Tanana
The fact that life is a
grind is what sharpens
many a man’s wits.
The dead-sure thing is
often so dead that it
can’t be resuscitated.
One Doll ah Per Month
TANANA, ALASKA, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1909.
Two Bits a Throw
WON’T COMMENCE
UNTIL DEGEMBER
Fairbanks, Sept. 16.—W. H.
McKenzie, special agent for the
census department for Alaska, ar
rired here early this week and has
established his headquarters in this
city. He says the work will begin
on December i, and that it will re
quire a year to complete the job.
He will employ a force of 30 men
in this district, and three assistants
from other districts.
RICH STRIKE ON
READY BULLION
Chena, Sept. 16.—A big strike
as reported to have been made on
Ready Bullion creek, a tributary of
Ester I11 a bedrock hole ground
-going $10 to the foot was located.
No drifting has as yet been done.
This creek has been prospected al
most continuously for the past fivt
years. _
JACK McQUESTEN’S
CAREER IS ENDED
Jack McQuesten, the noted Alaska
pioneer, crossed the Great Divide Sep
tember 4. The particulars of his death
are not known here, the only mention
-of which that has reached Tanana
being in an editorial in a Fairbanks
paper. It merely said that he died in
■California on the eve of his departure
to Seattle, where he had been named
as commisioner to the exposition.
Forty-two years ago McQuesten, as
an old Hudson’s Bay man, came from
Peel river by way of the Porcupine to
Fort Yukon. Severing his connection
with the Hudson’s Bay Company, later,
in company with Al Mayo, he went to
Beaver river, where for nearly two
years the two men lived, with but one
sack of flour during the whole period.
They afterward went to Fort Reli
ance, six miles below the site of the
.present city of Dawson, where was a
Hudson’s Bay and a Russian trading
post, at that time supposed to be on the
international boundary line. In due
■ course McQuesten, Mayo, Harper and
Davis joined with the Alaska Commer
cial Company, and controlled the trade
• of the Yukon river and its tributaries.
Harper and Davis established Fort Sel
kirk, at the confluence of the Pelly and
Lewes. McQuesten stayed at Fort Re
liance, and Mayo went to Mission
-creek, near Eagle.
In the early 80’s prospectors crossed
from the coast and found gold on Stew
art river and on Cassiar bar on the
Lewes. A little later, at Fortymile,
Bonanza and Troublesome bars and
Franklin gulch and Davis creek were
. discovered, and the first influx of white
men began. Now, doing business for
the A. C. on a commission basis, he
,grubstaked hundreds of men, some of
whom he carried for as much as ten
.years without payment, and by his lib
eral-heartedness won the love of every
white man in the country. In 1895
;there was $280,000 outstanding on the
ebooks, and the company, becoming
-alarmed, sent in George Baldwin (later
mayor of Nome) to straighten out the
business and enforce retrenchment;
but McQuesten insisted on doing busi
ness after his own will. One day Mc
• Questen came in where Baldwin was
price-tagging goods. Puffing lazily at
. a big meerschaum pipe he said: “Mr.
Baldwin, these are extremely high
prices.” ^
“Mr. McQuesten,” was the answer,
“lam running this business.”
“You are wrong there,” said Mc
• Questen; “there are two of us now,
but after next spring there will only
-be one, and that will be me.”
He was right. Baldwin was recalled.
And the old-timer’s methods were am
ply vindicated, for of the large sum
outstanding all but $800 was finally
collected. It is a matter of pride to
all his compatriots that during his long
-career as a trader Jack McQuesten re
fused a grubstake to but one man.
At Dawson, when preparation was
NOTICE.
Artie Brewing Co.’s Beer
■on tap at the Gibbon Bar.
RUSHING TO IPITAROP
Steamer Tana Leaves Fairbanks Today With Two Hundred Passen
gers for blew Diggings, and Yet There’s Rfiore to Follow
Late News From New Camp Encouraging
Fairbanks, Sept. 16.—The rush for the new Iditarod
diggings of the Innoko district is on in full blast. The
steamer Tana (Captain Langley) leaves here today for that
place with nearly 200 passengers and three barges contain-,
ing fully 300 tons of freight. The barges are equipped
with bunks and cooking outfits for the stainpeders’ accom
modation. There will be, in all probability, at least three
more boats leave this port for the new strike before the!
freezeup, and it is estimated that at least 500 persons will
leave this city before navigation closes. Late telegraphic
news from parties who have just got in communication with
this city confirm the reports of the genuineness of the find.
Four holes to bedrock on Discovery, Otter creek, discloses
a paystreak 200 feet wide with pay averaging $2 to the
foot. Eight holes on No. 1 above shows the paystreak to
be wider than on Discovery claim, and the pay as rich.
Every man is taking an outfit and otherwise preparing for
all emergencies.
Timber is scarce near the headwaters of the Iditarod.
McLean & Longnecker, who own the sawmill at the mouth
of the Ditna river, have been doing a big business during
the past two months, and will move their mill to a point on
the Iditarod as soon after the freezeup as possible. A new
town located at the mouth of Otter creek is growing rap
idly, but it is believed that Diskaket, the old Indian village,
will be the principal commercial center for the Innoko dis
trict during the coming winter and spring.
It is estimated that there will be at least 1000 people
in the new Iditarod diggings by the time the boats tie up.
Many stainpeders are arriving every day from Nome. *
Chance for Xanana to PfSake Show
Fairbanks, Sept. 16.—A cablegram to Falcon Joslin,
president of the Tanana Valley Railway Company, from
Stephen Birch, the director of the Copper River North
western Railroad company, who recently returned to New
York from a tour through the interior of Alaska, asks that
exhibits of the agricultural products of Tanana valley be
collected and forwarded at once to New York to aid in con
vincing the board of directors of the railroad company as to
the advisibility of extending the road to the interior. Fair
banks citizens are now busily engaged in preparing the ex
hibit, and the display will be taken out by Mr. Joslin, who
starts for New York on the 25th of this month. Frank G.
Manley, who left for the Outside a few days ago, left in
structions for a large display to be collected from his big
farm at Hot Springs. Tanana is also urged to assemble a
creditable exhibit.
Mr. Birch visited the Tanana valley during the past
summer in company with Trumbull White, a New York
journalist, and they spent nearly a week in the immediate
vicinity of Fairbanks and were shown so many of the coun
try’s resources^ that they were most favorably impressed
with the possibilities of the Great Northland.
Matheson Convicted of Murder
Fairbanks. Sept. 16.—George Matheson has been con
victed in the district court of murder in the first degree for
the killing of Gus Lawless, in a saloon row on Chicken
creek, in the Fortymile district, on May 24, 1908. The
jury recommended a life sentence in the penitentiary in
stead of hanging. Matheson’s attorneys will make a motion
for a new trial, which will, in all likelihood, be overruled
by the court, and he will receive his sentence within the
next few days. The jury was out hours. Insanity was
the plea made by the defense.
MANY ARRIVE
FROM KOYUKUK
The steamer Koyukuk arrived from Koyukuk river last Tues
day. On account of low water she had only been able to ascend
to a point 25 or 30 miles below Betties. She brought 25 or 30 pas
sengers, mostly bound Outside, who came on to Tanana to await a
boat from St. Michael. Among the number were Mr. and Mi s.
Chris Jensen, Mrs. Fail-weather, Eddy Glenn, Charley Peterson,
Ernest Collins, Pingle, Cap Johnson, Charley Bowers, Herman
Webb, George Woods (“Long Shoi’ty”), Ernest Beattie and Dave
Mutchler.
From the arrivals it is learned that Deputy Marshal Donovan
is at Wiseman, which will be the center of activity in the district
this winter, and the commissioner’s office will be moved there from
Coldfoot shortly.
Nolan, the leading creek of the district, is eight miles above
the town of Wiseman (formerly Wright City). They are hoisting
on Nolan right along and the pay maintains a high standard. The
working claims extend about two miles and a half. About 75 men
will be engaged on the creek this winter.
Wiseman creek is looked upon as a field of great possibilities.
Last winter a hole was put down a short distance below Nolan
creek. Bedrock was reached at 250 feet, but was out of the chan
nel. The valley is pretty wide. This winter Doc Cleveland will
install a 10-h.p. boiler, and, assisted by a number of men who will
pool their work, engage in systematic crosscutting.
The season’s output approaches $500,000.
under way to send an exhibit to the
Paris exposition iu 1900 old friends of
McQuesten pledged the gold for a
life-size gold statue of the pioneer;
but the project fell through oh account
of dissension in official circles.
Mr. McQuesten remained at the head
of the A. C. Co. till 1899, when he
went to California and has lived at
North Berkely ever since.
To the pioneers of the Yukon he
bore the relation Washington did to
the patriots of the Revolution. By
them he may well be called Father.
[Readers are indebted to Joe Ani
cich, of Tanana, for most of the data
for this short sketch.[
Wm. Greenland, the main gazooks
of the Arctic Brewing Co., of Fair
banks, was a visitor in the city last
Tuesday rounding up delinquent beer
kegs and distributing highly-colored
works of art among the dear people.
JULIUS WASN'T
DULY NOTIFIE
On change of venue from Rampart precinct, the suit of I. and
P. Kaffenburgh vs. B. W. Stickney and Julius Ralimstorf, for pos
session of a building formerly used as a storehouse by plaintiffs,
together with $250 back rental, was heard in the justice’s court at
Tanana last Saturday. M. P. Fleischman was present as attorney
in fact for plaintiffs, C. B. Allen as plaintiffs’ counsel, and Mr.
Rahmstorf in his own behalf. Mr. Stickney did not appear.
Some time in 1907, it appears, Fleischman received power of
attorney from the Kafifenburghs, then in Boston, to act as their
agent regarding the property in question, which was at that time
in charge of Stickney. Fleischman demanded possession and
Stickney turned over the keys, but afterward borrowed them and
thereafter held and refused to yield possession. Rahmstorf has
been in nominal possession under Stickney.
No notice had been served on Rahmstorf to vacate, and Justice
Gallaher accordingly dismissed the action as to him. It was or
dered that Stickney turn over the property to Fleischman and pay
$250 back rental and the costs of the suit.
Notice of appeal has since been received by the Tanana court.
LONG-FELT WANT
TO BE SUPPLIED
A new Indian mission may possibly
be established up. on the Healy river
under the direction of St. Matthew’s
mission, it being the intention of Rev.
Betticher to visit the district and de
termine on a course of action.
He is to leave Fairbanks Monday on
a trip'to Salchaket and if he can find
time he will walk on up to Healy to
visit the Indians of that river.
Later in the season it is hoped that
Archdeacon Stuck will also be able to
pay a visit to tho Healy river.—Tanana
Tribune, September 4.
$50-A-DAY PAY
ON KUSKOKWIM
Another very favorable report from
the Kuskokwim has been received from
Kaiser and party, who left Fairbanks
two years ago, according to the Times
of that city.
Kaiser wrote to his cousin and to Ed
Lusk, saying he is located on Bear
creek, one of the largest tributaries of
the Tulasak river, itself a feeder of
the Kuskokwim from the south. Kaiser
claimed to be rocking out over $50 a
day. _
For a good shave or first-class hair
cut call at Matt Stewart’s barber shop.
SARGERT TO LOOK
AFTER HIS QUARTZ
Fairbanks, Sept. 16.—C. S. Sar
gent has retired from the widely
known firm ot Sargent & Pinska,
the clothiers and men’s furnishing
goods dealers of Dawson and Fair
banks, and will in future devote
his time to his promising quartz
properties in this district. M. A.
Pinska will continue the business
in both cities under his own name.
KUHN’S TRIAL SET
FOR NEXT WEEK
Fairbanks, Sept. 16.—William
Kuhn, the young man under in
dictment for killing his partner
(William Rinehart) last spring in
the Kantishna country over a divi
sion of their outfit, will be placed
on trial in the district court next
Wednes lay, September 22. Kuhn’s
plea will be self defense.
NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR HITTING BAR
Seattlo, Aug. 27.—John Kehoe, of
Tanana, threatens to bring suit against
Schubuch & Hamilton, the steamship
agents, because the crew of the steamer
Mackinaw milkedi four cows that he
shipped into the interior via. St. Mich
ael. Kehoe maintains that if the crew
got the milk he is entitled to get paid
for it, and he says that unless he does,
receive the equivalent to the milk in
cash he will'at once commence suit.
The above press dispatch was
shown Mn: Kehoe and his version;
of the story requested.. H*e- said:
his com plain if is founded: not so
much on the milking of the cows
as upon the fact that he was
charged $75 above contract price
for their transportation. The
extra charge was $25 for hay
consumed in the ocean voyage
and $50 salvage for removing
them from a bar on which the
vessel containing them got stuck
near St. Michael. The owner of
the cattle said if he must pay for
the hay he doesn’t see why the
transportation people should not
pay for the milk, and, further,
that he was not instrumental in
sticking the cattle on a bar and
cannot see why he should pay
$50 for pulling them off. He said
he had not threatened to bring
suit, but intimated that he would
report the matter to the Seattle
Chamber of Commerce, and oth
erwise take steps to let people
Outside know’ the kind of game
people in this country are up
against. _
BRIDE ARRIVES
FROM CALIFORNIA
9he arrival of the steamer
Campbell was anxiously awaite4
last Tuesday by James Fredrick
son, the well-known carpenter
and builder of Tanana.
Mrs. Emma F. Fitch was fin
ishing her long journey from
sunny California to this city on
that vessel, and upon its arrival
here was met by the expectant
Mr. Fredrickson, who escorted
her to the office of Commissioner
Phil Gallaher, who, in the pres
ence of two witnesses, pro
nounced them man and wife.
Mrs. Fredrickson is a “chee
chaco” in Alaska, but is already
greatly pleased with her new sur
roundings. The newly-married
couple will reside in one of Tan
ana’s prettiest homes, located on
Second street.