FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1913.
NUMBER 9
Late Telegraph News
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—Admiral Fletcher lias cabled
the department that the Mexican constitutionalist army is
making progress in its attack on the city of Tampico. The
• rebels have captured several strategic positions and are
preparing to concentrate their forces in an effort to capture
the city. Americans have informed him that the city cannot
withstand the rebels and must fall. All foreigners in the city
have fled to the neutral zone and many Americans have been
taken on board the battleships.
Admiral Fletcher states that he has warned the generals
of the attacking army" that they" must take positions which will
leave the foreign quarter safe from the flying shells. In the
event of the foreign quarter being attacked the battleships will
begin a bombardment of the rebel positions. There are hun
dreds of foreigners in the city and they have sought protection
under the American consul. There are four battleships at
anchor in the harbor and in event of the cityr’s capture it may
be necessary" to land marines to prevent looting of the homes
of foreigners byr rebels.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 13.—Admiral Fletcher has
wired the department that the enemy lias attacked the city of
Tampico. The federal guns are raining shells on the rebels
and they may be forced to retreat. The gunboat Wheeling has
taken up a position in the river close to the fighting in order
that foreigners may be assured of her protection.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 13.—A report has been received by
the war department from General Yillasco which states that
his army has been able to retain possession of the city of
Torreon. He reports eight engagements during the past two
days in which the rebels were forced to retire leaving 400 dead
on the field.
_'
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 13.—Advices have been received
from Tampico stating that the constitutionalists are preparing
to again attack the city. Many engagements have taken place
and it is reported that more than one thousand of the attacking
army were killed or wounded. The loss of the federal troops
was slight.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 13.—The transport Sumner
has been dispatched to Tampico to care for Americans and
foreigners who haAre placed themselves under the care of the
American consul. Admiral Fletcher has reported that the
battleships are unable to accommodate all who are seeking
safety on the warships while the fighting continues. The trans
port left Galveston for Tampica this afternoon.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 15.—According to dispatches
received by the Huerta government from Tampico all
immediate danger of the besieged city falling into the hands
of the rebels has passed. The invading army was able to
force an entrance into the city and a desperate battle was
waged for hours in the down town districts. Success wavered
between the armies all afternoon but at sundoAvn the rebels
were put to utter rout by a successful maneuver by the federal
general. The dispatches state that 900 rebels were killed
during the attack.
During the engagement on Sunday forenoon before the
rebels had effected an entrance into the city proper and were
shelling the guns of the federals, misdirected shells began
dropping near the foreign quarter. Admiral Fletcher immedi
ately notified the federals that if they did not change the
position of their guns he would open fire from the gunboat
Wheeling on both of the Mexican batteries. The federals
claim that owing to time lost in changing positions the rebels
were able to force an entrance into the city which otherwise
they would not have been able to do.
The conflict waged in the heart of the city was desperate
in the extreme. Federal guns had been placed on the roofs
of the blocks where they commanded streets up which the
rebels must charge to attack the federal positions. Gatling
guns which had been brought downtown when the federals
were forced to retreat from the residential sections literally
mowed the rebels down by companies as they forced their way
through the streets. During the engagement fire broke out in
a resident section which had been captured by the rebels and
swept OArer seAreral blocks before burning itself out.
The rebel army has been withdrawn from the city and is
encamped a short distance outside of the limits but it is
believed that owing to the heavy loss sustained in yesterday’s
battles they will give up the attempt to capture the city.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—Admiral Fletcher has cabled
the war department that the rebels were unsuccessful in their
attempt to capture the city of Tampico on Sunday. Fierce
fighting waged for hours in the heart of the city and was ended
at the approach of darkness when the invading army with
drew. Several Americans and Germans who took part in the
engagements were killed hut the foreign quarter was not
molested. Both armies are resting today, hut it is understood
that the rebels are preparing to renew the attack on the city.
Americans who ventured into the city after the fighting had
ceased report seeing hundrds of bodies lying uncared for in
the streets.
EXPLORER HI POINT BARROW
OTTAWA, Dec. 10.—Deputy Minister of Naval Affairs
Desliarats has received a message from Explorer Steffansson
stating that he and his party are safe. While he and three
of the expedition were ashore hunting, the steamer Karluk
drifted away in an ice pack. The explorer wires that he
expects to be able to find the vessel in the spring and to again
board her and continue with his work. In the meantime he
and his companions are making themselves comfortable at
Point Barrow for the winter.
A wire was also received by the Daily Alaskan today from
Nome, stating that word had been sent there to the effect
that Steffansson and some of his party were safe and well at
Point Barrow. As nothing had been heard of the Karluk
since the middle of August it was generally believed that the
vessel had been crushed among the ice floes of the Arctic and
that the members of the expedition had been lost. The late
news brought from the north was very gratifying to the people
of the north. Many of the men in the expedition were
around 25 years of age, the average being 27, and their silence
and the report of their loss resulted in the fathers of several
of the young men organizing an expedition, that started to
the relief of the men who it was thought might be found on
the ice near the shore in the Arctic. This expedition was out
fitted a month ago and started from Kotzebue Sound, but
they have not yet had time to return to Nome.
A wire states that it was feared that Captain Louis Lane
and the members of his expedition on the power boat Polar
Bear had been lost in the north. At one time their position
was critical, but they were finally lifted on top of the ice floes,
where the boat now safely lies, while the men are comfortably
located with plenty of supplies on the nearby shore. Four
of the party mushed overland and arrived at Cordova on
Sunday. They will take the Northwestern tomorrow for the
outside.
_A_A_A_
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.—The real discussion on the
Alaska railroad bill will begin in the House next Wednesday
when the measure may possibly be acted upon. Delegate
Wickersham wished to offer a general discussion of the situ
ation in the territory but has been prevailed upon to confine
his remarks largely to the necessity of the extension of trans
portation facilities in Alaska as provided in the bill. He will
open the debate.
The friends of the territory are confident that the measure
will pass but anticipate opposition from the Senate. Several
of the senators have expressed themselves as strongly opposed
to government ownership of the roads. They would prefer
to guarantee bonds to a limited amount, believing that private
capital would thereby be induced to carry out the enterprise
of providing transportation of the people of Alaska. They
assert that it is important that the government should deal
with the coal situation as a means of providing tonnage for
the roads. i*;
The measure will have the undivided support of the
western members in the Horse. Congressmen from the
western states have been active in securing the support of
eastern members. President Wilson’s message strongly urged
appropriation and the bill will have the support of the old line
Democrats from all sections. Many Alaskans have gathered
in the city and are working among their friends for its sup
port. They believe that the country has at last recognized the
urgent necessity of doing something for the territory after
the many years of delay.
The measure now before the House is the bill known as
the Wickersham bill, but is not the original measure intro
duced in congress by him, and in the Senate by Senator Jones
of Washington. Senator Chamberlain also introduced a
measure which was practically the same as that of Senator
Jones. A committee was appointed to consider the bills and
found that in their essential details they were practically the
same. Each placed the responsibility for the selection of a
route into Alaska and the construction and operation of the
railroads with the President. The committee took the best
provisions of both measures and added certain suggestions
made by the secretary of war and reported the measure back
to the Senate with the recommndation that it pass.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—Senator Poindexter has not
yet been brought into line for the Alaska railroad bill endorsed
by the administration. He charges that the Chamberlain bill
reported favorably by the committee on territories, means
that the government shall construct a railroad in Alaska and
then turn it over to private parties to run under a lease at
profit. He characterizes the bill as piece meal legislation, and
implies that his own measure is the only proper method to
give relief to Alaska.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—That the Alaska railroad bill
is to have sfome opposition in the Houes is evident, but it is
not expected to be serious. Yesterday afternoon Scott Ferris
and James G. Davenport, both from Oklahoma, and members
of the committee on territories, filed a minority report. The
other 18 members of the committee are practically all com
mitted to the bill reported by Chairman Houston* In their
report opposing the measure that is about to be considered
by the House, the minority members declare in their report
that the bill “is without an economic leg upon which to stand
It is a dream beautiful to look upon, but unsound, and does
not square with any of our pledges to the people.”
OF E 10
One of the most encouraging signs for the permanency
of the Chisana as a placer camp was contained in a wire
from Seattle today, stating that the James interests had
been purchased. The men in the deal are old-time Alaskans,
who secured fortunes in both the Fairbanks and Iditarod
countries. They are Frank Manley, J. J. Price and E. J. Ives.
These men are practical miners and when they purchased the
13 claims held by W. E. James and his partners for half a
million dollars, it is an evidence of their faith in the value of
the property that counts for much. The deal was closed
yesterday. Ives went into the Chisana from the interior early
in the rush and went outside late in September. Frank
Manley and Mr. Price came up from the Iditarod this fall and
went as far as McCarthy, coming out and taking tlie steamer
at Cordova. From what they learned and from men that they
had previously sent into the country they talked enthusias
tically of the future of the new camp.
The James interests were owned by W. E. James, Matilda
Wales, W. A. Johnson and Nels P. Nelson. While the wire
did not state the particular claims purchased, former recorder
Judge Finnigan states that the claims of these people are the
Discovery on Bonanza, No. 1 below, Nos. 1, 5, 6 and 8 above,
and No. 5 fraction, all on Bonanza; Nos. 1 and 3 on Little
Eldorado; Discovery Gold Run; Discovery Glacier; Discovery
Caribou Pass; No. 1 Caribou Pass.
James and his partners made the first discovery in the
Chisana and cleaned up about $35,000 during the past season.
He then went back to Dawson where suit had been filed against
him and his wife, known as Matilda Wales, by He ^ Dubois
and Hugh Brady, both claiming a share in the runmUS claims
acquired in the Chisana, alleging that they had grubstaked
the James’. The matter was settled out of court and the
James couple then went to Seattle. But before leaving the
interior Fletcher T. Hamshaw had secured an option on their
property. He did not make the required payments and
negotiations were opened and soon closed by Frank Manley
for the property. / * '
It is expected that Mr. Ives will shortly return with
several thawers and a large quantity of supplies, prepared to
work the newly acquired ground on a large scale. Later in
the season both Mr. Manley and Mr. Price will go to the
diggings, in the expectation that they will uncover some very
rich pay. While Ives was in the Chisana he, James E. Hagin
and T. W. Jackson secured leases on No. 2 Glacier and five
claims on Big Eldorado and Wilson. It is expected that these
will now be worked in connection with the James property.
The wire received from Seattle states that the purchase
has given a great stimulus to the anticipated move to the
Chisana, and that many who were hesitating will now decide
to go to the new diggings.
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—Capt. Ellsworth P. Bertholf,
commandant of the revenue cutter service, has submitted his
yearly report to Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo. He
recommends that a supply depot be established in Alaska for
the revenue cutters. He also suggests that it be located at
Dutch Harbor, as a central and suitable location where the
cutters might receive needed supplies during the season when
they are patroling the North Pacific ocean and Bering Sea.
He rcommends that the Perry and other cutters now in the
Alaska service be replaced by large and moi’e suitable vessels.
News of a distressing accident whereby the three children
of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Law'ton of Katalla were drowned and
the parents narrowly escaped with their lives, was telephoned
over from the oil city this forenoon.
From the meagre information gained over the phone it
appears that Mr. and Mrs. Lawton and children, who live on a
homestead at Strawberry point, had been visiting friends in
Katalla. They had gone over in a canoe and it was while
returning home that the fatal accident happened. In some
manner the canoe was capsized and the three little children
were swept away before they could be grasped by their
parents. The children were all boys and were aged 5, 7 and 9
years.
The parents reached shore but suffered terrible hardship
from their submersion in the icy water. The body of the
7-year-old boy has been recovered and searching parties are
looking fox' the others in the hope that they have been washed
aslioi-e.
Mr. Lawton had been a l’esident of Katalla for some time
before taking up and occupying the homestead at Strawberry
Point. He is also interested in the oil and coal fields. They
have a comfortable home on the farm and were happy with
their family of three bright boys growing up around them. The
parents have many friends in this city who sympathize with
them in their great loss.
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CHRISTIANA, Dec. 13.—The Noble peace prize for 1912
has been awarded to Elihu Root, American. This is the second
time that the peace prize has been won by Americans, the
honor having been conferred on Theodore Roosevelt for 1906.
Other Americans who have won prizes during the 17 years
since the system was established, are Prof. Albert A. Michael
son, of the University of Chicago, for physics, and Dr. Alexis
Carrel of the Rockefeller University, New York, for Medicine.
The value of the prizes are on an average about $40,000 in
cash.