VOLUME xm. VALDEZ, ALASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1915 . NUMBER 311
SEATTLE IS PREPARING TO
CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE
PROHIBITION GOES INTO EFFECT AT MIDNIGHT, BUT PATRONS
IN CAFES WHEN CLOCK STRIKES‘TWELVE MAY CONTINUE TO
DANCE—THROWING OF CONFETTI AND POWDER PROHIBITED
_DANCING WILL BE PERMITTED IN CAFES AFTER PROHIBI
TION GOES INTO EFFECT BUT PROPRIETORS WONDER HOW
GIRLS ARE GOING TO LIVE WITHOUT CHECKS.
SEATTLE, Dec. 30.—The prohibi
tion law goes into effect at midnight
on December 31, leaving Seattle only
a few more hours in which to enjoy
herself in the manner to which she
has been accustomed since the first
tsabins were built on the shores of the
bay.
The newvorder of affairs is occupy
ing the entire attention of the city
and the newspapers are filled with
instruction? ]p to the manner in which
the advent of 1916 and prohibition
may be celebrate^.
Mayor Gill has approved of the
Cihief of Police’s instruction to his
men that confetti and talcum power
throwing will be prohibited and se
vere punishment meted out to offen
ders. Following the celebration last
New Year’s eve it was reported that
several persons had narrowly escaped
from losing their sight by intoxicat
COILS TIGH1ENING
AROUND KRAUSE
•T'*pt. Plunkett’s Gasboat Found An
chored In Bay Where Supposed
Murderer Owns Claims.
“Jim" Plunkett’s gasboat. the Lue,
sailed back into Gastineau channel
Sunday afternoon, minus its owner,
who is believed to have been mur
dered by Edward Krause, the launch
being in charge of Deputy United
States Marshal Walter Kildahl and D.
N. McDonaiu of Petersburg. It is an
chored at its told berth near the Un
ion dock, from whence it departed
early ih November on what probably
was Plunkett’s last cruise. The Lue
is the launA on which Krause is said
to have gone to his mining camp in
Duncan Canal, at the south entrance
of Wrangell Narrows, after which it
is alleged, Krause took the launch’s
.tow boat and reached Petersburg.
The missing Lue was found anchor
ed in front of Krause’s mining claim
>n a sheltered cove on December 13,
toy Gus Lenert and Walter Prederick
flon, two Petersburg men, who were
nut searching for the boat. Kildahl
.and others searched In the vicinity
yor a couple of days in an effort to
discover some trace of Plunkett .or
t his body, but were unsuccessful.
The Lue left Petersburg Saturday
night at 10:16 and after battling with
a heavy wind and sea across Taku
Inlet reached Juneau yesterday after
noon at 2:30 o’clock.
It will be remembered that the
Plunkett letter to the local customs
house supposedly forced by Krause
was mailed from Wrangell and that
Krause is said to have landed at Pe
tersburg in the tender of the Lue, ac
oording to Sing Lee, at whose place
he stayed before returning to Juneau.
Id The theory now advanced is that, the
* letter was given to some one who
was going to Wrangell, to mail for
him.—Juneau Empire.
(*
Robbers Scared Away.
The Nome Nugget of November 4
reports an attempt to blow up the
*af»7ln the Meilke barber shop, when
nltro-glycerine was poured through
the top of the safe. When the smell
of smoke from the explosion caused
an investigation was was found that
the door had been blown completely
open, but for some unknown reason
a considerable quantity of gold dust,
nuggets, jewelry and diamonds had
remained untouched. The articles
passed up by the robbers represented
a value of between $1000 and $1600.;
It is believed the robbers were scared
away fearing that the exploiosn
would attract the night marshal.
Subscribe for the Prospector.
ed men throwing lime in the faces
of pedestrians.
On New Year's eve the doors of the
cafes will close at midnight but pa
trons who are in the resorts and, have
ordered liquid'refreshments may con
tinue drinking. Cafes serving- li
quors will not be permitted to admit
guests after the clock has marked the
beginning of the New Year.
It is announced that dancing will
be permitted in the cafes after prohi
bition goes into effect but the propri
etors of the resorts do not anticipate
that they will be the success which
they have been in the past while li
quor was being served. Thev state
that most of the girls who frequent
the cafes where dancing is indulged
in derive a considerable portion of
their revenues from percentage checks
on drinks ordered by gentlemen
friends.
ROOSEVELT URGES
HUH. DEFENSE
Members of Sociological Society frit
cise his Statements Regarding
• .- \"'
Increased Armaments.
WASHINGTON D. C. Dec. 30.—
Colonel Roosevelt’s paper on national
preparedness, in which he justifies
the administration’s national de
fense program, was read before the
American Sociological Society here
last night, and is receiving liberal
comment in the editorial columns of
the morning newspapers.
Colonel Roosevelt declares that for
congress to fail to provide funds for
equipment for the defense of the nat
ion would be criminal and that it will
be time to talk about war being abol
ished when cities no longer require
the services of policemen.
Following the reading of Colonel
Roosevelt’s paper the members of the'
society criticised the arguments ad
vanced by the writer in favor of in
creasing the defenses of the nation.
It was contended that the fact that
Belgium had been invaded by the
German troops and that Poland had
been laid waste through war was not
sufficient reason why the American
people should burden themselves
with' the expense of maintaining a
large army and increased navy.
AMERICAN RAILROADS
ENJOYING PROSPERITY
CHICAGO, Dec. 30.—That pros
perity is returning to the United
States is indicated by the fact that
the earnings of the railroads in Ame< -
ica during the year just closing have
been more than one hundred and six
ty million dollars in excess of last
year.
The increased prosperity of the rail
roads has manifested itself by he vj
orders, being placed for rails, rolling
stock and other equipment and in the
increased number of men employed.
Ptarmigan in Town.
The heavy fall of snow during the
past few days has forced the ptar
migan down from the mountains and
only the storm prevents hunters from
securing good sport. One bird, which
had evidently lost its bearings, alight
ed between the Signal Corps office and
the Dougherty & Ferguson store this
morning, but it took its departure be
fore it could be shot by a camera.
Jack Evanfi, a pioneer miner of the
Fairbanks and Idttarod districts, was
a passenger -on the Northwestern last
night en route to the states and vis
ited with Valdez ■ friends while the.
steamer was in port.
HAVE IMPROVED
GERMAN SYSTEM
American Scientists will Establish
Nitric Acid Plant in South
Carolina on Large Scale.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.—A company
of New York capitalists is being or
ganized to engage in the manufacture
of acids which were formerly import
ted from Europe before the war. and
for which the manufacture of muni
tions has caused an enormous de
mand.
When the organization of the syn
dicate has been perfected it will es
tablish at some point in South Caro
lina a plant having a capacity for
producing four tons of nitric acid
daily. The acid will be manufactur
ed by a special process said to have
first been discovered by a German
scientist, and but recently improved
upon an American chemist. The ni
trates, among the most powerful ex
plosives known, will be manufact
ured from nitrogen, by passing a cur
rent of air over powerful arcs.
The process to be used in the
Carolina plant has been demonstrat
ed by scientists working in the in
terests of the New York capitalists to
be practical from an economic stand
point.
The German process of extracting
nitrates from the air has long been
known to American scientists for
years but the discovery was regarded
as of little value as the cost of the
acids was too high when brought into
competition with the byproducts of
the metal refineries. The improved
system devised by the American sci
entists is said to have overcome the
matter of cost and to have fendered
the process practical. '
FORD DELEGATES
Leader of Swedish Peace Society
Promises Support If America
Will Point the Way.
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 30.—The mem
bers of the Henry Ford American
peace expedition who has come-to Eu->
rope to work the miracle of calling
the soldiers of the warring nations
from the battlefields and bring peace
to Europe, were-banquetted last night
by the Swedish Peace society.
The president of the Swedish soci
ety, acting as toast master at the ban
quet referred to the members of the
expedition as "spiritual Vikings,” and
declared that he believed the mission
of the expedition would be fulfilled.
The Swedish peace workers would be
proud to render' assistance to end the
war if America will point the way.
The delegates have so far been un
able to agree upon any method of
opening their campaign for peace as
the governments of. the nations at
war have refused to recognize the ex
pedition or permit the members of the
party to enter their countries.
SONS BORN TO MEMBERS
OF THE COMMISSION
Sons' were born to two of the three
members of the Alaskan Engineering
commission on* Christmas day, the
fortunate fathers being Lieut. Fred
erick Mears at Anchorage, and Tom
Riggs, at Washington, D. C. Mrs.
MearB and her 11 pound boy are re
ported to be doing well.
The United states Marshal's office
received information today stating
thayQeorge Fraser, who had \>een ar
respd at Anchorage on the charge of
obtaining money under false pre
tenses, had been bound over to the
grand jury.
Father John S. Corbett, of the
Church of St. Xavier of thiB place,
was a passenger on the Northwestern
last night for Cordova, where he will
celebrate New Year’s day with the
members of his congregation.
MRS. DR. GREIL
IN WASHINGTON
Declines to Verify Report that Hub*
marine Hhelled Lifeboat* of
the Italian Liner.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 30.—Mrs.
Dr. Greil, the only American born
passenger who survived the sinking
of the Italian liner Ancona when the
steamer was torpedoed in the Medi
tesranean sea by an Austrian subma
rine, arrived in New York yesterday
and immediately came to Washington
in answer to requests from President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing.
Mrs. Greil, upon whose testimony
regarding the sinking of the liner
Secretary Lansing has based the pro
tests which the American government
has sent to the Austrian government,
has refused to verify the statement
made in Rome before Ambassador Ge
rard.
She has declined to corroborate
the statement said to have been sworn
to in Rome that the commander of the
Austrian submarine continued to
shell the liner while the passengers
and crew were trying to escape from
the doomed vessel into the lifeboats.
Mrs. Greil says she regrets making
any statement regarding the destruc
tion of the liner and declares that she
would have preferred to die with her
maid rather than be the means of in
volving the United States and Austria
in war.
The refusal of the American wom
an to corroborate her former affidav
its has placed Secretary Lansing in
an embarrassing position and it is be-'
lieved that diplomacy will be requir
ed to extricate the American govern
ment from the position which it has
assumed in dealing with Austria in
regard to submarine warfare. '
HOTEL DILLER.
WILL BE CLOSED
_
Hotel Company Prefers to Go Out of
Business than to Pay High Rents
Without Liquor Hales.
SEATTLE. Dec. 30.—It is announc
ed that the Diller Hotel, which was
established twenty-five years ago, and
which for years has been regarded
for headquarters for Alaskans in Se
attle, will close its doors owing to
the refusal of the' landlord to reduce
the rent.
In a statement issued this morning
Manager Munger states that the Dil
ler, which is operated by a company,
is being forced out fit business by the
refusal of the landlord to meet the
changed conditions which will ror.ult
from prohibition which goes ir.to ef
fect on New Year’s eve.
It is also reported that e number
of other hotel proprietors are pre
paring to surrender their leases un
less the landlords reduce the rents,
as the establishments catering <to the
workingmen will be particularly hard
hit when the sale of liquors is prohi
bited.
JUDGE BUNNELL COMING
ON THE ALAMEDA.
According to a message received
yesterday afternoon by Chas. Hand,
of the clerk of the court’s office, Judge
E. C. Bunnell will be a passenger on
the steamer Alameda scheduled to
sail from Seattle tonight for Valdez.
The message indicated that Jt'.dge
Bunnell had planned to remain in YgK
dez between boats, before continuing
his trip to the interior.
STEAMER RAVALLI TO
REPLACE THE'DELHI
The Pacific Cotmt Steamship com
pany has purchased-.the steamers Ra
valll from the Hammond Lumber Co.
and the Arelia from Trower Eros, of
San Francisci and- will operate the!
Ravalli in Southeastern Ahiiikan wa
ters, to replace the Delhi which was
wrecked last year.
CONSCRIPTION MEASURE
IS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
3
BRITISH CABINET DEADLOCK ENDED WHEN PREMIER ASQUITH
WAS FORCED TO KEEP PROMISE THAT MARRIED MEN WOULD
NOT BE SUBJECTED TO FORCED SERVICE IN ARMY—TURKS RE
PULSE AIR AND SEA ATTACK AGAINST DARDANE LLES AND
WING ONE AVIATOR—SUBMARINE GETS ANOTHER VICTIM IN
MEDITERRANEAN SEA—IRELAND EXEMPTED FROM SERVICE.
LONDON, Dec. 30.— A compromise
on the conscription measure has been
reached in the British cabinet and a
bill will be submitted to the House of
Commons which will require all un
married men of military age to offer
themselves for service if required by
the war. department.
The conscription measure partici
pated a fight in the cabinet which
threatened to cause Lloyd George and
others who are members of the Na
tionalist party to resign, as the Na
tionalists demanded that Premier As
quith keep his promise to the mar
ried men that they would not be sub
jected to forced service at the front.
Turks Repulse Air Attack.
CONSTANTINOPLE. Dec. 30.—A
sea and air attack made against the
Turkish positions at the Dardanelles
was repulsed by Turkish aviators and
the guns of the forts. One of the
three Allies' aeroplanes which took
part in the raid was winged and
brought to earth.
Submarines Get Liner.
ROME, Dec. 30.—Advices from
Port Said are to the effect that an ■
other steamer has been sunk by a
submarine flying the Austrian flag
The fate of the crew is unknown.
Ireland Be Exempted.
LONDON, Dec. 30.—It is under
stood in official circles here that when
the conscription measure comes np
in the British House of Commons that
it will be amended in order to ex
empt Ireland, but that a special cam
paign will be waged there by John
Redmond and other Irish leaders to
secure voluntary enlistments.
GREATER N. Y.
IS LARGEST CITY
European War Has Served to Reduce
Population of London and In
crease New York.
NEW YORK. Dec. 30.—Greater
New York is now the largest city in
the world, having stepped into first
■place through the effects which the
European war has had upon the pop
ulation of London.
Not only has the European war pre
vented the English city from gaining
its quota of new life by drawing from
all parts of the world but it has de
creased the population by hundreds
of thousands of young men who have
been sent to the battlefields.
The war had a directly opposite ef
fect upon New York as it has served
to increase the population by the es
tablishment of hundreds of factories
employed , in filling orders for cloth
ing, shoes, and other supplies for the
European nations.
New York city, including all bor
oughs, i on July 1, 1915, according to
the census bulletin had a population
of 5,333,537, making the estimated
population of Greater New York, in
cluding Westchester and New Jersey
suburbs, 7,500,000.
SUBSTITUTE HAS
REPLACED COTTON
Cellular Product of German Fores**
Found to Have Many Advan
tages Over Real Article.
BREMEN, Dec. 30. —German inge
nuity has found a way of surmount
ing the difficulty of providing a cel
lular product which would take the
place of cotton since the importations
of that article from foreign countries
has been cut off by the British block
ade. It is reported that the substi
tute has been found which is supe
rior to cotton in every way.
It is stated that the substitute for
cotton is found in abundance in the
forests of Germany and that it has
been used exclusively for the manu
facture of munitions for the past
eight months and that the supply is
practically inexhaustible.
WILLARD-FULTON FIGHT
BEEN DECLARED OFF.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30.--It Is
announced that the Willard-Fulton
contest for the championship of the
world has been declared off as the
principals have been unable to agree
as to the division of the receipts
It is understood that Tommy Burns,
who is managing the champion, re
fused to meet the demands of Ful
ton to share in the movie picture re
ceipts and closed negotiations for the
fight by declaring that Fulton should
first acquire a reputation. He be
lieves Jhat Fulton has not demon
strated his ability as a drawing card
for a championship fight.
Attorney Wants His Fee.
- -Kazis Krauczunas, who came north
Xrom Seattle to defend Edward
Krause, the suspected murderer, has
been denied the right /to take the
latter’s gasboat which Was found at
Ketchikan. When Kasla came north
on the same boat with Krause he had
a. bill of sale in his possession fbr
the gasboat and wheft at Ketchikan
tracked a notice on it, claiming it,
bat the. officers tore the , notice down. <
and .advised him that the boat Was
being held by the government. He
made another unsuccessful attempt
to get possesion of the launch on
his way back to Seattle.
STORM CLAIMS LIVES
OF TWO NEAR WRANGELL
WRANGELL: As a result of the
terrific storm that has blown here
since Thursday, Charles Yuccock, a
well known native is dead, grave fears
are entertained for the safety of his
companion, George Kelly,• and consid
erable damage Is reported from vari
ous fishing camps.
Yuccock and Kelly left Deep Bay
on Vank’s island, for Wrangoil, dur
ing the storm last Thursday. Their
boat was found Saturday a total
wreck, and with its cabin carried
away. Yuccock’s body was found
on the beach at Vank’s' island. The
body wyp. olad only hi underclothing
and a Hfe belt was strapped around
it. Yuccock had swam ashore and
died exposure, as he was lying
under a tree fifty feet from the water,
when foupd. Kelly’s fate is unknown.
Yuccock's body was brought here
yesterday.. He leaves a wife and sev
eral children. *
Fairbanks Wife Retaliates.
That the course of true love does
not always slide blissfully down a
greased skidway of life was-exempli
fied in Fairbanks during the past
Week. Is a daily paper appeared a
notice to the effect that be (hubby)
would not be responsible for any
debts coi^racted by his wife. On the
following day the repudiated wife the
qld man one better, and Cautioned the
confiding public pgalSst extending a
line of . credit to. him on her account,
stating very emphatically that she
would not pay his bins after that
date. And there you are.—Citizen.
-•££•
A fine display |( nugget jewelry at
Valdez Drug Co. tf