SECOND YEAR
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1012.
NO. 37
The Sudden Death
Of E. C. Hawkins
t i -
(From Cordova Daily Alaskan.)
“Mr. Hawkins passed away this morning. Interment at
Long Island. ’ ’
These few words received last evening hy the editor of the
Daily Alaskan told the story that today will sadden the hearts
of the thousands in Cordova and the Copper River country
who have loved and respected Erastus Corning Hawkins. The
message came from a grieved wife, who was in New York when
the end came to a devoted husband and father. Additional in
formation received this morning states that Mr. Hawkins had
recently undergone an operation at a hospital in New York and
that his death soon followed.
It scarcely seems possible that this rugged, sturdy and
courageous man, who has endured hardships and almost men
tal agony in the wilds of Alaska on so many different occa
sions, has been compelled to silently lay off the armor of life,
when surrounded by comforts and ease that he was so well en
titled to enjoy. It was last Fall when Mr. Hawkins took his
final adieu from the people of this section, and they turned out
in public meeting to give some expression of the kindly feeling
that was in the hearts of every man, woman and child who
knew him. His great work here had practically been complet
ed. He had builded the Copper River & Northwestern Rail
way and had turned it over to the operating department. He
spent several months in Seattle preparing reports and com
pleting routine details. In the meantime he declined the offer
of Mr. Morgan to go to China and take charge of large railway
construction there.
However, he remained in the employ of the Alaska Syndi
cate, and was summoned to New York in the early part of Feb
ruary, leaving on the evening of February 7. He came into the
Seattle office of the writer on that afternoon to say good-bye.
He was in the best of health, bright, cheerful, and expressed
great hope for the future of the Northland that he loved so well.
He went alone, but last month, when he became afflicted with
an ailment, his wife joined him in the eastern city. When an
operation was deemed necessary, he gave evidence of the same
fortitude that had stood him so well in many previous, but ma
terial experiences. But his last victory had been won. The
final summons had come, and few had greater right to exclaim,
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have
kept the faith.”
Mr. Hawkins had attained the age of about fifty years and
had reared a family of five children, two daughters, Misses Gil
berta and Clarissa, and three sons, Mason, Howard and Tad.
During the past summer the family spent several weeks in Cor
dova, and with the completion of the railroad Mr. Hawkins
hoped that in the future he might be so situated that he could
enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by his family. Vari
ous projects had been presented to him, but he was loth to
again accept any occupation that would separate him from
those to whom he was so devoted.
The White Pass & Yukon and the Copper River & North
western Railways are two monuments that will ever be pointed
to in Alaska as the achievements of a master mind. Those who
know the man who builded so well need not now read words to
impress them with the sincere affection and almost veneration
with which this most deservedly popular man who ever came
to this territory was regarded. In fact, the poverty of language
forbids the expression of the deep feeling and tender emotion
with which Mr. Hawkins was so .universally regarded.
-\J\J\J\J
Politics Are Wanning Up
VALDEZ, April 13.—Robert W. Jennings, the Democratic
nominee for delegate to Congress, opened his campaign in this
town last night. He had a large and enthusiastic meeting. In
his speech he paid particular reference to the Republican plat
form recently adopted by the party at Cordova. He pointed
out the glaring inconsistency of adopting a home rule plank,
in opposition to the views of Mr. Taft, and then endorsing the
administration of the President. He charged Mr. Shackleford
with being the friend of the big interests and charged the Re
publicans with putting themselves in a ridiculous position by
permitting Mr. Shackleford to again place his collar upon the
Republican party. Mr. Jennings made a strong presentation of
the policy of the Democratic party and made quite a few con
verts. It is considered that he has largely gained in strength.
Martin Harrais, the statesman from the Tanana, will address
a meeting on Saturday night, and his followers here will work
up a good sized audience.
John C. Chase, the leader of the Socialists, who recently
arrived from the states, has had two public meetings and will
go from here to Cordova. It is the intention of the Socialist
party to name a candidate for delegate to Congress.
The many friends of Judge Wickersham in this section
are beginning to get busy. They will renominate him. In their
minds there is absolutely no question but that he will again
run for Congress. He has notified his friends that he will abide
by their decision. And the decision is to have him in the run
ning at an early date. If he had not consented it was the in
tention to nominate Dan Sutherland, formerly United States
marshal in the First division, but more recently engaged in
mining in the Iditarod and Ruby City. From all indications this
will be the warmest political contest ever held in Alaska.
PETITION FOR REMOVAL
UNWORTHYOFFICIALS
At the recent mass meeting held
at Kennecott a positive declaration
was made against U. S. Commission
er Healy and Deputy Marshal Brown.
A petition was signed by 67 of the
workingmen, asking for the removal
of Healy and Brown. It set forth the
following:
To All Concerned:
It has been the inalienable right
of Americans, a right guaranteed un
der the Constitution and held invio
late and unabridged to the present
day, to protest against tyranny, mis
rule and corruption wherever and
whenever they appear. It has also
been an inalienable, unquestioned
right of all citizens to protest against
t..e continuance in power of unwor
thy public officials. The “recall,” a
measure “of the people, by the peo
ple and for ..ue people,” now obtain
ing in many states, places the power
of removal of unwortny officials
with the people, realizing that all of
ficials in a democracy are and ought
to be the servants of the people, and
directly answerable to them for >-cir
official acts.
For four long months, the citizens
of the Chitina precinct have protest
ed by all lawful, fair and open
methods against the continuance in
office of two notoriously unworthy
officials, U. S- Commissioner M. R.
Healy and U. S. Deputy Marshal J.
L. Brown. Protests against their
lawless, tyrannical, un-American
acts have gone unheeded, petitions
praying for their removal resulted in
a campaign of intimidation directed
against the signers. Believing that
the principles governing a free coun
try should apply to this section, and
also believing that the oppression,
arbitrary abuse of power by these
two officials is not only detrimental
to this section as a whole, but is
positively dangerous to the welfare
and well-being of hundreds of peace
able, law-abiding American citizens,
we again protest against the contin
uance in office of these officials, and
submit the facts in the case to the
judgment of the people of Alaska.
How greatly a measure such as
this is needed in the Chitina pre
cinct, a precinct cursed, blasted and
withered by the blight of certain vi
cious appointees to prositions of
trust and power is evidenced by the
following facts:
In regard to the present U. S.
commissioner, M. R. Healy:
He is an alien holding office un
der the American flag and sitting in
judgment upon American citizens.
(Report of Cordova Grand
Jury, Nov. 28, 1911.)
He has required excessive bail and
imposed excessive fines in direct
contravention to Amendment VIII.
of the Constitution.
(Cases before Commissioner’s
Court, Sept., 1911.)
He has denied the right of the
people to be secure in their persons,
etc., against unreasonable searches
and seizures, in direct contravention
to Amendment IV. of the Constitu
tion.
(Healy vs. Dr. Chas. Thom,
Dec., 1911.)
He has grossly insulted peaceable
American citizens, who have at
tempted to do business with the gov
ernment.
(Healy vs. John Amber, Jan.,
1912.)
He has made threats as to the
punishment he would mete out to
certain individuals in case they were
brought before him in his official
capacity
(Healy vs. Wm. Tibbs, Aug.
1911.)
He has grossly discriminated
against the working men, the back
bone of the community, in the col
lection of taxes.
(Poll tax records for 1911.)
He has endeavored to persecute,
intimidate and drive out of the cam
munity all who have signed petitions
against him or otherwise incurred his
ill-will.
(Healy vs. Signers of Peti
tion, Nov., 1911.)
He has possessed and does possess
an unenviable reputation; his name
has become a by-word and reproach
throughout this section.
(Unsavory incidents, Aug.,
1910, etc.)
In regard to the U. S. deputy mar
shal, J- L. Brown:
He has repeatedly endeavored to
intimidate citizens and has threaten
ed with arrest Individuals active in
the fight for decency.
He is weak, vacillating, totally in
competetnt and incapable and thor
oughly unfit to hold his present po
sition. It has been frequently said of
him, “ that he can neither speak nor
write the English language under
standing^."
His character and associates are a
disgrace to the community in which
he lives.
In the light of the foregoing evi
dence, can anyone doubt that these
men (Healy and Brown) are a men
ace as well as a detriment to this
section? Therefore, as law-abiding
Americans, representing the almost
unanimous sentiment of the inhabi
tants of the entire Chitlna valley, de
ploring the evil results of the con
tinuance in power of these officials,
we do hereby demand their removal.
SNOW SLIDE AT SL^TE CREEK
A tremendous snow jlide at Slate
Creek resulted in the death of Tom
C. Evans and O. W. Collins. They,
with two partners, were working on
a lay and w^re in good pay. Collins
and Evans were at the windlass with
the other two in the shaft. The
slide left 30 feet of snow over the
shaft, and when the men below dug
up through the snow to the surface
nothing could be seen of Evans or
Collins or of the five dogs, one of
which was found next day forty
miles from the scene of the accident.
The two survivors made their way
immediately to Copper Center to get
help in finding the bodies.
R. J. Barry received the following
telegram from Chitina:
“Congratulations, writh best wishes
for your success as Cordova s new
mayor and Chitina's friend. Signed:
Chester C. Hull, A. G. Morey, John
Palmer, John Gage, Tom Cloninger,
Wm. Tibbs, Henry Staufshort, O. A.
Nelson, Henry Gessner, Wm- Law
son, and Chitina generally."
Roland Healy, a brother of the U.
S. commissioner at Chitina, and who
made a record as a collector of poll
taxes last season, returned to Cor
dova today after a couple of months
outside.
Judge Blix, who spent the past few
months in Seattle, returned on the
Northwestern. He will go on to
Copper Center, where he was former
ly U. S. commissioner, postmaster,
merchant and hotel proprietor.
In speculating on the appointment
of a successor to the retiring Judge
of this, the Third judicial division,
of Alaska, the Valdez Prospector,
says:
“The position made vacant by the
elevation of Judge Cushman will un
doubtedly be filled immediately af
ter the Senate confirms his appoint
ment. Among the possibilities to
succeed Juage Cushman are George
R. Walker, present United States
district attorney for this judicial di
vision, who is an old classmate of
the President, and has ambitions to
wear the judicial ermine.
“The Hon. Cornelius D. Murane,
former district attorney for this di
vision, and now federal judge in
Nome, is known to have a strong
desire to fill the seat made vacant
by Cushman’s promotion. Judge Mu
rane has very strong Influences be
hind him and may land the plum.
On the other hand, Judge Overfleld
has never been quite satisfied with
the interior and would like to again
preside over the Valdez district.
Should one or the other judges be
sent here the vacancy will be filled
from either the Second or Fourth di
visions."
IMPROVEMENTS MAKING
AT BONANZA MINE
Kennecott, April 8.
Judging by the record of the past
week, April should prove a month
of accomplishment. The installation
of the new railway scales is progress
ing rapidly. This work for a time
seriously interfered with the loading
cf ore at the loading shed. To reme
dy this a temporary chute, connect
ing the ore bin with a new loading
platform, has been constructed and
the loading is going ahead at the old
pace
Excavation for the foundation of
an oil storage tank has commenced.
This tank will stand near the power
nouse and it is only the question of
a short time before oil will replac?
wood as fuel there.
A blacksmith shop is in process of
construction, adjoining the machine
shop, in which the blacksmith shop is
at present located. Its removal to
a separate structure will greatly in
crease the efficiency of the machine
shop by providing badly needed
space.
The sawmill and planer have been
running steadily since February 1.
and consequently a large amount of
lumber is on hand. A very great
deal is being used in the construc
tion of ore bins and buildings at the
mine, and a considerable quantity is
entering into the construction of the
concentrating plant.
The three bears which have been
hibernating in a cabin on the edge of
the glacier during the winter, enjoy
ed the first meal they had eaten for
several months last Thursday. A wild
dash for liberty on the part of one
of them required the undivided at
tention of Zoo Manager Charley Da
vid and his assistants for several ex
citing moments.
Considerable excitement prevailed
tnroughout the camp soon after the
arrival of the train late Friday even
ing. The blowing of whistles, ring
ing of gongs and discharge of fire
arms led a number to believe that
the camp was on fire. An investiga
tion, however, disclosed the fact that
tne terrific din was part of the pro
gram of the reception committee ap
pointed to welcome back to Kenne
cott Dr. and Mrs. Schrock and daugh
ter.
Considerable amusement has been
derived from an incident in Commis
sioner Heaty's career recently
Drought to light. Some time ago
Mr. Healy felt that a favorable ex
pression of opinion regarding him
from the largest mining camp in his
precinct would be helpful- He re
quested a gentleman residing nere
to secure such an expression of opin
ion. This gentleman, knowing an
endorsement of the commissioner
from Kennecott to be about as prac
tical as an attempt to secure the en
dorsement of slavery from Boston
prior to the Civil War would have
been, treated the request with scorn.
Now that Kennecott has made pub
lic its practically unanimous, decid
edly unfavorable expression of opin
ion concerning him, Commissioner
Healy must realize how extremely
ludicrous his former efforts were.
In these beautiful spring days, as
the call of the mountains and lure
of the trail is thinning the ranks of
those who have for some time made
Kennecott their home, those leaving
the camp; almost without exception,
leave with a feeling of regret. Locat
ed in an ideal spot, amid scenery un
equalled in Alaska, with up-to-date
equipment, excellent accommoda
tions for all employes, and with cour
teous, liberal-minded officials in
charge, the camp is a good place to
live in and work in, and is richly de
serving of the good-will now so gen
erally accorded it.
- 0—0—o
SPRINGFIELD, 111., April 8.—In
an address here Theodore Roosevelt
declared that in 1858 “Lincoln'
fought for practically the very issues
we now advance.”
Criminal Farce In
Collecting Road Tax
That the collection of the road tax in Alaska,,or at least in
one portion of the territory, is a farce and bordering on a gross
injustice to the laboring man who is compelled to bear this bur
den, is amply demonstrated in the practices of the Chitina pre
cinct. As is well understood, the tax collection in that precinct
has been carried on under the direction of the alien czar who
rules the affairs of Chitina with an iron hand. We refer to
1 nited States ( ommissioner M. R. Healy. The law provides
that the commissioner shall appoint an overseer, “who shall
collect all taxes and supervise all work, for which service he
shall receive not over $40 per year.”
For the year 1911 the commissioner appointed to the po
sition of overseer one of his apologists, F. M. Schaupp, a man
whom he completely dominates. Of course Mr. Schaupp could
not have afforded to take the position and comply with the
law. But through a mutaual arrangement the little matter of
law was waived aside, and both the overseer and commissioner
were made beneficiaries, at the expense of men who earned
their money by the sweat of their brow.
The records show that 125 men worked their $8 tax by la
boring on the roads, representing $1,000 in value. Then 264
men paid their tax in cash, making the net receipts of the pre
cinct $2,200. But of course Mr. Schaupp couldn’t be expected
to collect this sum from 264 men. So an arrangement was
made with W, S. McOune by which he was to deduct from the
wages of such employes of the railroad company that were in
dicated to him, the sum of $8 each. He collected $1,440 frojn
170 men, and tor this service he was allowed 5 per cent com
mission, or $72. This was a verv modest recompense.
But the collection of $760 from the other 94 men required
herculean efforts and a strong man. Again coming to the res?
cue of a government which lie thinks “a good thing,” the
thoughtful IT. S. commissioner decided that there was one man
in the world who could gather in those seven hundred and
sixty silver dollars. So lie sent for his alien brother, Roland
Healy, and directed his overseer to appoint Sir Roland as the
tax collector. This was done, but as the newcomer was not fa
miliar with conditions it was thought wise to have a body
guard, so George Y\. Wolf was designated to accompany the
new collector.
After a few months the work of extracting that $760 from
94 men who were endeavoring to help develop the country was
successfully performed. For the service Roland Healy receiv
ed $968 and Mr. Wolf received $168. As they had to do more
or less traveling, they also drew down $127.50 for railroad
fares. Roland was evidently too busy to attend to the book
keeping, and for that reason we find the familiar name of
Schaupp drawing down $.300. Xot the overseer, for he only is
charged with the legal $40. but C. Louise Schaupp, probably
the wife of the overseer. So we find that the successful task of
collecting that $760 cost a total of $1,551.50, divided as follows:
Roland Healy, $968; George W. Wolf, $168; C. Louise Schaupp,
$300; railroad fares, $127.50. And Mr. MeCune collected $1,
440 for $72.
But as to the roads: 125 men worked out $1,000, and $180
was paid in cash for labor. And to see that this work was
property done Harry Chamberlain was employed as foreman
and received $227 for services. Through some error, or misun
derstanding, the commissioner and overseer permitted over
$100 to remain unexpended. Possibly that was about the time
that petitions were circulated asking for the removal of the
commissioner. (>f course the great benefit to roads and trails
of Alaska, by reason of the collection of the 1911 taxes in the
Chitina precinct is apparent—with the aid of a microscope.
Here is a summary of the records:
125 men worked taxes on roads.$1,000.00
264 men paid tax in money. 2,200.00
389 men “caught” for taxes.$3,200.00
Expenditures—
Roland Healy, collector.$ 968.00
George W. Wolf, collector. 168.00
C. Louise Schaupp . 300.00
Railroad fares . 127.50
W. S. McCune, 5 per cent commission. 72.00
F. M. Schaupp, salary._. 40.00
v " '
Expense of collecting tax.$1,675.50
Harry Chamberlain, foreman . 227.00
For labor on roads. 180.00
Total expended ...$2,082.50
And L\ S. Commissioner Healy continues to hold office.
And Brother Roland, who left the country last December, re
turned this week to Chitina. And the people of the Chitina
precinct continue to be patient and law-abiding Americans.
Jack Ingram, of tne road commis
sion, left for Valdez on Friday's
train.
Robert McIntosh sent his freight
ing outfit to Valdez by the trail and
left himself on the last train. He
sold his barn to J. L. Brown- Mr.
iudntosh wa| deilghted with Chiti
na and expects to return soon un
less Valdez proves more attractive. I
Chitina is enjoying a very early
spring. The snow is practically all
gone, light frosts at night with
warm sunny days is making the
grass start and the buds swell.
POUND—Man’s Waltham watch.
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