The Nenana News
VOLUME I
NENANA, ALASKA. FEBRUARY 17. 1917.
NUMBER 22
f AMERICAN SHIPPING
FACES SUB BLOCKADE
- !
WASHINGTON, D. C.: The recent action of the Imperial Ger
man government in sending a great fleet of undersea boats to the
Atlantic seaboard of the United States and the Panama Zone, ostens- (
ibly to prey on Entente shipping, is looked upon by officials of the
state department as a virtual blockade of all American ports by Ger
many,
Such a move will undeniably constitute an overt act of a most
flagrant form, and it is understood that President Wilson has an
nounced that he will appear before Congress Monday to ask permis
sion to take the necessary steps to forestall Germany’s latest move.
NEW YORK: The first of the great steel nets which arc to be
used to protect American ports on the Atlantic seaboard was put in
place today in the harbor here. ;
In England these nets have proved the most effective means yet
devised for combatting the undersea menace, and have taken a heavy
toll of Germany's strongest arm. j
AL M PASSES
Popular Commission Em
ployee Succumbs
At Hospital
A1 C. Nelson, assistant timekeeper of
the ^Alaskan Engineering commission
diedat the commission hospital late Thurs
day night, three days after he had under
gone a serious abnominal operation.
Death was the result of heart failure.
The deceased had been in the employ
ment of the Alaskan Engineering com
mission for a considerable length of time
and was held in high esteem by all who
knew him. He was an efficient worker,
n jovial companion and a true friend.
And his sudden passing is mourned by a
host of friends in Nenana and along the
right of way where his duties frequently
called him.
The only relative, so far as is known
here, is a brother, M. M. Nelson, whose
last known address was Spokane. A tel
gram addressed to that city, however,
remains undelivered, and it is probable
that it will be impossible to ascertain the
wishes of the brother regarding the dis
position of the remains.
As is customary in such cases, in the
absence of an undertaker the body is
being prepared for burial by the Com
mission, and. unless instructions to the
contrary are received, the remains will,
be laid at rest in the local cemetery next
week, the date to be announced as soon
as definitely determined.
AUTO TRUCK HERE
FOR HOWELL MILL
The big Jeffrey quad, which was pur
chased recently by Sylvester Howell for
use as a lumber truck, made the trip
down from Fairbanks early this week,
arriving here Thursday in charge of S.
E. Nelson. Considerable trouble was
experienced in getting started at the oth
er end of the trail, but after certain parts
had been replaced the machine ramble-l
along without trouble, except for nigger
lieads, which proved a frequent source of
annoyance.
Owen Williams, in charge of one of
the Howell freight teams, kept close to
the truck and rendered assistance when
necessary.
MASQUE INTERESTS
NENANA DANCERS
A masquerade dance will be given at
the Coliseum next Thursday night in
honor of Washington’s birthday. The
affair was arranged by the management
of the theater in response ‘to numerous
requests from the dancers of Nenana,
and everything will be done to insure
the success of the party.
Inasmuch as this will be the first pub
lic masquerade given in town, much int
erest is being displayed, and the indica
tions are that there will be an unusually ;
large turnout.
Two prizes will be awarded, one to the
best lady’s, and one to the best gent's
costume appearing on the floor.
COMMERCIAL CLUB
TO HOLD MEETING
—
There will be a meeting of the Com- !
mercial club Sunday at the office of the
secretary, Robert E. Burns. The meet
ing was to have been held last week, but j
owing to a misunderstanding among the
members regarding the date, it was
deemed advisable to postpone the session
in order that a full membership might be
present. The meeting will be called
promptly at three oclock.
NEW GAME WARDEN
ARRIVES IN TOWN
Hjalmar Nordale, who was recently
appointed g?me warden to fill the posi- ]
tion vacated bv Andy Hoev, arrived from
Fairbanks early in the week and will
make Nenana his headquarters, traveling
from this point at frequent intervals to |
the adjacent districts.
Mr. Nordale, although a young man, !
is an oldtiuier of the country, having I
spent the greater part of his life in Alas
ka and the Yukon. He is a graduate of
the Fairbanks high schools, and after
completing his studies in the North he
attended college in the States. He is a
son of A. J. Nordale, the veteran Fair
banks hotel man.
SAILINGS FREQUENT
ON NORTHERNROUTE j
The sailing schedule for the boats of
the Pacific S, S. Co., on the Alaska run j
from Seattl^, for the summer months aud j
until August ,31, have just been anuounc- (
ed. The schedule calls for nine sailings
from Seattle every month, with the ex
ception of July, which has ten sailings I
scheduled. The boats to be operated j
will be the Admiral Watson, Evans and j
Farragut, on the southwestern run, and
the Spokane and City of Seattle, on the
southeastern run.
George Black, governor of Yukon ter
ritory who is now training with his com
pany at Willows camp, recently sent
word to Dawson that he intended going
to the front with his men, notwithstand
ing the fact that captains are not needed
overseas.
EMPLOYJIMNS
Commissioner Riggs Says
Policy Is To Give Old
Timers Prelerence
Questioned yesterday regarding the
telegraphic report received during the
week to the effect that two thousand men
would lie brought in by the Alaskan Iin
gineering commission this spring to work
on the railroad in this division, Commis
sioner Thos. Riggs, Jr., authorized the
statement that there would be no change
in the policy of the Commiision, which
is to give Alaskans the preference in the
matter of employment. If it is possible
to secure sufficient help in Alaska, the
entire force in this division during the
coming summer will consist of men al
ready in the country.
Mr. Riggs win'd to II. P. Warren, who
is reported to have given out the infor
mation from the Seattle office of the
Commission, and was advised that the
stateniant leterred merely to the number
who would be employed, nothing having
been said regarding the manner ot em
ployment.
The statement regarding the number
of men to be employed on the Nenana
Fairbanks division is substantially cor
rect, Mr. Riggs said, and additions to the
present force will be made as rapidly as
conditions will permit, after funds are
available for the resumption of work.
This means that there will be work dur
ing the approaching working season for
everyone in Interior Alaska who desires
employment.
Mr. Riggs has heard nothing recently
regarding the railroad appropriation, but
he is confident that funds will be provid
ed by congress before an adjournment
is taken. Reassurances also come direct
from Washington in press dispatches re
ceived yesterday in wtiicli Representative
Claude Kitcliin predicts that all opprop
riatiou bills now pending will be passed
before March 5, when it is expected that
congress will adjourn.
Teutonic Allies Begin Big
Spring Offensive On
Western Front.
The first move in what is taken to he
FieJd Marshall von Hindenberg's spring
drive was made yesterday when the
Teutonic forces made a violent attack
along a large portion of the Western
front.
The German military staff announces
several important gains, and the repulse
of numerous French attacks.
The British lines held intact against
repeated assaults, and the German forc
es suffered heavily i i killed and wound
ed.
Heavy fighting is reported in prog
ress on the Rumanian front.
CHAMBERS MISSING;
FRIENDS WORRYING
The fact that Joe Chambers has not
yet reached Seattle, although he left
Fairbanks for the Puget Sound city early
in the winter, is causing his many friends
and creditors much uneasiness. A priv
ate detective was employed some time
ago in Seattle to start a search for the
GERMAN GOVERNMENT
ORDERED BOATS SUNK
BOSTON, MASS.: Capt. Pollack, of the interned German liner.
Kronprinzin Cecile, who ordered the engines of his ship wrecked sev
eral days ago, was placed on the stand here this morning, and in re
ply to a request to name the man who instructed him to wreck his
vessel, he said: “Your Honor. I cannot divulge that gentleman’s
name without laying myself open to a charge of treason against my
government, which would mean my death upon my return to Ger
many. I therefore beg of you that I be not forced to answer that
question." Questioned fnrthcr. he stated that he was in Hoboken
when he received the order to wreck his vessel, and he wired his
chief engineer to do the wrecking.
In consideration of the President's recent statement that the Ger
mans have a perfect right to sink their own ships, or damage them
as they see fit. so long as by so doing they do not damage American
property or block American ports, the question was not pressed, and
Captain Pollack was released.
missing man, but lie was unable to trace
Chambers beyond l’rince Rupert.
The disappearance is a great surprise
to the Seattle friends of the commission
man, as he had almost unlimited credit
with Seattle wholesalers and jobbers.
His present obligations are placed at
$25,000.
For nearly a decade Chambers has
made annual trips to the Interior with
shipments of chickens and perishables,
and is widely known along the Tauana
and Yukon rivers He is also reported
to have owned an interest in a small busi
ness in Seattle, to which he devoted his
time during the winter months.
DENTIST RETURNS;
RESUMES PRACTICE
Dr. H. L. Hedger, well known Fair
banks dentist who spent several weeks
in Nenana during the early part of the
winter, returned to town on Wednesday
atd has reopened his offices in the New
York block.
CO-OPERATIVE STORE
RETIRES FROM FIELD
The cooperative grocery store which
was started by the citizens of Cordova
several years ago, retired from the field
recently, the stock of groceries and good
will being turned oyer to the firm of
Finklestein & Sapiro.
A. D, Thompson has been appointed
by Commissioner Burns to act as admin
istrator in the case of Emil Roatcsh, de
ceased. The property involved consists
of lot 14 in block 21, a small cabin and a
few personal belongings.
Conn Baggs arrived from Fairbanks
yesterday in charge of the Palmer stage.
He brought first- and second-class mail
anil a conciderable load of freight.
The Calhoun mail outfit arrived here
this afternoon from Cliena.
The pilerlriver outfit, which is operat
ing on the right of way south of town,
was moved from Camp Six to Camp Sev
en yesterday.
Abe Stein, senior member of the firm
of A. Stein & Son, arrived from Fair
banks yesterday on a brief business visit.
United States Attorney R. F. Roth is
planning a trip to Nenana during the
Co ling week.
J. E. Bickford, Chief Clerk ot the Al
askan Engineering commission, with
offices in Fairbanks, is in town for a
few days on business matters.
The New England Cold Storage com
pany at Ketchikan recently handled 250
barrels of bait herring in one day.
The herring catch in Southeastern Al
askan waters this winter is reported to
have been unusually large and of a su
perior quality.
TWO BOUND OVER
Rose St. Louis and James
Boland Are Held On
Bad Charge
Mrs. Rose St. Louis, who conducts a
hand laundry at the upper end of town,
James Boland, a former employe of the
Commission, and Red Rogers, well known
old-timer, are in the federal jail awaiting
preliminary hearings; the first two outlie
charge of cohabiting in a state of adultery
and the last named on the charge of as
sault with a dangerous weapon. The trio
were placed under arrest early yesterday
morning at the home of Mrs. St. I.ouis,
where they are said to have been found
occupying the same bed.
The offense alleged to have been com -
mitted by Rogers occurred on Thursday
when a man called at the St. Louis place
for his laundry. He entered the house
and was met by Rogers, who is said to
have brandished a butcher knife and
threatened his life if he did not depart
immediately. The caller heat a hasty re
treat and reported the incident to Com
missioner Burns, with the above stated
result.
Following the knife incident, Rogers
went to his own home near the Howell
stables and created considerable excitmcnt
by imbibing lreely of wood alcohol, but
was promptly attended by I>r. M. K.
Smith and is now apparently none the
wdrse for the experience.
Boland was arrested several days ago
on a misdemeanor charge and fined $10
and costs, amounting ill all to $23. The
offense now charged against him consti
tutes a felony, and if the evidence is
found sufficient at the preliminary hear
ing, he will he bound over to the grand
jury.
The preliminary hearing was held lie
fore Commissioner Robert li. Burns this
afternoon, and resulted in the binding
over to the grand jury of Mrs. St Louis
and Boland under bonds of $3000 each.
The Commissioner had the case ot
Rogers under advismeut at the time of
going to press.
SMITH HOME SCENE
OF PLEASANT PARTY
The home of Dr. and Mrs. M. E
Smith was the scene of a jolly gathering
on Wednesday evening, the occasion
being a surprise party in recognition of
the tenth wedding anniversary ofthesur
piised couple The evening passed quick
ly and pleasantly with games, dancing
and a substantial luncheon.