You Are Invited to Celebrate the Fourth with Nenana
. THE NENANA NEWS
VOLUME IV
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
NENANA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1922
NUMBER 212
■ ILLINOIS COAL TOWN SCENE OF BATTLE
SECRETARY FALL HAS ABANDONED ALASKA VISIT
, CONFEDERATE VETERANS BLAME LINCOLN FOR WAR
HISTORIANS SAY LINCOLN
STARTED THE CIVIL WAR
RICHMOND, Ya., June 22—The
historical committee of the United
Confederate veterans are quoted as
declaring that “the war between
the states was deliberately and per
sonally conceived and inaugurated by
Abraham Lincoln, and he was per
► sonally responsible for forcing the
war upon the South”.
The report of the committee, as
submitted to the convention, was
unanimously adopted by the veter
ans.
BRIDGE ENGINEER PLEASED;
SAYS WORK IS GOING FINE
v W. E. Angier, consulting engineer,
who arrived in Nenana last week
from Chicago, to look over the
work that is now in progress in
connection with the construction of
the big Tanana river bridge, told
a representative of The News last
night he had found the work much
more advanced than he had expected
ar.d he spoke in highest terms of the
manner in which the big undertak
ing is going forward under the di
rection of Chairman Mears and his
capable assistants.
♦ The plans and specifications of
the big steel structure were drawn
up in the offices of the Chicago en
gineering firm in which Mr. Angier
is associated with Ralph Modjeski,
son of the late Mme. Modjeska, and
one of the foremost bridge engineers
in the country. This firm also drew
up the specifications of the Hurri
cane gulch structure, and Mr. Angier
made a trip to Interior Alaska two
years ago purposely to select the
_ bridge sites and determine the kind
^ of bridges required. He arrived in
April, 1920, intending to remain to
make a study of conditions during
the breakup, but his stay was cut
short by the coming of the flu epi
demic.
Tfle Tanana river bridge, Mr. An
gler says, will be a simple straight
truss structure, with the second
longest span in the world, the long
4 est being the Metropolis, Illinois
bridge, with a span of 720 feet.
Mr. Angrier believes that Alaska
has a substanial future ahead of
it. And he thinks the location of
Nenana is such that the town will
share largely in any development
that may come in the Interior. The
permanency and growth of the town
however, in his opinion, will depend
to a lasge extent, upon the degree
of enterprise shown by Nenanaites.
He believes the opportunity is here
if they will take advantage of it.
Conservation, in the opinion of
the engineer, has had much to do
with retarding the development of
the territory. He believes the same
opportunities should be given for
the development of the territory, as
were given to those who pioneered
the way to the Pacific coast. “Why,”
he pointed out by way of illustra
tion, “you can’t even take up a de
J cent-size homestead in Alaska, and
the Government makes you obtain
a permit to take an old brown bear
skin out of the territory”. These re
strictions, and others, he thinks,
•tend to keep people out of the
country. Development is bound to
come in any event, he thinks, but
the opening up of the country w'ould
be much more rapid and more gen
erally satisfactory were a liberal
policy to be adopted by the Govern
w ment.
Mr. Angier left for the coast this
morning on his way back to his
headquarters in Chicago. He is
about through with his work with
the Alaskan Engineering Commission
as consulting engineer, and when
next he comes to Alaska, which he
hopes to do, it will be to view' the
completed work of the railroad or
ganization and that of his firm.
^ Miss Pearl Curtis, Miss McMur
¥ ry, Ted Morris and Irving Reed ar
rived from Seattle yesterday.
SCORES FALL IN MINE BATTLE;
UNIONS DENY RESPONSIBIUTY
HERRIN, 111., June 22—Uncon
firmed reports received here this
morning stated that between eighty
and one hundred employes of the
Southern Illinois Coal Company had
been captured by striking coal min
ers and strike sympathizers. The
reports stated definitely that nine
men had lost their lives in a bat
tle between the opposing factions
and preparations were said to be in
progress to hang three of the men
held captive.
Nineteen Are Dead
Nineteen persons, including six
teen non-union miners, were killed
in the open battle which was staged
at the mine of the Southern Illinois
Coal Company this morning. One of
the bodies, that of a non-union min
er, was found hanging from a tree,
riddled with bullets. The bodies of
sixteen of the victims were found in
the woods near the mine. One had
been beaten to death and fourteen
were shot. The report is that they
were massacred when they attempt
ed to escape, following their capture
by the union forces. Forty-four
were captured altogether.
The bodies of four were so full
of bullet holes that they cannot live.
The fate of the other prisoners has
not been learned.
Several thousand men and boys
are said to have been present when
the killings took place.
Three union miners were killed in
fighting which took place last night.
Associated Press Man On Scene
A correspondent of The Associat
ed Press visited the scene of the bat
tle this afternoon and found bodies
scattered over an area fifteen miles
square, some of them riddled with
bullets and others bearing the marks
of clubs. Three of the bodies were
hanging from trees.
After three attempts, the corre
spondent finally persuaded a taxi
cab driver to take him through the
battle zone, and he found that the
mine had been fired and that the
food supplies had been looted. He
also found a freight train in flames.
In the road near the mine he
discovered six men tied together,
their bodies terribly mangled and
fall of bullet holes. The victims
were lying on the road in the scorch
ing sun. while hundreds of men and
women stood about and laughed at
their pleas for water. The corre
spondent tried to give them a drink
but the spectators kept him away.
While-he stood there looking at the
pitiful scene, powerless to render
assistance, one of the men begged
again for water, whereupon a young
i woman, with a baby in her arms,
placed her foot on the mangled body
and said: "I'll see you in hell before
you yet any water”.
Had Not Heard The News
SPRINGFIELD. 111., June 22
Adjutant General Black wired to
Colonel Hunter today, instructing
him to investigate the reports of
wholesale killings near Herrin. The
colonel replied that he had “received
no reports of killings”.
Lewis Did Not Do It
CINCINNATI. June 22—In a
1 statement made before the Ameri
can Federation of Labor conven
tion this afternoon. Vice President
Murray, of the United Mine Workers
declared, with reference to the Her
rin affair, that ‘‘insofar as the mes
sage of President Lewis is concern
ed, it could not have had any bear
. ing on the trouble. The Herrin or
ganization has denied responsibility
for the shooting. We must await
more definite reports before saying
more".
The Lewis message, referred to
; by Murray, termed the Illinois non
i union miners as “common strike
breakers”.
President Gompers informed the
convention that he understood that
the non-union miners fired the first
shot from within their stockade at
i the mine. “Organized labor does
not countenance such acts from
either side”, he declared. "The
strike is on too high a plane for
violence to have any place in it”.
He said further, that he was confi
dent that the Lewis message did
not start the trouble. "There was
something else behind it”, he con
cluded, meaningly.
Union Miners Make Denial
HERRIN', June 22—Union miners
deny that they killed any of the
strikebreakers.
Cabinet Members Confer
WASHINGTON, D. C.. June 22
Secretary of Commerce Hoover and
Secretary of Labor Davis conferred
today regarding the situation at
Herrin but did not decide upon any
action.
No Appeal For Help
SPRINGFIELD. June 22—Adjut
ant General Black has called upon
Sheriff Thaxton, of Williamson coun
' ty, to report what measures have
been taken to protect life and pro
perty at Herrin. He called the at
tention of the sheriff to the press
reports in which it is stated that 2fi
i were killed, and to the further fact
that no appeal for help has been re
ceived here.
STEAMER ALASKA LEAVES
TO OPERATE ON THE YUKON
The steamer Alaska, which ar
rived from Whitehorse several days
ago and proceeded to Fairbanks to
pick up the belongings of the White
Pass company there and at Chena.
returned to Nenana at an early
hour this morning and sailed on the
return trip to Dawson shortly after
ten o'clock and probably will not
be seen again this season on the
Tanana river.
All of the property of the com
pany^ t Fairbanks and at the ship
yard there and at Chena was placed
aboard the boat, together with the
movable furnishings and equipment
of the steamers Reliance and Minne
appolis, which are on the ways at
Chena. More of the company’s be
longings were taken aboard at Ne
nana and, on the way down river,
the salvaged outfit of the wrecked
steamer Tanana will be taken from
the bank of the river, where it was
cached during the winter.
The steamer Alaska, it is believed
will operate during the summer be
tween Dawson and Tanana, con
necting at the latter place with one
of the company’s boats which will
make the run from that point to
St. Michael.
The steamer Tanana, which was
left to the mercy of the ice, after
the machinery and other equipment
had been removed, was carried down
stream about a mile by the ice dur
ing the breakup and is now appar
ently firmly anchored to the river
bottom.
Mrs. D. B. Rose, wife of Assist
ant Trainmaster Rose, arrived from
Anchorage yesterday and will spend
a few days in Nenana.
Donald L. McGinnis, prominent
clothing merchant of Anchorage, ar
rived from the coast yesterday and
will spend the Fourth in Nenana.
He brought over a number of the
latest suits and novelties received
at his Anchorage establishment and
| will have them on display here
within the next day or two. It is
the intention of Mr. McGinnis to
locate permanently in Nenana if he
can find a suitable location.
BROOKS SAYS ALASKA WILL
BE OIL PRODUCER SOME DAY
SEATTLE. Jur.e 22—Alfred H.
Brooks, who sailed for Alaska this
week with a party of Government
officials who will have a look at the
seal, fox and salmon industries, is
quoted in the Times as saying "‘I
have every confidence in the world
that oil will be found in Alaska.
There are plenty of surface indica
tions and the probabilities are there
are extensive oil areas in the terri
tory".
Col. Brooks declared that there
i are still enough gold deposits in
Alaska and there is no reason for
pessimism regarding the territory. It
: is estimated, he said, that there is
; 350 million dollars worth of gold
still remaining to be brought to the
surface.
, LEGION BOYS CONDEMN JACK
SAN* FRANCISCO, June 22—The
county council of the American
I legion has adopted a resolution in
| which Jack Dempsey is assailed as
an alleged slacker and attacking his
I "expressed intention to wear an
American flag as his colors” in the
Brennan bout. The resolution urges
all patriots to stay away from all
fights in which Dempsey participates.
—
CAPPER ASSAILS WEEKS
TOPEKA, June 22—Senator Cap
per, of Kansas, in a special dis
patch sent from Washington, de
clares that Secretary of War Weeks
is ovrt of tune with the administra
tion and if he does not resign vol
untarily, his resignation might be
very properly requested by* Presi
dent Harding.
REFORMER UNDER ARREST
LOS ANGELES, June 22—Rev.
Donald D. Stewart, prominent £al
! ifornia temperance worker who is
credited with having caused the
I elimination of segregated districts
, from a number of towns, and author
of the song, “We'll make California
dry”, was arrested here yesterday
i on a charge of bigamy, said to have
been committed in several states.
It is charged that he swindled his
several wives out of thousands of
dollars.
AMENDMENTS ARE URGED
BY BIG LABOR CONVENTION
CINCINNATI. June 22—The con
vention of the American Federation
of Labor has adopted the report of
the policy committee in which is
urged the adoption of four constitu
tional amendments, and the repeal
of the Sherman anti-trust law as
a means of overcoming the recent
decisions of the supreme court re
garded as unfavorable to labor.
The suggested amendments include
congressional veto of federal court
decisions, prohibition of labor by
children under sixteen years of age,
in mills, factories, workshops and
mercantile establishments; prohibi
tion of the enactment of any anti
strike law; making the constitution
more flexible and easier of amend
ment.
The proceedings of the conven
tion were halted last night to en
able delegates to go to Newport, Ky.
where a number of steel workers
are striking. A mass meeting was
held in support of the strike.
The educational committee of the
convention reported today to the
effect that new evidence had been
found showing that anti-labor pro
paganda is being circulated in school
text books.
KETCHIKAN THREATENED
LOS ANGELES. June 22—T h e
coast guard cutter Smith has arrived
here enroute to Ketchikan, where
an effort will be made to put a
stop to liquor smuggling. The cut
ters Cahokia. Cygan and Vaughn
also have arrived and will be detailed
to patrol the California coast.
HARVEST FOR WHITE .PASS
SEATTLE. June 22—W. L. Burn
side, general agent of the White
Pass Route, says that tourist traffic
over the White Pass system to the
Klondike and Atlin districts is
smashing all records, with virtually
all reservations sold out to August.
Scores of tourists are being refused
July accommodations. The doubling
of the Admiral line and Canadian
Pacific fleets to A)aska has had the
effect of swamping the WTiite Pass
system.
W. L. Smith is a recent arrival
at the Southern from McKinley
Park.
NORTHWESTERN IS ENROUTE
WrITH CROWD FOR ALASKA
The steamer Northwestern, of the
Alaska Steamship Company’s fleet,
sailed for the North last Saturday,
with a total of 252 passengers for
various Alaska ports. The following
are billed for’Seward and Interior
points:
Miss Edna Lewis. Mrs. R. C- Wood
Dr. and Mrs. F. de la Vergne, Rev.
Fred G. Scherer, Mrs. A. Nordale,
Anita Nordale, S. W. Clark, A. L.
Norland, E. J. Mangan, H. Benson,
Captain A. E. Lathrop, Mrs. E. M.
Cramer, Miss Edna Revill, Mrs. P.
S. Peterson, Katherine Peterson, J.
H. O’Connor, Amelia Hill. Mrs. W.
I S. Jackson and child. Will Bonnett,
Dr. E. Cook, Rev. H. Chapman, H.
iT. Fowler, Patsy Ray, Mrs. M. Blain
iMrs. R. Turner. Miss Hallister. Miss
Wyman, Miss Roberta W. Blaine,
Edith Guest, Edward McDowd, 0.
W. Kickbush, R. S. Calderhead, L. A.
Welty and thirteen steerage.
JESS WILLARD TO TRAIN
LOS ANGELES, June 20—Jess
Willard has announced that he will
start training within a week for
his return match with Dempsey.
AVIATOR PREST AT SPOKANE
SPOKANE, June 22—Aviator C.
O. Prest, concerning whose safety
some concern was felt yesterday
on account of his failure to report
his progress, arrived here today
from Plains, Montana, and will hop
off for Seattle tomorrow. He reports
having met with little difficulty thus
far with the exception of bei^g
forced down near Glacier Park by
a high wind. He plans to spend
several days at Seattle before re
suming his flight North.
HOMES OF MINERS BOMBED
UNIONTOWN, Pa., June 22—The
homes of two miners employed at
the plant of the Frick Coke com
pany, were bombed last night, but
the occupants of the houses escaped
uninjured.
Col. Mears left for Anchorage in
his special car this morning, ac
companied by Mrs. Mears and the
children. They will return to the
Interior shortly.
FALL NOT COMING NORTH;
TELLS SOLONS TRIP IS OFF
WASHINGTON, D. C-, June 22 —
While in conference with a number
of senators at the capitol this af
ternoon. Secretary of the Interim
Fall, who had planned to spend a
couple of months in the heart of
Afhska this summer, gathering first
hand information with a view to the
formulation of a definite Alaskan
policy, announced that he had been
compelled to abandon his plans. He
says he will not be able to go to
the territory at aii this summer.
The announcement came as a sur
prise. as it was understood that the
secretary had completed arrange
ments for the trip, and was to have
started for the Pacific coast this
month.
FIELD MARSHAL SIR WILSON
ASSASSINATED AT LONDON
LONDON. June 22—Field Marshal
Sir Hughes Wilson was shot and
killed last night by two men just
outside his home at Eaton Square.
Both of the assailants were taken
into custody later, one of them be
ing in a serious condition as a re
sult of what is thought to have been
an attempt at suicide.
Wilson was chief of the imperial
British staff and recently military
adviser to the Ulster government.
Six men are believed to have been
implicated in the plot against Wilson
and the conspiracy is popularly at
tributed to the Sinn Fein. It is re
ported at Scotland Yard that corre
spondence found on James Connolly,
one of the men arrested, proves con
clusively that he is a member of the
Irish Republican army
One of the policemen who assist
ed in the arrest of the two men,
died this afternoon as the result
of injuries received.
SUN SETS
PEKING, June 22—Dr. Sun Yat
Sne is reported to have been taken
captive by the United China forces,
and placed aboard a ship near Can
ton.
RUTH CAN'T BEHAVE
CHICAGO. June 22—Babe Ruth
will be out of the game until Mon
day as the result of a further sus
pension imposed upon him yesterday
by President Ban Johnson, following
another row with Umpire Dineen.
Ruth is said to have called the um
pire bad names because of a de
cision rendered.
CLOTHING WORKERS STRIKE
NEW YORK, June 22—Fifty
thousand workers in the men's cloth
ing industries throughout the metro
politan area have gone out on strike
in an effort to compel the letting of
work to registered union contract
ors.
The cutter Mojave, which has a
Government party on board, enroute
to Alaska on a junketing trip, was
at Prince Rupert today.
DAUGHERTY ISSUE DEFY
WASHINGTON. D. C., June 22
Attorney General Daugherty has is
sued a statement in which he says:
“In regard to the steel merger
cases now before the department of
justice, it is announced that the de
partment will be glad to hear and
dependable person who has a legiti
mate argument against the merger’’.
Congress appealed to Daugherty to
prevent the merger.
The shortest * night of the year
was celebrated at Union hall last
night with an informal dance which
was very largely attended.
Vance R. McDonald left for the
lower ^river this morning aboard the
power boat Mutt. He will make Bis
way down the Yukon, by easy
stages and expects to be back in
Nenana before the freezeup.