Iditarod Pioneer
ONE DOLLAR per month IDITAROD. ALASKA, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 19, 1916 _25 cents per copy
TEH PORARY SECRETARY
A EiSTMSHEO SOLDIER
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 7.—President Wilson has
named general Hugh L. Scott, chief of the general
staff, as acting secretary of war to succeed Lindley M.
Garrison, for a period of thirty days.
Mr. Garrison has announced that he will retire ab
solutely rom politics and from public life. He re
fuses to discuss his resignation.
The President left on Friday last on boaid the
naval yacht Mayflower for a week-end cruise down
the Potomac. He expressed a desire to enjoy a few
days’ seclusion.
\y: h Reference to Armed Merchantmen
Secr?: iry Lansing states that he has received the
text of the note from Berlin anouncing the inten
tions of t're German government in regard to armed
merchantmen. He said he would discuss the note
with Pre ;dent Wilson upon his return from his yacht
cruise. Germany is understood to have agreed to
the suggestions of the American government with
reference to submarine warfare, as outlined in the
Lusitania note.
It is understood that the administration will deny
the right of belligerents to sink armed trading ships,
ir the note to be presented to Germany, and asks
how submarines are to determine whether or not a
craft is armed.
Germans Withheld News of Arabic Horror
Germ:' ry has been asked formally for an explana
tion, through Ambassador Bernstorff, of the sup
pression of the announcement of the sinking of the
Arabic on November 11. It is alleged that the in
formation was withheld by the Sayville wireless
censors.
Sweden Again Asks Our Co-operation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—Sweden again has
asked the co-operation of the United States and
other neutral countries in the preser\at:on of her
neutrality and the upholding of international law in
regard to commerce and navigation, which are now
being violated by Great Britain in the detention of
merchan1 ships.
A
RUSSIANS REJOICE AT LAST
PETROGRAD, Feb. 17.—The capture of Er
zerum, the great Turkish stronghold, has been offi
cially announced. The news has been received with
the greatest elation by the populace.
It is announced that the Turkish ambassador to
Persia hcs been captured by the Russians.
Convicting Reports of Operations in West
PARIS, Feb. 14.—Twelve attacks have been
. made by the Germans in the Champaigne district in
an effort to recapture the positions recently lost.
The assaults are reported to have been unsuccessful.
BERLIN, Feb. 14.—The war office announces the
capture of French positions in the Champaigne dis
trict, after heavy fighting.
Apology and indemnity for Dutch
THE HAGUE, Feb. 18.—The German govern-!
ment has notified the Dutch government that the
torpedoing of the steamship Artmens was a blunder
on the part of commander of the submarine ves
sel, and offr 'apology and indemnity.
Y. ws From British Capital
LONDON,"Feb. 17.—The final struggle for mas
tery in Albania has begun. The Austrians and Bui- i
garians have effected a junction of forces.
The Germans early in the week switched their of
fensive from Cahmpaigne to the Ypres district, and
smashed their way into the British front lines.
Eleven German schooners at Canary Islands ports
have been secretly armed and equipped to operate
as commerce raiders. The discovery was reported
by Captain Magune, master of an American schooner,
who delivered coal to the vessels,
has had interviews with the rulers of those nations.
It is believed that the recent increased activity
of the German fleet is due to the appointment of a
new commander-in-chief and the passing into service
of new vessels.
The government has decided to immediately take
over all distilleries, converting them into munitions
factories, and to prohibit the importation of bailey
for distilling. It is expected that efforts will be made
to pro'ong the life of parliament, which expires on
October 1 next.
Coip.rmation has been received from Athens of
the report that Bulgaria has made overtures for sep
arate peace to the entente powers. King Ferdinand
is vis bng the camps of Germany and Austria, and
Declines to Adopt Policy of Reprisai
LONDON, Feb. 18.—The house of commons has
voted against the adoption of a policy of reprisals
for German air raids. It is acknowledged that the
government made a mistake in its failure to adopt
^ A policy of airship construction years ago.
MOOSE AND FRIENDS
WILL DANCE AT FLAT ON
WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY
If weather conditions are at all j ropi- :
tiousr and it would appear that there
must be a change for the better soon .
the Washington’s birthday ball to be given '
by the Moose lodge at Flat City next Tues
day night should be one of the best at
tended entertainments of the winter sea
yon. Perhaps ther has never been a time
in the history of the camp when, popula
tion considered, the various entertain
ments have been so generally attended by
residents of all sections of the district.
Whether held at Flat or Iditarod, the at
tendance from both cities has always been
large. There is reason to believe that the
Washington’s birthday event will be no
exception to the rule. Indeed, from pres
ent indications it would appear that the j
cosy Moose hall will be crowded.
The Moose lodge has been exceptionally
successful with the entertainments given
under its auspices, and the entertainment
committee of the fraternal organization is j
known to be especially exerting itself for
the forthcoming event. The supper is ■
always a feature of Moose entertainments, |
as among its members are some of the
best chefs in the camp, and they take spe- j
cial pride in this enjoyable (x>rtion of the j
program.
a. -
TRY TO AROUSE INTEREST
IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES
The Republican primaries for the election
of delegates to the territorial convention,
which is to be held at Seward on April 19, i
are to take place on March 11. As yet but
little interest has been taken in the matter, j
but it is likely that the formality of electing j
delegates may be gone through with. The
Republican territorial committee has not yet
notified the local members of the g. o. p. j
as to the number of delegates to which this j
precinct is entitled.
♦-—
MAY HAVE BEEN CONNECTED
WITH FAMOUS ROBBERY
CHICAGO, Feb. 12. Three men and a
woman who are alleged to have been im- j
plicated in the blowing up of a vault in j
the office of the collector of customs a:
St. Paul last month were arrested heie to- I
day. Papers found in their possess’on s"g- j
pest that they may have been connected j
with the New Westminster, B. C., uank
robbery of a few years ago. in which an
enormous sum of money was made away
with.
CHARLESTON MAN ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF CHAMBER
WASHINGTON, Feb 12. R. 0. Rhett, j
ex-mayor of Charleston, has been elected
president of the United States Cham.be; of I
Commerce, which has just concluded its >
annual meeting here. The other officers
were re-elected.
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JUNEAU LAND OFFICE
IN HANDS OF NEW OFFICERS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18. Frank A.
Boyle and Clyde B. Walker have been ap
pointed receiver of public moneys and regs
ister respectively of the Juneau, Alaska,
land office.
-Q
BRYAN’S FORMER PARTNER
WANTS TO DEBATE WITH HIM
OMAHA, Feb. 15.— Richard L. Metcalf,
former partner of William J. Bryan, ex
presses a desire to arrange a series of six
debates with the ex-secretary of state on
the question of “preparedness."
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WHOLESALE DISMISSALS
FROM NAVAL ACADEMY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11. ' Eighty two
midshipmen have been dismissed from the
naval academy because of their failure lo ;
pass examinations.
TOURIST TRAVEL TO ALASKA
TO RECEIVE BIG BOOST
SEATTLE, Feb. 18.—The transcontinen- j
tal railroads are all urging tourist travel j
to Alaska in their advertisements for sum- j
nier travel.
_A___
FAMOUS BRITISH AVIATOR
REPORTED BADLY WOUNDED
HAZEEBROUCKE. France, Feb. 14.
Graham White, the famous British aviator,
has been gravely wounded, but no details j
are obtainable.
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UNUSUAL WEATHER IN EAST
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14.—The streets
of this city today resemble canals. They
are covered with a coating of ice an incn
thick. Thousands are skating on the
streets.
Traffic Impeded in New York
NEW YORK, Feb. 14.—Traffic is seri
ously impeded in this city by snow end
sleet. An army of men has been put to
work clearing the streets.
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PLEADS GUILTY
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12— Ensign
Kirkpatrick has pleaded guilty before a
court-martial to charges of negligence and
inefficiency in connection with the loss of
a code book.
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TIMES’ RED CROSS FUND
LONDON, Jan. 18.—The Times’ Red
Cross fund now exceeds $15,000,000, said
to be the largest fund ever collected by a
newspaper for any purpose.
FIERCE BLURB
King Boreas Rules and Iditaroders
Experience Most Severe Storm
of the Present Winter
As ii culmination to the most severe
winter ever known by the white residents
of this portion of Alaska (at least it is to
be hoped that it is the culmination) the !
worst biizzard ever experienced here
swooped down from the north on Thurs
day morning last, and acted as an effec
tire embargo on all traffic and almost all
business. Following a night of extreme
cold, during which the thermometer
recorded a temperature of nearly 50 de
grees below zero, the storm broke about
7 o’clock in the morning with all the
ferocity of the regular North Dakota arti
cle. Storm doors and windows were tested
to the utmost, and stove pipes and other
adjuncts of human habitations were either
tern from their proper places or badly
twisted. Signs of flimsy construction
were torn to ribbons, and banks of loose
snow were alternately piled on either side
of the street.
The only human being who was able
to wear anything approximating a -smile
wes the dealer in fuel, who saw visions of
a firm demand for his stock in trade at
going prices. No other article of com
merce seemed to be calling for immediate
delivery to customers, and merchants and j
citizens generally seemed to be devoting
most of their time and energy to replen
ishing stoves and endeavoring to keep their
goods, and incidentally themselves, from j
freezing.
So far as learned, no damage of any j
consequence was done by the storm. Tele- |
phone service to the creeks was interfered j
with, but repairs were quickly made.
The present winter is generally conceded
to have been the most severe ever known
here. Starting on Thanksgiving day, up |
to which period the weather had been ex- j
ceptionally mild, there have been com- I
paratively few days when the mercury
has indicated a higher temperature than
zero, and as low as 52 degrees below has
been recorded. The storm of January 4.
while showing probably a much greater !
wind velocity, was unaccompanied by the :
extreme cold which was a feature of last i
Thursday’s storm, when, with the zephyrs
at their worst, 20 degrees below zero was
indicated.
Old-timers here state that a severe blow |
from the north is extremely rare in this j
section of the territory; and it is a fact
that most of the prevailing winds are from
any other point of the compass than the |
north. T'or this reason there is little in
convenience connected with the ordinary
windstorm here.
The following is the week’s record of
temperatures, taken at 1 a. m. daily at |
the fire station .
Below !
Zero.
Feb. 12. 36
13 . 20.
14 . 30
15 . 40
16 . 33 I
17 . 48 i
IS. 10
-A
GERMAN AMBASSADOR
MAY BE NEXT ONE TO GO
_ |
WASHINGTON, Jail. IS. It is reported
from London that among the letters and
papers seized with ihe effects of Von Taper,, !
the German military attache recently re- }
called, were slips which showed that Am- [
bassador on Bernstorff had many times
placed large sums of money to the credit |
of the former at the Riggs National Bank, !
in Washington. The amounts were so 1
large that it would have been impossible i
for them to have been used for the legiti- j
mate expenses of a military attache.
It is rumored in diplomatic circles that :
the matter has been under investigation j
for several days, and that it may result in |
the recall or dismissal of the present rep- |
resentative of Germany.
ANARCHISTS IMPLICATED
IN ATTEMPTED POISONING
CHICAGO, Feb. 15. Search is being i
made for Jean Crones, former assistant
chef of a local club, who is accused of an
attempt to poison the guests at a banquet
recently. The belief spreads that an at
tempt is being made to prove that it was j
the result cf an anarchist plot.
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EX-SENATOR ON TRIAL
CHICAGO, Feb. 18.—Former United
States Senator Lorimer, accused of con
spiracy in connection with the LaSalle
Street Trust & Savings Bank failure, is on
trial here today.
O'
DISASTER IN BUTTE MINE
BUTTE, Feb. 15.—As a result of a fire
which started last night in the shaft of the
Pennsylvania mine, ten men are known to
be dead and a number of others are miss
ing.
-♦
PASSENGER STEAMER LOST
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.—Insurance brok
ers here have received information that a
large passenger steamship, supposed to be
the Orisso, has been lost in the North At
lantic.
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BIG SMOKE IN TROUBLE
LONDON, Feb. 10.—Jack Johnson, the
American negro pugilist, has been fined
for failing to give the required particu
lars when making application for an auto
license.
HOW RUBY AND FAIRBANKS
VIEW PROPOSAL TO CARRY
NOME MAIL VTA ID1TAROD
The talked-of routing of the Nome mail
via the Seward-Iditarod route, instead of
by way of Cordova and Fairbanks, as at
present, i.s receiving considerable attention
in the territorial press. If the statement
can be verified, which many think is un
questionable, that a week or more will be
saved over the present route, it is likely
that the demand for the change wi.l be
general.
The Ruby Record Citizen of January 20
quotes an article from the Seward Gateway
relative to the proposition, apparently with
a, prbval, and suggests that it shows a
way of "lifting the lid,” referring to the
unsatisfactory winter mail service which
has been imposed on Ruby this year.
If the statements of the Fairbanks Citi
zen be any criterion, the change will not
be unwelcome to the residents of the Fair
banks district. That newspaper, in its
issue of January 17, in speaking of the
investigation of the Seward-Iditarod route
with reference to tlie carrying'of the Nome
mail, says:
“Nothing concerning such plans i.s known
in Fairbanks, as far as can be learned, but
it is certain that such an action on the i
part of the postoffice department would
be pleasing to Fairbanksuns generally, for
the reason that it would permit of that j
much more mail being brought to Fair- j
banks from Chitiua. At the present time !
between 550 and 600 pounds of mail per
week gees to Nome through Fairbanks, !
being brought in over the trail by the 1
Northern Commercial Company stages. 1
And it is included in the 4,800 pounds per !
week which reaches this point. Therefore,
if the government decided to send tile j
Nome mail by Seward such action would j
have tin- effect of permitting that much i
more Fairbanks mail to be brought.”
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ROAD OFFICIALS LEAVE
FOR RUBY AND FAIRBANKS
Lieutenant J. C. Mehaffey, member of the
Alaska road commission, and Anton Eide,
superintendent of the road work in the Sew
ard district, who arrived in the city last
week, departed on Tuesday last for Ruby
and Fairbanks.
While here the officials made an investi- j
gation of road matters, familiarizing them- !
selves with what little had been aecom- !
plished in their line of work. Lieutenant j
Mehaffey was non-committal as to the plans i
of the commission with respect to this dis- !
trict, and confined himself entirely to his :
investgiations.
The president and secretary of the Idita
rod Commercial Club, Major Albrecht and
Percy Charles, waited upon the commis- !
sioner and discussed road matters with him,
pointing out the needs of the district and
giving information on the subject.
While the local men were not, of course,
given assurances as to future road work in
the district, they feel that the visit of the j
road commissioner cannot but have good j
results with respect to road plans in this dis- '
trict.
Lieutenant Mehaffey made an exceedingly
good impression upon the people of the dis
trict with whom he came in contact. He
is a young man of exceptional build, being
8 feet 3!4 inches in height and well propor
tioned. At one time he was military aide
to President Wilson, and stationed at the
White House.
NEW YORK’S FAVORITE SON
CRITICIZES ADMINISTRATION
NEW YORK, Feb. 17. Former Senator.
Ebhu Root, in an address delivered to the
Republican state convention here, severely
criticized President Wilson’s administra- |
tion, and especia’ly his foreign policies, j
He said that President Wilson was a man \
of brave words but irresolute acts.
Root is the favorite candidate of the
convention for the nomination for Presi !
dent.
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STANDARD OIL COMPANY
ENJOYED PROFITABLE YEAR
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16.- The an- j
nua! report to the stockholders of the |
Standard Oil Company shows that net j
profits of the concern for last year j
amounted to more than nine and a half i
millions of dollars.
-p
BUSiNESS DIFFICULTIES
CAUSE 01 STRANGE DUEL
.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 12. —Four men last I
night locked themselves in a hotel room !
and fought with knives. All are now in j
the hospital. Business difficulties were said
to have been the cause of the trouble.
Two of the men were dentists.
MINNESOTA’S TREASURER
ACCUSED OF FORGERY
ST. PAUL, Feb. 12.- Walter Smith,
state treasurer, has been indicted on three
counts, including forgery.
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PRICE OF PAPER TO ADVANCE
NEW YORK, Feb. 18.—Paper mills
throughout the country are running at ca
pacity, and prices are to be advanced.
--♦
AGAINST FREE WHEAT
OTTAWA, Feb. 18.—The Canadian gov
ernment has declared against the proposal
for free wheat imports.
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CITY ELECTION
Although the Iditarod city election is
but a few short weeks distant, there has
been as yet but little, if any, discussion of
aldermanic candidates. There are seven
councilmen to be elected, one of whom is
president of the body. The election is to
be held on April 4.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ! 7.—President Wilson prac
tically has won his fight for the ratification of the
Nicaraguan treaty by the senate. The most vigor
ous opponents of the treaty now predict its passage.
An argument that was urged to effect during the
consideration of the treaty was that Germany had
offered a larger sum to Nicaragua for the canal site
than had the United States.
Railroad Appropriation
The urgent deficiency bill, which was amended
in the house, has been concurred in by the senate.
It contains the appropriation of $2,000,000 for the
Alaksa government railroad.
Investigating Brandeis
Charles Meilen, former president of the New
Haven railroad, has been, asked to appear before the
senate committee which has in hand the matter of
the confirmation of Louis D. Brandeis as associate
justice of the supreme court. Boston lawyers v vho
appeared before the committee stated that Brandeis
was an able man, but unreliable.
G. W. Andrews, district attorney at Boston, testi
fied before the' committee today.
Declines to Furnish Complete Data
President Wilson has declined to comply fully
with the request of the senate for complete data
with reference to Mexican affairs, on the ground of
public interest. The statement is furnished, how
ever, that seventy-six Americans have been killed
in Mexico during the past three years.
Congressional Notes
Senator Tillman has introduced a resolution pro,
viding that the government, in case of threatened
war, may seize and operate privately-owned muni
tions plants.
The annual rivers and harbors appropriations
measures, as reported to the house, will contain pro,
visions for the expenditure of an aggregate amount
of $40,000,000 in various Alaska undertakings.
Numbers of banking and business Houses, report
ing on the federal reserve law, state that the first
year’s operations prove it to be a success, and sug
gest minor changes to congress.
Formal adoption of the Monroe doctrine has been
provided for in a resolution introduced in the house
or representatives.
A bill has passed the house adding $2,500,000
annually to the pensions of widows of soldiers of the
Phii'ppines and Indian wars.
•W
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. I 2.—A total of sixty-one
indictments have been returned against men impli
cated in the alleged German plot for shipment of
bombs and destruction of property.
Probable Results of Plots
NEW YORK, Eeb. 16.—The steamships Pacific
and Bolton Castle, lying at anchor in the harbor,
caught fire last night, and both were destroyed. The
origin of the fires is unknown, but an explosion was
heard. Many coolies are missing.
Fire was discovered aboard the steamship Van
Dyke, and she was compelled to put back to port.
American Club Building Destroyed
TORONTO, Feb. 16.—-The American Club build
ing, which has been the scene of several demonstra
tions in favor of the entente allies, was destroyed by
fire last night, which followed an explosion.
_____
MUNIFICENT GIFTS TO FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS, Feb. I 5.—A hospital train of thirty cars
has been presented to the government by two
wealthy merchants. In accepting the gift the under
secretary of state referred to numerous similar gifts
from Americans.
Relief for Germans from South America
BERLIN, Feb. 14.—Kaiser Wilhelm has received
a contribution of $100,000 from Germans in Chile
for the relief of families of soldiers killed in the war.
DISASTROUS EXPLOSION IN MEXICAN THEATER
MEXICO CITY, Feb. I 7.—Ten persons were killed
in the collapse of an opera house here, caused by an
explosion of gas. The entire business section of the
city was endangered by fire.
WILSON'S CANDIDACY FORMALLY ANNOUNCED
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.—In a letter to the secre
tary of state of Ohio, President Wilson has formally
consented to the use of his name in connection with
the Presidential nomination.
FOR BRITISH STRONGHOLD IN SOUTH PACIFIC
LONDON, Feb. 15.—Appolima, Samoan island,
recently seized from the Germans, will be fortified by
the British with the object of making it impregnable.