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VOLUME 19, NUMBER 271.
SEWARD, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1924.
PRICE TEN CENTS
MAN WHO RESCUED ADA BLACKJACK
TELLS OF TRIP TO WRANGELL ISLAND
Captain Hans E. Olson, master of the Donaldson at the time
it was chartered by the Steffenssen Arctic Relief expedition, to res
4 cue the survivors of the ill-fated exploration party from Wrangell
Island, arrived in Seward Saturday on the steam tug Meteor from
St. Michael, from which place he piloted the boat to Seward. Mr.
Olson gave a representative of the Gateway a story of the rescue,
which does not substantiate in any way the account given out to
New York parties by Harold Noice, in charge of the expedition.
Mr. Olson also denied into the Noice story that Ada Blackjack
allowed Knight, whose body was found on the island to starve,
while she ate the scanty food sup- [
Ply
Story About Husband Fake
Captain Olson said that the story
that Ada’s husband had died of a
broken heart because she had let"
him to go to the States is a fake.
The Captain declared that Ada Black
jack had divorced her husband white
man fashion some time before leav
ing for Wrangell Island, on account
cf domestic infidelity, and that Black
jack, an untutored Eskimo who could
scracely talk English, had married
the dusky lady of his choice and lat
er died of consumption, from which
he suffered many years. Ada re
turned to Nome last spring and at
the present time is living there with
her young son, whom she is educat
ing in w'hite man’s ways.
Olson Tells of Trip.
* Capt. Oison said the rescue party
in charge of Herbert Noice left Nome
on the 3rd day of August, 1923, ar
riving at. Cape Prince of Wales the
next day, and taking on board an Es
kimo family of seven peop'c, 22
dogs, and about $1200 worth of sup
plies, mostly flour and sugar. The
natives were going to Wrangell Isl
and on a trapping expedition. The
vessel then proceeded to Point Hope,
where another Eskimo family was
taken aboard, together with a white
man named Chas. White, who had
been living with the Eskimos i or
some time. The dogs were taken
along in case the party had to make
r trip over the ice to WrangeU isl
and, about 330 miles distant from Ft.
Hope.
At 12 o’clock midnight, a few' days
later after arriving at Point Hope,
the party sailed for Herald Island,
about 35 miles northeast of Wrangell
Island. The sun was shining brightly
and the weather was perfect. After
reaching the vicinity of Herald Island
the party encountered heavy floe
ice, and entering a lead were badly
jammed. The ice was dynamited and
a basin made for the little vessel,
which spent ten days locked among
the’ floes. A hole wms smashed in
* the bow and the party was forced
to kill a walrus, using the skin and
tallow as a collision mat to keep out
the water. After getting .out of the
ice the vessel proceeded to Rogers
Harbor on Wrangell Island, but found
no sign of the expedition. About ten
miles farther west a bottle was found
with the names of the members of
the expedition and a document tak
ing possession of the island in the
-'same of Kiflg George.
It is reported that both Noice and
Stefansson declared the island had
been taken possession of in the name
of the United States, but Capt. Olson
says this is not true, as he sajs the
document and there is no mistake
that the English flag was raised over
the island. As no sign of life was
found here, the Donaldson slowly
steamed up the coast to Doubtful
Harbor, sailing close to the beach
and blowing the whistle at short in
tervals. A big dinner was prepared
fc..- the cook in anticipation of the
rescued party being short of pro
visions and in a famished condition,
as it was known their supplies would
not last longer than two years at
the most.
Ada Blackjack Only Survivor.
As the vessel approached Doubtful
Harbor a woman was seen walking
on the beach. Capt. Olson and six
Eskimos went ashore in a skin boat,
and as they approached the woman
A who seemed in a dazed condition,
she started to run. Capt. Olson
caught her and sbe saidt
"Have I a dream or not?”
‘‘Ada, you have no dream, we are
here to take you away,” Olson re
plied.
She recognized Capt. Olson then,
and said, "Is that you, Hans?”
The woman was taken aboard the
$onaldson and given a good feed.
She was in fair physical condition
but showed signs of nervous strain.
Upon being questioned she said that
Knight, one of the members of the
expedition was lying dead in his tent
on the shores of Doubtful Harbor,
and that the remaining members of
the expedition had left the island
about two week before Christmas
and had not returned. She stated
they had gone over the ice toward
North Cape, and that she had watch
ed them for half a day picking their
way along the leads and over the
ice floes. As the days were very
short and the weather bad, they had
undoubtedly perished. Knight had
also left camp with a companion in
an endeavor to reach the Russian
coast, but had returned in an ex
hausted condition, miserable and ill.
Crawford wras in command of the
party leaving the island, and they
had seven dogs, but little food.
Knight Given Burial.
Capt. Olson and a companion went
to the tent where the body of Knight
was found in an emaciated condi
tion. A coffin was made and the
body given burial. Captain Olson
said when he look the body from
it sleeping bag it was fairly clean
and indications pointed to the fact
that the man had been well taken
care of by the woman. A diary kept
up to 21 days before his death, show
ed Knight had highly praised the
woman for the care taken of the
party. Noice claimed that the diary
showed evidences of weakness as
the days progressed, but Olson claims
that the writing was done with a
typewriter and that there was no
way of telling the physical condition
of the man. He also accuses Noice
of destroying portions of the diary
praising Ada Blackjack. There were
no erasures as claimed by Noice,
and the manuscript was in good
shape. Noice appeared very much
prejudiced against the woman, and
repeatedly expressed his conviction
that she had not taken care of
Knight. He also is said by Olson to
have expressed the hope that she
was not in a family way from living
in company with the men. Olson
claims he told Noice that it was cus
tomary for trading and exploring ex
peditions to take Eskimo women
with them for the purpose of mak
ing fur garments, in which art they
excel, and that they were indispen-;
sible for this purpose. He also de
clared that Ada was “a good wo
man,” and well respected in Nome.
Noice’s remarks disgusted the mem
bers of the crew who had known
Ada for years, and he was several
times rebuked.
Eskimo Families Landed.
The vessel sailed back to Rogers
Harbor after collecting the notes and
property of the expedition, where
they landed part of the cargo of pro
visions and a number of Eskimo,
then returned to Doubtful Bay and
landed the other Eskimo family and
Chas. White, who remained for trap
ping purposes. The vessel then head
ed for Cape North, and bucked ice
for three days. As the vessel emerg
ed from the ice pack a plume of
smoke was sighted, and the approach
ing vessel was found to fly the Rus
sian flag. The Donaldson ran for the
ice pack and succeeded in escaping
he rpursuer, landing at Nome five or
six days later. Upon arrival at Nome
the Donaldson was boarded by Capt.
Tom Ross, of the coast guard pa
trol, who told Capt. Olson to allow
no one aboard or to go ashore until
he laid alongside the revenue cutter
Bear, then in the harbor. Tying up
to the Bear the party went aboard
and were severely censured by Capt.
Cochrane for taking the Eskimos to
Wrangell Island, which Capt. Coch
rane declared was Russian territory.
Americans Taken Off.
In Octorber, Capt. Olson said he
made a trip to East Cape with N. F.
Hoyer, a missionary, and landing at
Emmatown, a Chhksee village of Si
berian Eskimos, secured a dog-sled
and took the missionary to Whaling,
where the governor resides. The
governor told them a boat would be
dispatched to Wrangell Island and
the American party taken off. That
the island was Russian territory and
parties found there would be summar
ily dealt with. He is said to also
~ (Continued on Page Four)
ATTEMPT MADE KILL
SIRDAR OF EGYPT BY
MEMBERS NEW PARTY
TWO BOMBS EXPLODED AND HIT
BY FOUR BULLETS— NOW IN
SERIOUS CONDITION
CAIRO, Egypt., Nov. 19.—Two
bombs, one of which exploded were
thrown at Major General Sir Lee
Stack, sirdad of the Egyptian army,
while he was driving home from the
ministry of war today. The sirdad
escaped injury from the bombs but
was later shot three times. He was
removed to a hospital where it was
found that his condition was most ser
ious. The four assailants involved,
members of the student party, escaped
after firing a volley with revolvers,
hitting Gen. Stack, his aide de camp,
his chauffeur and a policeman.
General Stack has been in command
of the Egyptian army since the coun
try was given self government by the
English, and it was not known that
his presence was obnoxious to the
new party, which has rebelled against
the man England placed in control as
governor of the country.
GOVT-WILL PLAN
RESERVE CORPS FOR
WOMEN OF COUNTRY
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 19.—
The War Department has begun the
preliminary study of a plan which
would give American women a place
in all branches of the military service
in case of a future emergency involv
ing a maximum effort. It is believed
the idea may ultimately result in the
creation of a reserve women’s army
corps, formed through voluntary en
listment, as a district branch of the
military service .
REPARATIONS PAYMENTS
MADE BY GERMANY
, REACH LARGE TOTAL
BERLIN, Nov. 19.—Germany’s rep
arations payments of goods in kind
during September and October, totall
ed approximately 170,000,000 marks,
according to a report issued by the
Agent. General for reparation pay
ments.
POLICE ARREST 400
MEN IN EFFORT TO
CLEAN UP CHICAGO
CHICAGO, Nov. 19.—Police yester
day arrested four hundred men as a
result of Mayor Dever’s orders to rid
the city of gangsters and gunmen, and
other criminals . The prisoners'were
held while about two hundred men and
women looked them over in an endea
vor to identify robbers and other crim
inals.
JERSEY FIRE DESTROYS
ERIE RAILROAD DOCKS
JERSEY CITY, Nov. 19.—In the
second large fire within three days the
Erie Railroad piers and much valu
able freight was destroyed at an esti
mated value of $1,500,000.
TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH
FOR MURDER OF WIDOW
MEXICO CITY, Nov. 19.—Two per
sons have been sentenced to death for
the murder of Mrs. Rosalie Evans, the
American-born widow of a British
subject, who was killed last August
near her hiacienda, in the state of
Pueblo.
AMERICAN LEGION WILL
LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR
BENEFIT OF ORPHANS
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 19.—
The American Legion will shortly
launch a campaign to raise $5,000,000
endowment fund to care for orphan
children of world war veterans and
helpless disabled ex-service men.
GERMAN PLANES AND WAR
SUPPLIES SHIPPED AFRICA
LISBON, Nov. 19.—Portuguese gov
ernment officials have found that a
great number of German arms and
ammunition, also airplanes, have been
filtering through the customs lines in
to West Africa and authorities are
guarding against a possible revolu
tionary outbreak.
A proclamation
i
Annually from its birth on a
given date this Republic pauses
for an interlude of reflection and
introspection and gives devout
thanks to Almighty God for the
blessings received. A steadfast
observance of this helpful cus
tom righteously established by
our Christian forebears, in stim
ulating sturdy patriotism and
promoting citizenship, has made
for the greatness of the Republic
and the perpetuity of its institu
tions.
The President of the United
States having designated and set
apart Thursday, November 27th,
as Thanksgiving Day, Therefore,
I, Scott C. Bone, Governor of the
Territory of Alaska, in conform
ity therewith, do hereby call upon
and earnestly enjoin all people of
this Northland to give due heed
to this anniversary by the suspen
sion of worldly activities and a
proper keeping of the day at the
fireside and in holy places. Mind
ful that Alaska has been spared
pestilence or calamity during the
year and been abundantly favored
by Providence, let this Thanks
giving Day be approached and ob
served in reverent, prayerful
spirit, with contrite hearts, ex-'
pressive of spiritual faith and
profound gratitude to Him who
doeth all things well.
Given under my hand and the
Seal of the Territory of Alaska,
in Juneau, the capital, this sixth
day of November, in the year of
our Lord one thousand nine hun
dred and twenty-four, and of the
independence of the United States
of America the one hundred forty
ninth.
(Seal) SCOTT C. BONE,
By the Governor:
(Signed) Karl Theile, ex-Officio
Secretary of Alaska.
MAKING EFFORTS TO
BREAK RUM FLEET
ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IT
CAN END THIS NATIONAL
DISGRACE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 18.—
The administration is making every
effort, with the means at its com
mand, to break up the rum fleet off
American shores, and believes it can
end this “national disgrace,’’ the sec
retary of the treasury declared in
a formal statement embodying the
report of the coast guard covering
1 operations for the month of October.
The statement announced an in
crease in the number of seizures of
rum boats had been made.
DEATH TOLL ROLLS
HIGH IN BATAVIA AS
RESULT OF TREMBLORS
BATAVIA, Java, Nov. 19.—The
death roll in the earthquake which
shook this island yesterday has now
reached 600, according to official re
port. The earth is still trembling
from gmaller shocks and many houses
whlcli had escaped are threatened
with ruin.
STECK WILL CONTEST
ELECTION BROOKHART
DES MOINES, Nov. 19.—Daniel F.
Steck, opponent of Senator Brookhart
in the senatorial election, announced
he will contest the election given to
Brookhart on a recount, because of
thousands of ballots being thrown out
which he claims would have counted
for him.
BIG HAUL OF BOOZE
MADE IN ANCHORAGE
One of the largest seizures of illi
cit whsikey made for some time was
pulled off yesterday in Anchorage
when Revenue Officer Flannigan and
local officers raided the Chickaloon
hotel and bar, seizing over 300 gal
lons of moonshine. The resort has
been conducted for some time by Jno.
Maelhorn, better known as "Dusty,”
who has already served />no term in
the Anchorage jail for liquor viola
tions. After serving his term he
left for the States, but returned to
\nchorage about a year ago, leasing
the Chickaloon Bar and Hotel from
Chauncey Peterson, at present serv
c ^ erm in the Valdez jail for
liquor violations in Anchorage.
HOOF AND MOUTH DISEASE
COSTS CALIFORNIA $4,326,243
SACRAMENTO, Nov. 19—The
hoof and mouth disease in Califor
nia has caused a loss of $4,326,243,
State Agriculture Director Heake an
nounced today. The disease has been
practically stamped out, but the loss
in cattle slain is enormous.
NEW ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OF STATE HAS BEEN NAMED
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Nov. 19.—
John Van A. McMurray has been
named assistant secretary of state,
by Secretary Hughes.
CARDINAL LOGUE DEAD
BELFAST, Nov. 19.—Cardinal W.
Michael Logue, primate of Ireland,
died today. Cardinal Logue, arch
bishop and primate of all Ireland, has
been Roman Catholic Primate since
1887; he was formerly Bishop of Ra
phoe, being consecrated in 1879 and
coadjutor to the late primate. Logue
was created a cardinal in 1893.
BUBONIC PLAGUE CAUSE
OF THE 4,000 DEATHS
IN INDIAN PROVINCE
SUNDRAHABAD, India. Nov. 19.—
Bubonic plague which has caused
over four thousand deaths in this dis
trict is spreading and many more
deaths are reported from the town of
Trimalgiri.
NEWSPAPERMAN DEAD
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 19 —
Charles J. Karger, 58, one of Wash
ington’s best known newspapermen
and correspondent for the Cincinnati
Star, died yesterday after an opera
tion.
ILLINOIS HALFBACK INJURED
URBAN HILLS, Nov. 19.—Harold
“Red’’ Grange, Illinois sensational half
back, is definitely out of football for
the balance of the season because of
injuries received in Saturday’s game
with Minnesota.
NO AMNESTY GRANTED
BRAZIL REVOLUTIONISTS
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 19.—Pres
ident Bernardes issued a manifesto
to the Brazilian people today declar
ing his intention to uphold the con
stitutional government and that no
amnesty would be granted revolution
ists.
CONDITION OF TURKISH
PREMIER IS WORSE
LONDON, Nov. 19.—The condition
of the Turkish Primier and Foreign
Minister Ismet Pasha, who is ill, be
came worse today and his doctors have
advised a rest abroad in which case
he would relinquish his office.
FIVE ARRESTED SELLING
COUNTERFEIT STAMPS
CLEVELAND, Nov. 19.—Five men
were arrested here today for connec
tion with an alleged plot to sell mil
lions of dollars worth of counterfeit
war savings stamps.
NEW MANAGER OF FLEET
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 19.—
The appointment of former Admiral
Hi Cone as General Manager of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation, was an
nounced here today.
NAVY CHAPLAIN DIES
ROCHESTER, Nov. 19.—William T.
Whearty, chief Catholic chaplain of
the Navy and Marine base at Norfolk
and Portsmouth during the war, died
here Saturday after an operation.
Robbers Kidnap Treasurer
of Newman Theaters and
Escape With Week’s Sales
KANSAS CITY, Nov. 19.—Six rob
bers today kidnapped Gustav Eyssell,
treasurer of the Frank L. Newman
theatres in the heart of the down
town district and escaped with fifteen
thousand dollars which was being tak
en to a bank.
The money represented the week
end receipts from the Royal and New
man theatres and was being carried to
the Commerce Trust Company by
Eyssell, when he was seized by two of
the robbers as he neared the entrance
to the bank and forced into their car.
After being robbed Eyssell was put
out of the car several blocks away.
CONFERENCE TRYING
FIND WAYS, MEANS
COMBAT DRUG TRAFFIC
CHINESE DELEGATES STAND PAT
ON QUESTIONS ARISING
BETWEEN NATIONS
GENEVA, Nov. 19.—Charges and
counter-charges, embittered today’s
session of th# International Opium
conference necessitating another da>
to settle the disputes which have
taken on an air of argument.
Chinese delegates charged that if
the powers had not adopted effective
measures to reduce the opium traffic
and smoking in the Far East it was
because they didn’t wish to do so.
British and Japanese delegates
made charges and counter-charges
against each other, Japan declaring
that the opium in India was an ‘‘eco
nomic problem.”
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO.
WILL USE AIRPLANES
TO TRANSPORT FREIGHT
NEW YORK, Nov. 19.—The Ameri
can Railway Express Company i3
ready to use airplanes for the trans
portation of freight if a dependable
service is offered it, Robert E. M.
Cowie, president of the company, told
a gathering of airplane manufacturers
and pilots here last night.
POLISH POET WINS NOBLE PRIZE
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 19.—The Swed
ish Academy today awarded the 1924
Nobel Prize in literature to the Polish
author Wladislaw Raymont. The re
ceipient is one of the leading Polish
poets.
CALIFORNIA SHERIFF
ASKS FOR TROOPS TO
END WAR OVER WATER
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19.—The U.
S. Marshal of Inyo county has appeal
ed to Governor Richardson to send
state troops to take over the situation
created by the diversion of the waters
of the Los Angeles aqueduct into the
Owens river by a raiding party of
sixty men near Lone Pine yesterday.
The raiders are alleged to be resi
dents of Owens Valley where for years
a water feud has raged between the
city and valley ranchers and business
men. Late yesterday they were still
holding their ground at Spillway and
defying the sheriff’s representatives of
Los Angeles city.
SI KI TAKES LICKING
NEW YORK, Nov. 19.—Battling
Siki, the Segengalese heavyweight
lost to Antonio Marullo of New Or
leans in a 12-round match here last
night.
ITALIAN HEAVY WILLING
TO FIGHT JACK DEMPSEY
MANILA, Nov. 19.—Erminio Spal
la, Italian heavyweight, today deposit
ed 2000 Lire with Giacomo Grassi,
president of the International Boxing
Union, as a guarantee of the authen
ticity of his challenge to fight Jack
Dempsey for the World championship.
STUNT AVIATOR KILLED
TULSA, Nov. 19.—Clyde Hordhem,
stunt aviator, was killed when his air
plane crashed from an altitude of one
thousand feet.
ATTEMPT TO SUBDUE FIRES
IN CAL,GARY GAS WELLS
CALGARY, Nov. 19.—With six
steam boilers hooked up together the
crew of the Northwest Drilling Com
pany began a determined attempt to
subdue the fires in Number Four gas
well near here today.
PLANS UNDER WAY FOR
PLANE SERVICE PARIS
TO MOSCOW" AND RETURN
MOSCOW, Nov. 19.—Plans are un
der way for direct aerial passenger
service between Moscow and Paris.
Regular flights will be started in
the spring, the 1500 mile journey to
be covered in nineteen hours by planes
carrying eight passengers each.
SPECULATIONS IN STOCKS
CAUSE PEAK PRICES
NEW YORK,-Nov. 19.—Speculations
in stocks continue to run riot in the
local markets, another buying deluge
sending more than two dozen issues
to new peak prices for the year.