ANCHORAGE
AND COOK INLEfT PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. 1.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JULY A, 1916.
PRICE TEN CENTS
COLD BLOOD
(From Friday’s Daily.)
The serenity of Anchorage was in
terrupted last night at 10:30 o'clock
when Sam Casoff shot and mortally
wounded Alex Tahoff. The shooting
occurred on the south side of 4th
avenue near the corner of F street,
directly opposite the Model Confec
tionery and Cigar Store.
This is the first serious shooting
scrape in the history of Anchorage
and while it was witnessed by a
number of people as usual in such
cases the details of the shooting are
inaccurate and no. two accounts the
same.
Both men were Russians and
while the shooting caused consider
able flurry and the streets rapidly
filled with people there was no un
due excitement and no threats of
violence or talks of lynching were
heard. Casoff gave himself up im
mediately after the shooting and Ta
hoff was hurried to the government
hospital where he is lying at the
point of death. Drs. Reedy and
Beeson entertain no hopes of recov
ery and say that they do not expect
him to live through the day; how
ever he was alive at the time of go
ing to press.
The men were both about 35 years
old and the trouble started while
they were walking westward on the
south side of 4th avenue near the
turner ul r sutjut uuiuuiimmcu u?
two other men, presumably country
men, but no trace of them have yet
been found, at least the deputy mar
shal failed to give out the fact, and
N. Van Houten, who possibly
was the nearest to the affair had this
to say in regard to the shooting:
“I was walking down 4th avenue
with these men directly in front of
me when without any apparent cause
or preliminary rough words one of
the men (Casoff) whipped out a gun
and commenced shooting Two of
the men broke and started to run in
different directions. The other man
(Tahoff) fell on the south side of
the sidewalk at the first report and I
stood still as Casoff flourished the
gun around in the air and told me
to keep away. Takoff fell and Cas
off shot at him four times while he
was down and it looked to me as
though he was trying to shoot him
in the head. Casoff seemed to me
to be perfectly sane and warned sev
eral people who had come up in the
mean time to keep away.”
From what could be gathered
from other parties this story is about
as clear a version of the shooting as
could be found this morning. Fur
ther witnesses say that Takoff got up
after falling and started north across
4th avenue and attempted to pick
up a rock'or some other missile of
defense with Casoff firing at him all
the time. Takoff staggered across
the street and finally fell on the
sidewalk in front of the Mbdel Con
fectionery and Cigar store and was
carried inside and medical aid sum
moned. He was taken to the hospi
tal as soon as an automobile could
be secured and as mentioned before
is not expected to live through the
day.
Casoff followed his victim across
the street shooting at him as fast as
he could and it is a miracle that no
bystander was injured if not killed
as a result of the promiscous shoot
ing.
Casoff used a .32-calibre Savage
automatic pistol and in all nine shots
were fired, four of them taking ef
fect in the body of Takoff, two in
the abdomen, one in the left side
Just through the top of his lung and
one in his left leg and he was bleed
ing badly when taken to the hospital
but conscious, though very weak
from the loss of blood.
When asked last night by an in
terpreter as to the cause of the
shooting Takoff said repeatedly, “1
don’t knew,” but in his dying state
ment taken by Judge Leopold David
this morning he divulged facts that
led up to the shooting and will be
used in the hearing of Casoff. who
is confined in the' federal jail without
uona.
TakofT refused to lalk last night
but realizing his condition sent for
Judge David this morning with the
above result. In addition to the dy
ing statement, he made, his thoughts
flew back to his native land and he
asked his friends to take care of his
aged mother and father who are liv
ing in Russia and notify them of his
death with an account of what
brought about the trouble.
Immediately after the shooting
Casoff walked towards the federal
jail and was met by Deputy Marshal
Reed in front of the Alaska Realty
company’s office, who placed him in
Jail.
Casoff also refused to talk this
morning and said he had nothing to
say; nor has he retained legal ad
vice; he seems perfectly normal and
it is not a question of being insane
or mentally unbalanced.
Naturally In a case of this kind
there are many rumors in regard
to the shooting; some to the effect
that the trouble started -in Russia
years ago and dates back for genera
tions; others bring out the Nihilist
theory; still others have it that there
is a woman in the case but from ac
tual facts that were gathered from
some of the Russians living here it
seems that Tahoff shot CasofTs
brother several years ago in Canada
and the shooting of last night was
the direct cause of a promise given
at that time and that Casoff has been
simply waiting for an opportune
time to wreak his vengeance and ful
fill the promise given his dying
brother.
However, these points have not
been substantiated but will no doubt
come out at the trial of Casoff.
Later—Takoff died from his
wounds at 2:30 o’clock this after
noon and Casoff will be arraigned
tomorrow on a charge of murder in
the first degree.
LONGSHOREMEN’S STRIKE
LIKELY SOON SETTLED
SAN FRANCISCO, July 8.—The
labor leaders declare that the end of
the longshoremen’s strike is in sight
and unless there is some hitch in the
present negotiations there is every
indication of an amicable settlement
being reached next Tuesday.
Carranzistas Burned at Stake
NOGALES, July 8.—Two hundred and fifty Carranza sol
diers and camp followers were massacred by Broncho Yaquis
early this week in lower Sonora. Those not killed by gunfire
were burned at the stake.
JUAREZ, July 7.—It is officially announced that a Villa
band is operating in the vicinity of Jiminez, commanded by
Calixo Contretras, but thus far there is no evidence that Villa
is alive.
WASHINGTON, July 7.—Carranza has suggested that
the American troops patrol carefully between Boquillas and
Ojinaga and he promises that every possible effort will be
made by the Carranza forces to apprehend and destroy the
bandits.
I
That tho Alaskan Engineering
commission is doing business is be
ing daily evidenced by the different
contracts thnt are being awarded and
the amount of permanent work un
der way and in the stage of comple
tion.
The contracts entered into during
the week ending June 30 amount to
$112,000 and have received the tinal
O. K. by H. B. Wilkinson, the effi
cient chief account of the Alaskan
Engineering commission and have
been tabulated in his office for the
benefit of The Daily Times.
Matanuska District—Station r>205
x457-521£x30, Christ & Co., grad
ing; 5216x30-5222x00, Romoff ft Co.
grading; 01x00-8x50 Wye, Samis &
Co., grading; 1352-1357, Mike Price
& Co., grading; 1655-1679, Kinoff ft
Co., clearing; 982-1000, Frank Svar
ko & Co., grading; 1040-1055, P. F
Reinhardt & Co., grading; 1055
1080, Sam Harris ft Co., grading;
1092-1101, Geo. Able & Co., grad
ing; 1101-1134, G. Zhoocovich & Co.,
grading; 1134-1144, Dan Horigan ft
Co., grding; 924-947, Christ Pappa
dis ft Co., grading; 947-961, G. Pas
tro & Co., grading; 1147-1150x50,
Fred Johnson & Co., grading; 795
813x25, Harlow & Co., grading; 795
813x25, Christ & Co., grading; 1392
-1396x04, Nick Davis, grading; 1233
-1244, I. Erickson & Co., grading;
1267x50-1271, Pete Iverson ft Co.,
grading; 729x50-750, Christ George
& Co., grading.
Turnagain Arm District—A2854.
A2900, P. McCormick & Co., clear
ing; A2950-A3000, Swan Adrin &
Co., clearing; 3196-3220, Chas. Skog
lund & Co., grading and grubbing;
3196-3240, Emil Nelson & Co., cul
vert; 3256-3280, John Klonas ft Co.,
clearing, grading and grubbing; 3280
-3304, John Gustafson & Co., clear
ing grading and grubbing; 3220
3138, George Bakas & Co., clearing
grubbing and grading; 3375-3382,
Swan Swanson ft Co., tie contract;
2900-2950, H, Anderson ft Co., clear
ing.
Talkeetna district—Station 9450
9595, Milo Jonovich & Co., clearing;
Headquarters, W T. Parsons & Co.,
clearing; 10765-10820, Tom Kovan
& Co., clearing; 10820-10875, V. M.
Radovich & Co., clearing; 9700
974 3, John Porter & Co., grading;
10390-10460, Frank Antovich & Co.,
clearing; 10084-10195, Nels Nichol
son & Co., clearing; 10003-10084,
John Alsos & Co., clearing; 9892
9940, Frank Daniels & Co., grading;
10875-10913, Frank W. Guest &
Co., clearing; 10952-10990, J. P. Pe.
tersan & Co., grading and clearing;
10913-10952, Alfred Gustavson &
Co., grading; 9940-9970, Arman As
lin & Co., grading; 10084-10130,
Louis Pupkin & Co., grading.
SHOULD NUMBER HOMES
AND BUILDINGS HERE
One of the most important mat
ters that should be called to the at
tention of the city administration is
the one of adopting some plan to
number the business houses and resi
dences of Anchorage. This city has
reached the stage of development
where it is almost impossible to di
rect strangers to a certain place by
describing some particular land mark
or chameleon painted house. It is
nn^nrofnA/I fLof + Vi _ amInlof wnfl/\n
is working under peculiar circum
stances and that there is no set rules
governing the minor matters that
may come to their attention but in
the important issue of properly num
bering the business houses and res
idences of Anchorage it might be
well to establish a precedent which
may be emulated by the other gov
ernment towns that are certain to be
born and nurtured by the Alaska En
gineering commissiori.
Charles A .Sdiffert, who was com
mitted to the MornIngsJde sanitarium
early this spring from Juneau, has
been discharged from the institution
as cured. He left Portland for Cal
ifornia, where he will locate.
Read the Daily Times and be an
Anchorage booster.
\
Russians Captured 250,000 Austrians
LONDON, July 8.—The British troops are encountering
furious opposition, as ammunition is being used lavishly by
the Germans in Belgium, which is being stripped of German
soldiers who cannot resist the attacks of the allies. The rail
road stations and even the larger towns are being guarded by
reservists.
The Teutons admit the withdrawal of the line from Ga
licia to Volhynia, before the rapid advance of the Russians.
The Russians having cut the easternmost lines of retreat
across the Carpathians are on the flanks of the Austrian new
defensive lines, running through Stanislau and Halicz, and
Bothmer may be compelled to fall back further, as the Rus
sians threaten Kovel from three points.
During the past month the Russians have captured nearly
250,000 prisoners.
PARIS, July 8.—The French troops advanced further last
night in the vicinity of Belloyensanterre and Estress. The
British are unable to advance further until the heavy French
guns are installed inside the French salient trenches, where
the German positions are opposite. The British will be en
abled to have its guns mounted on railroad trucks in the time
required to lay the tracks, which will be ready soon.
PETROGRAD, July 8.—The Russian advance from the
Ozartorysk region is being pushed further and the villages of
Dol and Zycagrnziatyn have been captured by the Russians
who are still taking many prisoners.
PETROGRAD, July 7.—The Russians have advanced to
the region lower than the one they occupied to the villages
and railway station.
Kasloff Held for Murder First Degree
PROTEST AGAINST TAX
ON COPPER MINING
BUTTE, July 8.—The copper man
ufacturers have entered a protest
against the special tax on copper
mining in the house revenue bill.
They point out that one Montana
company alone would be taxed $3,
(100,000 annually
In running down the circulatory
rumors in connection with the killing
of Alex Takoff Thursday night the
statement in regard to any former
trouble between Takoff and K&sloot
was unfounded. The Daily Times
has seen and talked with several men
who knew both parties and they all
make the same statement that Takoff
had never been mixed up in any pre
vious brawl or shooting scrape and
the information received about Tak
off having killed Kasloof’s brother in
Canada was reported by some of
their countrymen who were excited
and had the wrong man in mind.
From all accounts Takoff seems to
have been a law-abiding citizen and
bore a splendid reputation for hon
esty ard sobriety among his country
men and all who knew him. Funer
al services have been arranged for
Takoff’s burial and will be held to
morrow aCernoon at th9 Greek Cath
olic church at 3 o’clock Fatr®r Shep.
pard of*elating.
At the corner’s inquest held this
morning in the chambers of Judge
Leopold David the following ver
dict was rendered:
We, the jury, duly impaneled and
sworn in, find that the deceased was
named Alexander Takoff, a native of
Russia and aged 35 years; that he
came to hi9 death on the 7th day of
July, 1916, at Anchorage, Alaska,
from the result of gun shot wounds
inflicted by one Afi Kasloof and that
said wounds were inflicted by said
Afi Kasloof purposely and with de
liberate intent to kill Alexander Ta
koff. (Signed)
J. H. SMITH,
JAMES L. McBRIDE,
R. W. SILVER,
RAY C. LARSON,
W. C. JOHNSON,
F. B. TRACY.
These well known and reliable
business men of Anchorage, who serv
ed on the jury came to their verdict
after hearing the evidence of Neil
Van Houten, J. H Brownlow, Ralph
Reed, Mr. Loudermilch and G. Con
ley, who were witnesses to the shoot
ing, Dr. Reedy, the attending physi
cian, and Mrs. Lydia Weber, as
nurse. The testimony of the eye-wit
nesses was similar to the account
that appeared in yesterday’s Daily
Times and the statement given out
by Takoff on his death bed furnishes
no further light on the murder but
substantiates the testimony of the
witnesses at the corner’s inquest.
Kasloof still continues his attitude
of absolute silence and when seen
again this morning would- not say
anything about the shooting or what
prompted him to commit the mur
der. However he may divulge some
interesting evidence at the prelimi
nary trial Monday morning and is
held in close connement at the fed
eral jail upon the grave charge of
murder in the first degree.
As reported yesterday in this pa
per Takoff called for Judge David to
make a death-bed confession and The
Daily Times publishes same in full:
I, Alex Takoff, of Anchorage, Alas
ka, believing that I am mortally
wounded and that I am about to die
and that there is no hope for my re
covery and that i make this state
ment under the sense of impending
death, of the facts in connection
with my shooting. I am conscious,
I can understand English. I under
stand I am to die.
Question. Who shot you?
Answer. His name is Afi Kasloof,
American name is Jim.
Question. What did he do?
Answer. He killed me, that is all.
Question. Where did It happen?
Answer. I took a walk to Roberts’
hall. I went in to see the players
play pool. Stayed In there a few
■ minutes, probably ten or fifteen min
utes. I then came out and was on
my way to the Alaska pool room.
I started to walk down the street and
at the corner I saw Jim and I say
“Hello Jim” and ne say “Hello, Hel
lo.” I said “Where are you going
Jim?” We were friends before. He
said, “You are bothering me.” I
say nothing. He said “What in hell
are you bothering me for?” I say
“I am not bothering you” and he say,
“I heard from somebody you talk
hard language of me.” I say, “No,
I never talk anything of you” and 1
say “Come down and see that friend
that say I talk bad of you.” And he
would not come down and see that
friend and started to shoot right
away.
Question. How many shots did he
fire?
Answer. I do not remember, but
I believe five shots.
Question. Did you have a gun on
you?
Answer. No. He shot me three
times and I started to walk to the
store and I fell down and got a half
pound rock under my hands and aft
er he slibt I tried to hit him and he
ran back.
Question. Did you ever have any
argument with him before?
Answer. We never had any trou
ble before.
Question. Do you understand you
will die?
Answer. I believe I am going to
die.
Question. Everything you say is
the truth?
Answer. Everything is the truth.
I swear to God it is the truth, and I
believe I am going to die.
Question. Do you realize that
there is no chance for you to get
well?
Answer. I know I will not get
well and I am telling the truth.
Question. That is right, is it?
Anser. Yes,
(Signed by)’ ALEX TAKOFF
And proper witnesses.
Harry Tosoki, proprietor of the
U. S. cafe, has sold his cafe to Tan
aka and Kirnura, who took charge of
the place yesterday morning. Harry
will leave in a few days for Talkeet
na, to look that place over with the
view of locating.
DEMME
EIGHT DELEGATES
A democratic caucus was held last
evening for the purposes of electing
eight delegates to attend the division
convention to be held in Seward on
July 6.
The meeting was held in the law
offices of Murphy and Almy, with
Thos. M. Price as chairman and J.
C Murphy secretary.
The delegates elected were:
A. A. Schonbeck, Fred A. Martin,
R. E. Oldham, N. E. Olson, James
Rock, J. C. Murphy, Tex Jones and
Robert Small. In all probability
most of the delegates elected will ap
pear in person at the conventibn.
The meeting was very enthusiastic
and the chairman, Thos. M. Price,
appointed a committee to arrange
for a democratic rally to be held in
Anchorage in thre near future, prior
to the convention at Seward. The
committee appointed consisted of
Messrs. Schonbeck, Martin, SmaJV
Jones, Murphy, Rock and Mad^ocks.
In due time the committee at
above named will arrange for]a 014
rally which will be announced
through The Daily Times. /
\
H
■
ASHLAND MAKES GOOD
REAL ESTATE DEAL
Robert Ashland Is a firm believer in
the future of Anchorage and says he
knows of no place in Alaska where
one can make money easier in the
real estate game. Yesterday he
bought the west half of lot 3, in
block 44 from E. J. Warner and two
hours later he leased it to Messrs.
Reid & Dahl, making 60 per cent in
terest on his investment. Mr. Ash
land, being a business man of con
siderable sagacity, is willing to ac
quire more property here if he sees
anything that looks good to him.
Check Germans In Far East
1 ' _
Tokio, July 7.—The sighing of the Russian and Japanese
alliance will end a long period of hostilities and strengthens
the Japs’ position as a first-class power. It also frees Japan
and Russia from the necessity of regarding each other as pos
sible enemies and from the maintenance of armies on the re
spective borders.
The impression prevails that the treaty framed meets the
attempts at expansion of the German influence in the far East,
and both powers are strengthened in dealing with the situa
tion in China. The Japanese are elated over the alliance.
BELUGA WHALING COMPANY IS
FORMED BY LOCAL BUSINESS MEN
That the resources of Anchorage
and this community is not confined
to railroad building, farming or
mining is being evidenced in many
different ways, and hardly a week
passes but that some new enterprise
is opened, some new resource devel
oped. With the additional develop
ment of this country’s many re
sources the benet naturally goes to
Anchorage.
The latest movement fostered and
promoted by Anchorage people is
the Beluga Whaling Company, which
has recently taken out articles of in
corporation under the laws of the
territory and filed same with the
secretary. The Beluga Whaling
Company is capitalised at $25,000,
and is a close corporation, composed
of some of the most influential busi
ness men of Anchorage, together
with men holdfhg important offices
with the Alaska Engineering Com
pany, with J. A. Magill as president
and Clyde C. Coleman secretary and
treasurer. A. A. Shonbeck, J. T.
Westermann, H. R. Warren and
James O’Reilly are the other stock
holders.
The company has established fish
ing headquarters at the mouth of
Beluga river and Kachemak bay and
have purchased two power boats to
be used in the business.
Operations will commence at once,
and a net with a 22-inch mesh will
be used. The beluga fish is no doubt
a specie of the whale, as it is warm
blooded, suckles its young and is
peculiar to Alaska waters. This
fish swims in schools and is carniv
orous, feeding on the smaller fish
with which these waters abound.
The beluga is commonly called
the white whale, and while it does
not grow to the magnitude of a
whale it is common to catch one
twenty feet long, but^the average
length is tfuwA amefeet, weighing
about 800 pounds. The marketable
value of the beluga la confined to
the skin, which tans to a very pliable
stage and commands a good price.
The blnbber is rendered for fine lu
bricating oil and soap, while the
bones will be ground and pulverised
for fertilizer. Arrangements have
been made for the market for the
leather with some Scotland firm, and
there is always a steady demand for
the balance of the products.
This is a new venture, but one of
great possibilities, and it only need
ed such wide-awake and ambitious
men as Mr. Magill and Clyde C. Cole
man to put the idea into execution,
and with the balance of the company
composed of representative business
men it stands a splendid chance for
success.
FREIGHT RATES
AGAIN ADVANCED
SEATTLE, July 8.—The Pacittc
Alaska Navigation and Pacific Coast
Steamship companies have advanced
their freight rates to southeastern
Alaska another dollar a ton, owing
to the higher wages paid sailors and
longshoremen.
The commission has made arrange
ments to have tomorrow’s excursion
train wait over for the baseball game
between the City team and the Mat
anuska Junction team at the Junction
tomorrow and have also provided
dinner for the excursionists at the
nominal price of 60c a plate.
The round trip fare on tomorrow’s
train will be $2.90; the train leaves
the Terminal yards at 9 o’clock to
morrow morning and will leave the
Junction for Anchorage at 4:30
o’clock in the afternoon.
Advices have been received in Ju
neau that Silnpaon McKinnon, who
graduates from the Juneau high
school last month, has been appoint
ed midshipman at Annapolis by Del
egate Wlckerdham.
DEATH CLAIMS
MANY CHILDREN
NEW YORK, July 7.—The total
death roll from Infantile paralysis
has reached 196. The police today
closed the playgrounds and only cool
weather will kjll the epidemic, al
though an early abatement is unex
pected. The Rockefeller Institute Is
importing 100 monkeys from the
Philippines for experimenting, and
seeking a remedy for the disease
which has gotten such a hold in this
city.
DEBATE HAS CLOSED
GENERAL REVENUE BILL
WASHINGTON July 8.—Speaker
Clark closed the general debate in
favor of the administration revenue
bill, with an appeal for non-partisan
action. He said he rejoiced in the
fact that republicans like Longworth,
Gardner and Hill, all rampant pro
tectionists, see their duty as Ameri
can citizens and will vote for the bill
to help the country.
Dr. McBride’s sermon tomorrow
will deal with the subject of “What
to Do in Difficult Duty,” and the
services will he held at 8 o’clock
Sunday evening at Robarts’ hall.
Dr. McBride is constantly making
determined efforts to make these
services interesting and entertaining,
as well as instructive. He has de
voted considerable time and atten
tion to the church music and has no
tified The Daily Times that a large,
well-trained choir will furnish the
music for tomorrow night.