Keep Your Friends In
formed by Sending Them
The Chitina Leader
V—— ——w*
Opening of Bering Coal
Means Smelters for
Cordova
-
FITH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1915.
NUMBER 57.
Ore Shipments From Copper River Valley Are Over $2,000,000 Each Month
SEATTLE, Nov. 19—The steamer
Alameda sailed from here Wednes
day night for Southwestern Alaska
with many passengers and an un
usually large cargo of freight. Among
those going to Cordova are Mrs.
James MacCormac and two children,
George Buchana and wife, Miss
Madeline Buchanan, John Pfeister, Jr.
and wife, Mrs. W. A. Taylor, Mrs.
L. Lorlng, Mrs. A. Nelson, Mrs. R.
Greenwood, Mrs. G. Moore, Miss
Annie Eagan, Peter Sherman, Ray
Emerson, Charles Kitsman, Price
Nettleton, John Hansen, B. Ohlsen,
J. McCord, W. Ahlmark, Ben Sam
son, A. Samson, R. Kvinge, Hans
Kjelle, Harry Strong, G. Carlson,
August Peterson, Harry Nelson and
John Nelson.
TO IKE FIGHT
OF COAL
Delegate Wickersham spent last
evening in town, on his return from a
trip to the westward. He visited
Anchorage, Seward and Valdez and
was favorably impressed with the gov
ernment railroad construction from
the former place. He will make a
fight at the coming session of Con
gress for an appropriation of $8,000,
000 with which to continue this work,
believing that it will ultimately prove
of great benefit to the entire territory.
“You may depend upon it that I will
exert every effort to have Secretary
of Interior Lane promulgate a leasing
bill that will be workable and accept
able alike to capital and the public
generally,” said Delegate Wicker
sham. "I realize that this fuel is
badly needed to develop the resources
of Alaska and I want to see it open
ed up and mined. Of course it is
going to require considerable money
to prepare the coal for market and for
that reason every reasonable induce
ment should be offered the men or
corporations who are willing to go
ahead and do this work. That the
whole matter will be satisfactorily
arranged, I have no doubt, and when
it is there will be a new era of pros
perity felt throughout the territory.”
PRESIDENT AFTER
REPUBLICAN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20. — Presi
dent Wilson today sent a request for
a conference to Senator Ballingtfr and
Representative Mann, the Republican
leaders in the Senate and House. Wil
son wishes to secure the support of
the Republicans for the administra
tion’s program of increased national
defense, and has said that he wishes
to make the question a non-partisan
one when the bills are introduced
next month.
:o:
SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 20. — The
body of Joseph Hillstrom, who was
executed at the state penitentiary
yesterday is to be sent to W. D.
Haywood at Chicago for burral. Hay
wood is the head of the Industrial
Workers of the World, of which or
ganlzation Hillstrom was a member,
and It is likely that the burial of
Hillstrom will bo made the occasion
-of a demonstration by the organiza
tion which he heads.
John R. Mogan, Sr., a well-known oldtiiner, committed
suicide this afternoon by deliberately throwing himself in front
of a switch engine on the Copper River & Northwestern rail
road. The deceased was about 55 years of age and until re
cently conducted the Pildriver roadhouse, on the Chitina
Fairbanks trail, which he leased to his nephew John R. Mogan,
Jr.
The unfortunate man came to Cordova, intending to go to
the states and a ticket for passage on the steamer Evans was
found on his person. Today he walked down to the depot and
from there to the trestle, a short distance beyond. There he
remained some thirty or forty minutes and W. E. Terril, a
Fairbanks freighter, and S. A. Fisher, who were standing at the
depot, saw Mogan jump in front of the engine, when it was
within a few feet of him.
Mogan was crushed undei he wheels and his body badly
mutilated. His skull was frat ured, both legs cut off at the
thigh and one of his arms brol .n. Coroner Medley was sum
moned and an inquest held, the following jurors being em
panelled': L. A. Baird, Carl Johnson, C. C. Dunlap, Knute
Peterson, John Larson and John Murphy. After examing a
number of witnesses the jury returned a verdict that Mogan
had committed suicide by jumping in front of a train.
SEATTLE, Nov. 18—Further evi
dence is being brought to light con
cerning the activities of the man
Krause, now under arrest for the ab
duction of William Christie. Krause
is supected of not only having mur
dered Christie but of also having
killed, Moe, Plunkett and C. F. Smith.
An examination made by Captain
Tennant of the Seattle detective bu
reau among the personal effects of
Krause discloses that the signature of
the accused is remarkably similar to
the hand writing of the man who killed
Smith, The Gastineau Channel cities
all seem to accept the theory that
Krause is the man behind several
mysterious disapperances which have
occurred in that region. There are
six other people missing in this sec
tion and it is now hoped that all of
these mysterious droppings from view
may be linked with the movements
of Krause. In Seattle Krause was
known by many people as Moe, and
had on various occasions imperson
ated him, for the purpose of obtaining
Moe’s mail. ■ Clerks in the postoffice
now recall the man as having asked
for mail under both names.
SEATTLE, Nov. 18—Krause, the
man arrested here charged with the
abduction of William Christie of
Douglas, and suspected of the murder
of Dr. Plunkett was given a prelim
inary hearing before U. S. Commis
sioner McClellan in this city yester
day and bound over by the judge to
the federal grand jury. Krause was
taken north on the Alameda sailing
last night.
SEATTLE, Nov. 18—Charles Tenn
ant, the chief of dectives in this city
said today that he was positive that
Krause the Petersburg kidnapper was
the party who murdered Captain J.
O. Plunkett of Juneau. The circum
stances surrounding the disappear
ance of Plunkett are so exactly simi
lar to those in the Christie case that
Tennant says no other conclusion can
be drawn. That Krause has killed
others besides Plunkett and Christie
is also the belief of Tennant, and he
says that circumstnaces point to at
least four murders that may be laid
at Krause’s door. Among others is
mentioned the killing of C. P. Smith.
I
JUNEAU, Nov. 19—It lias just leaked out here that At
torney L. P. Shackleford, who resigned as Republican National
Committeeman about a year ago when the leaders of the party
in Alaska protested against his holding that position, and by
a stratgetic move vested his law partner, W. S. Bayless, with
that power, is again seeking to get control of the organization
in this territory.
It is reported on good authority that Shackleford is dick
ering with the different divisions to secure the proxies of the
delegates elected to the Republican territorial convention
which is likely to he held at Seward early in the spring, in the
hope that he can name the delegates to the national convention
and thus make secure his re-election as national committee
man.
In order to bring about this result promises of re
ward are necessary, and one of the best plums to be plucked in
the event of the election of a Republican president next year is
the Governorship of Alaska. It is asserted that Shackleford
lias selected Ernest B. Collins, speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives, for this honor. Collins is a placer operator on Fox
ereek, in the Fairbanks district, and it is to him that Shackle
ford will look for the delivery of the votes from the Tanana val
ley at the territorial convention. Although claiming to be a
Republican he has been non-partisan in Alaska politics, but if
he can secure the proxies of his division, and Shackleford sue
ceeds in “putting one over” at the convention Collins may be
our next Governor.
Cordova Postmaster Resigns
Harry G. Steel , the Republican holdover postmaster at Cor
dova, tendered his resignation on November 8, the very day he
received notice from the Postoffice Department that the allow
ance for clerk hire had been reduced to such a minimuli that it
was impossible to conduct the office in a way that would be
satisfactory to himself or the public.
Upon the recommendation of Inspector Neil the Department
concluded' to curtil expenses, so far as the local office was con
cerned, and as a result no provision was made for tha pay of
some of the clerks, the services of the janitor were ordered dis*
pensed with and the clerk employed the year round was given
the choice of accepting $83.33 per month or quitting his job.
The extra clerk, who assists in sorting the interior mail was al
lowed a salary of $125 per month from October 1 to May 31.
The injustice of this order was keenly felt by the postmaster,
and he immediately notified the Postmaster General to name
his successor, as he no longer desired' to remain in the service
l i- ■■ ■ •— ■" --— -..i i i.—. ;■ iT.-i ■-■ i - ■ v
under the existing conditions. Thus far there has been no
change in the personnel of the staff at the postoffice, nor is
there likel yto be until a Democrat takes hold, as Mr. Steel will
continue to give the present satisfactory service with a capable,
experienced and loyal force of employes as long as lie holds
office.
Possibly it is just as well for the postmaster that he did re
sign, as there has since sprung up in Washington a demand that
the Democrats make a house cleaning of all Republican hold
overs under the present administration, which has been in
power three years and has not properly taken care of the “un
terrified.” The call is a general one, and includes six post
masters from Alaska. The reducing of clerk hire may be one
way of smoking them out, as there are many Democrats
throughout the territory who are anxious to get on the federal
payroll. Postmaster Steel says they are welcome to his position
am} the sooner he is relieved the better he will be pleased.
CHRISTIANIA, Norway, Nov. 20.—
Present labor conditions In Norway
are better than they have been in the
last five years. The national em
ployment offices in the capital, which
has branches throughout the coun
try, registers only 110 seekers for
employment for every 100 vacancies
A year ago there was an average of
209 applicants for the same number
of vacancies. Wages are higher chan
ever before.
-:o:
E. B. Frick, a well known miner of
, McCarthy, and Philip Perry, arrived
on a recent boat and may decide to
locate In Juneau.
AN ALL ALASKA ACT
BY FAIRBANKS BOYS
Oleiie Huckins and R R Bennett,
of Fairbanks, will appour oh the
vaudeville stages throughout the
country in an Alaskan sketch. Mr.
Huckins will take a full blooded mal
amute dog, a real beauty, with him
for use in the act.
This act will be booked over the
Class A circuits. It is fitting that
these two men, who worked on the
first survey of the government rail
road in the interior, and who mush
ed the trails of this country before
the railroad was thought of should
introduce to the theatre going public
on the outside an Alaskan act.
-:o:
The steamer Admiral Watson, of
the Alaska-Pacific Navigation com
pany’s Alaskan fleet, which was ram
med and sunk last summer, has
been successfully raised to the sur
face and is now being pumped out and
prepared to be taken to drydock.
Mil INJURED
MADISON, WIb., Nov. 20—A sec
tion ot the north bleachers on the
football field collapsed this afternoon
during the progress of the game be
ing played between the University of
Wisconsin and Minnesota. Thirty
five hundred spectators were dumped
to the ground when the stand gave
way. and three of them were seri
ously Injured. These three were
take into the hospital, while twelve
others who were but slightly injured
received first aid on the field and
were taken to their homes.
-:o:
Nitty Job printing at the Times,
ANCHORAGE TO TALK ABOUT
AGITATION TO DELEGATE
It is reported today on the streets
that the Anchorage Commercial Club
has a particular reason for wishing
a visit from Delegate Wickersham to
that town this time. In speaking
about the matter it is said that the
question of certain alleged affidavits
is to be discussed. This much is said
merely to “cover” the subject from
the newspaper point of view. Any
further notice of it would be ridicu
lous. We may expect some agitation
in Washington, however, this winter
and we shall be lucky if the agitators,
including one from Seward, don’t
queer the whole thing.—Gateway.
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lllamna Native In Trouble.
Michael Pete, a native, who was
bound over to the grand jury by U.
S. Commissioner at Iliamna, on the
charge larceny, is now in Valdez jail
where he will have to await the next
term of court.
PHIL MEYER ON WAY
TO ENLIST US SOLDIER
Word has arrived that Paul Meyer,
who recently started on his return to
Germany, from this place, has arrived
safely in New York City, on the first
part of his journey. After experi
encing many difflcultities in securing
a passport he finally went to Wash
ington, D. C„ where one was finally
secured. He started for Copenhagan
on the steamer Oscar IT on Thursday
Oct. 21, from which place he will take
passage to his home port. He wishes
to say good bye to his many friends
in this vicinity thru the columns of
this paper. After the war is over Mr.
Meyer expects to return to Cordova.
:o.
ON VISIT
FAIRBANKS, Nov. 17—Judge Bun-,
nell has adjourned the present term
of court until February 8. He will
leave next Sunday by auto for Chitina
and go from there to Cordova and
Valdez for a short visit, before pro
ceeding to California to attend the
Panama Exposition.
-- o --
KRAUSE ECHO
MURDER GAFT.
*>
JUNEAU, Nov. 17—Edward Krause
of Petersburg, who was arrested in
Seattle yesterday charged with the
kidnapping of William Christie, is
also under suspicion of having mur
dered Captain James O. Plunkett of
Juneau. The circumstances sur
rounding the disappearance of Chris
tie tally closely with the facts of the
Plunkett murder and the typewriting
on the faked letters explaining the
abscence of the missing men has been
subjected to examination by experts
and found to be from the same ma
chine. The authorities propose to
make a rigid investigtion and if evi
dence can be secured connecting
Krause with the killing of Plunkett
he will be indicted for the crime.
JUNEAU EMPIRE TO
JUNEAU, Nov. 17—The Juneau
Daily Fmpire is to have a new build
ing erected to house its rapidly grow
ing plant, and the structure will he
built for the paper by R M. Behrends.
The constantly increasing circulation
and advertising of the Empire has
made this step necessary and the
management is determined to make
the paper equal to the demands of
the present and future prosperity of
the capital. The paper is now entire
ly controlled by John W. Troy, its
editor and manager.
-:o:
NEW ENGINES FOR RAILROAD
BEEN SHIPPED FROM NEW YORK
Superintendent Corser has received
word that the two new engines for
use on the Copper River & Northwest
ern railway were shipped by rail front
New York on November 13. They
should reach Seattle the latter part or
tne month and be hero early in Dec
the new schedule of two trains a day
ember Shortly after their arrival
will go into effect between Cordova
and Chitina.
-:o:
Seward Postoffice Will Be Moved.
The railroad building at Seward is
to fitted up as a postofflee, our former
townsman, Ed. Whittemore, having
served notice on the department that
he wanted it to vacate the present
location, as he desired the building
for other purposes.
SEATTLE, Nov. 16—Edward Krau
se. of Petersburg, Alaska, was arrest
ed here last night as he was coming
down the gangplank of the Jefferson.
Krause was arrested on a warrt.nt Is
sued by the district court at Juneau,
Alaska, charging him with complicity
in the kidnapping of William Christie.
The case has attracted a great deal of
attention in southeastern Alaska,
where the parties concerned are well
known. Christie has been employed
as an amalgamator at the Treadwell
mine and has not been soon since
November 1. Krause is suspected to
have been concerned in the disap
pearance of Christie, ns he had been
an ardent admirer of .Mrs. f'mia
Oesekus whom Christie married two
months ago. and it is bcl'ered that
Krause did away with Cliri tie out of
jealousy. At the time o? the marri
age Krause was greatly incensed over
the affair, and remonstrated with Mrs.
Gesekus on the ground that she was
a German like himself and should not
be marrying a Scotchman. The mar
shal’s office at Juneau has been inves
gating the matter after being told of
Krause’s enmity to Christie by the
friends of the woman, and the arrest
last night is the result.
PUNKS WANTSRIGGS
STATIONED IN INTERIOR
FAIRBANKS. Nov. 16—The Com
mercial Club held a special meeting
recently and passed resolutions ask
ing Secretary Lane of the interior
department to keep Thomas Riggs as
the representative of the railroad en
gineering commission at this end of
the work. Some rumors had been
afloat that the transfer of Riggs to
some other part of the field was in
tended and the people tiave decided
to do all in their power to have him
retained here.
-:o:
Chairman W. C. Edes, of the Alas
ka Engineering Commission arrived
in Cordova this ■ afternoon on the
steamer Evans. He is on his way to
Washington to confer with Secretary
of Interior Lane as to the govern
ments plans for railroad construction
in Alaska next year, and he is very
optomistic in reference to securing
the needed appropriation for pushing
this work to completion.
“There will be great activity all
along the line next year,” said Chair
man Edes. “There is no reason to
believe that congress will not grant
the appropriation asked for by Secre
tary Lane for the work ($12,000,000)
which will insure immediate progress.
The zone of construction will extend
from Seward well up toward Broad
Pass. It is our intention to put the
Alaska Northern In shape for the use
of standard equipment. There will
be construction work along Turnagatn
arm and north from Matanuska.
“To insure the success of the com
mission’s efforts and also those of
Secretary Lane in behalP of Alaskan
development, the united support of
Alaskans is desired. Of course this
project has some enemies of the out
side. We knew this when we started,
but 'it is my opinion that efforts to
discredit it will not get very rar, pro
^ vided the secretary '3 given the prop
er support by those to whom the de
velopment of Alaska means most.”
-:o:
Whittlesey Transferred to Valdez.
t'nited States Assistant District At
, tornev Whittlesey has been transfer
red from Seward to Valdez, and the
] residents of the former place are up
in arms against the change, which
leaves them without a prosecuting
official, i ) <