An account of a distressing accident and of the unparalleled
fortitude of a young man concerned in it was brought down on the
mail launch Carrier yesterday.
On September 3 Meryl McCainbridge, 25 years old, was out in
a boat alone. In lifting a shotgun from the boat the weapon was
discharged and his right arm was blown off just below the elbow.
Knowing that his life depended on his own efforts. McCanibridge
tore off his shirt with his left hand, bandaged the shattered stub o'
his arm. swam a deep, wide slough and walked to Circle, eight
miles away. At Circle he was cared for by a trained woman nurse
till the Carrier arrived from Eagle and took him aboard Iwo days
later. The sufferer was brought to Port Yukon and placed in
charge of Dr. Burke, the missionary practitioner at that place.
Dr. Burke is not well equipped with surgical instillments, and
with an ordinary pair of shears lopped off the ragged flesh from
the frightful wound. Weakened from loss of blood and three days
of suffering, the young man, without, the aid of an anaesthetic,
stood the ordeal of the surgeon's crude operation without a mur
mur, and when the Carrier left Fort Yukon he was resting com
paratively easy, with good prospects of recovery.
dame Overland
From the Koyukuk
Hob Buchan and Jim Huntington arrived Tuesday noon, six days
and a half from Arctic City. They came over the Koyukuk winter
mail trail, and found pretty hard mushing owing to niggerheads,
swamps and numerous lakes.
They have no important news to tell. Nolan creek gives promise
of maintaining its good reputation —in fact, it is showing up better now
than earlier in the summer. There is no perceptible increase in the
population; so it is probable numerous good-looking creeks in the dis
trict will go tinprcspecled for one more winter.
They saw no game on the trip except chickens. It is unaccount
able, but ducks and geese were absent from all the lakes, and very few
signs were seen of moose, cariboo or bear. Gieyling, however, were
plentiful in all the creeks.
VACHON NOT GUILTY
(Concluded from page 1.)
feeling existed between Schick and
Vachon cn account of a letter written
to tho war department complaining of
Schick’s alleged unfairness in award
ing contracts. It was a matter of pub
lic talk here that told in the letter of
improper overtures made to him by
Schick through the agency of Pattee.
In the trial the defense made the
most of this phase of the case. The
nature of the accusations against
Schick, however, was not brought out
in the testimony. Pattee acted as a
go-between at tho time the alleged
oiler and promise to bribe took place.
The defense endeavored to establish
that because of the previous charge
being made against Schick by Vachon,
Schick endeavored to get Vachon in
his (Schick’s; grasp.
Pattee was the first witness for the
prosecution. He testified that Schick
had had a stenographer in an adjoining
room at the time he and Schick con
versed about giving Vachon the Fort
Gibbon post wood contract, April-28,
1003, and that what was said between
■them was taken down. Witness said
that Vachon had asked him (Pattee) to
try and get the wood contract for
Vachon. Pattee was in Vaclion’s em
ploy at the time. Vachon enjoined
not to mention his (Oachon’s) name, as
in that case the proposition would be
till off. Witness did not remember
who suggested the payment of $1,000
to procure the contract, but remem
bered Vachon asking what assurance
he (Vachon) would have of his getting
the contract if he put up the money.
Pattee said that. Schick was anxious
for him lo bring Vachon to his
(Schick's) cabin. Schick said, accord
ing to the witness, “Tell the French
man to comedown and bring the coin.”
Vachon, when next seen by the wit
ness, said lie would go down to Schick’s
cabin in company with Pattee, but
changed his mind later and declined to
go. Pattee said he was to get $500
front Schick if the deal went through,
and was not to receive anything from
Vachon, although he testified that he
was willing to represent Vachon in the
matter in order to retain his employ
er’s good will.
Joseph C. Dehn, government witness,
a freighter of Tatiana, sai'i that he
followed Pattee from Lieutenant
Schick’s quarters, aFter Schick had
instructed Pattee to bring Vachon anti
have Vachon bring ‘‘tlie coin” up to
Schick’s office. Ho said be followed
Pattee at the request of Schick, and
that lie went straight to Vachon's
store, and saw Vachon and Pattee talk
ing together.
Neither Lieutenant Schick nor any
of the other government witnesses tes
tified that Vachon ever appeared on
the scene during the pendency of the
alleged proposition whereby Vachon
was to pay $1,000 to Schick if Schick
would see that Vachon got the wood
contt act.
Some lively tilts between John L.
McGinn, Vachon’s counsel, and the
government’s witnesses occurred dur
ing the trial. Mr. McGinn endeavored
to show hy Lieutenants Schick and
Morris that the officers of the post had
exhibited a zeal greater than a mere
desire to suppress crime in trying to
trap Vachon and Pattee.
Lieutenant Schick testified that some
time in April Pattee came to him and
said he was anxious to got the contract
to supply the post with 2,000 cords of
wood, for wnich bids had been asked
by LieuLenant Schick, as post quarter
master. Witness said Pattee went
further, and suggested that there
might be something in it for Schick if
‘"he Tanana Ccmmsrcia! Co.™
Armour’s Star Bacon, 30c lb.
Armour’s Star Ham, . 30s lb.
Petaluma Eggs, 50c doz.
All other branks of Foods, etc., fresh and reasonable in price.
THE PIONEER BAR.
THE OLD RELIABLE.
FINEST WINES, LIQUORS AND CIGARS. GIVE
US A TRIAL. A SQUARE DEAL TO ALL.
Tool and Billiard Tables in Connection.
JOEANICICH, PROP
ho would throw tho contract Puttee’s
way. Schick said he suspected that
Vachon was at the back of tho propo
sition, because lie did not think Puttee
had anything, and furthermore, be
cause Pattee was or had been in the
employ of Vachon.
The witness said iie considered it his
duty, as a government official, to run
down the matter. He drew out of
Patteo a statement to the effect that
Vachon was anxious to get the con
tract and would give •‘£1,000 to Schick
if tlie latter would insure him the
contract.
On redirect examination Schick said
that an investigation was conducted
by Colonel Cecil, as the result of a
complaining letter written by Vachon
concerning Schick, and ho (Schick)
was exonerated. This complaining
tetter, he said, was written before this
trouble. Colonel Cecil summoned dif
ferent persons to appear before him
and testify, lint r.o one appeared.
TRANSIENT TRADER
I'or several clays prior to the ar
rival of the steamer J. I’. Light
from St. Michael, Tuesday, a tiaii
sient trader was in town taking or
iers, to he filled when the steamer
should arrive with the goods.
When the time for delivery came
it was plain to an ordinary observer
that the trader had done a big busi
ness. Potatoes, butter, cheese,
eggs, fruits—limited in variety but
aggregating a great quantity, the
transient man’s stock was delivered
in every quarter of the city.
Going on to Fairbanks, the bal
ance of the trader’s stock will be
disposed of, and in all probability
before the freezeup considerable
portions of it will cotne back by
Tanana in poling boats as part of
the oulfitsof numerous prospectors.
There is something wrong in the
order of things that renders such a
condition possible. It is illogical
in an economic sense—neither good
for people ol the town or for any
body’ else.
Judge C. M. Frazier, formerly
city attorney of Cliena-head-of
navigation and ex-attorney-gen
eral of Arizona territory, is now
located at Cordova for the prac
tice of law.
Opening of School
School opened Tuesday morning with
sparse a attendance.
“HAPPY” PASSED
THE TIME AWAY
Jim Stevens, known about town as
“Happy,” was arrested last week and
brought before Commissioner Gallaher
on a warrant charging petit larceny by
embezzlement. It appears that Mr.
Happy had borrowed a watch from
Jack Nelson, with whom he had been
boarding, stating that he wanted to
“keep the time” of some men he had
charge of in performing a ’longshore
man stunt. In a playful moment Mr.
Happy (who, it appears, always did
enjoy his joke) “soaked” the repeater
to a bartender in a local “sunshine fac
tory” for 85, and proceeded to make a
good fellow o' himself with the five.
Nelson and the commissioner (who
seem to possess but poorly-developed
veins of humor) utterly failed to appre
ciate what. Mr. Happy considered a
very “timely” joke, and the judge fined
him $50 ar.d costs. He is now serving
out his sentence at the usual rate per
diem, and was not even allowed to re
tain the watch so he can tell when
liis time is up.
Ducks and Geese
Ducks and geese have been so
scarce in striking distance of
Tanana this fall that local hunt
ers had concluded that it is either
an off year or else the numbers
have been permanently reduced.
They will be glad to learn, there
fore, that in a general sense
neither is the case. The mail
launch Carrier reports all kinds
of water fowl in old-time plenty
on the Yukon flats.
Happy Woodchopper
Dad Blanchard, the veteran
wood-camp man at Willow Point,
m the Yukon flats, is the proud
possessor of a new phonograph
with which he entertains visitors
and proposes to relieve the te
dium of the long, lone winter
nights. The boys of the mail
launch Gander declare Dad is
now the happiest wood chopper
on the river.
For a good shave or first-class hair
cut cull at Matt Stewart’s barber shop.
Schick May Join Tenth
A well-authenticated rumor is
current on the streets today that
Lieut. Jacob Schick, acting quar
termaster at Fort Gibbon, has re
ceived notice of recall to his own
regiment, the Tenth infantry, sta
tioned at Fort Benjamin Hariison,
at Indianapolis, Ind. Lieut. Mor
lis, also now at Fort Gibbon, also
belongs to the Tenth infantry.
The Twenty-second’s own quar
termaster is said to Ire on the way
from Nome to assume his duties at
Fort Gibbon.
Julius Fined
Julius Martin was declared guilty
i of petit larceny this morning in
CommissionerGallaher’s court,and
I was fined $50 and costs. The com
1 plaint was sworn to by A, M.
Spruuger, who claims that Julius
I “swiped” a small canvas sail.
—
i Another interesting meeting of
Camp Gibbon No. 2ii, A. B., was
held last Sunday evening. Sev
eral new members were initiated
: into the order, and many candi
: dates are awaiting their accept
| ance by the lodge. The trustees
; have been busy this week deco
! rating the hall and equipping the
; room with the many essentials
; for the convenience of the lodge.
The Arctic Chief has appointed
the subordinate officers and com
mittees, and everything in con
nection with the bi-otherhood is
moving along in a very satisfac
tory manner. An energetic com
mittee on entertainment has been
selected, and it will not be long
before there’ll be something
doing in that line.
Low Water
Messrs. Huntington and Buchan, who
arrived Tuesday, said water had never
been so low on the upper lioyukuk.
Victor Eckengreen said yesterday the
water was so low in the Hosiana lately
that several patties turned back, some
going up Dali, expecting to pack over
the hogback, and others going up
Beaver river for the winter. Those
who got up the Hosiana had to sluice
out a channel at many places.
Ynil LI A VC until Sept. 20 to obtain
IUU IlnVC a high-grade Watch,
Souvenir Jewelry or your eyes exam
ined by Lynn Smith. Don’t fail to get
your watch put in order before winter,
! either. Everything guaranteed.
SPRUNGER CONVICTED
FOR MAKING GUN PLAY
In the case of the United States against A. M. Sprunger,
charged with pointing a gun in a threatening manner at Julius
Martin at the mouth of Grant creek September 1, in the justice’s
'court yesterday afternoon, Judge Gallaher sentenced the accused
to 30 days in the federal jail and to pay a fine of $100.
The evidence disclosed that there had been bickering between
Sprunger and Martin, former working partners, for a long time.
On the day in question Orman Bowers and Eln.er Lair, linemen
from the signal station at The Birches, were at the lineman’s cabin
at Grant creek. Sprunger and Martin quarreled over possession
of a cabin near by. Sprunger with a cocked shotgun ordered Mar
tin to take his belongings and vacate the premises. Julius de
murred., Things got so warm that the linemen arrested Sprunger,
in doing which one barrel of the gun was discharged, admittedly by
Signalman Bowers. Bowers and Lair started to convey Sprunger
to Tannna, but when they wero off the military reservation miners
proposed to try him by miners’ court, and the signalmen assented.
Twenty-three miners composed the court. All but two voted
not guilty. Bill Cheeseman’s vote had been “guilty” through a
misunderstanding of the question—so the court really stood 22 to
1 for acquittal.
The miners stood sponsor for Sprunger remaining peaceful,
but the row at the cabin was repeated, Sprunger cast Martin’s
“things” out of doors and his rifle into the Yukon, and Martin
came to Tanana and got a warrant for his arrest.
Deputy Marshal Vautier went down and brought up a lot of
witnesses, among them Messrs. Bowers and Lair, of The Birches.
Sprunger in the meantime had come in in charge of special depu
ties. ,
The judge said if the accused wanted to appeal the bond would
be $000.
On the conclusion of the trial Sprunger announced that he
would lodge a complaint charging Martin with theft.
Census Commissioner
Getting.Ready to Count
W. H. McKenzie, special census commissioner for Alaska, was on
the sieamer Schwatka, which arrived from Dawson Tuesday afternoou
and remained here two or three hours before departing tor Fairbanks.
Mr. McKenzie’s headquarters will be at Fairbanks, whence he will
direct the work of taking the 1910 census in the entire territory. The
actual canvass will begin the first of November. He will select an enu
merator from each recording district, upon whom the actual work of
taking the census will devolve.
It is announced that only local men, familiar with their respective
districts, will be employed; and, further, that every precaution will be
taken to get men fully competent for the duties requited of them.
Enumerators will be allowed $6 for wages, $3 for keep, and money for
dog hire.
THE MINERS' NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
Leader
FOR
Printing of
E very Kind
Our Work is Artistic and Up-to-Date
and we use the best quality of Paper in
the market. We solicit a trial order.
WE PRINT
LETTER HERDS
ENVELOPES
BUSINESS CARDS
DOBCERS
BLOTTERS
CONTRACTS
BILL HEADS
STATEMENTS
MAMMOTH POSTERS A SPECIALTY WITH US.
VISITING CARDS
HAND BILLS
PRICE LISTS
COUNTER SLIPS
And in fact Anything and Everything in
the Printed Line
LEADER JOB DEP’T.