THIRD YEAR.
CHITINA' ALASKA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1913.
NUMBER 43
late Telegraph News
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.—That the situation in Mexico is
-regarded as seriously alarming is no secret in administration
circles. The President is very much alarmed and fears some
sudden outbreak in Mexico City that might precipitate war. He
has requested the entire membership of the Foreign Relations
committee to meet with him at the White House tonight for a
conference. He will explain his views and hopes and will ask
the co-operation of the committee should any serious difficulties
axis'} in Mexico.
I
LONDON, Aug. 9.—All the newspapers here are evidenc
ing the liveliest interest over the situation between the United
States and Mexico. The fear is generally expressed that
Wilson’s pacific administration with Bryan, the world’s peace
advocate at the head of the cabinet, will be forced into war.
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 11.—John Lind, the special repre
sentative of President AYilson, arrived safely about noon and
is quartered at the Lascurain hotel. He was received by Military
Commander Maas, who did him-the honor of a parade. Troops
accompanied the train from Vera Cruz into this city.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.—Pi’esident Wilson and Secre
tary Bryan held a night conference with the Foreign Relations
committee that lasted over two hours, and went into detail on
the Mexican situation. The President outlined to the senators
the mission of John Lind. He stated that he does not bear any
solution of the present difficulty, but that he goes to induce
President Huerta to redeem the promise that he gave guaran
teeing a free constitutional election. Furthermore that the
administi’ation will not recognize Huerta under any circum
stances. The President explained that it was his plan to have
a man on the ground who would be in sympathy with his views.
He further intimated that upon Mr. Lind’s repoi’t would depend i
the future policy of the administi’ation.
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 12.—Frederico Gamboa, Mexican
secretary of foreign affairs, said this morning, ‘ ‘ I have strong
convictions that the differences between the United States and
Mexico will soon be adjusted.”
-o—o—o
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.—There have been many indica
tions that the navy department was doing everything in its
power to hasten the day when a supply of fuel for battleships
and cruisers on the Pacific might be secured from Alaska. There
have been all kinds of rumors as to just what the depjyfment
was doing. In order that Congress might have full knowledge
of such information as may now be in the possession of the
navy department, and in addition to learn the vi^ws and
conclusions of the various officials, Delegate Wickersham has
presented a resolution in the House. In it the navy department
is called upon for a report as to the value of the Alaska coal
for fuel purposes for the navy. The resolution also directs
Secretary Daniels to state his opinion regarding the necessity
of a government owned railroad in Alaska from a projected
point where the naval coaling station may be established to the
coal fields.. If this resolution is adopted and is of the nature
that is generally expected, it is presumed that it will have a
bearing on the Alaska railroad bill now being considered and
may have a tendency to decide the Democratic caucus to put
the bill on the calender for passage at the special session. The
official views of the new officials will be of general interest, and
particularly so in Alaska.
Captain Gilbert T. Rude, in charge of the survey boat
Taku, states that he received a wire yesterday from Washington
directing him to immediately proceed to Passage Canal and
make a survey of that harbor. He has been engaged in doing
work at Port Gravina, about 20 miles north of Cordova, where
he will leave a camping party to continue certain work. Capt.
Rude will depart with the Taku tonight and in accordance with
his instructions will make the survey as soon as possible. He
calculates that it will take him two weeks. He will make what
is known as a detached survey of Portage canal, with no
triangulation to connect with Prince William Sound waters.
While Captain Rude has made various soundings in Port Wells
he states that there has been no detailed survey in those waters.
-o- -o—o
The United States cruiser Maryland did not get very far
along with the testing of the Bering river coal at Katalla, and
that work will be continued at San Francisco. A week ago
the cruiser was ordered to the California port to get ifti
readiness to go to Mexico to relieve the cruiser Pittsburg. As
stated in the Daily Alaskan early last spring, the 700 tons of
coal sacked from the Cunningham claim was not from the good
veins, but was taken from off shoots and includes quantities
of slate and dirt. In starting to make the harbor test the chief
engineer of the Maryland soon realized that the coal had been
exposed to the elements to such an extent that it was so broken
and wet that when an attempt was made to bank the fire with
the idea of then getting up steam quickly that the coal would
cake and almost put out the fire. The coal will be dried before
making the test at San Francisco, but even then the best
results will not be obtainable. Most of the navy men who
assisted in bringing the coal from Stillwater creek to Katalla
harbor have returned to Bremerton. Dr. Downey, who has
been in charge of the expedition, is having the engines and
boilers taken from boats used to bring the coal down the river,
and is otherwise closing up his work. He and his men expect
to leave for the south on the next trip of the Sampson, the
latter part of the month.
NEWS SUSHANNA STRIKE
Cordova, August 6
The arrival of the steamer Northwestern this afternoon
about 3:30 o’clock marked the arrival of another small army of
stampeders for the Cliisana gold fields. In the number of about
180 are many old-timers who prospected in the Klondike, Nome
and Dawson. They are imbued with the idea that another big
strike is due and if it is to be at the headwaters of the Tanana
they want to be in early on the locations. About 120 came
from Seattle, while the rest took passage at Ketchikan, Juneau
and Skagway.
At Skagway the circulation on Saturday night of an extra
edition of the daily paper there, containing an alarming article,
had the effect of changing the course of some of the passengers
who got on at Juneau and also intended to leave from Skagway.
The article in large type told that 16 men and 14 horses had
been drowned while going into the new diggings. As there was i
no way of verifying the report, it was accepted by a few as fact.
The others continued on and were greatly pleased upon their
arrival at Cordova to learn that there was no truth whatever
in the reported drowning. The steamer was met by parties who
distributed papers and sought to induce the stampeders to
remain and go via White Horse. The article in question, so far
as it concerns the drowning or trail, is without a semblance of
truth.
Cordova, August 11
Chief of Police Henneke and A1 Johnson returned on the
train last evening from McCarthy’s, where they were for
several days, having left the Cliisana diggings on the morning
of August 2. They started from Cordova on July 20, and after
a delay of two days at Chittystone, because of a flood, they
reached the mouth of Bonanza creek on the morning of July 30.
They were three days in the new country.
Chief Henneke states that practically all the claims have
been staked on Johnson creek and its tributaries, Bonanza and
Little Eldorado, and on Wilson with its tributaries, including
Alder gulch, Snow gulch, Glacier creek, Big Eldorado and Gold
Run. That they include about 300 claims. He further says
that east from the new diggings is Guanda creek about 12
miles long, that only has a few stakes at its mouth, and that
there are numerous other large streams that are supposed toj
have good pay. But when manyjJjffTTe stampeders find that
the few well known creeks are l^fied they haven’t sufficient
quantity of grub to go further to prospect and make locations,
so they come back. They cannot secure employment as there
are no available tools to work with and supplies are scarce and
cannot be bought.
Henneke passed many big outfits going in. One was
camped four miles above Chittystone river with 8 men, 15
horses and about 2 tons of provisions and tools. The men
at the head of this expeditions are: Jake Nafstad, of the
Tonsina road house, and Dolph Smith, of Valdez, formerly
partner of Buck Hoyt at Gulkana. They both prefer going in
by way of McCarthy’s rather than taking chances on the road
in from Gulkana. Others are going with supplies to last for
months, so that it isjxpected that, soon several hundred men
will be at work andaeveloping properties. He looks for
bigger strikes than have yet been made.
Henneke says there are thirty or forty miles of country
that likely contain good pay, ample for the thousands who
are going in to prospect and locate. He states that the Ham
shaw expedition has not only made a number of locations, but
they have bonded, for $150,000, the claims of James and
partners at Discovery. They have not been taking out any
gold but instead have been busy putting in sluice boxes. A
flood came and washed them out, so they moved their outfit
over to Wilson creek.
At the mouth of Eldorado Henneke says there is great
quantity of red porphry, rough and decomposed, which goes
35 to 50 cents a pan. The Hamshaw people are preparing to
work this by hydraulic methods, as their rights give them
1,000 miners inches of water. There are stakes at the mouth
of this creek showing that it had been located for quartz in
1903.
Carl Wittum, who has been six or seven years in the
Copper river country, has located a rich claim on Little
Eldorado, No. 1 above. He has taken out $1.00 a pan. He is
now whipsawing lumber to put up sluices.
But few of the Dawson or Fairbanks crowd had reached
the diggings when Henneke left. The Dusty Diamond expedi
tion was crippled and returned to Fairbanks, and the steamer
Reliance was sent out instead.
Mr Henneke predicts that soon a town will be established
at the mouth of Wilson creek, as this is practically the only
place where there is valuable timber. It is about 8 miles
distant from James discovery on Little Eldorado, a tributary
of Bonanza.
At the mouth of Bonanza United States Commissioner and
Recorder Morgan has established an office. He has received
several hundred location filings and a few powers of attorney.
Mr. Henneke states that some of these powers were filed after
claims had been located, and that a few are signd by Canadians.
As a consequence there have been instances where claims have
been relocated by Americans, claiming that unless a man was
a citizen of the United States or has declared his intention to
become such, that he had no rights.
When in Chitina Mr. Henneke heard much discussion about
the advisability of trying the trail from there to Gulkana and
into the new gold fields. Buck Hoyt claims that by this route
there are no dangerous streams, high divides or glaciers to
contend with. He says that from Chitina to Gulkana the
distance is 75 miles over government wagon road; from Gulkana
to Chestochina 24 miles and from Chestochina to Cobb Lake,
24 miles, both on the Eagle City trail; leaving this trail it is 5
miles to Slahna river crossing, then 10 miles to Batzunetas,
then 35 miles via Jack Wade creek to Nabesna, then 25 miles
via Cooper Pass to Cliisana, on the tributaries of which the
gold strike was made. The total distance by this route fro
Chitina to Cliisana is about 200 miles. Chitina is reached in u
few hours from Cordova on the C. Li. & N. W. Ry„ a distance of
131 miles.
The winter trail suggested is via the railroad from Cordova
to Chitina; over the government road from Chitina to Gulkana;
then on the Copper river to Batzunetas, and from there over the
route previously described. It is also believed that it will be
possible to freight in the spring from Chitina clear through to
Batzunetas on the Copper river.
Cordova, August 12
A special troin over the Copper River & Northwestern
Railway will leave on Thursday morning at 8 o’clock to acconi
modate the stainpeders who are anxious to leave for the new
diggings as soon as possible. This will give them tonight and
tomorrow to arrange for their supplies and on Thursday
evening they will be landed at McCarthy's ready to make an
early start over the trail the following morning. The local
train will leave for Chitina and Kennecott on Friday morning,
so that any who are not prepared to go Thursday will not be
long delayed. The steamer brought 187 passengers to Cordova
this afternoon and with a few exceptions all are going to the
placer diggings. The following is the list:
T. R. Thompson, W. V'. Wellman, G. A. Warner, C. W.
Forbes, L. W. Adams, A. F. Hagan, A. L. Smith, A. K. Slaou,
F. L. Moses, Sam Klein, E. C. Riddle, Mrs. Berta Macochrane, F.
Knealy, E. C. Calhoun, G. Peterson, J. Logan, T. T. Laur and
wife, C. Haneldonk,, W. J. Rudd, D. Stern, J. Skjerve, C. Olson.
AV. Irving, Mrs. Hill, M. II. Baker, G. McDonald, D. M. Harris,
Dr. E. B. Schroek, J. C. Moore, A. Cortwright, W. A. Dashley.
A. C Hamilton, A. H. Knight, J. A. McFarland, 1). M. McFar
land, G. McGea, A. C. Craig, James Head, E. O. Sawyer, jr., G.
Shiras, G. P. Shiras, J. C. Anderson, T. H. Hammer, G. Monroe,
T. R, Needham, Mrs. Needham, Tom Laue, Mrs. Tom Lane,
Walter Soderburg, N. Losners, Bernt Osborne, Ben Osborne, J.
B. Dagen, E. W. Smith, C. S. Hutchison, J. V. N. Blair, C.
Halvarsen, C. K. Homer, C. A. Birch, J. D. Forrester, A\*. A.
Smart, H. J. Cohn, B. Iklenner, G. A. Poncia, F. Hardrickson,
C. Damerlick, A. Eadie, C. IL Straden, E. Costello, I). M. Tor
rance, C. S. Briggs, C. S. Crookshank, AA7-. J. Fitzgibbons, G.
Bunker, A. D. Nash, Jim Murray, C. Ksiese, II. A. Meikle, A.
Baker, E. Briggers, C. K. Harrison, J. Clancy, Mike Clancy, J.
E. Gabbert, T. J. Burns, J. W. Jackson, E. C. Ives, J. Hagen,
C. E. Hooker, E. AV. Trantow, G. Johnson, V. L. Marion, J.
Farrow, F. Rapp, R. H. Carroll, T. C. Stanley, P. McCallum,
J. A. Malone, W. K. Spaulding, A. J. McBain, AV. B. AAT>od
wortli, T. Graham, M. J. Brown, AV. Scribner, AV. McDonald,
J. R. Parr, C. AVhite, J. McLean, C. AYr. Veach, S. T. Bergh,
Alice Domm, Ruth Blanchard, C. M. Coffey, Mrs. C. D. Liles,
J. R. Fisher and 72 second-class.
Cordova, August 8
It was a time of great excitement and general interest for
an hour or two this morning at the station of the Copper River
& Northwestern Railway. Gold stampeders of every nationality
and from every walk of life, with packs, large and small, were
busy getting settled in the long special train of cars before
departure at 8 o’clock. In addition to the passenger coachesv
a diner, and freight cars, there were two cars of horses. Some
of the passengers had through tickets from Seattle, some of
the railroad boys traveled on passes, and 107 local tickets to
McCarthy’s were sold, so that it is safe to estimate the number
of stampeders who went out on the train to exceed 200. The
only other place where passengers were taken on was at
Chitina. When the train arrived there at 2:30 this afternoon
30 more stampeders were taken aboard and 5 horses. There was
a delay there of about an hour but the train is expected to reach
McCarthy’s early this evening.
Another train will leave from Cordova tomorrow morning
and a number of gold seekers who were not able to make all
their arrangements in time for the train today will depart
tomorrow. This will be the regular train and will stop at all
way points. More stampeders and horses will arrive tomorrow
night on the Mariposa from the westward, most of them
coming from Seward and surrounding mining country. Wires
are being received at the local office of the railway, from
stampeders coming on the Northwestern, engaging accommo
dations for themselves and horses on the first train after the
arrival of the steamer, which will be about Tuesday evening
next. The Northwestern sailed from Seattle with 140 passengers
and will likely pick up that many more at Ketchikan, Juneau
and Skagway. She brings 50 horses from Seattle, which
number will be increased at other ports. The freighter
Latouche will also arrive next week with 56 horses.