The Nenana News
VOLUME I
NENANA. ALASKA. J' LY. 7. 1917.
NUMBER 42
GREAT BATTLE DEVELOPS IN EAST
IG HAVE ORGANIZATION
The meeting of workingmen,
hehl last night at the Martin-Me
Millan buililing at the call of Chas.
Lestor, Socialist organizer, anil at
tended, for the most part by em
ployees of the Alaskan Engineering
commission,voted to organize a local
labor union and to apply to the
labor organization at Anchorage tor
a charter. The meeting was pre
ceedeil by an address delivered by
the organizer, on the waterfront,
and at the conclusion of the talk
all of the workingmen present were
invited to attend the organization
meeting in the hall. Many ac
cepted the invitation, the hall being
well filled throughout the meeting,
and S2 signers being secured when
the membership list was passed
around among the crowd.
Mr. Lestor called the meeting to
order and presided throughout the
evening. Robert Smith was elected
secretary. When the question of
organization was suggested by the
chairman, J. F. Ross, former Fair
banks painter, addressed the meet
ing in opposition to such a step,
presenting the argument that re
sults epually as satisfactory and
perhaps more so, could be obtained
through a committee, instructed to
send wires to the president of the
United states anu 10 me cnairiuuu
of the Alaskan Engineering com
mission, at Anchorage, informing
them of the grievances of commis
sion employees in this division and
requesting the increase ir wages
demanded by the ste»’ gang, which
walked out on Thursday, precipi
tating the present crisis. When
the question was 'put to a vote,
however, a majority we*e in favor
of organizing immediately and the
organization was proceeded with in
accordance therewith, a committee
being named to attend to the de
tails. This committee consisting
of Chas. Matson, Andy Larson, Alex
Ado, Harryy Cobio, Harry Beaehow
and Alek Bekoff. was also instruct
ed to send the telegrams suggested
by Mr. Ross, and an additional one
to the Anchorage union, setting
forth conditions here and applying
for a charter.
A member of the steel gang was
called upon to explain why he and
his associates had quit and he re
sponded by stating that the mat
ter of wages had long been under
discussion by them, ithe men feel
ing that the present scale, even
with the increase recently granted,
is not sufficient to meet the re
quirements of the country. The
question of quitting in a body, how
ever, had not been discussed by
them particularly, and his first in
timation that such a step was con
templated was when one of his as
sociates informed him on Thursday,
that the rest of the gang had de
cided to demand a wage of $4 perj
day and board. He had joined in J
the demand and the entire gang
came to town when they were in
formed that their demand could
not he granted by the commission.
The chairman then asked if any;
workers belonging to other gangs
had" grievances to air and several j
PETROGRAD—A great battle is developing along the Eastern
front; near Pinsk, according to a statement issued by the Russian head
quarters today. The city of Pinsk is in flames and the Russian artillery
is leveling all obstacales in front of their lines. They have captured the
fortified forests of Sianki, together with all the Austro-German organized
positions, including Hill 388. They also have penetrated the village
of Gobov, where tneir advance was stubbornly resisted by the enemy
for two days.
suggested that if the steel gang j
needed more money, the rest of the
gangs needed it also.
For the purpose of defraying the
cost of sending the telegrams above
referred to, a collection was taken
up and the sum of $03.50 raised.
It was suggested that if the com
mittee found that amount insuf
ficient, the businessmen of the town!
be invited to contribute. And it:
appeared to be the sense of the j
meeting that those merchants who'
supported the organization move-1
ment should receive the support ofj
the members.
After some further discussion an
adjournment was taken to Sunday
night, at eight o'clock at which
time the report of the organization j
committee will he received and by- j
laws adopted.
DKAFTIXO rOMMFXFFS
IX WASHINGTON SOON
Spokane—Thrnont the state
of Washington drafting for the
new .national army will e nn
inence on Monday. The Oregon |
drawing will probably begin;
on Thursday of next week. A!
number of states which were to,
have begun 1 lu* drawings arej
not yet ready.
RUSSIANS LOSE GROUND
ACCORDING TO GERMANS
Berlin: The war office has
announced that the Russians are
now losing ground. They have j
been defeated in their attacks in
the northern part of Eastern Galic
ia. the Austro-German forces hav
ing regained a number of positions
and captured many Slav soldiers.
NENANAITES RETURNING
FROM FAIRBANKS OUTING
Many Xenanaites, who spent the
Fourth in Fairbanks, have returned
home during the past two days. The
first bunch arrived early yesterday
morning, and they have been arriv
ing at frequent intervals since then
It is estimated that nearly 100 res
idents of the town, including the
ball players, made the trip up the
river. More than that number how
ever, came to Xenana from outlying
points to enjoy the celebration here.
Seattle: The Mariposa, sailing
this morning, has a number of
passengers, including Mrs. J. D.
O'Neil, for Nenana. The Spokane
also sailed this morning.
GERMAN AIR RAIDERS
CORECTJAVV TOU.
London—Lord French lias
given out an odicial statement
in which it is announced that
i’S men, (5 women and 3 chil
dren- were killed hy bombs
dropped in this city early this
morning by (lerman aero
planes.
In addition to the killed, 74
inen, 30 women and 3,7 chil
dren were injured by the ex
plosions. The admiralty an
nounces that three of the raid
ers wore brought down in the
North sen and another was
destroyed by dames.
Twenty-seven (lerman aero
planes engaged in tin* bombard
ment and during the quarter
of an hour they hovered over
the city they dropped a steady
rain of bombs, causing enor
mous damage to property. The
raid started at 0:30, when the
streets were crowded with
people, and 'many more would
undoubtedly been killed had
the bombardment lasted much
longer. The invaders were
dually driven off by Ilritish
ilircraft, following one of the
most spectacular air battles
witnessed during the present
war.
MOOXEY WITNESS HELD
OX FELOXY UIAllOE
San Franrisro—Frank >T.
Dxinan, one* of tin* principal
witnesses against Mooney, was
arraigned by the Superior
•onrt today on tlu* charge of
felony. II(* is accused of at
tempted subordination of per
jury in connection with the
trial of tin* alleged dynamiter.
BASEBALL SERIES ENDS;
NENANAS LOSE TWO GAMES
The three-game baseball series,
which formed one of the chief at
tractions at Fairbanks during the
Fourth of July celebration, ended
disasterously for the Nenana team
—and their Nenana supporters.
The first two games were hotly
contested, Fairbanks winning the
opening game by a close margin
and . the Railroad tossers evening
ui) the honors by taking the second
game, also by a close margin.
The disasterous part of the ser
ies—for Nenana—came in the final
game, yesterday afternoon when the
up-ftown boys finished their little
cleaning by defeating Nenana, 15
to 5. The final gamee was to
have been played here but when
th Nenana team was ready to start
home, it was discovered that the
slough had been blocked by the
steamer Tanana, stuck on a bar in
such a manner that no room re
mained on either side. Then it
was decided to finish the series in
Fairbanks, with the above result.
Several thousand dollars is re
ported to have changed hands dur
ing the series. The team arrived
home ait an early hour this morn
ing, on the Midnight Sun.
<1 EH MANS OHDERED
TO QTIT STATES
Washington—< lornuins for
merly collected either with tin*
(Jernmn or any one of the
(Jerman consulates thrnont the
United States, have been re
quested to leave tin* country,
as the result of tin* pro-tlcr
man activities of a number of
them.
FOREIGNERS IN CHINA
SAFE DECLARES PAPER
London: A dispatch from Pe
king to the Times says that for
eigners residing in the Chinese
capital are not in immediate dan
ger. and it is believed that the
necessity of removing them will
not arise. The revolution is pro
gressing steadily but the revolu
tionists do not appear to be mak
ing any material headway.
DEAL SMITH SUCCUMBS:
HEART DISEASE CAUSE
Deal Smith, well known local
Larber who came to Nenana from
the Koyukuk country last year,
(lied suddenly this noon as the re
sult of heart failure. The oldtianer
fainted while standing in front of
the Thompson & Gagnon drug store
and expired a few moments after he
had been carried inside the build
ing.
The deceased had been in poor
health for a considerable tim and
recently moved out the rightt of
way, where he lived in a tent in
the hope of getting relief.
The funeral will take place to
morrow afternoon.
NEW CELEBBA1I0N
IS ENJOYED BY MANY
“Nenana, The Sparkplug of Alas
ka!” A more appropriate slogan
than this could not possibly have
been adopted to typify the Nenana
spirit, and the spirit of patriotism
which prevailed on the occasion of
Xenana's first Fourth of July cele
bration. Tlie day dawned with every
promise of a successful celebration,
and when the curtain was rung
down on the final act, and the
crowds of weary but happy citizens
wended their several ways home
ward, the opinion was generally ex
pressed that the day had been an
unqualified success. At no time was
there the least threat of interrup
tion from the elements, and every
thing on the day’s calendar of ac
tivities moved with a smoothness
that kept the crowds from feeling
the usual holiday strain.
The several committees are to be
highly commended for their work in
planning and carrying thru the
program of the day, as it was upon
their shoulders rested the success
or failure of the day's celebration.
The day was formally opened
with a short ceremony held in the
speakers’ stand at the corner of
nn .l \ ot I'O.ltO Tllfl RfiV
L. Forbes opened the program with
a short invocation and prayer, and
followed with a few remarks which
most graphically explained the con
ditions existing between Great Brit
ain and the United States today, as
compared with the day on which
the Declaration of Independence was
signed. Concluding his remarks, he
introduced Mrs. F. S. Ryus who
read the original text of the Declar
ation to the large and attentive
audience. Mrs. Ryus was followed
by Mr. C. D. Ross, who delivered a
short sketch on the patriotic ante
cedents which have been established
by the American people since the
signing of the Declaration of Inde
pendence. Following the speaking
an intermission was announced for
the partaking of lunch.
The main events in the sports
program were staged at the baseball
grounds and occupied the greater
part of the afternoon. The opening
event was the 100-yard dash, which
was captured by Sam Stewart, of
Fort Gibbon in the remarkably fast
itime of 11 seconds, with George
Hupprich a close second. The run
ning broad jump was the next nuni
The calendar of events was con
cluded with a tpg-of-war between
two six-man teams, known as the
Swedes and Slavs. After a gruelling
pull of ten minutes the former team
wras declared the winner.
The activities of the day were
concluded with a feature "how c*t
the Coliseum theater, followed bv a
Fourth of July dance. The dance
was one of the best attended in the
history of the town, and lasted into
the small hours of the morning,
her on the calender and was won
by Herb Wilson with a jump of
sixteen and one half feet. The fifty
yard dash proved to be a hotly con
tested affair, and only inches sep
arated the leaders at the finish. A.
(Continued on page 3)