid
life-saving work. When a man is
wounded, his first instinct is to crawl
out of danger and out of sight—under \
a bush or into a hole. Becoming un
conscious, he cannot call for help, and!
these dogs find him. They bring back
to their masters a cap, a button or a!
piece of cloth, and then guide help!
back to the wounded man.
Dogs Carry Messages.
“On the other hand, they will not
leave a man who is not dead, as so
many are mistakenly believed to be,
and as the dog is never wrong this
saves many lives. Dogs also carry
messages where a man would surely
be shot, and sometimes they are
camouflaged and painted to escape de
tection. Many cases are on record
where dogs have been mortally wound
ed and have nevertheless carried their
messages through and then dropped
dead.
“Hate the Germans? If you were
over here and could know about the
atrocities they commit you would
agree with me that the best thing
would be to have every one of them
wiped out.
“The French women do many tine
things. When they see their men
folk off on a train, they laugh and
shout and say good-byes—until the
train is out of sight. Then they fall
on each others’ necks and give way to
complete despair. 1 doubt if our wom
en could refrain from weeping at the
moment of departure of their loved
ones.
Germans Can Fight.
“Don’t ever forget that these dogs
of Germans can fight, and that we
have got a fight for life over here
right this minute. It is impossible to
convey to you, who are on the other
side of the ocean, the real and ter
rible strength of the German war ma
chine. We shall beat it—but it must
take time and men and more men and
countless sums of money and endless
munitions. Any peace which can be
made within a year or more would be
one which would in no degree accom
plish the purpose for which we en
tered the war.
“The Hun is an unspeakable beast.
God save the world from his much
vaunted efficiency. No man can deny
his bravery, but all credit for that or
for any other thing is taken away by
his devilish designs and his inhuman
conduct. The Prussian government
must be completely crushed and the
German people absolutely robbed of
all power for future harm to man
kind.”
STROLLER WHITE
PUBLICITY AGENT
JUNEAU, June 5.—Governor Riggs
today announced the appointment of
E. J. White, better known as “Strol
ler” White, as publicity agent for
Alaska. White is the editor and pub
lisher of the Douglas Island News and
is a pioneer newspaper man of the
northland.
FOUR MINUTE MEN.
If there ever was a time when Am
ericans should realize that this is out
war, that time is now.
Read the things the Germans have
said about America. Read what the
German professors teach the children.
Then you’ll clench your fists and say,
while you may. You will shut up when
you must.”
Now listen to this:
“The future language of America
shall be German.”
And this:
“The Monroe doctrine is an imper- j
tinence. It makes an impression on the !
stupid.”
And this:
“Some months after we accomplish
our work in Europe we will take New
York and probably Washington and
hold them for some time and take a
billion or more dolalrs from NewT York
and other places.”
Who said all this ? Some cranks ?
Some wild young German officers?
Why no, the leaders, the most prom
inent men in politics, the great pub
licists and professors of Germany. I
could go on for hours quoting just
such expressions, the plans of the pan
Germans regarding America.
Now listen to this:
“America had better look out after
the war.”
Who said that ?
Well, a rather prominent gentleman
said that—he said it to our ambassa
dor, Mr. Gerard. The gentleman’s
name is Wilhelm von Hohenzollern,
and just now he is Rex et Imperator,
Kaiser of all the Germans.
Well, here is our answer to the
kaiser, “We are looking out now, Mr.
Kaiser, not after the war, but now.”
Yet, some smart junkers are trying
to fool us, they suddenly “soft pedal
ed” on their task about conquering
America. If the men who think such
thoughts are left in control, they will
teach their abominable doctrines of
conquest to another generation of
Germans. They will sing that new
hymn of hate against America. They
will toast to Der Tag against the
United States.
Well, what are you going to do
about it?
You know as well as I know—there
is only one answer; the party in Ger
many that teaches world conquest, a
conquest which is to include sooner or
later the crushing of America, that
party must be put completely out of
power, out of power for all time. Then
we shall have a peace that is peace.
Until that day America fights on.
Fourth avenue which to the average
cheechako spells the last word in
Alaskan metropolitan highway devel
opment was not ever thus, according
to F. T. Hope, prominent mining man
i and well known throughout the terri
tory, who twenty-three years ago shot
and killed a big bull moose at a point
on which is now Fourth avenue where
it dips and falls down over the bench
at the west end of the town.
Mr. Hope at the time of the demise 1
of the said moose was in transit be-!
tween the town of Hope and the vil
lage of Knik when being overtaken by j
the pangs of hunger he and his friends !
stopped upon the then inhospitable
shores of Ship creek and as they gazed
aloft saw and welcomed the elongated
physiognomy of the King of the Alas
kan jungles. No sooner was the Moose
sighted than his soul went speediiy j
seeking the shades of the Happy
Hunting Grounds. He was shot in
stanter and the dainty and delectable
portions of his anatomy soon became
food for the Nimrod and his friends.
During the past several years Mr.
Hope has been in Seattle and after a
brief visit here with oldtime friends
and a short trip out along the main
line of the government railroad will
return to his home at Seattle. He ar
rived in Anchorage yesterday on the
steamer Alaska and registered at the
Crescent hotel.
(Juneau Dispatch.)
“Edison has a gas bomb that skins
them all,” according to a letter from
Jean, son of James McCloskey, writ
ten from France to his father. Jean
enlisted the day after war was declar
ed and was among the first to reach
France with the Signal Corps. His
brother, James Junior, is leaving Fort
Lawton next week for Kansas City, en
route to France, and his father is
leaving on the Alaska to bid him good
bye.
The letter from Jean tells of the
first few days of the German offensive
in March. The letter says the Ger
mans were all in new uniforms, and
with the cry, “On to Paris!” came
onto the allied line by the thousands.
At one place on the defensive the al
lied machine guns had to be repeated
ly moved to clear space for range by
the German dead, who fell by the
thousands. It was the greatest
slaughter in the history of the world.
The Juneau boy is optimistic re
garding the ultimate outcome of the
war, and gives descriptions of Ger
man atrocities which are beyond com
prehension. ike all other American
boys he shares the feaof captuie
more than death. He also speaks in
praise of the new “American squirrel
rifl,” declaring it to be the finest
weapon in use. He also writes the
Germans are using 12 different makes
of gas bombs.
TO MAP DISTRICT
D. C. WITHERSPOON, OF UNITED
STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
COMES FOR THAT PURPOSE.
The district lying south of the Su
sitna river where it turns off to the
east at Indian river will be mapped in
detail during the course of the pres
ent summer, according to D. C. With
erspoon, topographic engineer of the
U. S. geological survey, who with his
party arrived in Anchorage yesterday
and is registered at the Anchorage
hotel.
The Susitna river runs in a gener
ally westerly direction from its source
to the point where the Indian river
joins it and thence in a southerly di
rection to its mouth. The country
east and south of the river near In
dian river will be the scene of the
work of the survey party for about
two months, at the end of which time
the.party will cross the Susitna below
Indian river and will work for the re
mainder of the season toward the
Broad Pass, and south of the divide.
A detailed topographic map will be
prepared from the field notes and
data taken during the summer, the
work of map making being done in
Washington, D. C. A large portion
of the ground to be covered this sea
son by Engineer Witherspoon and
party has never been gone over be
fore by a survey party. The remain
ing portion while surveyed in a gen
eral way will be the subject of de
tailed work this summer.
Engineer Witherspoon, whose head
quarters are in Washington, D. C.,
has spent nineteen summers in Alas
ka in work connected with the geo
logic survey. This summer will mark
his twentieth season in the territory.
The other members of the party are
Oscar Nordstrom, W. F. Molloy, jr.,
Seth Ekstrom and Charles F. Smith.
The party expects to leave Anchor
age next Tuesday.
GIRARD MAY RUN
FOR GOVERNOR
NEW YORK, May 31.—Prominent
democrats from all over the state are
urging the candidacy of James W.
Girard for governor of New York. He
was formerly United States ambassa
dor to Germany and gained distinction
in handling a delicate situation when
the war broke out.
We have bummed around a good
deal, and it is our opinion that the
more a man knows about the horses
the less he wins on them.