The World Has Only Contempt for the Knocker, but Everybody Lauds the Booster
i
f. Änrlxomge Baily Times
AND COOK INLET PIONEER
VOL. 1. NO. 205.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1916.
P|,r/'K 10 CENTS
_
MURDERED IN CDLD BIPOD ON 4th AVI 1UE
Sam Casoff Takes Life of Alex. Tahoff, for Killing His
Brother in Canada Fifteen Years Ago
I
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The serenity of Anchorage was in
terrupted last night at 10:30 o’clock
when Sam Casoft' shot and mortally
wounded Alex Tahoff. The shooting
occurred on the south side of 4th
avenue near the corner of P 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 ot 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
corner of F street accompanied by j
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
(Tahoffi 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
4tli 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 Model 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.
Casotf 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 fire !, 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
froii 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." blit in his dying state
mem 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
bond.
Takoff refused to laik 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 lie 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 Casoff’a
1 brother several years ago in Canada
and the shooting of last night was
the direct cause of a premise given
at that time and that Casnff has been
simply waiting for an opportune
time to wreak his vengeance and ful.
! fill the promise given ^ijis dying
brother.
However, these points have > not
been substantiated but will no ahubt
come out at t7ie 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.
MARIPOSA SAILS '
,« WITHI175 PEOPLE
SEATTLE, July 7.—The steamer
Mariposa saleld last evening at 6
o’clock for southwestern Alaska.
There were 175 passengers aboard,
Including 45 excursionists, and
President Stephen Birch, of the Ken
necott Copper corporation and bride.
There were 13 aboard for Anchor
age. Among the latter was District
Engineer Breek, who will be con
nected with the government railroad.
l l^lW-i'R BENNINGTON
BE ENT RENAMED 'V'/fiiDEZ
SEATTLE, July 7.—The Alaska
Steamship company’s freighter Ben
nington has been renamed Valdez
and sails for Kotzebue sound to
night.
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Mr. and Mrs. John Bower and
Miss Ruth Bower, of Orange, Cal.,
are stopping at the Crescent and
were passengers on the Admiral
Watson. Mr. and Mrs. Bower will
spend some time In Anchorage visit
ing their son, who is employed by
the commission.
Allies are Driving Teutons From France
LONDON, July 7.-^The tremendous gains being made
by the allies is a source of much glorification, and if the
success of the present offensive movement continues there
is a general feeling that the Teutons will soon be driven
from French soil and the Austrians forced to evacuate
practically all of the important strategical points they
have held.
The French ap<& British artillery is again battering
the German defenses, while the British long range guns
are shelling: tfaie German positions and roads, in the rear,
until th^/rnfantry again leaves the trenches. It is uncer
tain where the next attacks will be launched. The bom
, hi^rdment now extends northward to LaBasse and Ar
mentieres.
The Germans have been obliged to withdraw some of
their troops from Verdun.
Letchitzsky’s army, which conquered Bukrowina and
cut the railway system between Delayn and Korosmezo, is
now advancing in the effort to completely overcome the
Austrian forces that front Keledines. Letchitzsky contin
ues to deliver heavy strokes against the Teutons.
A great Russian bombardment has begun from a point
east of Vilna to Baranovichi. The artillery preparation is
followed by infantry attacks, and many prisoners have
been taken.
Roumania is awaiting the action of the allies at Sal
oniki.
LONDON, July 6.—The German submarine activity has
been revived and three fishing vessels were sunk in the North ;
Sea. All of the crews were allowed to leave in small boats, I
except in one ease where the skipper was killed and two of the
crew wounded by shots from the submarines.
A British mine sweeper was hit and damaged by a tor
pedo.
The Norwegian steamer Getronelle was unsuccessfully at
tacked by a submarine oft' the Far Sund.
PETROGRAD, July 6.—The war department announces
that in Caucasus the Russians have advanced to the upper
Tohoruk region and took a number of Turkish prisoners and
a great quantity of war material.
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PETROGRAD, July 7.—It is reported the Germans have
begun to move their whole front toward the west, as a eohse
quence of the triple defeat at Riga, Kolki and Baranovich.
VIENNA, July 7.—The Russians have begun a tremen
dous offensive movement on the Riga front, where the artillery
is destroying the German trenches. It is apparent that the
Germans are helpless before the Russian artillery, which has
aft times the capacity of two years ago.
RUSSO-JAPANESE
TREATY SIGNED
TOKIO. July 7.—It is officially
announced that the Russo-Japanese
treaty was signed on July 3. It pro
vides that Japan take part in no ar
rangements or political combination
directed against Russia, and the lat
ter country agrees to reciprocate if
the territorial rights or special in
terests in the far east of either Ja
pan or Russia are menaced. They
also bind themselves to consult on
measures of support or assistance.
INFANTILE PARALYSIS
CLAIMS MANY VICTIMS
NEW YORK. July 7.—The spread
of infantile paralysis is becoming
alarming, there being 87 new' cases
and 22 deaths during the past 2!
hours.
Colonel Harry Revell left unex
pectedly for Seward on the Admiral
Watson last night. The colonel was
called home on a telegram of a bus
iness nature and it must have been
urgent, as he left several important
business matters unfinished by his
hasty departure.
Germans Organize for Peace
BERLIN, July 7.—Numerous scientists, industrialists anti
representatives of commerce and agriculture have formed a
,, national committee to awaken a uniform understanding among
the German people for an honorable conclusion of the war on
a peace basis which will guarantee and secure the future of
the empire.
BERLIN, July 7.—The salient German line at Yolhynia,
advancing toward Czartorysk, nas been abandoned under the
superior pressure of the Russians and a new line of defense
will be selected.
LONDON, July 7.—The British troops continue in their
onward march and have captured the German trenches for a
thousand in length east of LaBoiselle, and also progres
sed in fL ty of Ovillebs and Contalmaison.
PET’
yesterdsi
half of
\ July 6.—It is officially announced thal
dans captured over 10,000 Teuton soldiers
ore taken on the Dniester river.
GREAT DAMAGE
BY GULF STORM
NEW ORLEANS, July 7.—A se- j
vere gulf storm is raging and jias al
ready caused several million dollars' !
worth of damage to property and
growing crops in Mississippi, Ala- i
bama, western Florida and south- i
eastern Louisiana.
BANK CASHIER'S F/ MILV
ARRIVES FROM STATES,
Mrs. Winfield Ervin, accompanied
by her two sons, Winfield, Jr., and
Wells and ner daughter Martha, ar
! rived in Anchorage on the admiral 1
Watson to join her husband, Win- 1
field Ervin, the competent cashier of 1
the Bank of Ancnorage.
Mrs. Ervin and children come '
direct from their home in Belling
ham, Washington, and have been
separated for over a year from Mr. i
Ervin who has been making an en- i
viable name for himself In this city.
The family has started housekeep- .
ing in the new residence just com
pleted on property purchased by
Mr Ervin at the original lot sale
last July on 6th avenue and E street.
KNIK MAIL CONTRACTOR
ON VISIT TO ANCHORAGE
Mr and Mrs. L. D. Ellexson came
jver from Knik this morning on bus
nesg connected with Colonel Harry
Etevell, but was disappointed from
he fact that the colonel was sud
lenly called to Seward an,: compet
ed to leave last night on the Admi
ral Watson in response to a tele
gram calling him to that city on im
lortant business.
Mr. Ellexson was employed last
v.liter by Colonel Retell as a mail
arrier between TTappy River and
Jalzel canyon, one of the most im
mrtant stages betwen Seward and
he Kuskoltwin, and as a reward for
tis efficient services has secured the
nib-contract to carry the mail from
<nik to the Kuskoktvin for the coni
ng winter season.
Mrs. J. Fordyce arrived in Anehor
ige on one of the late steamers and
lame to Anchorage to Join her hus
>and who is in the employ of thi
Uaskan Engineering oommission.
Carranza Troops Annihilated
WASHINGTON, July 7.—President Wilson’s note form
ally accepting Carranza’s proposal to settle the differences be
tween the United States and Mexico by direct negotiations
lias been handed Ambassador Arredondo, after having been
approved by the cabinet.
The Mexican embassy has advised the state department
that a large Villa band at Corralitos and Chihuahua had virtu
ally annihilated the Carranza forces on Wednesday. Orrmnza
suggests that the American border patrol exercise all possible
vigila. ce to prevent outlaws from raiding into the United
States.
WASHINGTON, July (i.—The formal acceptance of Car
ranza’s proposal to settle the differences between the United
States and Mexico by negotiations will be discussed soon, as
Secretary Lansing goes on a month’s vacation tomorrow.
It is rumored that Villa has fully reco' ■ 1 '"ora his
wounds and is personally leading a force <:> thward
from the region just south of Parral.
EL PASO. July 7.—The Villistas wh bninez
and afterward were compelled to evacuate ii 'rsued
by the Carranza cavalry.