Leader
One Dollar Per Month.
TANANA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1909.
Two Bits Per Copy
MONDAY’S
ELECTION
Vote Cast Dec. 13
Clerk—Arthur J. Campbell, 60: J.
Russell Walle, 5: Frank Smith, 3; John
C. Clinton. 1.
Treasurer—Charles Chanquist, 65:
George J. Miller, 2: C. A. Munro, 1;
James P. Mulligan, 1.
Director—Joseph Anicich, 54: Frank
C. Smith, 3: George J. Milier, 2: John
C. Clinton, 2: A. H. Williams, 1: H. L.
Hedrick, 1: George A. Carl, 1; James
P. Mulligan. 1: C. A. Munro, 1.
Total number of votes. 70.
ooo
Those who thought that a sec
ond election for a Tanana school
board would finally settle the
matter were doomed to disap
pointment. Just what the next
move will be cannot now be told,
but the trouble which was acute
immediately after the election of
October 30 may now be said to
have become chronic and the doc
tor who can cure it is yet to be
called in.
To get an intelligent status of
the case as it now stands, it is
necessary to briefly recall the
stages of its development.
An election was called for Oct
ober 30 for the selection of suc
cessors to members of the old
board, which was composed of
A. G. Vachon (clerk', Charles
Chanquist (treasurer) and G. H.
Tiffany (director). At that elec
tion J. Russell Walle was elected
clerk,George J. Miller treasurer,
and Frank C. Smith director.
Numerous persons declared the
election one sided because printed
ballots were placed at the polling
place bearing the names of the
persons who received almost the
total of the light vote cast, and
illegal because insufficient notice
had been given.
Notice was given calling for an
other election November 20, to
follow a public meeting called
for November 18. At the meet
ing it developed that Messrs.
Walle, Miller and Smith had
qualified; so the meeting ad
journed without accomplishing
vital result, and the election
went by default. Subsequently
Messrs. Walle, Miller and Smith
resigned and an election was
called for Monday, December 13.
This time it appears that numer
ous voters who had voted on Oct
ober 30 remained away, and
printed ballots bearing the names
of Messrs. Campbell, Chanquist
and Anicich were at the polls.
Now the other schism declares
the election unfair and illegal,
and allege that it cannot stand.
MR. WALLE’S VIEWS
Asked last night if he would
state his views regarding the
matter, J. Russell Walle unhesi
tatingly said be considered the
election of December 13 a farce
and of no effect whatever. He
said the judges of election were
not sworn in, but acted solely
upon their own responsibility and
their own initiative; that no re
turns have been made to the
proper persons to receive them;
that aliens were allowed to vote
without question in certain in
stances, and in others intending
voters were told that there was
but one ticket, and if they wanted
to vote they should vote the
printed slip.
Mr. Walle is in possession of
the books and papers of the
board and emphatically declares
he will not turn them over to the
clerk or any member of the board
claiming to be elected last Mon
day.
Asked bow he thought the
present tangle could be straight
(Contin'icd on pas? ♦.)
WORK OF AN ASSASSIN
At about 1 o’clock this morning Charles J. Smith was
called to the door of his residence and shot to death.
A few moments later Charles Cbanjuist, answering a
knock at the door of the Grand hotel, was shot several
times and may die.
Arthur G. Barney is in jail and is believed to be the
perpetrator of the bloody crimes.
The assassin went to Smith’s door and called him outr
side. Immediately afterward Mrs. Smith heard the shoot1
ing and ran to the door screaming. A man outside, the
murderer, ordered her to keep quiet, adding that he would
kill her if she made any further noise. The man left and
Smith was found lying dead on the ground. He had been
shot twice in the head, and death was probably instantane
ous. C. A. Brown, who lives on the premises, running out
and finding Smith dead, ran to inform the deputy marshal.
After killing Smith, it appears the murderer hurried
to the hotel, where Chanquist had just closed the barroom
door for the night. The shooting of Chanquist, like that
of Smith, was deliberate and cold-blooded, for the moment
the door was opened in response to the murderer’s knock
the shooting occurred, five shots being fired. Three took
effect, one in the arm and two in the head.
Mr. Chanquist was conveyed to the post hospital and
Deputy Marshal Donovan went to Barney’s room at the
Tanana hotel, where Barney was found in bed, asleep, or
feigning sleep. The deputy seized him firmly and Barney
said, * ‘Hello,- Cap, what do you want?”
Captain Donovan took Barney before Mr. Chanquist at
the hospital and the latter identified him as his assailant.
He knew Barney, and said he noticed he had a blackeye at
the time of the shooting.
MOTIVES FOR THE CRIMES
Some weeks ago Barney was a party to negotiations for
the purchase of the Yukon saloon from Smith. Barney
could not raise his part of the money and the deal fell
through. He has been “sore” at Smith ever since. Only
yesterday he went into the saloon and abused Smith, apply
ing vile epithets to him and continuing the tongue lashing
for a long time.
If he had any grudge against Chanquist it was not
generally known. He had been drinking and quarrelsome
for several days, and in a mixup with Tom O’Leary yester
day Barney was given a blackeye—which Chanquist at the
hospital declared he noticed at the time Barney shot him.
coroner’s jury
A coroner’s jury was summoned and met at Commis
sioner Gallaher’s office at 11 o’clock today. The jury was
composed of George Vautier, Theodore Deitrich, James P.
Mulligan, Joseph C. Dehn, H. L. Hedrick and Andrew G.
Vachon.
Judge Gallaher, in instructing the jury, said it was its
duty to get all the evidence obtainable tending to identify
the murderer of Charles J. Smith, and said they may ad:
journ from time to time and from day to day until a com
plete investigation of the crime is made, He also suggested
that after going to the Smith residence, viewing the re
mains and taking the evidence of Mrs. Smith, the jury ad
journ till 10 o’clock tomorrow, and then meet at A. B. hall.
When the jury arrived at the Smith residence W. A.
Strangman was sworn as stenographer and took down the
evidence of Mrs. Smith. She said that when some one
| knocked at the door her husband opened it and the first
■shot was fired at once. Smith then grappled with his
• assailant and the second shot was fired, out of doors. She
: could give but a vague description of the mnrderer, but
! believes she could recognize his voice. Barney will be taken
; before her later.
With the taking of Mrs. Smith’s evidence the jury ad
'jourued to meet at A. B. Hall tomorrow at 10 o’clock.
SALOONS ALL CLOSKD
At the suggestion of Deputy Marshal Donovan the
saloons are all closed today. The propriety of this step is
recognized by every one.
The crimes are so shockingly atrocious that—while
there is no danger of such a thing—every one doubtless
: feels that summary justice would be too good for the red
; hanned assassin who has thus stricken down two of his fel
low men without cause and without warning.
THE VICTIMS
Charles J. Smith leaves a widow and four small chil
dren, the youngest less than two months old. He is an old
; timer, carried the mail in the early days and was widely
! known, and had many friends. He was one of the com
paratively few men in this country who possessed a home
stead upon which he had lived for five years. It was on
this land that he met his untimely death.
Charles Chanquist is one of the staunchest and best
known business men of Tanana. Scarcely a man who has
ever spent even a few days in the town but who knows and
esteems him.
NATURE OF THE WOUNDS.
The shot that killed Smith passed through the base of
I the brain. Had it been an inch further back it would have
made but a slight scalp wound. A post mortem examina*
ition of the remains will be held this afternoon.
The shot which passed through Chanqui3t’s forearm
broke no bones. The most dangerous shot entered back of
j his right ear, passed through it, and ranging downward,
lodged in his neck, where it remains. Another wound near
the left ear i9 believed not to have entered the brain.
At 4 o’clock this afternoon Chanquist was resting easy
and it is believed he will recover.
WHO BARNEY IS
Barney is known all over the North as the “Muckluck
Kid.” He went to Dawson in ’97, and later was in the
saloon business at Nome. He came here from Sullivan
creek last spring and worked as waiter in the Golden North
and Kentucky restaurants. While at work he was most
attentive to his duties and was of a pleasing disposition.
—
Arrangements for the Funeral
The funeral of Charles J. Smith will probably be held
Sunday. It will be under the auspices of the Arctic Bro
jtherhood and is in charge of a committee composed of C.
A. Munro. J. Russell Walle and Fletcher Fulthorpe.
In Re. Application of Frank Fox
Referring to the matter of the application of Frank Fox for a
liquor license and what this paper said regarding t he same last
week, Commissioner Gallaher said that the statements made do an
injustice to Clerk of Court E. H. Mack, who is always prompt and
courteous in the discharge of his official duties. Soon after the ap
plication of Mr. Fox, it is explained, the clerk of the court notified
the cemmissioner by wire that Archdeacon Stuck had entered a
protest to the issuance of the license. The commissioner acquainted
Mr. Fox with the message, and it was then up to Mr. Fox to ap
pear before the court and defend his claim for a license. Judge
Gallaher points out that there was no further action devolving
upon the clerk of court, pending some move on the part of Mr.
Fox. Had Mr. Fox gone to Fairbanks when be was notified of
Archdeacon Stuck’s protest he would either have received a license
or, in case of refusal, would have had his money refunded.
All. of which is very true. Clerk Mack and all the other offi
cers and attaches of the court are affable gentlemen, and to say
that they are remiss in the performance of duty would be to make
a charge impossible to sustain and perhaps totally false. Yet it is
a fact—and a very important one to an applicant a long distance
from Fairbanks—that it would have been costly and perhaps un
certain in outcome to go before the court in person. If an appli
cant at Nulato, or Kaltag, or Ophir should be protested against by
some one non-resident at such place,, would the applicant be ex
pected to make the long, tiresome and expensive trip to Fairbanks
or else be denied a license?
Ray Will Sooil Issue Good Deeds
Fairbanks, Dec. 15.—With $515 advanced lor the purpose by
Alderman Dan Driscoll, Henry T. Kay, town trustee of Fairoanks,
made the final payment in the district clerk’s office last Wednesday
for the patenting of the 408 acres of land comprising the city of
Fairbanks, received the receiver’s final receipt for the amount, and
also a certificate of entry.
In other 'words, the last step before the issuance of the patent
by the general land office at Washington has been taken by the
town trustee. The $515, eventually, is to come from the property
owners. Mr. Ray did not care to take around a subscription list
just at this time, and was contemplating getting the money from
one of the bunks on his personal note.
The town is as good as bought now, only some transactions
must be made through "military channels,” as they say in the
army, and which in common parlance is called “red tape.” Mr.
Ray will be busy ere long issuing deeds. The plat made last fall
by L. S. Robe likely will be on file shortly, and the issuance of
deeds will follow receipt of the patent.
The natural procedure, had it been possible, would ,'have been
to apply to the city council for the sum needed for the payment.
Mr. Ray was discussing the matter with Alderman Driscoll, and
was told that the city had no funds with which to relieve the situa
tion. Being told Mr. Ray’s intentions, Mr. Driscoll volunteered
to advance the money.
GROSSED
THE DIVIDE
Fairbanks News-Miner, Dec. i:
The death of Robert English :it
Seattle from heart disease marks
the passing away of another one of
the sturdy pioneers of the North,
and the numerous friends in Fair
banks of “Bob,” as he was famili
arly known, recalled many an inci
dent in the eventful life of the old
sourdough.
English, who was 73 years of
age, lived in the North tor over a
score of years. From 1904 to 1907
he lived in Fairbanks, being in
business part of the time on Front
street with William Lloyd in a
building near where the Arcade
restaurant now stands.
He mined in the Kautishna conn
try with Lloyd and afterward on
Cleary, where he cleaned up in the
neighborhood of $15,000. In 1907
he went Outside and engaged in
business in Seattle.
English was one of the typical
sourdoughs of the Noith. Born in
New York of Irish parents, he came
to the upper Yukon country in
1886. lie mined in the Stewart,
Fortyruile and Circle districts,
building a store at Circle in 1394.
In 1899 he went to Nome during
the stampede to that camp and
built a hotel there which w’as the
first building to be erected in the
town. In 1904 he came to Fair
banks.
English w'as a man who would
be picked out in a number on ac
count of his tall physique. He
wore a long red beard.
OLD RAMPART RESIDENT
MARRIED IN FAIRBANKS
(Fairbanks Tribune, Nov. 30.)
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, at
the home of the bride on Garden
Island, Miss Tora Magnuson, of Fair
banks, and C. P. Kalning, of Rampart,
wsre joined in holy wedlock by Rev.
James H. Condit, only a few intimate
friends being present at the ceremony.
The wedding was simple and unosten
tatious and was followed by a merry
wedding supper in the evening.
Mr. Kalning is a mining man of
Rampart who has transferred his ac
tivities to this district, and the bride
has resided on the creeks in this vi
cinity. They will make their home on
Garden Island in the future.
6ARDEN AND FLOWER
SEEDS FOR DISTRIBUTION
The Leader has been notified that
Delegate Wickersham has at his dis
posal a liberal quota of flower and
vegetable seeds for distribution to the
people of Alaska. A liberal supply
will be mailed immediately upon re
quests for the same being received at
Washington.
WEEK’S WEATHER
Observations taken at Fort Gibbon
at 7 p. m. daily. M. U. Grissioger,
observer.
Max. Min.
Thursday, Dec. 9, snow —23.8 —38.2
Friday, Dec. 10, clear —29.8 —38.2
Saturday, Dec. 11, cloudy —34.5 —41.8
Sunday, Dec. 12, clear —16.8 —47.4
Monday, Dec. 13, cloudy — 0.5 — 2.5
Tuesday, Dec. 14, cloudy — 6.0 — 2.5
Wednesdav, Dec 15, cl’dy — 8.0 —11.7
POSTPONED
Owing to the terrible tragedy
of last night which resulted in
the death of Charles J. Smith
and the serious shooting of Char
les Chanquist, members of Camp
Gibbon No. 25, Arctic Brother
hood, the smoker programed for
next Saturday night, Dec. 18, has
been indefinitely |xj tponed.