THIRD YEAR.
CH1TIXA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1912.
NUMBER S.
OF I ■
SEWARD, Dec. 9—The little
steamer Dora, operated to the west
ward by the Alaska Steamship Com
pany, had been tied up at the dock
and when the storm on Saturday
morning at five o’clock was at its
height the lines broke and the vessel
was blown away from the dock.
The officers and crew were aboard
but the steam was low and the ves
sel was at the mercy of the elements.
However, she was soon blown shore
ward and was finally jammed np
against the beach with such force
that she has since been high and
dry, resisting all efforts to displace
her. For a time a heavy sea was
running and no assistance could be
rendered and it was feared Satur
day night that she would be broken
to pieces. However, she was not
much damaged and yesterday at high
tide, about noon, the steamer Mari
posa tried to pull her olT. At night
another effort was made and again
today. But combined efforts of the
steamer Mariposa and freighter Cor
dova proved unavailing, and the Dora
still remains firmly entrenched on
the beach near the town. Another
effort will be made tonight, on th.?
part of the Cordova. The steamer
Mariposa will sail at six o'clock tilts
evening for Valdez and will reach
Cordova early Tuesday v ft e-noon,
sailing late that night.
-o—o—o
VALDEZ, Dec. 9—During the
storm of Saturday night the launch
Lena, of Ellamar, was wrecked at the
entrance to Galena bay. Robert
Graham and A. F. Kramer, two old
timers of Ellamar were drowned.
Fred Lillegren was washed as ■'•re
and remained on Grass island for
eighteen hours. He was rescued yes
terday afternoon by Tommy, the Jap.
His feet were frozen and he was in a
weakened condition, but he will re
cover. The launch is a complete
wreck.
_tV_/V _**
Storm beaten and deserted, while
the heavy surf is gradually pounding
her to pieces, the steamer Oakland
lies a total wreck on the rocky Alas
ka coast, between Yakutat and the
mouth of the Alsek river. Her mas
ter and the members of her crew are.
safe at Yakutat after a harrowing ex
perience of many hours in a heavy
gale. They will be taken to Seattle
in all probability on the steamer
Yukon.
The cargo of the Oakland, 800
cases of canned salmon, was lost with
the vessel, which is rapidly being
broken up by the storms which have
raged along the Alaska coast.
The Oakland has been serving as
a cannery tender in the north for the
St. Ellas Packing Company. She
sailed from Seattle for Yakutat on
March 28 and was returning after her
summer's work In Alask waters when
she was driven ashore. She had
loaded her cargo of 8,000 cases of
canned salmon at Dry Bay and taking
it to Seattle. The vessel was former
ly owned by the Northwestern Steam
ship Company, w’hich was absorbed
by the Alaska Steamship Company.
She was operated for a time in the
coastwise lumber trade, between
Eureka and Puget Sound.
The Oakland rvas built at Marsh
field, Or., in 1905. She was 10.1 feet
lcng, 24.6 feet beam, and had a depth
of 7% feet. The vessel was equip
ped with a 120-horse power engine.
The Oakland went north in com
mand of Capt. G. W. Gustafson, who
lost his life on the Alsek river dur
ing the summer. He had gone out
in a small boat with a number of
friends on a hunting trip. The boat
capsized and Capt. Gustafson was
drowned. His friends reached shore
safely. The Oakland waB Capt.
Gustafson's first command. He had
been sailing as second and third offi
cer on vessels of the Alaska Steam
ship Co. and the Alaska Pacific Co.
Cordova, Dec. 5.
The steamer Northwestern was un
able to put into Katalla last evening,
as a heavy gale was blowing. She
had the mall and a few passengers
from here, which will be taken on to
Juneau and returned by the first
steamer coming westward for Katal
la. The Northwestern was to make
the unusual stop at Katalla in order
to take aboard the party of tbirty
men who have been employed by the
government for the past three
months. They examined some of the
coal properties in the Bering river
district and sacked about one thou
sand tons of coal which will be
brought out io tidewater during the
winter and shipped below for testing
purposes.
This expediton had considerable
difficulty in making a landing upon
their arrival at our neighboring
metropolis on September 6th. While
all the men were able to get ashore
much of their freight and equipment
was lost. A storm raged and one
baarge with its contents of seventy
tons was washed ashore and wrecked.
The expedition, which was in charge
of Mine Inspector Sumner Smith, se
cured food and other supplies at
Katalla and proceeded to the fields,
other tonnage being forwarded them
from Seattle. It is understood that
the men succeeded in working sever
al veins of coal that was of a superior
quality, and even beyond their ex
pectations.
The men of the expedition now ex
pect to get away from Katalla on the
steamer Yukon, which is due in two
or three days and makes regular
stops at that town. In all probabili
ty the storm will have subsided by
that time.
On Monday next Judge Overfield
will open a term of court at Juneau,
that may be disturbed if his Honor is
required to attend court at Valdez as
a witness in the famous banking
cases. Receiver Hawkins alleges
that certain actions of his were taken
and with the advice and consent of
Judge Overfield, who appointed him,
and the evidence of the Judge will
likely be required in the matter.
And in that event he may be required
to cut short his term of court.
One of the lmportont cases set for
this term of court at Juneau involves
the steamship companies running to
Southeastern Alaska. A couple of
weeks ago the supreme court of the
United States overruled the motion
to dimiss the government’s appeal in
the principle case of the “transporta
tion cases” in which several transpor
tation and coal companies and their
officers were accused of violating the
Sherman anti-trust law.
In this case, which was covered
by one of the six indictment*! t9tu>-n
ed by the federal grand jury last win
ter, the Pacific Coast Steamship Co.
and the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company and their officers were
charged with conspiracy to monopo
lize water transportation between
Seattle, Vancouver and Southeastern
Alaska.
Last April United States District
Judge Lyons dismissed the counts in
this indictment against the officers of
the corporations, but sustained one
count against the corporations. The
government appealed and the defend
ants sought to dismiss the appeal.
The trial on three idictments which
were not dismissed by Judge Lyons
will begin January 13 by agreement
between the attorneys. These indict
ments include charges that the Moore
Wharf Company and the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company and their
officers conspired to control the
wharfage business at Skagway, and
that there was discrimination against
the Humboldt Steamship Company in
the matter of wharf business there.
-o—o—o —-—
Alex. Park, who has been working
on the railroad for the past two years,
will sail on the Mariposa for Seattle,
tb spend a few weeks.
SNOW AVALANCHE KILLS NINE
Early Sunday morning a disastrous
snow slide occurrel at Copper Moun*
tain, about fifteen miles from
Strelna and on the property ot the
Great Northern Development Com
pany. It came with such force and
suddenness that the men who were
in the buildings belonging to the
Company were unable to make their
escape and as a consequence it now
seems probable that nine lives were
sacrificed, with two badly injured.
Details of the sad occurrance have
not been received The force at the
property had been cut down to about
thirty men, most of whom were in
the tunnels when the avalanche of
snow thundered down the mountain
side. The buildings were all com
pletey buried, and they included the
cook house, bunk house, engine
house, blacksmith shop, cache,
and several tents. The eleven men
who were in the buildings found it
impossible to make an escape and it
is altogether probable that nine of
them have been killed. The office
and several tents, occupied liy fore
man Arnold, assayer Cra-y and
others were located across the creek
and likely escaped.
As soon as possible after the slide
the force of men who had been em
ployed on other parts of the property
started in to dig out their unfortun
ate fellow workers. Before very long
they had secured the dead bodies of
John Barto, James McGavock and
Frank Wahl. Two others were re
covered and they continue to live,
although they were nearly exhusted.
John McCarthy was injured, but it is
not supposed that they will result
seriously. A Jap cook named Kee
had both legs broken. Of the six
men who are still buried under the
snow the names of two have not been
determined. The other four are
Axel Fast, LeoMuth, Hugh Arnold
and Tony, a Jap. Efforts are mak
ing to find these men, but little
hope ]s entertained that they will be
alive.
As soon as news could be sent out
the people of Strelna and Chitina
were informed of the sad catastrophe,
and many went to the rescue, carry
ing needed provisions and tents for
the men who were suddenly deprived
of food and shelter.
Reports today from Copper Moun
tain do not bring any very encourag
ing news with reference to the re
covery alive of any of the men who
are entombed by the great avalanche
of snow that swept down the moun
tain side about ten o’clock Suturday
morning. Yesterday the fourth body
was recovered, that of Budd Galla
RECOVERED ALIVE
Key Oda. Jap Cook.
\V. \V. McCarthy, Miner.
DEAD BODIES RECOVERED
John MeGavock, Engineer.
Fred Wahl, Cook.
John Rarkko, Miner.
Rudd (ial higher. Miner.
BODIES STILL IX SLIDE
Toney Suzuiuoto, Waiter.
Axel Fast, Engineer.
Leo Muth, Blacksmith.
Gus Anderson " helper
Hugh Arnold, Miner.
VVVVVVVVVVVV
Of the two recovered alive Kay
Oda had both legs broken above the
knee and was brought this afternoon
by Dr. Council to the Cordova hos
pital. It is expected that he will re
cover. The other, W. \V. McCarthy,
a miner, was only slightly bruised.
He is now at Strelna and is able to
walk about.
A force of about thirty men are
now working heroically in the effort
to recover the five 1 todies. There
is but little possibility that any may
still be alive. So soon as the catas
trophe was known on Sunday the
men who had been working at Ole
Berg's and A. B. lies’ camp went to
the rescue.
The eleven men who were caught
by the avalanche of snow were all
either in or about the bunk house,
boarding house, blacksmith shop or
engine room. They heard u thunder
ing noise and some started to run.
Key Oda and Mr. McCarty being
caught only by a flying part of the
compact snow. The others were not
so fortunate. The slide came from
the western side of the mountain.
During the years that work had been
pursued at the mine there had never
been any indication of such a possi
bility.
The slide on Dec. 12, 1911 came
from the east side and did not reach
the buildings that have just been
completely swept away. .It was the
office, assay office and the bunk house
on the other side of the creek that
was then affected, but they wore only
partially caught. This year coining
from the other side the office and
other buildings were enshrouded by
a dense mass of flying snow, but not
injured in any way. Foreman J. M.
Xagle and electrician W. K. Brown
were indoors at the time. Chas. N.
Orary and several of the men were
threemlles distant at the saw mill,
when the disaster happened.
The buildings caught by the slide
were completely obliteraed. Part ol
the bunk house was carried 150
yards distant. In searching for the
missing bodies the rescuers have no
idea of where they may be found.
Of the four recovered they were lo
cated at extreme parts of the slide.
\V. K. Brown brought Key Oda to
Chitina last evening and continued
on to Cordova on the train today.
^General Manager Gray recently
went outside and on to New York,
expecting to be back in Seattle about
tliis time. However, he is still in the
Fast and word of the disaster did not
reach him until today . It is not
known what his future plans will be,
but the probabilities are that he will
close down the mine for the winter,
as it will take several months to get
lumber and other supplies on the
ground and erect the necessary build
ings. A similar occurrence happened
nearly a year ago, when part of the
buildings were destroyed by a snow
slide, although fortunately no lives
were lost. Sii|>erintendent Nagle
and others having had narrow es
capes from getting caught in the
avalanche.
The property of the Great North*
ern Development Company at Cop
per Mountain has been worked for
eight years past and is the most ex
tensively developed copper mine in
Alaska. Over one million dollars
has been expended and nearly 5,000
feet of tunnels have been driven in
order to follow various veins and
open up the property in readiness for
extensive shipping. While most of
the ore is of a medium grade, it is
there in great quantities. Negotia
tions for the building of n spur of
fifteen miles to connect with the Cop
per River & Northwestern railroad
at Strelna, have been going on for
the past year and it is expected that
construction will be done next
Spring.
* - ■ ©—O *~1 o
GITS GUNDKRSOX.
Mr. Gunderson spent nearly four
teen years in this northland, first
going to Dawson, then to Nome, then
to Fairbanks and working the past
few years in the Copper river coun
try. He was with the railroad com
pany in various capacities until last
summer. He went to Copper Moun
tain to work for Mr. Gray on August
5th. He has a wife and three child
ren in Sweden and had arranged to
bring them to this country next
Spring.
NEW STEAMER SCHEDULE
TABLE OP DISTANCES
Summer Schedule
Miles
Seattle to Ketchikan .... 664
Ketchikan to Shaknn. ... 119
Shakan to Juneau.175
Juneau to Exc. Inlet.... 76
Junean to Excursion Inlet 76
Exc. Inlet to Yakutat... 190
Yakutat to Cordova.280
Cordova to Ft. Liscum... 72
Ft. Liscum to Valdez.... 2
Valdez to Ellamar. 24
Ellamar to La touche.... 66
Latouche to Seward. ... 62
Winter Schedule
y Seattle to Ketchikan.... 664
y Ketchikan to Juneau.... 282
y Juneau to Cordova.500
y Cordova to Valdez. 75
y Westward same as Summer
This morning general agent Tracy received a wire from
the Seattle office announcing a change in schedule of the steam
ers operated by the Alaska Steamship Company on the South
western Alaska route. Hereafter instead of four sailings per
month from Seattle there will be hut three, leaveing there on
the 10th, 20th and 30th of each month. On the return trip sail
ing south from Cordova the steamers will leave this port on
the 8th, 18th and 28th of each month. The steamers Mariposa
and Alameda will be continued on the run, operating via Ket
chikan, Juneau and the inside passage. At present, however,
the Alameda is undergoing repairs and will not likely he put
back on the ran until January 20th. The new schedule will be
effective on the 10th of this month, when the Northwestern will
sail from Seattle and leave Cordova on the 18th. The steamer
Mariposa, due here Friday morning will maintain her old
schedule until she reaches Seattle, and will sail south from Cor
dova on the 8th.
This afternoon Capt. Lathrop, the local agent for the
Alaska Coast Company, received a wire from the general
office stating that the sailing date from Seattle of the steamer
Yukon would be changed to the 17th of each month. Hereto
fore the sailing has been made on the 20th. The change will
be effective on the return trip of the Yukon, which will leave
Seattle December 17th.
OF
Last Tuesday evening the thermo
meter dropped to such an extent that
the old-timers began talking about
the winter of ninety-eight. By ten at
at night 16 below was registered.
Shortly afterwards the weather mod
erated and Wednesday and Thursday
rain fell taking away most of the
snow. Joe Brown says that he is
going to send for a dozen banana
trees so as to be in readiness for the
change of climate caused by the
change in the Japan Current.
On Sunday last, Mrs. Horace Leach
gave a very enoyable dinner party to
a number of homeless bachelors.
The hungry ones were treated to a
fine turkey dinner, after which sev
eral were heard to announce that as
soon as they could save the price of a
license and a month's rent, they
would surely go gunning for wives.
Among those present were. J. W.
Nickell, John Nelson, H. Brandt. L.
DeLeo. Jas. Hyland, and Thomas
Holland.
Mrs. Forester was the hostess at a
tig Thanksgiving Dinner given to a
number of her friends. Those pres
ent had a very enoyable time.
Harry Grennig has leased the
Chitina laundry and bath house from
John Rawson. Mr. Grennig has had
much experience in laundry work and
will doubtless make a success of his
new enterprise.
John Palmer, w ho for the past year
has been connected with T. W. Clon
inger in the Chitina Hotel, left on
Friday’s train for Cordova thence he
will go by boat to Los Angeles, where
he will spend the wunter. Mr. Pal
mer expects to return in the spring.
T. W. Clonin^er is now in full
charge of the Chitina Hotel having
purchased the interest of his former
partner Mr. John Palmer. Almost
everyone in Alaska knows and likes
Tom and it is expected that a full
measure of success will be his lot.
-r—o—o—o
The Overland Hotel has been re
cently remodeled and renovated and
under the efficient management of
Horace Leach, is becoming one of the
popular hostelries of the Copper
River country.
E. Mack and A. F. Herpick, busi
ness men of Fairbanks, passed
through town on their way to attend
the Barnette trial at Valdez, both
being summoned as witnesses.
Sam Godfrey brought out a sack of
gold dust from the Ruby district.
Mr. Godfrey has been in Alaska for
thirteen years and is on his way to
his old home in Salina, Kansas, to
visit his parents. He reports that
the Ruby district has produced about
two hundred thousand dollars this
year and is being extensively pros
pected this winter with good indica
tions for the future.
■-o—o—o
CHITINA HOTEL ARRIVALS
H. M. McDaniells, Chitina; J. F.
Bingham, Willow Creek; Jake Naf
stead, Tonsina Road House; Jas.
Clarkin, Nazina Road House; O. L.
Larson, Chitina; Chas. Isaacson, Chit
ina; Ned Hill. Cordova; L. S. Wicker
sham, Valdez Creek; J. S. Ballot
Fairbanks; J. G. Peterson and wife,
Fairbanks: Arthur Mauzey, Gulkana;
D. W. Walker and wife, McKinley
Lake; Frank Ryan, Kennicott; H.
Benson, Chitina; Miss Margaret Mar
tin, Fairbanks; B. Simpson, Fair
banks; G. T. Hunter, Fairbanks; Leo
Hansen, Fairrbanks; H. Benthien.
Chitina.
-o—o—o
LEO Ml’TH.
During the early days of Valdez
Mr. Muth resided there and for a
time engaged in blacksmithing, still
retaining a one-half interest in a
smithery there. He worked at Cop
per Mountain for nearly three years
past, but recently had been trying to
secure some one to take his place, as
he wished to take a vacation. He
was unmarried. A brother resides at
Spokane.
VALDEZ, Dec. 10—The prosecu
tion in the celebrated Fairbanks
bunking cases got a serious set-back
this afternoon. At 1:30 o'clock
Judge Lyons rendered a decision
tliat neither Capt. E. F. Barnett or
<*. S. Dusenherry were guilty of In
tent to defraud, on the idlctment re
turned against them. This Is con
sidered as a great victory for the de
fendants and many take it to mean
the fall of the prosecution. It I*
probable that the other trial may
start tomorrow. Thus far a great
legal battle ha^been waged with the
victory upon the part of the defend
ants.
-o—o — ■#
A wire was received tills afternoon
from Seward giving the election re
turns from Kenai precinct. For Sen
ator Ray received all the votes cast,
two-thirds of the vote not being cast
for any other Senatorial candidate.
Millard received but three votes and
Baldwin and Tansey none. This re
turn practically settles the Senatorial
contest, placing Ray in the winning
column, and with 71 votes ahead of
Baldwin, and only 7 below Millard.
With other precincts to the westward
to hear from it is probable that Ray
will finally prove the leader. The
totals for Senator now stands:
Millard. 848; Ray, S41; Baldwin,
770; Tansey. 489; German, 296;
O'Xeil, 2S0.
VOTE OF KEXAI.
Senators—Millard.3; Ray, 33;
German, 4; O’Neil, 4.
Representatives—Boyle, 3; Kelly,
32; Youngs. 4; Gray, 1; Stuart, 4;
McCallum, 4; Barry, 4; Hegner, 4;
Frame, 4; Oldham, 30.
The day following the recent elec
tion of members of the first Terri
torial Legislature the Dally Alaskan
announced the winners in the sever
al divisions, with the one exception
in this, the third division, where it
was at first thought that Millard and
Baldwin had been successful. It now
appears that Ray is almost certain of
election, and he may prove the leader
in the contest. The residences and
occupations -of the members of the
Legislature are given as follows;
Senators—H. T. Tripp, Juneau,
mining; J M. Tanner, hardware mer
chant; George E. Baldwin, Valdez,
mining engin-cr, or L. V. Ray. Sew
ard, lawyer; B. F. Millard, Valdez,
mining; Henry Roden, Iditarod, law
yer; D. A. Sutherland, Ruby, mining;
Elwood Bruner, Nome, lawyer; Con
rad Freeding, Nome, grocer.
Representatives—Charles E. Inger
soll, Ketchikan, lawyer and hotel
proprieor; Arthur G. Shoup, Sitka,
sawmill proprietor; William Stub
bins, Douglas, dry goods, etc.; N. J.
Svindseth, Wrangel, fisherman;
Thomas W. Gaffney, N-ome, miner; J.
C. Kenedy, Nome, miner; E. Grimm,
Nome, miner; R. D. Gray, Katalla,
wharf and commission business; E.
V. Boyle, Valdez, physician and drug
gist; H. B. Ingram, Valdez, wholesale
land retail cigar dealer; Milo Kelly,
Knik, miner; William Burns, Fair
banks. miner; Dan Driscoll, Fair
banks, hotel proprietor; C. Mulally,
Chena, miner; E. B. Collins, Fair
banks creek, miner.
-o-o-o
Pleasantly Located
E. E. Swergal, formerly chief clerk
I for General Manager E. C. Ha.vkins,
of the Copper River & Northwestern
railway, is now connected with the
passenger department of the South
ern Pacific railroad, with headquart
ers at San Francisco.
-o—o—o
Nine lives have undoubtedly been
offered as a sacrfice to the uncon
trollable elements of nature that
swept the west side of Copper Moun
tain on Sunday in an avalanche of
snow. Five bodies still lie embedded
in a morgue of ice. but heroic workers
are endeavoring to bring forth the re
mains.