DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK SEN LAtfl A WHITE EGO—BUT GET BUSY AND QET AFTER THE EGO.
VOL. I.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1911.
NO. 21
Local News
•* •
Deputy Marshal Geo. Goshaw re
turned on a late stage from Fair
banks, and left for Cordova the first
of the week, on his way to Valdez.
Mr. Goshaw reports a splendid trip
both coming and going to the interior
metropolis.
The Cordova North. Star twinkled
its last twinkle on Sunday last, and
the plant goes to Valdez on the Ala
meda as a daily contemporary of the
Prospector.
J. C. Martin, manager for the Orr
Stage Company, returned home last
week from a trip to Fairbanks. Mrs.
Martin accompanied him on the trip
and they left on the first of the week
for a trip to Valdez.
J. G. Mulroy, the well known
stenographer and clerk, who has been
employed in the Orr Stage Company
offices here, has resigned and accept
ed a position as timekeeper at the
front.
Solo, bowling, pool and billiard
tournaments are the real proper
things in Cordova these wintery
nights. Can’t we start something
original here and make a scoop?
More men are arriving on every
train for the front, and it is learned
that the Katalla Company are urg
ing the contracting company to push
the work as rapidly as possible Jn
hopes of finishing by very early
spring. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
The Leader received a letter from
Frank Alba this week, who is now in
Fairbanks. He reports a hard trip
from here into the interior city with
his horses, having left during the
coldest weather. He met a man on
the trail with a hand sled and found
him just in time to save him from
freezing. Frank froze his hand bad
ly also before getting into Fairbanks.
He says Fairbanks is quiet, and
hopes soon to return to Chitina.
Mesdames Gage and House made
a round of calls across the river this
week. The ever gallant and cour
teous Tom Parker conveyed them
across the river on a double-ender.
Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Stringer leave
tjie first of the week for Cordova,
* Where Mr. Stringer has to attend
court.
Mrs. Wm. Sherman is arranging
to open a home cooking restaurant
in the Nelson building on Fairbanks
avenue.
|Mrs. Wallace has been quite ill
for the past few days, but is able
to be out again. She has been suf
fering with neuralgia. Dr. Whiting
has been attending her.
Frank Clarkin, the popular con
ductor, who has been hammering
away steadily at the front for a
long time, while Tils confederates
have been enjoying the sunshine and
'smiles of the fair ones around the
plesaure resorts in the states, has se
cured a furlough for three months
and will do a few stunts at summer
resorting himself. Frank expects to
go to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and end
up in—well, Alaska, as that's where
they all end, and we’U all be glad
to see Frank come back.
Wednesday evening last the Chit
ina Wednesday night Card Club held
the initial evening for cards at the
residence of Mrs. Wallace. The host
esses for the occasion were Mesdames
Wallace, Morey and Reeder. Five
hundred was played after which a
delicious supper was served, the
function being a great success and
the card club will meet every other
Wednesday evening to play cards.
It is also the Intention of the club
to occasionally give dances at the
Red Dragon. Those present at the
first meeting of the club were Mrs.
Wallace, Capt. and Mrs. Reeder, Mr.
and Mrs. Schaupp, Mr. and Mrs.
Morey, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Johnson,
Hr, and Mrs. Wales, Mr. and Mrs.
Honey, Mr. and Mrs. Tibbs, Mrs.
King, Judge Ferguson, Deputy Mar
shal Brown, Mr. Healy, Capt. Web.
er, Mr. Starr and Mr. Hirst.
Dan Rice, the veteran locomotive
engineer, left on the alst trip of the
Alameda for a visit to the states.
*
HAVE YOUR ADDRESS
CHANGED TO CHITINA
There are a number of people now
in Chitina who have complained to
the Cordova postoffice about for
warding their second-class mail from
the coast city here. Now this can
not be done without sending the Cor
dova postmaster stamps sufficient to
cover the forw-arding, and it is much
better to write directly to the paper
or magazine for which you are sub
scribing, and the matter will come
right through without further de
lay. The postal employes at Cor
dova claim to have had over a dozen
communications last month from this
vicinity requesting the forwarding of
second-class matter, and as this is
contrary to postal regulations, better
have your address changed to Chit
ina, unless you want to swell Uncle
Sam’s exchequer by buying plenty of
stamps.
MUSHING MISSIONARY
IS CERTAINLY A HOODOO
It is a fact that sailors and rail
road men, or at least a large majority
of them, pretend to be superstitious
to a more or less degree, and when
a wreck or delay, or anything out
of the ordinary upsets their sched
ule, or breaks the customary smooth
ness of their running or sailing gear,
there’s a “Jonah” or a “hoodoo”
somewhere.
By some peculiar freak of fate,
there has been a delay in the sched
ule or a hold-up of some kind on
nearly every trip our esteemed little
missionary minister, E. P. Ziegler,
has made over the road on his visits
to Chitina. His last trip on Thurs
day night settled it. The train was
late in getting away from Cordova,
and bucked snow drifts all the way,
which made it several hours late and
our friend Ziegler was promptly vot
ed the Jonah. Being small and good
natured, he took the chaffing of the
train crew and passengers all in good
humor. On nearing the end of the
trip the ever bubbling good natures
of Conductor Campbell and Train
man Dunlap took on a caustic or
frosty tone as they said: “A pair
of wings or an aeroplane for you
hereafter over this line.”
SEATTLE TO FAIRBANKS IN
12 DAYS VIA CORDOVA
Two drummers and two mining
men were the passengers on the stage
last night, the former being Dave
Dunbar, pf the National Grocery Co.
of Seattle, and Sam Newman, of the
Schwabacher Bros. & Co., while the
others were W. P. Vanderlip, the
mining engineer, and L. W.. Baldwin,
his assistant, who is an old-time
northerner.
The four left Seattle on January
16 at 9 p. m., so that they made it
through to Fairbanks in less than
12 days, and that in spite of the
heavy trail at this end of the line.
They report a very pleasant trip.—
Fairbanks Times.
Eddie Wildt, the well known fire
man, who with his wife left early
in the winter for a trip to the states,
returned on the steamer Victoria.
Frank Townsend, second oldest lo
comotive engineer in the employ of
the road, has asked for a two months
furlough, which he says Supt. Van
Cleve has promised to grant as soon
as he can be spared, and he hopes
to lay off this week, as a number
of engineers and trainmen are now
returning from their furloughs.
Walter Demster, the locomotive
engineer, who left early last fall for
a trip to the states, is now back at
the throttle for the C. R. & N. W.
He is pulling the tie train at present
between Cordova and Alaganik.
H. C. Van Trump, the conductor,
who has been 'at the front steadily,
is still enjoying his furlough in Cor.
dova.
Cincinnati, Feb. 11.—Five promi
nent city officials have been indicted
and face a term in jail, for fraud In
connection with paving contracts.
NO CAUSE FOR KICK
ON TRAIN SERVICE
Since the laying off of the passen
ger coach on the local run, not a
few of the travelers have complained
of the poor accommodations with
which they have had to put up on the
cabooses. In several instances the
criticisms were from prominent peo
ple, and who, after arriving at their
destination, either in Chitina or Cor
dova, did not hesitate to air their
views on present conditions of rail
road travel in Alaska.
Now we believe that these com
plaints are from people who are to
tally ignorant or unfamiliar with
conditions attending winter travel in
Alaska, particularly over a new line
of railway, and it is not only unfair
to the operative company, but the
public in general should realize the
conditions as they really exist at the]
present time. ;
The editor of the Leader has made'
several trips over hte road this win- |
ter and can state positively that the j
Natalia Company is doing all in their
power to facilitate as good service as
possible under the circumstances.'
True, the caboose is not as comfort
able as a passenger coach, nor can
table de hote dinners be served, or i
Pullman berths offered, but the ca
booses are at least warm and com
fortable; there is plenty to eat in a
clean and well-serviced dining car,
and the ucrteous rtain crew are ex
er willing to give up their own ca
boose to a tired traveler, who feels
like stretching himself out On the
long cushioned seat for a quiet
snooze.
The passenger coach was not tak
en off the run until late in January,
when the snow drifts became so high
the large car could not pass through
without breaking the windows or
tearing off the steps of the coach
against the walls of the huge and
solidly packed drifts of ice and snow
thrown up by the rotaries.
Passenger coaches are extremely
heavy cars, and old railroaders tell
us it is not an unusual occurrence to
replace them with the cabooses and
lighter cars in mid-winter on the
mountain divisions in the states,
even on old and well established
trufck Uses. So when all is consid
ered, the fair-minded person will
readily realise that everything pos
sible is being done by the Katalla
Company officials in the interest of
their patrons, and that the service
could not be bettered at this time.
That they are and have been able
to keep the road open during the
most severe weather and run regu
lar trains is greatly to their credit,
and the service should be commend
ed* instead of censured.
Happily, the complaining ones are
in the minority, and little or no at
tention is paid them. On the other
hand, the majority of travelers are
old Alaskans and appreciate the
chance to change from a dog team
or double-ender, to a warm railroad
car. Only recently a party of five
ladies arrived in Chitina en route
to Fairbanks. They rode in the ca
boose and contrasted their ride from
their last trip to the interior over
the summit from Valdez, stating that
they only wished the railroad extend
ed clear on to Fairbanks, so they
need not have to change to the stage
and the long cold trail.
We are now right in the midst of
our severest weather, or at least the
worst kind of weather for railroad
ing. From the coast to the summit,
or for the first hundred miles, the
bii, rotaries must combat huge drifts
and the heavy snowfall for the next
six weeks, after which the slides and
spring thaws must be encountered.
That they will be conquered and a
regular service maintained has al
ready been demonstrated. So if the
trip be a tiresome one, and the ser
vice not up to what we think it
might be, we should not complain,
but be thankful for a warm car, in
stead of a double-ender, and con
tent in the fact that each season
will bring a betterment in the ser
vice of the Copper River & Nor
thwestern. Again, let us commend
—not complain.
MUSH 90 MILES IN DAY
_
The name of the first man who
ever made a world’s record is long
since forgotten, but the game has
been going on for years. Some old
records have been handed down, such
as the Greeks, who ran from the pass
of Theomo to Athens and thereby
started Marathon races. Some fel
lows have put up world’s records at
other kinds of sports. We heard of
one fellow who started to make a
world’s record by blowing a peanut
up Pike’s Peak, but he got snow
bound. Also, there’s a man at Gray’s
Copper Mountain mines, who is cred
ited with a world’s record for drill
ing a round of holes with one set of
steel. But one of the greatest rec
ords ever put up was done by the
well known Tom Parker, who on
the 7th day of February, hitched up
his seven trusty porcupines to his
hand sled and made the Tanana Riv
er, a distance of 90 miles, in one
day. He was out. to beat Charlie
Ross’ record, made in the Susitna
country, of 101 miles, but Ross was
driving eleven weasels. Parker ex
pects to have two more porcupines
in training before the winter is ov
er with and will make another at
tempt at Ross’ record. Although he
did not beat it, he established a rec
ord for porcupine travel and few
Marathon runners could equal his
record.
Coal Bill is Still Pending
Seattle, Feb. 10.—Major John Bal
laine has returned from an extended
trip to Washington, where he has
been for several weeks conferring
with Alaskans in an effort to 86001*6
some relief for the residents of the
territory in the opening of the coal
fields. He says most all of the nor*
therners are ill favor of the Nelson
leasing bill, which is the only meas
ure through which the fuel question
can be solved at this time, and that
both the House and Senate are far
vorable to both the Nelson and Mon
dell bills, which are practically the
1
same.
Senator Nelson feels discouraged
at the lack of Interest manifested in
Alaska over his measure, in not
pressing its passage. He feels that
he is devoting his time and energy
to relieve the situation in the north
and it is up to the people to come
to the front and declare themselves
if they want any remedial legisla
tion. The copper men and Eastern
coal interests are opposing the bill
and in the opinion of Major Ballaine
telegraphic Insistence on the part of
the people directly interested is nec
essary to secure its passage.
SECTION FOREMAN PALMER
GIVES DINNER PARTY
One of, if not the most elaborate
and enjoyable dinner parties ever
given in Chitina took place on last
Sunday evening at the residence of
Mrs. M. Wallace. The dinner was
given by the well known Chitina sec
tion foreman. John Palmer, to a few
invited guests, who pronounced it the
most enjoyable party and delicious
menu they have partaken of in Alas
ka. The repast was cooked and serv
ed by the well known chef, John
Hirst> and those who know him can
guess the rest. The dinner was noth
ing lacking from raw oysters to
champagne, a special brand of the
invigorating beverage being served
throughout the meal. Those present
were Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Johnson,
Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Newhouse, Mr.
and Mrs. H. H. McCutcheon, Mrs.
O. E. Bennett and Mrs. M. Wallace.
CHITIXA TRAIL REDUCES
STOCK OF ORR STAGE CO.
No matter how large the spring
rush of travel may be over the trail
this year, the Orr Stage Company
will be able to handle it satisfactor
ily, according to the manager of the
company, Jesse Martin, who is now
in the city awaiting for the weather
to break before he starts back to
Chitina with Mrs. Martin. In fact,
the company has more than twice the
stock and equipment that is needed
for the present traffic.
Part of the stock is the string of
horses formerly used to break trail
and handle the double-enders on the
Valdez summit. So far this season
these animals have been used in
hauling supplies out along the stage
line, but just as soon as this work is
completed the Orr company will
probably have some stock for sale.
Most of these horses are experienced
snow animals, thoroughly wise to the
ways of handling themselves in deep
drifts with the minimum of effort.—
Fairbanks Times.
KOBUK SHOWING UP.
Jim Morris, an old-time Alaskan,
now living at mile 133, received
word from an old friend in the Ko
buk country that it will be the great
est placer camp the North has ever
known.
The diggings are principally on
the Squirrel River, a tributary of the
Kobuk and bedrock is shallow. This
friend of his took out over $300,000
for the last season’s work.
Prices are high. Lumber is worth
$500 per 1,000 feet (whipsawed).
Wages $1.50 per hour. Flour $50
per hundred. Jim says that it looks
good to him. These are the most
northerly placer grounds in the
world, being over 150 miles inside
the Arctic circle.
EARLY MORNING FIRE
DESTROYS A CABIN
Chitina had its first fire at 1
o’clock this morning, when the cabin
occupied by Postmaster Cliff John
son was completely destroyed, to
gether with all of its contents and
about $250 in cash.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had retired
and about 1 o’clock woke up from
the intense heat in the bedroom. Up
on investigation it was found that
the roof was on fire and they bare
ly had time to escape in their night
clothes.
The cabin was located on the
Heights and owned by the Bowker
brothers, who had rented it furnish
ed to Mr. Johnson. The exact
amount of the loss is not known.
New York, Feb. 11.—Andrew Car
negie, in addressing a large number
of working girls, advised them not
to refuse to marry a man simply be
cause he was a millionaire, and point
ed out that many men with money
were not as bad as painted.
El Paso, Feb. 11.—Chas. Hamil
ton, the aviator, made a trip in his
machine over the battlefield at Jua
rez. ,
to » £ • • 4 (
Local News
D. Davis reports that the overflow
is down by Doc. Billim's place on
the Copper River, and that soon the
whole river will be a glare of ice,
making the river in the best condi
tion for travel.
Bill Sherman, the old sour-dough
barber, who recently left the chair
at Church & Brady’s place to work
for Geo. Blouen. serving the thirsty,
couldn’t stay away from the whisker
game, and has installed a chair in
Tibbs Bros, pool and billiard hall.
M. T. Cook, G. B. Goshaw, J. H.
King, R, Blix and wife, W. A. Smith,
F. J. Bingham, W. A. Henderson, Joe
DeTraw, E. P. Ziegler, Capt. E. T.
Barnette and wife, Miss Dorothy
Tate, Dave Yarnell and W. Jansen
were guests at the Hotel Chitina this
week.
Mrs. Smith passed through here
recently en route to Pete Peterson's
roadhouse at Copper Mountain,
where she will take up her duties as
cook. Travelers can depend on be
ing well served when they stop at
Peter’s for a meal. The ever-bloom
ing James Hartney piloted her
through to Copper Mountain and re
turned on the 9th, having made a
quick trip.
Miss Dorothy Tate, a hospital
nurse or missionary sent to Alaska
by the Episcopal Mission, was an ar
rival on Thursday’s train en route to
Fairbanks, where she will take
charge of the St. Matthews Episco
pal hospital in the interior city. Miss
Tate spent five years in India with
the Episcopal Mission, and comes
here highly recommended. Rev.
Ziegler had the pleasure of accom
panying her as far as Chitina.
According to those who arrived
from Cordova on Thursday’s train,
the Eagles circus, given at Eagle hall
on Wednesday night, was a great fea
ture in the coast terminal. The man
agement had everything in circus
style from red lemonade to the ele
phant, ponies, daring wire walkers,
trapeze performers, many clowns, a
real disrobing act, and side show at.
tractions.
Thursday’s train was delayed ow
ing to leaving Cordova two or three
hours late, and the train crew re
port plenty of snow to buck on the
way out.
Capt. E. T. Barnette arrived from
Cordova on Thursday night’s train,
and took the early stage for Fair
banks. In a short interview with
Mr. Barnette he stated that he was
meeting the depositors of the defunct
banking concern more than half way,
and would not rest until every dol
lar had been repaid, particularly to
the smaller depositors, which, to say
the least, is most commendable in
him.
Oscar Breedman arrived on Thurs
day night's train from Cordova. The
Leader man asked him if he had any
thing new up his sleeve, and the
genial host replied: “Yes, aye have.
Aye bet you sax dollar I don't travel
no more when missionary man’s
travel, too. I tank he bane hoodoo
for sure.”
P. Fitch, the commissary man at
mile 146, who made a business trip
to Cordova last week, returned on
Thursday’s train to resume work at
the big camp commissary.
H. Robinson, formerly cashier
for the Katalla Company, but who
recently resigned to accept a posi
tion as cashier witn the S. Blum &
Company bank at Valdez, made a
trip over the road this week, arriv
ing on Thursday night’s train. Mr.
Robinson is waiting for the Alameda
and ran out to see many of his old
friends along the line while he had
an opportunity, before returning to
his work at the Glacier city.
Geo. Buchanan, the locomotive en
gineer, who has been away on sev
eral months’ furlough to the outside,
returned on the last trip of the Vic
toria, and pulled the local out on
Thursday’s run. Mrs. Buchanan re
mained in the states and will not
return until next summer.