HemnrdZBnily Cäsaran
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS.
VOLUME XX, NUMBER XIII
SEWARD, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1926.
PRICE TEN CENTS
TRACTORS USELESS
GOING BARROW
SAYS CAPTAIN
ARCTIC VETERAN SKIPPER DIS
AGREES WITH HEAD OF
POLE EXPEDITION
HAS BEEN TRIED ONCE BEFORE
Will Have To Resort To Dogs; Trip
Will Take Much Longer Than
They Anticipate.
Without any forethought of throw
ing a monkey wrench into the wheels
of the North Pole Expedition, in the
opinion of Captain Whitlam, master
of the U. S. S.S. Boxer, in port yes
terday, the tractors which are plan
ned to haul to Point Barrow numer
ous sledge loads of supplies and the
airplanes for the Detroit Aviation
Society expedition, North Pole ex
plorers, will never reach Barrow, due
principally to the huge snow barriers
within the Arctic Circle. To plow
thru soft snow to a depth ranging
from 4 to 10 feet in the snow belts
outside, and where gasoline and other
supplies are always nearby in in
exhaustible quantities, is vastly dif
ferent from conditions found on the
“top of the ■world,” .for not only will
snow and general weather conditions
be found vastly different, but keep
ing up with supplies for the trac
tors, as well as food for the party, is
a problem confronting the expedi
tion which assumes a far more se
rious aspect than the vague tele
graphic reports, which have been pub
lished. Many scenes have been pic
tured of tractors doing heavy duty
in deep snows but will be found that
these same tractors are within easy
reach of repair in case of accident.
As yet, no records have been estab
lished whereby tractors have com
batted elements equal to those en
countered beyond the Arctic Circle.
Captain Whitlam is a veteran skip
per of the Arctic, and through his
many years of seafaring in the Arc
tic Ocean, during which time he has
featured in many adventures, the
most recent being the rescue of a
Hudson’s Bay company motorship
crew when caught .in the merciless
grip of the Arctic ice, at the risk
of his own ship and crew. For this
exploit he was decorated, in Seattle,
with a bronze medal, and later pres
ented with a substantial .purse. His
opinion of condition of that region
of the world is not to be taken light- j
ly.
The idea is impractical, it was stat- j
ed, for, the same thing has been
tried on many occasions. Around !
Nome there are thousands of dollars
■worth of motor and other kinds of
equipment, relics of former expedi
tions, the end of all being that they j
were forced to resort to abandoning
the contrivances and harness up the j
little "steeds of the North,”—Mala- !
mutes, Huskies and Siberian Wolf
hounds.
With respect to the planes reaching
the Pole, the Captain stated he anti
cipated little difficulty, providing the
fuel carrying capacity of the planes
was sufficient. There is nothing to
stop them unless some unforeseen
accident occurs. For landing and
taking off there is a fifty mile la
goon, stretching along Point Barrow',
as smooth as a mill pond in April
and this is the month Captain Whit
lam expects the party to reach Bar
row from Nenana, notwithstanding
the premature report from the party
that they will make the trip in about
forty days, and there is almost con
tinuous light, with the exception of
twro hours of a sort of twilight.
"Of course,” Captain Whitlam con
cluded, “this is just my opinion, and
naturally i wish them the best of
luck and sincerely hope they will
carry out their plans as they have
outlined.”
College Instructor In
Seward, En Route Inside
R. W. Chase, who has been employ
ed as a member of the Alaska Col
lege faculty, arrived in Seward this
morning from Seattle, a passenger
on the steamer Alaska. Mr. Chas4
will take over the duties of D. R.
McCree, instructor in mathematics
and civil engineering, who has ten
dered his resignaton.
Mr. Chase, prior to his departure on
Monday for the Interior, is a guest
at the Seward hotel.
SN0WM0T0RS ON
NORTHWESTERN
ENROUTE SEWARD
SEATTLE, January 15. (/P)—The
snowmotors left with the party on the
Northwestern today.
The motors get their traction by
large, bullet-like steel drums with
blades around them like screws. They
are propelled by Fordson engines. F.
R. Bureh, Seattle Lawyer, and pioneer
Alaskan invented the machines.
21 RESCUED FROM
FAIRMONT MINE
FAIRMONT, Jan. 16. (JP)—Of the
forty entombed men, twenty-one came
out viale, nineteen perishing during
the fire and gas that followed the ex
plosion. The rescue crew found the
live men bratticed in a niche away
from the fumes that killed the others.
HOUSE VOTES TO ACCEPT
ITALIAN WAR PAYMENT
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 16. (£>)—
The House voted 257 to 133 to author
ize the acceptance of the Italian War
Debt settelment. The resolution now
goes before the Senate.
Alaska Arrives In Port
Concluding Fine Voyage
Completing a splendid run north
from Seattle the S. S. Alaska, Captain
Glasscock, in command, arrived in port
this morning at seven o’clock. The
vessel brought a small passenger list
ing and little tonnage.
Outbound passengers will be per
mitted to board the vessel late this af
ternoon. The local list of reservations
is small but it is reported there are a
number of interior residents en route.
The vessel departs at midnight to
night.
Fish Company Sends Check
To Fire Department for $10
The Seattle office of the San Juan
Fishing & Packing company, which i
operates the local cold storage plant,
sent the Seward Volunteer fire depart
ment a check for ten dollars in pay
ment for ten tickets to the New Year’s
Eve ball. The check was very much
appreciated and the thanks of the
iepartment is tendered the company.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Services tomorrow in St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church at 11:30 a. m.
Morning prayer and sermon, Rev.
Wm. A. Thomas, officiating.
Arrangements have been made to
have the church properly heated and
everyone is invited to attend the ser
vices.
John Smith lies here without his shoes
He drove his car while filled with
booze.
Here’s Mary Jane—but not alive,
3he made her Ford do thirty-five.
ONLY SEATTLE
OFFICE BUREAU
JOINED RAILROAD
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 15. (£>)—
The Bureau of Education and the Al
aska Railroad consolidation applies
only to the Seattle offices of the two
organizations, Work announced today.
The purpose of the consolidation is
solely to save rent, personnel and to
permit the dual use of the Boxer.
Heretofore the Boxer has been idle
in winter, and now it will carry rail
way supplies in winter. The consol
idation wll have no other effect.
SEATTLE, Jan. 16. (/P)—The Alas
ka Railroad and the Bureau of Edu
cation in Alaska are now working un
der the consolidation plan although it
is not scheduled to go into effect un
til January 20. Jonathan Wagner
said lie is all ready to move his head
quarters near the railroad offices so
that one disbursing and purchasing de
partment may serve for both. He
said the Boxer is already carrying ma
terials for the Railroad. “It should be
! understood,” said Mr. Wagner, “that
| the Boxer is not a common carrier,
| but will only handle Educational and
| Railroad freight.”
General Land Office Man
Expected Arrive Tonight
J. A. Ramsay, district inspector
of the General Land Office, depart
ment of the Inferior, is expected to
arrive in Seward this evening from
his Anchorag headquarters, en route
to Sitka and other points in south
eastern Alaska. Mr. Ramsay ha.s
been appointed as trustee of the Sit
! ka townsite and it is in connection
| with this coming work that he is
i making the present trip. He stated,
| during his last visit in Seward, that
I he would be absent from his office
in this district, for a period of two
months. The Sitka work will con
sist of proving up the lots in the
townsite, after which patents will be
issued, then deeds to the occupants.
Alaskans Return from Two
Months’ Vacation In States
! Mr. and Mrs. Florence J. Sullivan,
former well-known residents of Cor
dova and Anchorage, returned to Sew
ard today on the Alaska, from a two
months’ trip outside. They are on '
their way to Fairbanks where they ex
pect to locate.
“The street traffic in the States is
something terrible, Mr. Sullivan said
this morning, and after a few days
walking about I told Mrs. Sullivan I
was ready to hit back north again. A
man is really in danger of his life.”
While in Seward they are guests of
the Hotel Van Gilder.
MUSSELS MAKE FINE LUNCHEON
DISH FOR LONDON’S SOCIETY
LONDON, Jan. 15. (A3)—Fashion
able London has just found that
mussels served with delicate sauces
make excellent luncheon dishes. The
poor people of the kindom have
known for decades that just plain
mussels are delicious in summertime.
The new fashion is said to have
been introduced to Mayfair by Lady
Eleanor Smith, the daughter of Lord
Birkenhead, who a short while ago
was just Mr. Smith and lived no
where near Mayfair.
Mussels have become the dish of
the season, with each hostess striv
ing to serve them a new way. Re
cently the Duchess of York served
chopped mussel and mushroom sand
wiches, which now appear at most
of tile season’s dances.
The Alaska sails at midnight.
Girl Basketball Game
Tonight Begins at 8;
Town Team Confident
_
Due to the arrival of the steamer
Alaska and the numerous passengers
arriving this evening from the wilds ^
of the Interior, it is expected an unu
sual crowd will be in attendance at
the girls’ basketball game this even
ing which startsi promptly at 8 o’clock
at the S. A. C. gym. The high school'
team and the city team have been,
practicing every night during the1
past week, under the instruction of
Miss Bevier, Irvin Dyer, Leonard
Hopkins and Louie Tinkler, all
coaches. A rattling good game is
looked forward to. Admission for
adults will be 25c. The gate receipts
will be turned over to the high school
team to help defray expenses of the
coming trip to Anchorage where they
play the Inlet champs.
_
P. A. F. FILES
PETITION TRIAL
SUPREMECOURT
_
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 16. (£>)—j
The Pacific American Fisheries com
I pany filed in the supreme court a pe
tition for a rehearing in the appeal on
which the court held that taxation of
the salmon industry by the Alaska
legislature was valid. The petition
averred the court had interpreted
wrongly and the decision would cause
conflict between federal and territor
ialu regulations and put the cannery:
quandary as to which part of the gov
ernment controlled it.
WARM WEATHER
INJURES FURS IN
CORDOVA REGION
CORDOVA, Jan. 16. (/P)—The train
was able to leave yesterday unaccom
panied by the rotary, for the first time
in January. The warmth of the past
three weeks is injurious to furs and
fox farmers are delaying their killings '
until colder weather sets in. Mosqui-J
toes are reported to be busy these !
days, and the catkins are appearing
among the alders.
DELANEY WINS DECISION
OVER YOUNG FITZSIMMONS
NEW YORK, Jan. 16. (£>)— Jack De
laney of Bridgeport, Conn., light heavy
weight champion, won a ten round de
cision over Young Bob Fitzsimmons of
Nutley, N. J.
Word of the death of Miss Bess
Orchard, daughter otf Mrs. Lola Or
chard on Christmas Day in Seattle
after a long illness, was received in
Seward. She was 25 years of age.
Miss Orchard was an Alaskan girl,
having lived most of her life in the
North. She lived with her parents
in Valdez for a number of years and
later lived near Ketchikan. When
a young lady she went to Juneau
with her sister Miss Nellie Orchard
and they liver in the Capital City
for several jAars, joined part of the
time by their mother. Miss Orchard
was one of the most charming and
popular young ladies of Juneau when,
she lived there and had a host of
friends -who loved her and mourn her
death. She left the north about six
or seven years ago and since made
her home in Seattle with her mother
and sister.
The fender smasher’s club is now
getting many new members daily.
The Indiana university bowl at
Bloomington will seat 25,000 fans.
BODY OF YUKON
PIONEER FOUND
FT. NORMAN DIST.
EDMONTON, Jan. 16. (IP)—A wire
less message from Ft. Simpson report
ed the finding of the body of J. C.
Nichol, Yukon pioneer, on November
12 in his cabin in the Fort Norman
district.
L. Beaman with whom he was trap
ping and prospecting, had disappeared.
They left Fort Norman in 1923 going
north into the Gravel River country.
Herbert Hodgeson, trapper came up
on the cabin accidentally in Novem
ber of this year and found the body
in a kneeling position beside the bed.
Conditions indicated Nichol had been
ill for some time before his death as
plenty of provisions remained but wild
animals had ravaged them. The cal
endar had been marked off until the
18th of March of 1924. A mounted
policeman left Fort Norman for the
place to investigate.
U. S. S.S. Boxer Departs
for Juneau and Seattle
The U. S. S.S Boxer, bureau of fish
eries vessel, in command of Captain
Whitlam, departed for Juneau and Se
ainc jco^erday afternoon at 4:30 o’
clock, having completed taking aboard
some 250 tons of scrap material from
The Alaska Railroad. The cargo will
be discharged at Tacoma after which
the vessel will proceed to Seattle, take
on a cargo of geneial supplies and
ties, for the railroad, returning to
Seward in about twenty days.
BIG MOTOR CAR
LEAVESSEATTLE
SOON FOR SEWARD
ALASKA RAILROAD SPECIAL GAS
CAR BEING SHIPPED OUT
NEXT WEEK.
FIFTY PASSENGER CAPACITY
Has Mail and Baggage Compartment;
Engineer and Conductor Will
Make Up the Crew.
The $35,000 Brill motor car, model
75, which has been purchased by the
Alaska Railroad for summer service
between Seward and Fairbanks, will
leave Seattle this coming week, ac
cording to announcement made in
Seward last week during the visit of
rail officials. The Brill company is
sending one of their Philadelphia
experts along with the car to super
vise the breaking into service of the
big contraption.
The length of the car is 60 feet;
it is equipped with a 250 h.p. gaso
line engine for motive power, and is
ample large enough to hold fifty pas
sengers. The car is capable of pull
ing a trailer which will handle an
additional forty passengers. How
ever, It was stated, the railroad does
not anticipate pressing a trailer into
service. The motor car itself has
an extra large compartment in which
the mail and baggage will be han
dled. The total weight is 31 tons.
The average weight of a locomotive
such is now in use on the line, is
in the neighborhood of 80 tons.
Other than its installation and from
its special body features, the car has
be used equally as well during the
svinter months. It is an exact dupli
cate of the larger motor cars used
in the East today. A crew of two
men, an engineer and conductor, is
U1 that is required in its operation,
it is expected a considerable saving
svall be made by the railroad in the
aperation of this car, over that of
iormer methods.