The Cordova Daily Times
_(Memberof Associated Press) _
VOL. IV. NO. 229 CORDOVA, ALASKA. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1919_PRICE TEN CENTS
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Man Suspected of Murder Inflicts Wound
Which Only Superb Physical Condition
of Victim Prevents from Being Fa
tal—His Recovery Is Expected
Would-Be Assassin Suspected of Foul Murder at
Anchorage, in Which Woman Is Supposed to
Have Been Killed for Money—Whole
Country Aroused, and No Chance
for Criminal to Make Escape
♦ SEWARD, Sept, 1 Special to the Daily Times).—United
States Deputy Marshal Isaac Evans was shot this afternoon
by Dempsey Cummings, a man wanted at Anchorage in con
nection witli the disappearance of a woman of tin* underworld
there. ( hie bullet passed through the right side of Evans’ body
and three others went wild. Evans is in a serious condition.
Cummings was being* led to jail when he suddenly tinned,
jumped six feet away and drew a .38-caliber automatic pistol
and fired. Evans returned the fire but none of his shots was
effective.
Cummings started up the track, and posses in automo
biles, on locomotives and on speeders are now searching tor
him.
Would-Be Assassin Still at Large
SEWARD, Sept. 2 (Special to the Daily Times).—United
States Marshal Brenneman arrived this morning from Val
dez to take charge of the posses hunting for William Dempsey,
alias Cummings, who yesterday shot Deputy Marshal Isaac
Evans while resisting arrest,
Deputy Marshals Mossman and Burgis arrived here late
f last night from Anchorage to assist in directing the posses.
T wen tv-seven sourdoughs have formed a night patrol and
thirty sourdoughs a day patrol, and all avenues from Seward
north to Snow river are guarded.
A man swam Resurrection river yesterday at noon. It is
believed this may have been Dempsey. Otherwise no trace of
Km has been seen since lie abandoned the hand car on which he
Vade his escape yesterday morning, twenty minutes after the
shooting took place.
Crime of Which Cummings Is buspected
ANCHORAGE, Sept. 2 (Special to the Daily Times).—
Margaret Lavor, a woman of the underworld operating a cigar
store and soft drink parlor opposite the baseball park, has dis
appeared. She was last seen late on Monday night, August 25.
Deputy marshals have made a vigorous search for her, but with
out success. Volunteers on Sunday last thoroughly searched
empty houses, cellars, old wells and other places throughout the
vicinity for a clue, but without avail. The former red light dis
trict also has been thoroughly searched, and an organized party
is continuing the search for her body.
The woman formerly lived at Fairbanks and on Cleary
creek. She was about 35 years of age, and weighed more than
jjtwo hundred pounds. At the time of her disappearance she
'was known to have a thousand dollars oh her person. She was
lightly dressed, and wore a diamond dragon pin, rings and a
gold watch. Undoubtedly she was murdered for her money
and valuables. She left her place of business in care of a friend,
saying she would return shortly.
No Chance for Dempsey to Escape
A man named Dempsey, alias Cummings, was suspected
from the start, on account of former repeated attempts to make
engagements with the woman. Dempsey was apprehended at
Seward yesterday morning. Following his arrest, and while
en route to jail, lie shot United States Deputy Marshal Isaac
Evans through the lower right lung and made his escape on a
hand car, which he abandoned about a mile from Seward, and
he is now hiding in the woods.
A large armed posse is searching for him, and there is no
chance of his escaping. In all probability he will be killed, as
\ he is known to be desperate.
Hopes Held Out for Evans’ Recovery
\ Evans is very popular here, and feeling runs high. The
7 doctors hold out hopes for Evans’ recovery, although his con
( dition is serious. His splendid physical condition is expected
to pull him through.
Many theories regarding the disappearance of the woman
( have been run to earth, but it is generally believed that she
was murdered and her body thrown in the bay. <*
Millions of Tons of Alaska Coal
Available for Naval Purposes,
Is Report of Naval Commission
SEATTLE, Sept. 2 (by Associated Press).
A special to the Times says that the navy de
partment commission, just back from Alaska,
has reported that 28,000,000 tons of coal suit
able for naval use is available in the Mata
nuska field. The commission recommends
that the coal be brought to seaboard at Anchor
age or Seward.
This report has not been made public, but
a naval officer is said to have given the above
facts to Senator Poindexter.
Pageant Is Designated Great
est of Its Kind Ever Held
on Pacific Coast—Dan
iels on Oregon
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 2 (by As
sociated Press).—Secretary of the
N;.. / Daniels, on board the famous old
b- Rlr.flhip Oregon, reviewed the Pa
ciflj fleet here yesterday. It was prob
ably the greatest naval ceremonial in
the history of the west coast.
Fifty-two ships participated in the
review, and many thousands of persons
crowded the shores and cheered the
passing vessels.
Admiral Rodman himself piloted the
fleet.
A fog which had enshrouded the bay
lifted as the fleet entered the Golden
Gate and was greeted by scores of ex
cursion craft in the harbor.
Two airplanes which participated in
the celebration fell during the review,
but no casualties resulted. Chinese
piloted airplanes during the display.
Will Visit British Columbia
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (by Asso
ciated Press).—Secretary of the Navy
Daniels will visit Victoria, B. C., on
September 11, with a division of de
stroyers.
President to Review Fleet at Seattle
SEATTLE, Sept. 2 (The President’s
secretary, Joseph P. Tumulty, has tel
graphed that President Wilson and
Secretary Daniels, on board the bat
tleship Oregon, will review the Pacific
fleet at Seattle on September 13.
President Wilson will deliver an ad
dress at the Arena in this city on the
night of the 14th.
Will Head Parade in New York
and Later Visit Home
State — French Hero
Bids Godspeed
NEW YORK, Sept. 2 (by Associ
ated Press).—General Pershing is to
lead the First division of the army
when it parades in New York upon
his arrival there. It is expected in
Washington that General Pershing will
arrive in New York on September 8,
and that he will come here within
three or four days to report to the de
partment of war. Later he will visit
his home in Missouri, returning to
Washington to give the congressional
investigation committees his views re
garding a permanent military policy.
Foch’s Farewell to Pershing
BREST, Sept. 2 (by Associated
Press).—Marshal Foch went on board
the Leviathan here yesterday to bid
farewall to General Pershing. In bid
ding the American general good-bye
he said:
“France will care for America’s dead
here religiously. These dead will bind
the two countries together more
closely.”
The Leviathan sailed for New York
with General Pershing on board last
evening.
EDITOR’S WIFE COMING
Mrs. J. Harmon Caskey, wife of the
publisher of the Fairbanks Citizen,
and a prominent woman’s club enthu
siast of the Interior metropolis, will
be in Cordova shortly on her way to
the Outside.
LAWYER FIGURES IT ALL OUT
THAT ALASKANS WOULD LOSE
UNDER COMMERCE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (by Associated Press).—
Frank Law, counsel for the Alaska Steamship Company,
told the interstate commerce committee of the house to
day that Alaska steamship rates would have to be greatly
increased if water transportation were placed under the
regulatory jurisdiction of the interstate commerce com
mission.
He said that the existing laws limiting the liability
of ship owners for cargo losses would be canceled by the
new bill making it necessary for owners to carry more
insurance, which in turn would be advanced to the ship
per through advanced rates.
Defends Position of Mexico as “Neutral’’
During War and Belittles League of Na
tions—His Absurd Message Is Filled
with Stories of Foreign Misdeeds
While Mexican President Is Prating About “For
eign Misrepresentations” Americans Are Be
ing Butchered—Dastardly Attack on
American Airplane in Which Of
ficer Is Seriously Wounded
-. ♦
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 2 (by Associated Press).—President
Carranza’s message to congress, submitted today, defended
Mexico against “foreign misrepresentation,” particularly that
emanating from the United States. Regarding foreigners in
Mexico, lie referred to alleged injustices practiced against Mex
icans in the United States.
Carranza defended the position of neutrality taken by
Mexico during the war, and protested against the charges that
the Mexican government was incapable and unwilling to pro
tect foreign lives and property.
The president asserted that Mexico did not ask admission
to the League of Nations because the league did not establish
equality for all nations and races.
Carranza reiterated former statements to the effect that
| Mexico did not and would not recognize the Monroe doctrine.
He said the government was willing to follow a concilia
tory policy regarding oil legislation, but was not willing to sac
i i ilice Mexican national sovereigntv.
The message contained a long list of alleged foreign trans
j gressions against Mexican sovereignty and recited attacks upon
I Mexicans in tin* United States. The American invasions of
i
Mexico, declared Carranza, were in violation of Mexico’s rights,
i He said that Mexico did not regret that it had not been invited
to join the League of Nations.
And This Is the Sort of Protection Provided
EL PASO, Texas, Sept. 2 (by Associated Press).—A tele
gram received here today says that Mexican bandits have
killed Adam Shaetfer, an American citizen, aged 52 years, at
his mine in the state of Zacatecas.
And Here Is Another Instance
LAREDO, Texas, Sept. 2 (by Associated Press).—Mexi
cans today fired upon two American aviation officers flying
along the Rio Grande border on patrol duty. One American
was wounded in the head.
Captain Davis McNab was the officer wounded. His com
panion, Lieutenant Johnson, brought the machine down in
safety on the American side. An airplane with a surgeon was
rushed to the farmhouse where McNab had been put to bed.
The officers were flying low when twenty-five Mexicans
suddenly arose from behind some bushes and poured volleys
of rifle fire into the plane.
I ——---— -•
PRESIDENT JEALOUS
OF HIS PREROGATIVE
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (by Associ
ated Press).—President Wilson has
declined to give the senate foreign re
lations committee the tentative drafts
of the treaties with Austria-Hungary,
Turkey and Bulgaria, because it would
take the function of negotiating trea
ties from executive hands.
Cardinal Mercier
Will Be Bearer of
Message of Pope
PARIS, Sept. 2 (by Associated
Press).—Cardinal Mercier left
today for Brest to sail for the
United States, to thank the
American people for the aid ex
tended to Belgium during the
war.
The pope has instructed the
cardinal to give President Wil
son the pope’s views regarding
the League of Nations.
DOMINION FELICITATED
ON GOOD RELATIONS
OTTAWA, Sept. 2 (by Associated
Press).—A special session of the Do
minion parliament convened today to
ratify the peace treaty.
The governor general, the Duke of
Devonshire, in opening the parliament,
said that the sincere welcome to Can
ada recently accorded the Prince of
Wales showed that the ties between
England and Canada never were
firmer.
Secretaryship
Is Awarded to
Bob Sommers
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (by
Associated Press). — President
Wilson today sent the name of
R. J. Sommers of Fairbanks to
the senate in nomination for the
position of surveyor general of
Alaska, to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Charles E. Da
vidson.