RUSSIAN PRISON ISLAND
IS HABITAT OF GHOSTS
Lonely in its solitude, stern and
forbidding, wrapped in eternal mists,
frowning and sullen, about 80 miles
to the southwest of Kodiak stands
Chirikof, the island of ghosts. Sur
rounded by dangerous reefs and
stormy seas, it is at best an uninvit
ing place and is seldom visited un
less stress of storm made a landing
there imperative.
Nature has made the place repul
sive and legend had added to its ter
rors. Natives passing give the place a
wide berth, and nothing short of dire
extremity would cause them to land
there, preferring to take the most des
perate chances with storm and sea
rather than set foot on its inhospit
able shores, for, legend has peopled
the island with ghosts, whose w-ailings
and moanings and the clanking of
whose chains strike tejror to the stout
est heart. Those whom necessity have
compelled to stop there tell harrow
ing tales of the unseen inhabitants of
that desolate place, of the moans and
cries which filled the air during the
hours of darkness, and drove them at
the first opportunity to seek other
shelter. For Chirikof, according to the
legends of the Natives, was the prison
of the early Russian inhabitants of
Kodiak. To this bleak and desolate
island were banished the offenders
against the Russian law or the edicts
of the officials in command of the
Russian settlement.
Tales of horrible cruelties visited
upon these unfortunates are handed
down in the Native legends; how the
offenders, loaded with chains, were
landed at Chirikof and left to their
own resources. There wras no escape,
and the unfortunates, prey to the hor
rible sufferings from hunger and ex
posure eked out p, terrible existence
until death relieved them of their suf
ferings. Many years have passed
since the last of these unfortunates I
passed away, but their restless spirits
still roam, according to the tales of
the Natives, this bleak and desolate
island, filling the air with their lamen
tations and the clanking of their
chains. So vivid are these stories that
even the white men shudder u» they
pass the unhallowed spot, and, like
the Natives, they pass it by without
landing. No lure of possible mineral
wealth induces the hardy prospector
to visit this awesome place, it is shun
ned by all, and so dark and sullen it
lies untenanted except by the wild
fowl and its ghostly inhabitants—Val
dez Miner.
-«
GOOD NEWS BAY STRIKE
CREATING INTEREST
Joseph McDowell recently arrived at
Iditarod from the lower Kuskokwim
with news of the strike in the Good
News Bay country.
McDowell said the strike was made
on Watermuse creek, flowing into the
Kugharock river, which empties into
Good News river thirty miles from
Good News bay. On Watermuse creek,
which takes its name from the Indian
who made the discovery, three of the
seventeen claims staked by the first
party of locators yielded better than
ordinary pay during the short time
they were worked last fall, according
to the Iditarod Pioneer.
The gold on discovery claim. No. 1
above and No. 1 below, averages about
$1.80 to the foot, and is from six inches
to three feet in depth. On No. 1
above pay was found in a crosscut of
14(5 feet. McDowell says five men
shoveling in for one month cleaned
up $13,400
-♦
AT IT AGAIN.
J. J. McGrath, former territorial pub
licity agent, who left recently for Cas
per, Wyoming, has again broken into
the newspaper game at that place, hav.
ing taken the editorship of the Cas
per Daily Tribune.
WOMEN STUDY
TO QUALIFY AS
ENGINEERS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29— Enroll
ment of women in engineering de
partments of Amej-rcan universities
tnd colleges, reflects the changing de
nand for women in industry. At the
Kansas State Agricultural college,
here are 150 women studying to be
come electrical engineers. Clarence
Reid, professor of electrical engineer
ng at the Kansas Agricultural college
taya:
"Women are being employed as
power plant operators in the large
central stations of Europe, and have
been found entirely satisfactory.
None of the machinery in these sta
tions is operated by hand, but is all
controlled by various forms of elec
tric motors, set into operation by the
touch of a button or by electric mag
nets or air pressure, or controlled in
one manner so that physical strength
l? not at all necessary. Work of this
is far less exhausting than many
lortns of work in which women are
now engagetd, for central station
operators may use seats and have
more variety of movement in their
work.
Desirable qualifications for entering'
upon engineering study comprises abil-j
tt> in mathematics and interest in
scientific study.”
--♦
TREADWELL COMPANY
FILES 40 LOCATIONS
The Treadwell company recently
filed location notices for nearly forty
claims adjacent to the property now
being developed under bond at Auk
Bay. That property is controlled by
Senators Sutherland and Aldrich and
Mayor Valentine and was bonded by
the Treadwell company last summer.
There are seventeen men at work on
the property. The Treadwell company,
under the suspended assessment act
also filed over a hundred 'affidavits
for the year 1918 covering lode claims
in the Harris mining district.
I Alaskan Hotel |
ROBERT GOTTSCHALK—Proprietors—ART CLONINGER x
Si "The House of Comfort.”
1 THE BEST EQUIPPED HOTEL IN
I ALASKA
1 BARBER SHOP IN CONNECTION.
Hot and Cold Water, Electric Bella, |
Electric Lights, Steam Heat, Suites £
I With Bath. |
-----
CORDOVA - - - - - ALASKA 8
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W ' -* • V ,
Wh en You ]
Buy Fruit
Look for this Trademark
Discriminating housewives serve
only Hunt’s Quality Fruits in
their homes. They arethe choicest
of sunny California’s tree ripened
fruits, packed with scientific and
clean methods, and come to you
fresh as when picked, every day
in the year.
We carry a full line Gf
y Hunt s Quality California
Fruits
”TW tai TUt U NOT IswPwU**
M's mil mnJ newsmens' Omm
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INCORPORATED I
“The House That Satisfies” I;
GROCERIES 21 - PHONES - OFFICE 74 ||
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ALASKA
STEAMSHIP CO.
This company reserve* the right to change schedule of steamers
without notice.
LEAVES SEATTLE LEAVES CORDOVA
January 24 Alaska January 31
February 1 Victoria February 8
February 8 Northwestern February 15
The freighters Cordova, Latouche, Juneau, Valdez
and Ketchikan also make regular trips.
Tickets on sale at up-town office Alaska Steamship Bldg. Bag
gage or freight will not be received at the dock later than one hour
before sailing time.
* F. B. TRACY, General Agent; S. R. HEDGES, Agent.
—Next Steamer—
S. S. ADMIRAL EVANS
LEAVES CORDOVA FOR SEA TTLE, VIA INSIDE PASSAGE, ON
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25.
CALIFORNIA ROUTE
Special Ocean Excursions from Seattle to Sunny California. $33 to
San Francisco and return, final limit of sale February 28th. $50 to
.Los Angeles and return. $54 to San Diego and return. Three sail- .
• ings a week from Seattle to California points. Arrange your winter
outing through your local agent.
FOR FULL PARTICULARS APPLY
W. A. NOURSE, Agent. Empress Building.
DELIVERY OF COAL
On account of eight hour law, coal orders must be re
ceived before 1 p. m. to insure delivery same day. No
coal delivered after 5 pm.
ALASKA TRANSFER
COMPANY j
Office—Northern Hotel Building. Phone 86. j
1 NORTHERN MEAT MARKET 1
A* —'1 1 11,11 ' 11 ■■■■■.!■ ■—■■■■ II ■!■.
!*•*
Wholesale and Retail Dealer* in ^
1 FRESH BEEF, PORK, VEAL, MUTTON AND PRO- I
| VISIONS
U «*$». Particular Attention and Prompt Service aiv,„ t» •r#ti>s fr*m &
Mining Camps, Roadhouses and Interior Point*
| HALIBUT and Other Fresh Fish of all Kind* Will be S'
Kept in Stock When Available.
| SMITH & GLA8BRENNER, Prop*. |
» """ ~ 1 I
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Sixty Steam Heated Rooms Eletric Lighted
.Hot and Cold Water in Every Room
With or Without Bath. k
Cordova House
DOOLEY AND GREEN1G
Headquarters for Rtdlroad and Mining Hen
Satisfaction Our an teed
Rates Reasonable
| Foos Gas Engines 1
|i 4 to 500 Horse Power
General Electric Motors i
Roebling Tramways
PeftOn Water Wheels |
Chicago Oil Engines and Compressors &
| Harmon Machinery Co. Inc
Oxy-Acetylene Welding and Cutting
CORDOVA, ALASKA