The Cordo t Daily Times
Only Afternoon Paper Alaska With Associated Press News
VDUrMK, III. NUMBER 73. CORDOVA, JLASKA, MONDAY^ FEBRUARY 26^1917. raICK TKX cg!:Ta
PRESIDENT ASKS AUTHORITY TO ARM SHIPS
CUiRD LINER IS
SUNK WITHOUT
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
♦ (By Associated Press) ♦
♦ QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 26.—The ♦
♦ Cunard liner Laconia, of 18,000 ♦
♦ tons burden, has been sunk. She ♦
♦ sailed from New York for Ltv- ♦
♦ erpool on February 18, with a ♦
♦ hundred passengers, including ♦
♦ ten or more Americans. The sur- ♦
♦ vivors. including passengers and ♦
♦ crew to the number of 270, will ♦
♦ be landed here tonight. +
♦ - ♦
♦ LONDON, Feb. 26. — It is offi- ♦
♦ daily stated that the Laconia was ♦
♦ torpedoed without warning. ♦
♦ ♦
♦ LONDON, Feb. 26. — American ♦
♦ Consul Frost has telegraphed ♦
♦ from Queenstown that the liner ♦
♦ Laconia was torpedoed on Sun- ♦
♦ day night at 10:30 o'clock. Two ♦
♦ hundred and seventy-eight sur- ♦
♦ vivors were landed, some are ♦
♦ missing and one is dead. ♦
♦ - ♦
♦ NEW YORK, Feb. 26. — Twen- ♦
♦ ty Americans, all native born. ♦
♦ were members of the crew of the ♦
♦ Laconia. Five thousand sacks of ♦
♦ United States mail were sunk on ♦
♦ the liner, including money, vain- ♦
♦ able securities and documents ♦
♦ sent by American firms. ♦
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
_A_
I
MED n
(By Associated Press)
LONDON, Feb. 26. — A German de
stroyer bombarded Broadstairs and
Margate early this morning. One wo
man and one child were killed, two
persons injured and two houses dam
aged.
TURKS RETREAT
(By Associated Press)
LONDON, Feb. 26. — It is official
ly announced that the Britisli have
captured Kutelamara. The Turks are
retreating toward Bagpailos, twenty
four miles west, and 'are being pur
sued by the British cavalry.
-w
TRIP
(By Associated Press)
MADRID, Keb. 26. — As the ller
man government has failed to guaran
tee him protection through the sub
marine zone, Ambassador Gerard is
a little bit uneasy about his return
voyage to the states. As a charge of
treason was trumped up against the
American after he left Berlin, it may
be that this is the reason that he is
not being safeguarded. Another ru
mor is to the effect that the charges
were made so to investigate the Am
erican embassy and get possession of
the papers there. It is said Gerard
destroyed all documents before leav
ing with the exception of a copy of
the treaty Germany attempted to
force him to sign and which he is
taking to Washington with him.
--
A recent arrival in Nome from
Candle reports there is not an idle
man in the camp, and that all the
andle miners are taking out good
SKIPS WILL SAIL
AS SOON AS
CAN ARM
(By Associated Press)
NEW YORK. Feb. 26. — An Ameri
can line announces that its steam
ships which have been detained here
will resume their sailings as soon as
guns can be provided, if congress au
thorizes President Wilson to arm
ships.
-A_
LEAK ALL NIYTH
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Peb. 24. — Vindi
cation of all public officials mentioned
In the investigation of charges that
there was a leak close to the White
House in regard to the president's (
peace note, was voted today unani
mously by the house rules committee.
It is understood that the committee
found Thomas W. Lawson's charges
jnsubstantiated and that Bolling, the
president’s brother in law, had noth
ing to do with the leak.
Advance information was furnished
:o the brokers by J. Fred Kssay and
W. W. Price, duplicate men in the
files division at thet president’s offices.
m1
FILIBUSTER HAS
BEEN STOPPED
-*
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. — The Re
publicans stopped their senate filibus
ter on Sunday morning after the De
mocrats agreed not to vote on the
revenue bill until Wednesday night.
The Alaskans here are anxious be
cause the senate has not yet consid
ered the sundry civil bill, which con
tains a majority of the Alaska appro
priations. The army and navy bills
are also unconsidered, and the three
bills carry appropriations of $1,000,
1)00,000.
-«
(Special to The TimeB)
SEWARD, Feb. 26. — Representa
tive Nate Coombs, of Council, has ar
rived here from the Nome district,
but too late to catch the steamer Alas
ka for Juneau. He says Scotty Allan
left Nome five days ahead of him, and
is anxious to know if the famous
musher has reached Cordova.
INI VO FOREIGN PRINCE
i OVER GOBURC
MUNICH, Feb. 24. — A bill for ex
cluding foreign princes from any pos
sibility of succeeding to the ducal
throne is now before the diet of Saxe
Coburg-Gotha. The chief aim of the
measure is to make it impossible for
any English prince to become duke
of Coburg In the event of the present
duke, who is a grandson of Queen
Victoria, dying without a male heir.
-♦
A case of scarlet fever was discov
ered last week at Ketchikan. A strict
quarantine of the case was at once
established and the mayor issued
warning to citizens to take all pos
sible precautions to prevent spread
ing of the disease.
.
SALMON CANNERY TENDER
FOR ALASKA LAUNCHED.
(By Associated F’ress)
SEATTLE, Feb. 26. — The Sockeye
Salmon Company's eighty foot lender
Morovla, for Alaska service, was
launched today.
-«
DUTCH VESSELS
► (By Associated Press) ♦
► WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 —The ♦
► tremendous destruction of Dutch ♦
► shipping during the past two ♦
► days is regarded as the most ♦
► acute phase of the international ♦
► situation, and Is expected to ♦
► bring nearer the probability of a ♦
► break in diplomatic relations be- +
► tween the Netherlands and Ger- ♦
► many. +
► Holland has only made a pro- +
► test aguinst the destruction of ♦
► her neutral ships by German sub- ♦
► marines, but the startling oper- ♦
► ations yesterday and today are ♦
► likely to arouse the popular in- ♦
► dignation of the Netherlands, ♦
► which that government may find ♦
► it difficult to withstand even If ♦
► it desired to do so. +
►♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
-«
Recent arrivals from the states tell
pf the disappearance of Joe Cham
bers, the well known old-time commia
lion man, who came north every year
dnce the early days of the Fairbanks
lamp. From the information received
t appears that when he left Alaska
ast fall he kept on going, but never
itopped at Seattle, where he had cre
ators to whom he owed $20,000 to
>27,000.
After the creditors in Seattle be
:ame convinced that he was not go
ng to show up, they engaged one of
:he big detective agencies to start the
march for him. He was traced from
Cordova as far as Juneau on the Am
srican boats and from there to Prince
Rupert on the Canadian line. Whether
pr not the detectives succeeded in fol
owing him from there is not known.
Before leaving Fairbanks, Chambers
s reported to have sold out much of
[he personal property which he used
innually on his visits there, so that
[here is little doubt that when he was
leparting this fall he figured It was
pis last trip to the interior.
The disappearance of Chambers has
caused a surprise among his friends
n Seattle, as he had practically un
lmited credit among the wholesalers
ind jobbers. Mr. Turner, of the Tur
per, Pease Company, of Seattle, is re
ported to have said that the credit of
Chambers was-- good-for - $2tMlbO-.wtth.
pis firm, and others held him In equal
pigh esteem.
When in Fairbanks last summer the
friends of Mr. Chambers noted at
[he time that he was brooding over
mmething, and several commented on
It at the time. His conduct was en
tirely different than in former years,
and noticeable.
Among the people in Seattle who
ire known to have been creditors of
Mr. Chambers are: The Scandinavian
Bank, for about $6,000; Turner, Pease
& Company, for about $4,000; J. B.
Powell & Company, for about $5,000;
National Grocery Company, for sev
eral hundred dollars, and several
ether merchants.
While his disappearance is not ex
plainable, some of his Seattle credit
ors believe that he will yet show up
to make the best settlement possible.
-«
Subscribe for the Times.
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. — The
president will address a Joint ses
sion of Congress this afternoon
and ask authority to establish
state armed neutrality. He has
made full and detailed plans for
the protection of American ships
desiring to enter the German war
zone and will ask congress to em
power him to use the forces of
the United States to protect Am
erican rights on the high seas.
WASHINGTON Feb. 26—There
was considerable excitement in of
ficial circles when It became
known that at 9 o'clock President
Wilson summoned Secretary Tum
ulty to the White House and
called Senator Stone in confer
ence soon afterward. At 9:39
o'clock the public printer was also
present at the executive office
and received the manuscript of
the president's address.
Tumulty made an announce
ment of the president’s intention
a little tat»i^—.fTe said that Wll
son had concluded It unwise to
wait for an overt act before ask
ing congress for additional au
thority, as the accumulation of
American rights and the condi
tions resulting from the failure
of American merchantmen to
leave port had caused the pres!
dent’s determination to address
congress.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. — Pre
sident Wilson appeared before
congress this afternoon and asked
authority to place the United
States in a state of armed neu
trality as the result of the Ger
man submarine menace and its
continued invasion of the plain
rights of neutrals on the high
seas. He declared that the fur
ther sacrifices of American lives
and ships was Intolerable and the
blockade of American commerce
almost as effective as if the
country were at war and have
taken the place of the dreaded
overt act which was expected to
shake the world and force the
president into the next step to
ward war.
Devoutly expressing the hope
It would not become necessarv to
put an armed force into action,
the president specifically asked
for authority to supply merchant
ships with defense arms, which
means using them and to employ
any other Instrumentalities, as
well as sufficient credit to enable
him to provide adequate means of
protection. This without bein-'
specified, If terms were required
for the use of the army and
navy and the necessary money to
make them effeclve behind the
rights of Americans.
The president declared he was
thinking of the rights of human
ity, but through it all he pro
claimed to the world a policy of
peace. If peace be-possible, he-dts-—
claimed thinking of war or steps
that lead to It. He exclaimed that
the American people wished to
exercise none but their rights for
peace. The president said if his
course will lead to war it will
come only by willful acts and ag
gressions of the other.
A grim faced body of senators
and representatives heard with
intense silence and grave atten
tion the words which will carry
the American republic a step fur
ther in its stand against the ruth
less sacrifice of neutral rights end
lives and a step nearer to war
if must be.
News of the sinking of the I,a
conla, with Americans aboard,
was received here while the pre
sident was on his way to the
capitol.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. —
( halrman Flood, of the foreign re
lations committee, will Introduce
in the house today a bill grant
ing power to the president to arm
ships and all other authority ne
cessary to protect American lives
and property.
-♦
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
♦ (By Associated Press) «
♦ WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.—The «
^ sinking of two more vessels by ♦
♦ German submarines, on both of ♦
♦ which were American sailors ♦
♦ aboard, has been reported to the +
♦ state department by the Ameri- •
♦ can consuls. In both cases the ♦
♦ vessels had been warned and ♦
♦ two Americans were landed safe- ♦
♦ ly. The ships torpedoed were ♦ 1
♦ the Norwegian steamer Sklrm ♦
♦ and Norwegian bark Blanheim. «
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
-*
A Ohisina correspondent sends the
Following interesting letter from that
camp:
There are still a number of old
timers In the section who have not
got cold feet and what may be still
more of a surprise to many people,
who still believe this camp has a
bright future.
On Notch creek on the first of the
year there was quite a stampede to
relocate on discovery, which had
lapsed from lack of assessment work.
McMullen & McGlddlgan are trying to
get down to bedrock, but the tempera
lure Is ranging from 25 to 30 below
zero and they are not making much
progress.
Charles llirdning and A. F. Nelson
have a boiler and are running a tun
nel in the hill in frozen ground, to
tap the benches. They have expended
about $1,000 on the project and have
hopes of striking pay dirt when they
strike bedrock.
On Big Eldorado “Shorty” Brigens
and Bill Me Abe are working on bed
rock and have dirt running about 50
cents to the square foot. Dutch and
partner on Gold Kun are continuing
work in about the same pay as they
had last winter, and expect to clean
up a good sum in the spring.
There are a number of prospectors
here anxious to work their ground, but
they have been compelled to put In
most of their time this winter hunt
ing, as the supply of grub is practi
cally exhausted. There was consider
able meat brought In last fall, suffi
cient it was believed to last through
the winter, but owing to the number
of dogs here the supply has been ex
hausted.
Stnce-thc- first of November—to date
there has not been a pound of grub
to be bought. Our merchant has had
ten head of horses engaged In packing
In canned corn, tomatoes, sweet pota
toes, pumpkins, pickles, sauerkraut,
salmon, sardines, clams and in fact
all kinds of Junk, and for two months
past has been borrowing flour, sugar,
tea, butter and bacon to live on, while
many of the prospectors have none,
and no way to get any.
The only way of getting supplies
Into the camp at present Is over the
glaciers, and the only hope of better
ing transportation Is to strike pay in
the deep ground on Notch creek
this is done the future of the camp
is assured, and we will try for a road
from Gulkana on the Valdez-Falrbanks
trail. This road will cut out the gla
ciers entirely; pass through a com
paratively level, well timbered coun
try, and Is unquestionably the best
possible route.
CHARGES REPUBS
TRYING BLOCK
REVENUE BILL
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. — After
Senator Miles Poindexter, of Wash
Ington state, had been talking in the
senate on Saturday for five hours on
the revenue bill. Senator John Sharpe
Williams, of Mississippi, aroused the
Republicans by charging that they
had received orders from the muni
tion makers of the country to defeat
the measure.
-_
■ CREDITED
KILLING ROAD
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. — Con
tressman Gordon of Ohio, Democrat,
ind Congressman Stafford of Illinois.
Republican, today succeded in having
he $500,000 appropriation for Alaskan
-oads and trails eliminated from the
military appropriation bill. Colonel
IV. P. Richardson, of the Alaska road
commission, through whose efforts the
ippropriatlon was put in the bill, has
Mm III and unable to assist the
’rlends of the appropriation In secur
ng Its passage. It Is generally be
loved the appropriation will tie re
itored In the senate.
Juneau Mikes “Wick" an Issue.
JUNEAU, Feb. 24. — Advices re
vived here from Washington state
hat the appropriation of $5ftOOao for
Maska roads and trails, attacheJ to
he military appropriation hill, has
>een stricken from the bill In the
louse, on a point of order, in the
mggestion of Delegate Wlckersham
hat the appropriations for roads In
Maska by the federal government did
to good to the territory.
Acting on a suggestion from Wash
ngton, the Empire, of this city, has
ssued a call to all commercial bodies,
mayors and members of the common ,
■ounclls of the various towns and all
citizens interested In securing this
ippropriatlon for roads In Maska to
vlre Senator Chamberlain, chairman
if the senate committee on military
iffalrs, urging that the Item be reln
itated in the senate.
In connection with this call the
ICmpire declares that the /allure of
he government to make aik nppropri
ition at this time would be disastrous
:o Alaska and would probably result
n the cutting off of all appropriations
n the future for road work In the
:erritory. It Is urged that .Immediate
iction be taken by the various civic
Jodies in the territory to Impress on
he senate committee the necessity
if restoring this item to the bill.
_*
RAILROAD PAYROLL AT
ANCHORAGE FOR WEEK.
The total disbursements of the of
fice at Anchorage for the period of
February 1 to 7 were 185,600.82. The
payment of salaries and wages am
ounted to $74,550.62; for local pur
chases $284.71; to contractors $7,
188.61; other expenditures $777,89;
lock claims $29.99.
. —-•
HELD FOR EMBEZZLEMENT:
Advices from Unga state that John
3. Foster, of that place, has been
Mound over by the commissioner's
court to the grand jury on the charge
of embezzlement by bailee. It is al
leged that Foster converted to his own
use moneys belonging to the estate
of B. Ommundnen. Foster was book
keeper for the Alaska Codfish Com
pany.
-8
The Alaska Dispatch at Juneau re
cently added a big Optimus press to
Its equipment at a cost of $3950.
-*
Preliminary foundation tests for
the steel bridge which is to be built
■cross the Tanana river by the Alaska
engineering commission. will be
started within a few days under the
direction of C. H. Rand, who is now
buay preparing the drll land making
other necessary preparations.
• (By Associated Press) #
• LONDON, Feb. 26. — Under a ♦
• heavy fog and mist the Germans »
• carried out the greatest retire- ♦
• ment that has taken place on ♦
• the western front during the past ♦
• two years. For a depth of three ♦
• miles at some points the British ♦
• have occupied Phys Serre, Mira ♦
> mount. Petit Miramount, and in- ♦
• eluding Butte de Warlencourt, ♦
• which has been the scene of +
• fierce righting. Further retire- ♦
• ment of the enemy Is expected. •
*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»
-♦
“In my opinion, the biggest issue
which confronts the next territorial
egislature is the care of the schools
>f the territory without the liquor
revenues after January 1, 1918, now
that Alaska has been declared dry
territory after that time."
So declared Representative William
Burns, of Fairbanks, who arrived In
town on yesterday’s train on his way
to Juneau to attend the territorial leg
slature, which convenes next week,
ind when Mr. Burns will enter upon
tis third term. He made the above
itatement knowing that the matter of
he care of the schools of the terri
ory without money derived from li
juor licenses is the all absorbing topic
iverywhere, particularly among the
>rohibitionists. But the statement
vas proof conclusive that no repre
sentative 1b going to Juneau with a
uller determination to do his duty
>y the people than “Billy” Burns.
Mr. Burns said last night that he
las not yet ascertained what powers
he legislature has in the matter of
saring for the schools. He has not
let looked up that part of the enabling
tct, but from what he has learned he
s of the opinion that the legislature
ilready has the power to act without
raving to have special powers granted
t by congress. He says that when
:he people of the territory voted Alas
ta dry they burdened the legislature
with the problem of raising at least
1200,000 for school purposes. It costs
that amount to run the schools of the
territory, both within and without the
corporate limits of the towns and of
that sum about $86,000 is used annual
ly for Nelson schools, or schools which
are supported by the territory, and not
by the municipalities. Provision for
these schools must be made, as well
as for those in the various towns
which will now noi be able to support
them from taxes and license money.
Representative Burns also expres
ses himself as being of the opinion
that the [towers of the territorial road
overseers in the division are too limi
ted. and he will endeavor to have
them enlarged. As the law now stands
the road overseer is compelled to call
for bids for even a small repair Job
on the roads. This takes time which
might be used to better advantage,
and It is this deficiency in the terri
torial road law that Mr.TfiifnS~fll fewls
to remedy if possible.
--*
YOUNG GOULD ACCIDENTALLY
SHOOTS HIMSELF ON HUNT.
(By Associated Press)
BRUNSWICK. Ga., Feb. 24 — Ed
win Gould, Jr., grandson of the great
railroad builder of the same name,
killed himself accidentally while hunt
ing raccoon.
-«
WOMAN ADJUDGED INSANE.
Mrs. Amelia Harris of Anchorage,
has been adjudged Insane by a jury In /
(he commissioner’s court at that place /
and will be sent to Morningside sani
tarium. Deputy Marshal S. O. eas
ier is now on his way from Seward to j
Anchorage and on his return will bri»g
the patient with him and take h* to J
the states. The report state- that f
Mrs. Harris la very violent. ^