anana
Leader
One Dollar Per Month.
TANANA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1909.
Two Bits Per Copy
CHRISTMAS
TREE WAS
A BEAUTY
Rev. Mr. Peabody had concluded the
religious services at St. James’ chapel,
and the children, who were seated
nearest it. were intently watching the
beautiful Christmas tree, when, at near
3 o’clock Christmas Eve, a clatter, a
jingling of bells aad a succession of
‘•Whoa-whoa's” were heard outside
the door. A moment later Santa him
self entered, clad in his warmest furs
and bis bewhiskered face covered with
snow and ice. Greeting Mr. Peabody,
he told the children briefly of his
adventures in the polar regions and in
the deep snows of the Koyukuk, after
which he distributed presents with a
lavish hand. It was a happy time for
the little folk.
When it was all over some of the
older and wiser recipients of Santa's
favors declared he was only Mr. Strang
inan. of the Mission. They subjected
the story of his travels to as critical a
research as the scientists have recently
done to the data of Dr. Cook. They
found errors of geography and confu
sion of dates—and had their doubts.
The majority, however, were true to
tradition and to their sense of grati
tude, and heartily wished their good
old friend a safe return to his home at
the North Pole.
HOLIDAY DOINGS
AT GIBBON POST
The Christmas program arranged by
ihe Fort Gibbou Social Club for the
enlisted men of the post proved to be
one of the most successful features ever
given by the club. The vaudeville
features were exceptionally good and
well presented. The Christmas tree
was well laden with laughter-provoking
gifts which kept everybody in a con
stant uproar. The smoker and stag
dance formed a suitable climax for the
evening. The president of the club.
Sergeant Kinzer of the hospital corps,
read a hearty endorsement of the work
of the club by the commanding officer,
which was greatly appreciated by the
club members.
The social committee has planned a
progressive whist party arid smoker
for New Year’s night, the regular
meeting night. It will be the largest
affair of the kind ever given in Fort
Gibbon. _
The Christmas celebration given by
the signal corps was an event long to
be remembered. Captain Cunningham
and the members of the social commit
tee having the matter in charge spared
no pains to make this feature the pro
nounced success that it was. The din
ner was most elaborate and was shared
by a number of invited guests, includ
ing the non-commissioned stall and
their families. A reception followed
the dinner, which was participated in
by the officers of the post and the town
people. ____
All the organizations in the post vied
with each other in their Christmas
decorations and the dining rooms were
most attractive. The commanding of
ficer, staff, and the ladies of the post
made a tour of inspection and were
delighted. _
At the Christmas celebration given
by the ’Fort Gibbon Social Club last
week Secretary Reid, in behalf of the
club, the officers of the post and the
people of Tanana, presented Sergeant
Kinzer of the hospital corps with the
piano purchased to replace the instru
ment lost by the latter in the recent
post fire. The proceeds of the last
dramatic entertainment were devoted
to this purpose and with the amount
previously subscribed served to make
the final payment. Sergeant Kinzer
responded in a most feeling way. The
instrument has been at the disposal of
the post people on every occasion when
a piano could be used and has been of
great help to the men in the stag
dances.
There are two fine toboggans for the
slide lately completed at the quarter
master’s dock._
Captain and Mrs. Haskell have is
sued cards for a New Year’s party.
Captain Kobbe is sending out cards
for a .New Year’s “at home” from 4
to 6. _
Invitations are out for a big dance
by the signal corps New Year’s Eve.
BRUTALLY ASSAU LTED
Miss Lena Lochke, Well-Known Young Lady of Fairbanks, Waylaid and
Roughly Handled by Unknown Wretch—Citizens Offer
Big Reward for His Apprehension
Fairbanks, Dec. 27.—The rewards for the“capture of
the assailant of Miss Lena Lochke, who was choked and
roughly handled by a man on Garden island, on the even
ing of December 17, now ‘reaches nearly $2,700, and may
be taken as anlndioation of the general indignation of citi
zens. Federal and municipal officers say they have scarcely
anything to work on, and while the incentive for energetic
endeavor grows, the possibility of an arrest appears more
remote now than earlier.
Although the word has gone to all outlying points on
trails leading from Fairbanks,’with'officers'following'every
clue offered, no trace has yet Jbeen found of the unknown
man who assaulted the popular young lady as she was pass*
ing along the lower end of the old baseball park, while on
her way home, at the residence of her brother-in-law, Ernest
Parsons. Although found to be physically uninjured, the
young lady’s pitiful story of the brutal assault stirred the
city with intense[and .angry excitement. Should'the fiend
be captured he would probably be vigorously dealt with.
STORY OF THE BRUTAL ACT
The assault must have been committed [about 7:55
o’clock. Miss Lochke, who_ has been employed as cashier
in the Arcade cafe, left the restaurant about 7:45, planning
to go home and get ready for the Eagle ball. As she walked
rapidly she should have reached the point where the assault
occurred [in ten minutes. She was just approaching the
N. C. powder house, on the up-river side of the little branch
slough, on the north side of the river, at the lower corner
of the old ball park, when a larrre man. wearing a fur onat
and what she took to be a slouch hat, jumped out of the
bushes, frightening her so [that she started to run. He
quickly caught[her and roughly demanded her money. “I
haven't a cent,” she said. “Take ray clothes, if you will,
Lbut save ray soul!”^With that the monstrousbrute seized
! her by the throat and threw her to the ground, the strug
gle carrying them nearly over" the river bank, which fell
a way "at that point'for a'distance of eight feet.
She remembers that he tried to gag~ her with a"hand
kerchief, and then she lost consciousness. At this point lie
apparently picked her up and dragged her across the trail,
up past the corner of the warehouse alongside the fence, a
distance of some thirty feet, the marks of the passage being
left by her trailing dress, flanked by footprints left by
overshoes. It seemed to her that she was there a long time,
but it was probably only a matter of moments when con
sciousness" returned and she opened her eyes to see him
standing near, apparently awaiting for some sign of life.
She screamed in terror again and the man fled, going down
the bank and "striking across"tin river. Staggering and
falling, the half-unconscious girl struggled to her home—
about a hundred yards beyond—and appeared to her fright
ened family with haii^ torn down, her face bloody, clothes
torn and crying hysterically as’"she tried to tell them what
had happened. Mr. Parsons immediately summoned the
police and medical aid, and the half-crazed victim of the'
first crime of its kind* in Alaska was tenderly cared for
while she poured out her heart-rending story.
Following the arrival of the doctors at the house exam
ination disclosed the fact that she had not been'injtired be
yond the choking which had caused her nose to bleed. Her
.•Irt+hoci M-OVU tnvn in'silph n mnnnr.v "jci inHiooto ♦h«
assaillant was searching for a purse which she might have
carried in her bodice, and jt~is now generally believed by
the officers that l-obbery was the motive of’the assault.
Doc Cook Declared a
Copenhagen, Dec. 23.—Information has been received from the
highest authority that the committee of the university which took
charge'of the data'furnished by Dr. Cook in regard to his alleged
discovery of the North pole has, after a preliminary examination,
failed to find any proof that the doctor ever reached the pole.
The members of the "committee have been forbidden to talk
until the full report is~made,'public, but it is already known here
that this report will show Cook’s statements up as history’s most
monumental lie. The result of the investigation is a distinct dis
appointment here as', the people of Denmark were in sympathy
with the doctor, and anxious to see him accepted as the real dis
coverer^of the pole. _
New York, Dec. 24.—“The women of Denmark will never aban
don Dr. Cook,” said Maurice F. Egan, minister to Denmark, upon
his arrival from Copenhagen yesterday. “Dr. Cook .took the
Danes by storm upon his" arrival’ from Greenland, and the women
idolized him. It will be many years, and, perhaps, never,'before
they accept the verdict that their hero-explorer deceived them.”
According to the cable messages from Copenhagen, the Dan
ish nation feels keenly the humiliation to which they have been
subjected in the whole affair. The members of the examining com
mittee are very angry to think that they were so"'completely
fooled. The -newspapers, which were formerly filled with adula
tion for the American, now speak of him impudently. The Eng
lish scientists are commenting little upon the affair. They never
considered Dr. Cook's claims seriously.
The mystery of the whereabouts of Dr. Cook remains as deep
a mystery as ever. Letters received by friends in this city indi
cate that he is in Italy. There are others who assert that he is in
Norway, and many believe that he has never left the country. His
peculiar conduct is undermining confidence in him.
Barney Makes Second Confession
Tanana, Dec. 23, 1909.
I, Arthur E. Barney, certify that
the gun with which I muidered
Chas. J. Smith and shot Chas.
Chanquist I borrowed from Tom
Rockwell. I first said I wanted it
to kill rats in the presence of Mrs.
Rockwell; she then said “Torn, do
not give it to him; he is in trouble,
look at his eye.” Mr. and Mrs
Rockwell having jnst returned
home, having on his overcoat and
lighting a fire.
I asked Rockwell to come out. I
wanted to speak to him, which he
did. I then told him I would
clean up the town, to which he did
not answer. After killing Smith, I
went back to Rockwell’s house as
I could not break or reload the gun,
not having ever used one before.
Rockwell reloaded the gun for
me while Mrs. Rockwell begged of
him not to give it to me. I then
told Rockwell that I bad Smith
and was going to finish the job.
After shooting Chanquist I ran
through the alley back to Rock
well’s house and asked him to re
load it again. Mts. Rockwell then
persisted in him not doing so, which
he did not, Mrs R. ordering me to
go to bed.
I make this statement ireely and
voluntarily without intimidation or
coercion, believing that innocent
people should not be suspected of
giving me the gun to commit this
awful crime of which I am so sin
cerely repentant.
(Signed) Arthur E. Barney.
Witness: Rev. C. W. Peabody.
John J. Donovan.
Tom Rockwell and his wife, who
were arrested at Hot Springs fol
lowing the statement made by Ar
thur E. Barney last Thursday that
Rockwell had given Barney the
pistol with which the latter shot
Smith and Chanquist just before i
o’clock on the morning of Decem
ber 16, will be brought to Tanana
on the mail stage arriving next
Tuesday. Deputy Marshal Mur
plry, formerly stationed at Hot
Springs, left Fairbanks for that
place last Tuesday morning, aud it
is probable that lie will biing the
Rockwells on to Tanana. The uian
and wife are jointly charged with
murder. It may be that at the
preliminary hearing which will be
had after their arrival here the
charge against Mrs. Rockwell will
be reduced and her bond fixed at a
comparatively small figure.
It is current talk that outside the
confession (or statement) of Ba:ney
there is very strong evidence of the
criminal connection ot Rockwell
with the bloody deeds of Barney;
and it is improbable that he will be
released on bail.
Arthur E Barney, the self con
fessed perpetrator of the bloody
crimes of the early morning of De
cember 16, maintains a cheerful de
meanor. When taken to the com
missioner’s office for a preliminary
hearing on the charge of shooting
Chanquist, Tuesday afternoon, he
was morose and possessed a surly
look, hut the mood soon passed
and his usual good nature asserted
itself.
After the hearing, he remarked
to his guaids that the witnesses did
not seem to he spiteful toward him,
and mainly told the truth. The
papers have not been kept trom
him, and he coirmented freely on
numerous erroneous statements
made in certain publications.'
He averred he was not concerned
in a certain shooting scrape his
name was mentioned in connection
with in Nome, and seemed to take
to heart things said about him indi
cating a previous vicious character.
As a matter of fact, while at
work here and not under the influ
ence of liquor, Barney's disposition
was pleasing and he showed no
signs of a vindictive or revengeful
natitie.
Since his arrest the guard has
been doubled and some one is con
stantly watching him day and
night.
At a preliminary examination held
by Justice Gallaher, beginning at 2
o’clock last Tuesday afternoon, Arthur
E. Barney was held to the district
court in the sum of $20,000 to answer
the charge of shooting with intent to
(Continued on page 4.)
BOUCHER
IN FROM
IDITAROD
Felix Boucher and George List,
bound from the Iditarod to Fair
banks, arrived in Tanana last Sun
day. They bucked the storm from
the Old Station, 16 miles.
They left the Iditarod Dec. 7.
At that time several Iditarod starn
peders to Illack river, on the Kus
kokwim side, had returned and re
ported the allegedf.fiml on Black
river a fake. The stampede had
been of considerable proportions,
but there was nothing found what
ever.
Regarding the food supply in the
Iditarod, Mr. Boucher said it is by
no means certain that there will
not be an actual shortage of flour
and beans, but there is plenty of
fresh meat for those who have
money to buy it. There are a good
many people in the region who
have but little money. Fish are
taken in abundance, and birds are
plenty, which is a boon to the peo
ple.
Mr. Boucher is the man who
killed Gustafson, a Fin, on^Willow
creek. He was exonerated by the
coroner’s jury. Hejs loth-to speak
of the affair, but willJ answer any
questionsi'the Fairbanks officials
may put tn him. He proceeds to
Fairbanks today, and’fhopes to re
turn to the Iditarod before the
WANT DONOVAN
TO; REMAIN HERE
Last Friday a petition'was circulated
and signed by nearly every one to
whom it was presented,'urging United
States Marshal H.'K. Love to assign
Capt. John J. Donovan to Tanana as
permanent deputy marshal. Marshal
Love was notified by wire of the sub
stance of the petition, and was request
ed to hold in abeyance the matter of
assigning a deputy until lie could bo
communicated with by mail.
In the month that Captain Donovan
has filled the position of deputy mar
shal at Tanana he has been confronted
by conditions that would have tested
the capacity of any man, but has proven
himself equal to every emergency. His
action has been firm, intelligent and
efficient. The petition is a testimonial
of the people’s confidence in him.
Just prior to the circulation of the
petition, however, it became rumored
around town that Marshal Love con
templated the appointment of William
Coruing to the Tanana 'deputyship.
People who know Mr. Corning and
thoroughly understand the situation at
Tanana were outspoken in the opinion
that such an appointment would be un
wise and unsatisfactory to a large
number of citi/.ens; and that may have
had something to do with hurrying up
action on the matter.
From the Fairbanks Times it is
now learned that Mr. Corning was
actually tendered the place and was to
have been sworn in Dec. 23. From
private sources, however, it has be
come known in Tanana that he finally
declined to qualify.
Apparently, therefore, there remains
nothing in the way of Marshal Love
granting the request of the Tanana
petitioners except the claims of the
Koyukuk district, where Captain Don
ovan’s official allegiance at present is
and where he is yery popular.
NOTICE
All persons knowing themselves to
be indebted to the estate of Charles J.
Smith are earnestly requested to come
forward and make settlement. Person .
who had open accounts with deceased
should come and have the same ad
justed. OSCAR LUNDIN,
Administrator.
Office at the Yukon saloon building.
Tanana, Alaska. Dec, 29, 1909.
The Leader is on sale at the Tanana
postoffice lobby.