UMz! The Cordova Daily Times 1 :ME
\ oil Mi: 1 MTMBKlf IBB. CORDOVA, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY; MAY 12, 1915. PRICE TEN CENTS.
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8TEAMSHIP INSPECTORS
WILL TOUR WESTWARD
Captain George B. Whitney and Pet
er G. Peltret, steamship inspectors
in charge of the Juneau office, will
leave for the westward the latter
part of the week.
They will make a tour of the coast
towns as far west as UnalaskA and re
turn. They will Inspect steamers
and gashoats and hold examinations
for licenses as captains and engineers.
The tour will take about three
months.
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ALASKA LAND
WASHINGTON. May 12—Secretary
of the Interior Franklin K. Lane has
withdrawn from entry in an order
signed by the president, sixty-five
thousand acres of land in the Iilamna
bay region. The order of withdraw
al is for the purpose of protecting
and conserving the many valuable wa
ter powers which abound in this sec
tion, and is in line with the adminis
tration’s policy of conserving the wa
ter power resources of the nation.
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FIRST APPLICATION FOR
PENSION IS FILED
The first application for a pension
under the act passed by the last leg
islature granting $12.50 per month to
Alaskan pioneers, has been received
by the governor's office.
The application was from a woman
of Seward, 77 years of age. She is
a widow.
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Mrs. W. J. Downing and family
arrived last night and are today mov
ing into a cottage on Fifth street,
which Mr. Downing had rented for
his family.
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MARIPOSA 8WEELS
WESTWARD CROWD
The steamer Mariposa arrived here
at 9:30 last night. Her Cordova pas
sengers were Mrs. Wm. Downing and
daughter, Mrs. W. P. Pritchard, E.
J. Colvin, F. A. Hollenbaugh, H. E.
Qault and two steerage. There were
six firstclass and four steerage for
Valdes; 63 cabin and 41 steerage for
Seward; 43 cabin and 31 steerage for
Knik Anchorage.
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All the Heal News in the Times.
The entire destruction of Seward by fire, was
threatened yesterday, and so serious was the situa
tion that Deputy Marshal Evans declared the town
under martial law, the schools were dismissed, all
saloons and business houses closed and the entire
population turned out to fight the flames, which
were gradually but surely licking up everything in
their path.
For the past three days forest fires have been
sweeping the timber on the northern outskirts of
the townsite. Yesterday a strong wind was blowing
and the fire extended to the Poland homestead
and later to the Laubner addition to the town. A
large force of volunteers at first endeavored to com
bat the flames, but the fire had gained such headway
that their efforts were unavailing Realizing that
if the fire reached the town limits there was little
chance of saving any of the homes or business houses
the entire community formed itself into a fire fight
ing brigade, and labored faithfully and heroically.
Not, however, until the flames had reached to within
r1".... ■ ■ —<
Much Destruction of Property
A cablegram received from Seward this af
ternoon states that the fire is completely under
control, and is confined to smoldering flames
in the adjoining hills, and that the total loss is
in the neighborhood of $40,000. The fire
swept from a mile north of the city to within
a hundred feet of the best residence district,
and the forests around the entire town were a
blaze. Six cabins and a number of tents were
destroyed; railroad machine shops and a loco
tive and eight cars burned, and other minor
damage resulted. Fortunately no one was hurt
during the fire.
Another telegraphic report says the round
house, machine shop, car shop and half the
rolling stock of the Alaska Northern railroad
was destroyed, also several residences. The
fire started in the timber on the Poland home
north wind, threatening the whole town. Fire
still burning in timber on Brownell homestead,
also on government terminal, but all danger is
past. Loss $100,000.
| one hundred feet of the residential section did the
workers succeeded in getting the flames under con
| trol.
The steamer Corwin had left the dock on its
way to Nome, but was called back by wireless and,
i together with the steamer Santa Ana, remained in
port to take the women and children aboard in case
the fire crossed the glacier stream. The most in
tense excitement prevailed during this crucial time,
and it was only through the efforts of the cooler
heads that a panic was averted. Dense clouds of
smoke filled the air and as the fire raged the heat
became unbearable.
The residents directed their fight to hold the
fire north of the glacier stream, where a dozen or
more small cabins and as many tents, thrown up by
recent arrivals, had already burned. The big ma
chine shops of the Alaska Northern railroad also
caught fire and was soon enveloped in flames. The
wind then shifted and the fire spread to the water
front
Special to The Times By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, May 12—President Wilson and
his advisers have practically completed a note to
Germany that will cover all the complaints of viola
tion’s rights as a neutral. Germany will he asked
for an accounting and her reasons for the Lusitania
incident, the Gulf light sinking, the attack on the
Cushing and the death of Leon Thrasher. Ger
many will be expected to make moral and financial
amends for these wrongs, and' a guarantee will be
asked that there will be no repetition of such unlaw
ful practices as have been followed by the German
submarines.
The note will be sent to Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin late today or early tomorrow. The note
has been prepared by the President himsmelf and
has received the unanimuos approval of the cabi
net. The President realizes the graveness of the
meaning of the note, and is prepared for any event
uality. The note does not state the exact course
that the United States will follow in case of Ger
many’s refusal, nor would the President’s assist
ants indicate what such course would be beyond
saying that each step would be considered as the
situation developed. The officials interviewed de
clared their belief that an eventual severance of
diplomatic relations between the United States and
Germany would not be improbable unless Germany
yielded.
WASHINGTON, May 1*2—The Pacific utteran
ces of President Wilson in his speech delivered to
the newly naturalized citizens at Philadelphia, the
night before last, are not reflected in the note which
the government has prepared to send to Grrnanv.
The note is a business like document, and is phrased
in firm, unequivocal terms, demanding strict ac
countability for the many breaches of American
neutrality committed by Germany.
This strict accountability is only following out
the statements made in former notes from this coun
try, wherein the United' States said that she would
hold Germany to a strict accountability for the loss
of American lives or property. The note asks that
Germany terminate her unlawful, unprecedented
I
methods of warfare on merchant ships, and also de
mands full reparation to the families of all the vic
tims of the Lusitania tragedy. Everywhere in
official circles at the capital there is talk of firm
uess and the stiffening of the country’s position
towards Germany.,
Washington, May 12—The impression now pre
vails here that President Wilson wrote the note to
Germany himself. The note was cabled today to
Berlin, and the language used is very emphatic.
Certain members of the cabinet who were advocates
of a vigorous policy had some of their suggestions
for the wording of the note declined by the presi
dent.
TOKIO, May 12—The government has sent to
Great Britain and the United State's messages of
sympathy over the terrible loss of life of non-com
batants on the Lusitania. Copies of the Russian
press that have been received here contain leading
articles bitterly arraigning Germany for the attack
on the Lusitania.
GERMAN SHOPS IN LONDON WRECKED
LONDON, May 12—Anti-German riots were re
newed in the East End of the city last night, and
scenes of extreme violence resulted, accompanied
with much destruction of property. Every German
on the street or seen approaching the quarter was
attacked without mercy, and the assaults were par
ticularly severe in the neighborhood of the East In
dia docks. Many Germans have been in business
in this neighborhood for years, and a large num
ber of them have become naturalized British cit
izens. Near the docks over (50 shops owned by
Germans were absolutely wrecked, and the goods
and wares destroyed'.
The ranks of the London police have been
thinned by enlistments in the army, and the “Bob
bies” were unable to cope with the situation, al
though they worked heroically to subdue the mobs
and many arrests were made. The furniture and
fittings of the houses and stores occupied by the
Germans were thrown in the streets and rendered
I useless. In some cases the clothes were actually
torn from the backs of the Teutons, and the unfortu
nates suffered much personal violence. In one in
stance the police succeeded in rescuing a man just
in time to prevent him from being drowned in a
horse trough. The anti-German feeling is gain
ing tremendous headway throughout the empire, and
nearly all the business houses and’ markets display
1 large placards which announce that no business of
, any kind will be transacted with Germans
LONDON, May 12—Sir James Bryce, former British am
bassador to the United States, and chairman of the special gov
ernment commission investigating outrages committed by Ger
man troops in Belgium, has reported to the government on the
matter. The commission finds that in many cases deliberate
systematically organized massacres were committed, the civil
population of Belgium being the sufferers. These massacres
were accompanied by many isolated murders, and the making of
war upon innocent women and children.
The report concludes that many women and men were
murdered in cold blood, without vestige of reason for the acts.
The women were in many cases violated by the German soldiers
before being killed. The committee also concludes that the evi
dence they have received positively proves that the violation
of women, the murdering of children, the looting of houses, and
the burning and wanton destruction of private property was
ordered and countenanced by German officers. An elaborate
provision was made for systematic incendiarism at the very out
break of the war by the German authorities, the burning and
frequent destruction of property was yithout excuse of military
necessity being a part of the German theory of general terror
ization of a conquered people. Cases are cited where civilians
including women and children, were used as shields by advanc
ing bodies of German troops, that while so used they were ex
postal to tin* lire of their own countrymen, and many were woun
ded and' killed- In some cases wounded Belgians and prison
ers were killed outright by their captors. The use of the red
cross and white flags were also abused by the German soldiers
wherever military advantage could be so gained.
ITALIANS PARADE STREETS OFROME
AND SHOUT1‘DOW1 WITH AUSTRIA"
TROOPS DISPERSE THE CROWDS
ROME, April 12—The excitement over the possibility of
war is increasing by leaps and bounds. The populaoe is en
thusiastic for war with Austria, and in this city yesterday great
crowds paraded the principal streets shouting “Down with
Austria ” The disturbance became so great that it became
necessary to summon the troops to disperse the immense gather
ings. Nothing disorderly was attempted, but the authorities
feared that the gamut of the mob’s enthusiasm would reach a
climax and danger result unless they interfered'.
Similar demonstrations occurred throughout the country,
and it. is certain that the officials of the government must be
powerfully influenced by the strong public opinion that has been
expressed by these public demonstrations. The final Austrian
proposals are expected soon, but it is not believed that they
will be satisfactory to the cabinet, which will insist that Aus
tria cedes all territory that is racially and strategically Italian.
Nobody really believes that Austria will grant the full demands
of Italy.
HOME, May 12—The final proposal of Austria concerning
territorial concessions to Italy has been received by the Italian
foreign minister, and the cabinet is in session today consider
ing them. The decision of the government for peace or war
cannot be long delayed’ now. Nothing is known of the Aus
trian terms, but it is believed that the full demands of Italy
have not been complied with.
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ALLIED FORCES MAKING HEADWAY IN FLANDERS
LONDON, May 12—The British and Belgian forces in1
Flanders are making good progress. German reinforcements
have failed to check the French advance northward from Ar-j
ras, and an important position has been captured.
LEGISLATOR RETURNS
FROM HIS LABORS
Representative Thomas Holland re
turned on last night's steamer from
a trip to the States after the adjourn
ment of the legislature. He will
leave for his home in Chitlna on to
morrow's train. Mr. Holland has
furnished the Times with copies of
the compensation act and mining law,
the only two bills enacted that have
thus far been printed.
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IS AFTER BROWN
Among the passengers on the Mar
iposa last night was Thomas Martin
dale, a Philadelphia grocer, enroute
to the westward for the purpose of
obtaining specimens of the brown bear
as it comes from its annual hiberna
tion, for the Academy of National
Science.
Mr. Martindale will proceed from
Seldovia, on the east side of Cook In
let. to the west side of the inlet, pen
etrating the Aleutian range, in search
of the brown bear. With him will
be J. C. Tolman and son, Emil Tol
man, as companions. There is some
thing about the hide and fur of a
brown bear as it awakes from its
winter sleep in the snow that scien
tists wish to learn, so Martindale was
granted a special government permit
to kill five brown bear all told, two
more than the legal limit.
Interesting habits of the animal as
it comes out of its long slumbers,
were discussed by Martindale yester
day. He says the first thing the bear
does is to run wildly for the nearest
patch of skunk s cabbage, which plant
it eats ravenously, finishing up on
grass and fish. This proves that
skunk's cabbage was put on the face
of the globe for a purpose no one
else has ever discovered.
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ALASKA COAL CASES
ABE NOLLE PBOSSED
The so-called Alaska coal land
fraud cases, pending In the United
States District court at Detroit since
1911, have been nolled pressed at the
request of the attorney general,
through his associate, Ernest Knae
bel.
Among the defendants were W. W.
McAlpine, Arthur L. Holmes. Albert
H. Roehm, George W. Ross, McCurdy
C. I^beau, and Frank D. Andrus, all
of Detroit. Indictments returned a
gainst the men by a federal grand
jury in that city, charged that 640
claims to land in Alaska had been ob
fained through fraud.
The action of the prosecution, it
is understood, was caused by lack of
evidence.
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SEATTi-E SUN PROMISES
GIVE ALASKA SQUARE DEAL
i he Seattle Sun has resumed pub
lication. being now Issued by former
em.i.nyecs In a 1«** 'r to the Daily
Times, the new managing editor says.
‘We intend to publish a clean,
snappy newspaper with a construct
ive policy. We are going to make
an effort to give Alaska her just due
in our news columns.”
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Notaries Appointed
Three notaries have been appointed
by Governor Strong. They are Al
exander Malcomb Smith of Wiseman.
Frank E. Howard of Wiseman and
James R. Hayden, of Seward,