AN OLD-TIME STAMPEDE
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.^Lords’iurg. N. M., Feb. 27.—The fact
that a great diamond raining camp was
located in New Mexico nearly fifty
years ago lias been forgotten except by
a.few of the old frontiersmen and pio
—Beers who are still living and have a
personal recollection of the excitim;
events of that period. It was in the
spring of 1800 that two men were pros
pecting for gold in the Pyramid mount
ains, a few miles south of the present
town of Lordsourg. It was a region
which had been penetrated by but few
(White men. The two prospectors one
'day found a few glittering stones, which
bad the appearance of uncut diamonds.
— It was a long and tiresome journey to
..San Francisco from the Pyramid
mountains in those days, but the pros
pectors determined to learn whether
their surmise that the stones were dia
monds was correct before they contin
ued their operations. With the stones
carefully stowed away in their clothe?
they finally reached San Francisco.
One of the prospectors knew a
wealthy San Francisco man named
Thomas Ralston, and to him they
showed the stones and told their story.
That the stones were real diamond?
was proved by the tests that Ralston
•«had made of them.
~ A big expedition outfitted by Ralston
started for the scene of the discovery.
The news of the wonderful find leaked
out and following in the wake of the
original expedition came hundreds oi
excited gem hunters.
They flocked into the Pyramid
(mountains, and in a few weeks a town
of 3,000 people had sprung up near the
site of the original discovery. The
town was named Shakespeare. It was
4t typical mining camp of the early
days. It contained many saloons, gam
bling halls and four hotels.
It was such a thriving place that the
stage route between Silver City ai.a
Tucson was changed to run by way of
it in order to haudle the heavy traffic.
The stories of the riotous ways o!
-the restless and lawless element who
-infested Shakespeare in the heyday o:
its prosperity are full of thrilling! in
■yWAVW/WvWAVtWAV, •
\
I Enjoy the Best!
It’s like the good old sum- f
mertitne all the year ’round 5
within the hospitable doors €
Alaska’s Premier Inn ]
—THE— 5
rMANLEYj
:| HOTEL
Hot Springs
J E J. J. PRICE. PROP. S
;E ELECTRIC LIGHTS, STEAM HEAT j
II $1.00 's«.
E E THF TARIF ls supp||ed *t <» sea- >
«! *HULL sons with Fresh vise- I
J > tables frm the Fans aud Hothouses of the $
, * fanout Malay Hot Sprlogs; wo maoafactire 5
< E our an diary products, aod there’s always <
21 plenty of Fresh Milk for (ussls. {
;E TUC DATU? Are tho most alahorits J
2; ,nt UHMIOio the North — three 5
2 E mammoth teaks of over-fresh hot water. <
< I Warm stables for horses and dogs €
J > —plenty room, no crowding, and }
4 2 good feed. 5
cidents. Two of the most daring mem
bers of the criminal yang were Russian
Bill and Black Jerry. They ruled
things with such a high hand that one
night a vigilance committee took these
two men out and hung them to the
rafters of an old building which was
then occupied by a saloon and gambling
hall. This building is still standing in
a partial state of ruin.
No other diamonds than those which
were in the original lot that the pros
pectors took to San Franciseo were
ever found. Ralston is said to have
spent ltis whole fortune in having the
ground for miles around Shakespeare
thoroughly prospected, and when allot
his money was gone he committed sui
cide.
The town continued to flourish for a
few years. Some of the prospectors
made good strikes of gold and silver
ore in the mountains and the place had
some substantial basis for its existence.
Its downfall came when tlie Southern
Pacific railroad was built through
Lordsburg. Most of the people in
Shakespeare moved over to Lordsburg
and the old town quickly fell into a
state of ruin. Piles of adobe buildings,
some of them occupied by families of
Mexicans, are still to be seen in the
desolate spot.
Over on an adjacent mountain slope
the glaring sun falls upon the bare
graves of the men who came to their
death in Shakespeare. The inhabi
tants of this cemetery, many of them,
died with their boots on.
[The foregoing, taken from the
Denver News-Times, is one of several
versions of one of the most reraatkabie
mining excitements ever known in the
Southwest. According to accepted tra
dition the “find” was a well-planned
fake. It is said that $30,000 worth of
rough diamonds were shown to Ralston
by the “prospectors.” Ralston sent a
representative with the men, who dug
up $20,000 worth more, upon the show
ing of which he closed a deal for the
ground and paid a great price therefor.
A year later he had the ground ex
perted by a competent man. who said
the diamonds had not originated there
and declared it a clear case of “salt.”
The experience cost Ralston a large
sum—believed to be over $1,000,000 —
but lie was a very rich man tho way
riches were then reckoned, and other
losses were mainly responsible for the
failure that impelled him to walk into
the bay and drown himself.]
ALFRED POWELL
IN POST HOSPITAL
Alfred Powell, a pioneer miner,
was brought down from Rampart
and placed in the post hospital
Tuesday afternoon, seriously' ill
with stomach trouble. He had
been under the treatment ot Dr.
Hudgin for a month, but as be
failed to mend the doctor advised
him to go to the post where it was
possible to receive more careful
nursing. He was brought down
by Eugene Swan-on.
Powell first went to Rampart in
’97. He was located on Hunter
creek.
A. G. Frenzell and Morris Morrison
have left on a prospecting trip on the
waters of the Old Man. If they find
conditions favorable several others will
go over prepared to remain throughout
the summer.
J. M. Clarke, the sheet-metal man of
Hot Springs, after spending a few days
in Tanana, returned home Tuesday.
He is an adept in his liDe, and it is said
he thinks favorably of Tanana as a
business location.
Tatiana Restaurant
Under New Management
| ~BE8T"MEALS IN .THE CAMP~
SHORT ORDERS AT ALL HOURS
1 But at Everything on the Market Service Unexcelled in the Morth
Fresh and Delicious Bread, Pies and Pastries Always on Hand
HEADQUARTERS FOR TRAVELING PUBLICI
Pioneer »4ower Houses
Two First-Class Resorts
8tables for Horses and Dogs. Warm Bunkhouse -where
you can dry your clothing and sox.
Joe Anldch, Prop. Tanana, Alaska
SUBSCRIBERS TO
THE IRISH FUND
—
Editor Taiiana Leader: The com
mittee of tlie Irish Parliamentary
Fund desiies to thank you for the
favor done and the well chosen di •
play of St. Patrick’s dav issue. We
also extend our thanks to the citi
zens of Tatiana who contributed so
generously to the fund, and hope
that they, and all of this genera
lion, who have given their sym
pathy and support w'll see the tri
uinph and fruition of Ireland’s
long-defened hope for home rule,
and see Ireland personified in her
typical daughter — dark-haiied
Kathleen—shake from her stainless
hands the last vestige of her foiced
and hated servitude Setting aside
her heritage of woe, her fail lot in
radiant with victory, anim ited wi h
new hope, gracef ll in her hearing
prudent in her stepping, take the
place nature designed lie1 t<> hold —
in the proud sistetho d > f nations
—the hope of her maityrs being
fulfilled and their characteis vintli
cated—we will then look upon Ire
land and Iter people as we do on
other nations—as fiien Is in pear*
and enemies i- war. With u- re
spect to my sit eland, I may never
see its verdant shore, mv fortune i
cast with Alaska, my adopted conn
try, and the home of mv posterity
Hoping to justify my-elf .n-cordi g
as it is given me to know \i h at!
measures that are for her peima
netit good, learn to labor and P.
wait, by times to sing of p.is-i >
events and record the Sentiments
and aspirations of her people. To
accomplish this would be sufficient
forme A wise man 'its stii:
“Let me write the songs of a peo.
pie and I care not who writes liiti
laws.” John Kkhou
L'ST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Johu Riley. $1.00
Edward Kehoe . 1.00
Frank Kehoe. 1.00
Geo. F. Bemis. 1.00
G. H. Tiffany . 1.00
James Fredrickson . 1.00
George Vautier. 1.00
A. G. Vachon . 5.00
Jack Cavanaughs. 1.00
Mike Galvin. 1.00
J. A. Frederickson . 1.00
John J. O’Brien. 1.00
J. E. Nussbaum . 1.00
Ed Y. Lee.:.. 1.00
George S. Kaji. 1.00
J. Russell Walle. 2.00
Mrs. M. E. Cooper. 1.00
Tom Howell.. ... 1.00
W. A. Van Horne. 1.00
Mrs. H. Gilmore . 1.00
Jas. T. Hubbard. 2.00
J. Taylor. 5.00
W. B. Rodman. 5.00
P. Gallaher . 1.00
F. F. Murphy . 4.00
S. E. Heeter. 1.00
Frank O. Smith. 1.00
Jas. M. Walsh . 2.50
Rev. H. Ferron . 1.0.1
Theodore Deiderick. 1.00
John Kehoe.. 2.00
A. W. Williams. 1.00
John J. Donovan . 2.00
Oscar Lundine. 1.00
Total .$54.50
Now that everything is in 'ship
shape” about his premises. Geo. F,
Bemis’ new jewelry and optical
goods shop on Front street is one
of the neatest and most attractive
places in town
HOTEL ARRIVALS
black’s hotel
C. H Jones, Wm Bronck, Geo
Smith, Frank Snell, Thos. Midi
letti, H Schiro, Wm. McCurdy,
Hugh Ferry, G. Healey, T. John
son, Iditarod; Adolf Miller, M H.
Marston, Martin Slisco", Bob Hant
schtr, Fred Warther, A. F. Scliou
elzel, H. Watterlin, J Conway, A.
D. Field, Fairbanks; T. W. How
ell, J G. Crowley, city; C. S.
Grant, Grant’s Lauding.
GRAND HOTEL
J. M. Clarke, A. J. Faber, Hot
Springs; Harry Lathman.
KENTUCKY RESTAURANT
Dr. and Mrs. C. D. Carter, Sulli
van City; Jack Sipp. Hot Springs;
Jake and George Mutchler, Fred
Parker, Fred Carter, A. V. Thorns,
A. B. Ferguson, Iditarod; James
Taylor and wife, Sullivan City.
Baths — luxurious —Wednesdays and
Staui'davs—Williams’ new barber shop
LOST PROSPECTORS
MAY BE MURDERED
Fred Date, writing from a point 80
miles below Fort Yukon on the Yukon
river Feb. 3, calls the attention of the
marshal’s office at Fairbanks to the
disappearance and probable death of
two Chandlar prospectors, Joe Ger
aghty and D. D. Clark.
Geraghty and Clark left Caro the
latter part of February, 1909. to look
up some prospects on the Arctic slope.
100 or 150 miles north of Caro. They
had four dogs, two sleds, and were
“double tripping” it. This was the
last seen of them. They were supposed
to have gone north between the east
and middle forks of the Chandlar.
Last fall an Indian named Ned re
ported that, he had been told by an
Indian named Robert John that he
(Robert John) had found a new boat on
a rock on the east fork, where there is
some “bad water,” and that it might
have been Geraghty’s.
The fact that Geraghty had Robert
John arrested for theft (for which lie
served a jail sentence) and the fact
that Robert John found what was sup
posed to be Geraghty’s boat, together
with the bad reputation Robert John
bears among the Indians as well us the
whites, lias led people to believe that
Geraghty and Clark have met with
foul play.
Before leaving Caro Geraghty gave
Thomas Wright a power of attorney
to transact some business for him, say
ing that he would be back that fall.
The Indian named Ned told Wright
about t lie finding of tlie boat by Robert
John, and remarked that “.Maybe Rob
ert John kill Joe.”
WEEK’S WEATHER
Observations tul;eu at Fort Gibbon
at 7 p. tn. daily. M. U. Grissinger
observer.
Max. Min.
Thursday. March 17, cloudy 33.0 18.0
Friday, March 18, cloudy 29.0 —13.0
Saturday, March 19, cloudy 41.0 25.0
Sunday, March 20, cloudy 38.5 23.0
Monday, March 21. cloudy 34.2 11.2
Tuesday, March 22, clear 32.0 — 5.8
Wednesday, Mar. 23, cloudy 19.5 8.5
Barnes, the Juneau attorney charged
with sending obscene matter through
the mail, was convicted and sentenced
to six months.
MINSTREL SHOW
ALL TO THE GOOD
Those who failed to he present
at the Fmt Gibbon mil strels Satur
day evening last certainly mi-sed a
great treat It was pronounced by
many present the best ama'eur
minstrel performance ever wit
tressed either in Alaska or am
where else Both the j ikes, w hich
were all local i 1 cliaracte , and th~
cboruses were cettain’y above tin
usual standard an . reflects mud
credit upon Lieut McCnmmntt and
the o'hets associated with him it
he management of the minstrels.
he eni men, Me-srs. Tohi
A mis, M <■ ini.is sr.-d Davis, an
Interlocu'oi Doherty, kept tlieaudi
mice in a coatinttal uproar with
■heir jokes and ontics. In addition
'•i the above there were in the cir
-le Messrs Barnes. B >ler. Kinz-r,
Reid. Richardson and Pemberton
I'ht S' dos were carried bv McGin
nis, Dibetiy. Richardson, Tobin.
\nnis and Reid. The choruses
\ ere cate! van 1 g ive abundant evi
deuce of frequent and careful re
iieaisals Tlie li>t cliorus, “Mum
ba Jumbo Jij ji Boo J,’’ the mu-ir
■I w hich j t't ui lived in the last
inaiL carried the house by storm
One if the f.-atures of the circle
was the novel method of intrudin'
ing llamil'on’s song, wltich af
toid' d a pleasing diver-ion to the
l-ti ii custom
he circle presented a in st at
I active ppeaiauce Tile back
ti.lllld as well as tile seats \va
:raped in but ting. Tile entire
v-iioius wi It the exception of the
.-•id tn n iind interlocutoi wore
w iiite military • louses ami white
duck trousers with a green sttipe
down the -ids l'lte en 1 men were
attired in fancv costumes while the
lie iulf t lriu'or .• ho vas the only
one in the cir< le who bad not ie
sorted to tile use of burnt cork, was
attired in plain evening dress.
All the features of the olio,which
included solos, sketches, quartets
and the junior comedy, were well
received Deserving of special
mention were the solos hy Miss
Gilmore and the male quartet se
lections The junior comedy,
“Mama’s Darling Boys,” started
the audience in an uproar which
■lid not cease until the dropping of
he curtain All of the junior cast
lid wed and the hoys are deserv
ing of much credit.
The final comedy, “The Tanana
Sanitarium,’’ piesented hy Messrs.
•*ohiu, Aunisand McGinnis carried
he house by stoim, and proved a
most suitable climax to an excel
lent program.
The entire , troupe was enter
tained immediately following the
entertainment at an elaborate sup
per previoo'ly arranged by the
management at the post exchange,
where covers were laid for 23.
The minstrels entertained to a
ciowded house and the receipts
proved amply sufficient to cover
the expense and supper.
MINOR ITEMS
Paul Williams, the well-known na
tive hunter, returned last week from
his annual winter foray to tho head
waters of the Kuskokwim. He found
plenty of meat but little fur, having
secured but two marten. Spruce lion*
and rabbits are becoming numerous in
that region again, which Paul believes
betokens a return of the furred ani
mals, “for,” he says, "marten always
follow the spruce hens and lynx follow
the rabbits.”
| Harry E. Pratt, the “chip off the old
j block” who has been winning his spurs
j at the Fairbanks bar this winter, has
j been called to California on business.
I He will not remain away long.
; Joseph, a native, an old resident of
, Kokrines, died at that place last Mon
day. He left a widow, a daughter of
Nicolai, now of Tanana, formerly of
1 Iiampart.
Should terms of the
District Court be
held in Tanana?
The Tanana Chamber of Com
merce will give $20 in Cold to the
person submitting the best Ten
Reasons why this city is advan
tageously located for such sittinqs
GET BUSY,
PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAP
The contestants must submit
their reasons and arguments in
writing with the Secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce on or be
fore 6 o'clock, April 5,1910.
Aware to be determined by the
membership.