The Nenana News
VOLUME NO. 2
NENANA, ALASKA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1917.
WHOLE NUMBER 62
tSub Sends Torpedo
Into U. S. Destroyer
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 8.—
The American destroyer Jacob Jones
sunk by a German submarine
'on Thursday evening’, with the loss
of a large part of the crew. Thirty
seven survivors were rescued from
one life boat, but it is believed that
all the others perished.
The destroyer was on patro' duty
in the war zone and was commanded
by David Worth Bagiev, a brother
♦ of Mrrs. Daniels, wife of the secre
tary of the navy. Baglay’s brother
had the distinction of being the first
American officer killed in the >pan
ishAmerican war.
The Jones was one of the newest
and largest of the American destroy
ers. It was completed in 1916 end
had a displacement of 1090 tons.
Y
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. §.—
Organized opposition to the plan of
placing the railroads of the country
under the direct control of the fed
eral government is being manifested
in many quarters today. It has been
^ suggested that the companies be giv
en three months in which to demon
strate their ability to place the roads
in a state of efficiency to meet ‘he
war requirements of the nation.
ROWE SEEKING
MISSION TITLE
Rt. Rev. P. T. Rowe, bishop of
the Episcopal church in Alaska for
the past 22 years, is in Washington,
D. C., for the purpose, among other
matters, of securing title for the
Episcopal native mission, included in
the government townsite reservation
at Xenana.
The mission was established by
* Bishop Rowe in 1905, and the Xe
nana townsite was declared a re
servation by the government in
1916. The native village is now
adjoining the part of the city of
Xenana in which the white popu
lation live.
It is alleged that Bishop Rowe
has received assurances from cer
tain prominent people and govern
ment officials that thee wi'l aid him
in securing title and tha protection
of the rights of the mission.
It is not often that one hears of
sidewalks being built during the
winter months in Interior Alaska,
* yet that is what is taking place in
Xenana this winter. Several thous
and feet of walk has been laid since
the commencement of winter and
it will be another week at least
before all of this work has been
completed. Contractor Anderson re
ports that he has about three blocks
of walk yet to lay on Second street,
every day finds him busily en
gaged at his task, regardless of
weather conditions.
The means employed by Mr. An
derson to enable him to stick to
k his work in extreme weather and in
the dark hours of early morning
and evening, is somewhat in the na
ture of a novelty. He has a stove
mounted on a small hand sleigh, for
instance, which he moves about with
him as the work progresses. This
enables him to warm his hands as
occasion requires. And a lantern
furnishes light for the work, when
there is not sufficient light.
When this work is completed, the
town of Nenana will have substan
tial walks on all of its principal
streets, including A street, Market
street and First and Second streets,
from A street to F.
STRUGGLE IN ITALY
GROWS SEVERE
GENEVA. Dec. 8.—The New bat
tle along the Piave river, in Italy,
continues with great ferocity, ac
cording to dispatches received in this
city this afternoon from Vienna, 'lhe
Austro-Hungarian troops which
stormed Mount Sisemol are now try
ing to drive southward, to the wo si
of Mount Grappa, for the purpose
of making that position untenable
by striking at the Italian flank.
The Teutons are credited with im
portant victories in the mountain
district, where they have occupied
many towns during the two days
that their offensive has been in pro
gress. Many additional prisoners
are reported to have been taken to
day.
Fresh Austro-German forces arc
arriving continually on the Italiar
line from the French and Russian
fronts, adding greatly to the jeo
pardy of ’ the Italian positions.
The future home of the N'enana
Labor union, on Market street, be
tween Front and First, is nearing
completion rapidly and it is th«
hope of the organization that it wil
be ready for occupancy by Christ
mas. The building has been entirely
closed in and the doors and windows
are in place, so that the interioi
finishing can now progress withou:
regard to weather conditions, which
seriously hampered the work for a
time.
The union some time ago purchas
ed a quantity of maple flooring and
this will be laid in the second story
of the building, providing a dancing
floor of ample dimensions and un
excelled quality. The union alsc
will have club rooms in the building,
equipped with pool and card tables
for the entertainment of the mem
bers. The new library also will be
installed in the building as soon as
accommodations can be provided foi
the books, at present housed in the
postoffice.
CAMP EIGHTEEN CELEBRATES
REAL THANKSGIVING DAY
Advices received from Camp IS
indicate that Thanksgiving Day was
celebrated in good style by the
Commission employees and theit
families. Guests were invited from
various camps along the line, Mr.
and Mrs. Win, Landwehr and Ed.
Forbes making the 20-mile trip in
a cutter to be present at the big
doings. Among the IS guests who
sat down to the big dinner were
Mesdames Woods, Landwehr and
Slater, and Messrs. Bob Toussaint
Bill Landwehr, Slater, Heney, Woods
McCambridge and Ed Forbes.
The tables were loaded with tur
keys and all the necessary viands foi
a sumptuous repast and everyone
did justice to the chef’s handiwork.
After dinner the gruests were enter
tained until the wee small hours
by an impromptu program of songs
and story telling.
THELIN BRINGS IN LOAD.
The Thelin stage arrived in Ne
nana from the upper town las1
Thursday evening with a full load
of passengers including Mrs. W. C,
Gagnon and Mrs. Chas. Hayes and
two chi1 Iron. Charles Thrift, Dut-'n
Blankfic’d and Ed. Bresnahan. Mrs
Hayes oil! probably remain in Ne
nar.a for Severn1 dav°. the emest ol
her sister, Mrs W. C Gagnon >*■
Bresrnhr." cam* down to ta'
fhtTve c* *v de^rtm*?'
of the Xenssa News.
j
BANDITS
JUAREZ, Dec. 8.—A large land
of Villa bandits were ambushed this
week by Mexican Federal cavalry,
twenty-five miles north of Chihua
hua City, the reports staling that
nearly three hundred of the bandits
were slaughtered. The federal loss
es were about one hundre 1 A broth
er of Villa was among the killed.
SLAV TROOPS GUARD
SHAN RAILROAD
PETROGRAD, Dec. 8.—Fifteen
hundred Bolsheviki soldiers are re
ported to have reached Vladivostock,
indicating that the new P.uss’an re
gime has complete control of the
Trans-Siberian railroad and the prin
cipal seaport of Russia.
YAQUIS ATTACK
AMERICAN STORES
XOGALES, Dec. 8.—The town of
Esperansa. in Sonora, was attacked
by Yaquis early this week and the
I offices and store of the Richardson
Construction company, an American
concern, were burned to the ground.
The fate of the thirty Americans
living in the vicinity is unknown.
INFERNAL MACHINE
FARGO, N. D.. Dec. 8.—A Nor
thern Pacific express <^r was almost
completely demolished this mo: i ing
by the explosion of an infernal ma
chine, which was contained in one
of the express packages. The acci
dent occured near Windsor. A simi
an explosion occurred two weeks ago,
The wreck this week entailed a loss
of $80,000.
AMERICAN AVIATOR
DROPS GERMAN PLANE
PARIS. Dec .8.—Major W. Thaw
of Pittsburg, a member of the La
Fayette Escaddille. has distinguishec
himself by bringing down a Germar
airplane in a spectacular duel ovei
the enemy lines. The combat oc
curred this morning.
GEMiNSlEiTBY
II BRITISH FORCES
PARIS. Dec. 8.—The war offic(
announces this afternoon that i
force of 2,000 Germans was engagec
in two fruitless attempts to breal
through the British lines arounc
Vial Wood. The Teutons were driv
en back each time with considerabl*
losses.
U. S. DECLARES WAR
ON DUAL MONARCHY
j WASHINGTON, D. C , Dec. -
The resolution providing for a de
| claration of war against Au-tria
j Hungaria, which was introduced in
1 congress early in the week, at the
! request of President Wilson, was
passed by both houses of congress
yesterday afternoon, and received
; the signature of the president short -
| ly after five o’clock. The measure
.received the unanimous vote of the
senate. Senator LaFollette being ab
sent from the chamber at the time
the vote was taken. He left his
seat at the commencement of the de
bate. The only dissenting vott casi
in the lower house was that of thi
Socialist member from New York
Meyer London. The senators whc
opposed the war declaration againsi
Germany were strongly in favor oi
the resolution against the dual men
archy. The debate in the senatt
lasted less than an hour.
The passage of the resolutior
comes at an opportune time, as il
will enable the American troops now
in France to go to the assistance ol
the Italians, who are hard pressed
by the combined forces of the Cen
tral powers.
LONDON, Dee. S.—According to
'an article apearing in b-cal papers
1 today, heavy fighting may be ex
| pected on the Western front through
■' out the greater part of the winter,
j Germany it is predicted, will make
ja supreme effort in February.
- „
RUMANIANS TAKING PART
IN SLAV NEGOTIATIONS
LONDON, DEC. 8—It has been
officially reported that the Ruman
ian government is participating in
the peace negotiations which were
inaugurated by the Russians. Hos
tilities are reported to have been
suspended at all points on the Ru
manian front, pending the outcome
of the negotiations.
LONDON HEARS REPORT OF
FORMER CZAR’S ESCAPE
LONDON, DEC. 8—Advices re
ceived in this city this afternoon
state that the deposed emperor of
Russia has escaped from Siberia and
it is believed that he is now on his
way to England.
COFFIN HEADS BOARD.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 8.—
Howard E. Coffin, of Michigan, has
been named by the president to be
head of the Aircraft board.
GERMANS BUYING
DANISH PRODUCTS
COPENHAGEN, DEC. 8—The
German and Austro-Hungarian gov
ernments have completed arrange
ments for the purchase of Danish
coal, iron and agricultural products
and it is expected that shipments
will go forward in large quantities
in the very near future.
GERMANS ARE ROUTED
ON THE VERDUN FRONT
PARIS. Dec. 8.—Two counter at
tacks, which were undertaken by the
Germans on the Verdun front this
morning were repulsed by the French
forces in that sector. Heavy fight
ing has been in progres all day.
GERMANS ARE TRYING
GAME IN SWITZERLAND
PARIS, Dec. 8.—The Germans
have inaugurated a propoganda
movement in Switzerland in an ef
fort to poison the minds of the
Swiss people against the Allies.
AMERICAN AIRMEN HURT.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec .8 —
General Pershing has reported to the
department that two American avi
ators were injured this week during
an air battle with the Germans or
the French front.
Gale Sweeps Halifax;
Suffering On Increase
LONDON, Dec. 8.—The war office
announces today that there have
been no new developments on the
Cambria front, in Northern France,
where the British are struggling
valiently to check the big German
offensive, which was launched early
this week. The positions of the op
posing forces remain unchanged as
the result of today’s fighting.
_' *
HUNTERS FINED;
MEAT IS SIEZED
Three well known oidtimers of
l the district, Harry Lucky, Henry
Knight and Henry Burns, were
placed under arrest during the week,
charged with having more than the
regulation amount of sheep meat in
their possession. They were given
a hearing before Commissioner
Robert E. Burns on Thursday, with
the result that Lucky and Knight
were each fined the sum of $15 and
costs. A fine of $1 was imposed on
the third man, and all the meat con
cerned in the case was confiscated.
The arrests were made at rhe in
stance of Game Warden R. S Mc
Donald, who has been in Ner.ana and
vicinity more than a week invest:
gating the meat situation.
The seized meat is being held
pending instructions from the attor
ney-general.
TAYLOR HERE ENROUTE
TO UPPER RIVER TOWN
1 W. R. Taylor arrived from the
Kantishna last night on his way to
; Fairbanks on a hurried business trip.
He expects to resume his journey
tomorrow. Regarding conditions in
the Kantishna, Mr. Taylor says
things are quiet over there at pres
ent, as is the case every winter, all
mining activities being confined to
the summer season. There are
about 45 men in the district.
GERMANS IN AMERICA
FORM MILITARY UNIT
NEW YORK, Dec. 8.—Letters in
. dicating the existence of a German
military organization in this country
for defensive purposes were discov
ered today in the effects of Otto.
! Julius Merkle ,the German writer
and lecturer.
NO AMERICANS THERE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 8.—
i The navy department has issued a
| statement in w'hich it is claimed
jthat there were no Americans ships
' in Halifax harbor at the time of
the explosion, which wrecked that
city this week.
Advices received at Seward state
that the government transport Crook,
which has been running between Se
attle and Anchorage for the Alaska
Engineering commission, will en
ter the war service and will sail
soon from Seattle for Vladivostock
with a cargo of lumber and railway
materialls.
Fifteen Russians and Serbians left
Anchorage recently enroute for Eu
rope to fight against the Teutons
They will be joined on the way by
contingents from other Alaska town5
and the party is expected to reach
the number of 100 by the time it
leaves Juneau.
Dutch Blankfield nas returned to
Nenana after a several-day visit to
Fairbanks.
ST. JOHNS. X. B, Dec. 3.- The
work of rescuing the dead an 1 in
jured from the wreckage of the
buildings which were demo'ished by
the explosion aboard rhe Kronen am
munition ship Mont Blanc has been
interrupted by a severe blizzard,
which has been racing during the
past twenty-four hours The re
sult of this delay probably has al
ready resulted in the death of many
of the injured, who lay freezing
in the debris. There is also the fear
that many of the relief trains, now
enroute to Halifax from Canadian
and American cities, will be delayed
, by the storm, which has enveloped
the entire north country. Should
this delay occur, famine certainly
1 will result, for supplies needed in
the emergency, already are running
low. The trains are plowing ahead
steadily, but the 40-mile gale which
is blowing renders the progress ex
ceedngly slow and uncertain.
The latest Halifax estimate places
the number of dead at between
ber of injured. One of today’s ar
rivals from the stricken city reports
having seen 1,600 bodies recovered
from the ruins, and others tell of
seeing scores of dead lying in the
streets, where they were piled as
they were dragged from the wreck
age. The Dominion building, pro
vincial parliament building, govern
ment house and other building are
being used as a temporary hospital
land morgues.
The property damage is now
placed at thirty millions. There is
scarcely a window or g'a*s door left
in any building in the city, vvh'ch,
in view of the fact that the weather
has turned cold suddenly, adds great
' ly to the sufferng of the residents.
In addition, there are thousands
whose homes were enti'ely .l?mo'ish
ed by the explosion. Providing shelt
er for these presents a serious prob
lem.
_
UPS MAY Iff IP
allies y m
LOS ANGELES, Dec. S—Kundr Is
of thousands of Japanese troops, who
have been thoroughly trained in the
latest methods of fighting, as prac
ticed on the European battlefields,
will see active serice soon on the
side of the Allies. This is the in
formation given out today by M s.; r
Hibiki, of the Japan e a . >
has just arrived here f- m h - * it . s
land. He says there is n
the report, published in t
States several weeks ago, thu
will be deterred from aiding th
lies by the great co t of end. g
troops to the European feont.
COUNCIL MAY A
SEATTLE, Dec. 8.—Co
Counsel Caldwell has rend
opinion that the city counci’
ceed with the impeachment
Gill if the evidence against
deemed sufficient.
The big black malanete
ed by the Vavich fami'g
was recently declared a r.
the city council and th !.
ey riffunded on him - h
that if he was not
town at once he won’ ’r
is a splendid animal e ""'t
old, as strong as a la* r
savage that he is b
less for sled purpose
Mrs. William Land
era! days in Kenan- d
week.
Bob Toussairt.
the Alaska En^i""*
has arrived bacv i"1
extended tri-> r
Mrs. W. C. C —
Fairbanks or
Thursday, an*4
in Nenana.