VOLUME XIV. VALDEZ. ALASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6. 1917 NUMBER 279
CITY HALIFAX IN RUINS
MUNITIONS SHIP EXPLODES HARBOR
PLEAD GUILTY
* aunsel for Defense Says < 'an Serve
Gennany Best by Stopping In
vestigation of .lets
SAX KitANCISCO, Dec. (!. Three
•imminent defendants charged with
nnspiring to foment a revolution in
India, pleaded guilty in court here to
day. The defendants in the alleged
■•reach of neutrality were l.ieuten
.!iit \\ ilhelm von Briuken. George
Itodiek. a former German consul in
Honolulu and 11. A. Schroeder. who
*ucceeded Consul Itodiek.
Consul Briuken said the interests
■ f Germany could best be served by
I he defendants pleading guilty and
•topping further exposures.
PACIFIC COAST HAS
ATLANTIC COAST "SKIN"
BALTIMORE. Md.. Dec. «. "The
Pacific Coast has the Atlantic ‘skiin'
>■ mile so far." Bear Admiral Francis
T. Bowles, in charge of the construc
tion of the emergency fleet, said in
,.n address here today in regard to
;he progress made in the building ot
merchantmen on both sides of the
♦
. ontiuent.
“The first of our steel vessels." he
tided, will be launched on Saturday—
not in Baltimore or Philadelphia, or
;.ny where else on the Atlantic coast,
nut. Seattle.”.
■ ■■ I ^ »
Religious leaders in Seattle to lake
Haud in Effort to Remove
Mayor Hiram Will
I
_
SEATTLE, Dec. 6.—A mass meet
lug has been called in all the leading
churches of Seattle for Sunday night,
to discuss ways and means of oust
ing Hiram Gill from office. The mayor
kas declined to remove Chief of Po-:
lice Beckingham from office, stating j
that he is entitled to know the evi
dence against him before taking any
action.
Means on Trial
CONCORD, N. H., Dec. 6.—The
trial of Gaston B. Means for the mur
der of Mrs. Maude King, the weal
thy New York and Chicago widow,
near here last August was resumed
today with the selection of jurymen,
which court officials hoped to com
plete the adjournment.
SEVENTEEN VESSELS TOLL
OF GERMAN l-BOATS
I
LONDON, Dec. ti.—Seventeen ves-,
sels were torpedoed during the week
winding December i>.
GERMAN SUBMARINE!*
ATTACK TRANSPORTS
A FRENCH PORT, Dec. 6.—The
latest American transports to reach
here had an exciting trip through the
submarine zones. The first night in the
zone two transports collided. One
was slightly damaged, while the oth
er had a small hole torn in her bow
and a few projecting guns damaged,
hut temporary repairs were made and
the 6hips proceeded.
The following night a submarine
attacked the tranports. The wake of
the torpedo was seen off the bow of
one of the vesselB, but no conning
tower or periscope was visible. The
transports raced ahead and succeed
ed in reaching port Bafely, where the
collision damage wae repaired.
T K:, |. is-on forced eonereti . .'i.M) feel loin; .ml of .1.1NNI tons cii|m<'!t.v, wluen .Mull .uaeiiomiiu is ■ mii till titi at
Kan Kruno!- The llamlley-l'aK''. tirent Itrliain's larg.'si ami most famous lioinliiin; airplane. .'I- Krotieli soldier
With his romi'lete equipment for the trenelies.
Two Enemy Machines Brought to
Earth and (Yews Captured—
No Mention of Damage
m __—
LONDON, Dec. ti. Twenty-five
airplanes raided the east coast of En
gland today, dropping bombs on sev
eral cities. Six of the raiding ma
chines reached London, and were
forced to retreat by allied scout ma
chines. Two of the enemy machines
were brot down by the air patrol and
the crews captured.
Seven Killed in Kaid
LONDON, Dec. ti. -Seven persons
were killed and 21 injured in today’s
air raid, according to a statement
made tilts afternoon in the House of
Commons. Three of the victims were
killed and ten injured in London.
BOOK NOW ON NEW
GOVERNMENT Bl'lLDIN'G
Contractor Charles Crawford fin
ished the roof on the new govern
ment building last evening and the
workmen will now be under shelter.
The windows and doors are being In
stalled today and the interior finish
ing will be rapidly completed. Mr.
Crawford has made record time on the
building, and it will soon be ready
for occupancy.
FREDERIC C. WALCOTT
Frederic C. Walcott, a New York
banker whoa* home la in Inglewood,
N. J., la one of the big bttalneaa man
who la devoting hia time and energy
to aaafet the food' ad min I at rad on.
MERAI. I*RESENTED IX)
PRESIDENT UY I'RENTH
WASHINGTON. I). l>ec. ti
Ambassador Jusseraud this afternoon
presented to President Wilson a
bronze medal from the people of
France to commemorate the entrance
of the United States into the war.
URGE AMOUNT
Informs Congress That l-’ive Million
Additional .Musi Im* liuised—
Bond Issues F.xtensjou
WASH I N'tiTON. D. Dec. •!.
Secretary McAdoo made his annual
report to Congress today. He inform
ed Congress that live billion dollars
must he provided in addition to the
funds raised from taxes. The Febru
ary bond issues were authorized to
run until June 30.
SUSPENDED 10 DAYS
-
Hermans and Austrians Conclude
Armistice with Russian Forces
—Itegin at Noun Friday
BERLIN. Dec. 6.—A suspension
of hostilities for ten days on the
whole Russian front has been ar
ranged by the commissioners of the
natious involved. The armstlce will
commence at noon tomorrow the war
office has announced.
GERMAN REFORM
HI Eli IS “DOFTORHD"
THE HAGUE. Netherlands. Dec. G.
—The Prussian minister of the In
terior, Dr. Drews, is reported by the
Berlin Vorwaerts to have resigned
because his bill for Prussian political
rforms was altered in its chief points
to such an extent that he declined to
sponsor it.
The Rebekah Lodge will hold its
Regular business meeting in Odd Fel
low Hall tonight.
The Moose Band will: practice to
morrow night.
The Order ol Alaska Moose will
hold a business meeting tonight.
Senate May Also Include Turkey and
Itulgaria—Sentiment Strong;
For Clean Sweep
WASHINGTON. U. (’.. Dec. tl.
Indications today are that the Senate
will insist that a declaration of war
-gainst Austria include Bulgaria and
Turkey. Sentiment among congress
men and senators is to the effect that
this country must make u declaration
of its intentions to all nations assist
ing the central powers.
Vote Taken Tomorrow
WASHINGTON, D. Dec. ti.
The House voted unanimously to
take up the Austrian war declaration
tomorrow.
BRITISH KNCIRCLK CITY
OF BIBLICAL HISTORY
LONDON, Dec. 6.—Official dis
patches state that the British have
encircled Jerusalem and are now in
a position to enter the city.
Joe Hed8trom was a passenger for
the States on the steamship Victoria.
MAJ. C. S. RIDLEY
Maj. C. S. Ridley, who has been ap
pointed by the president as engineer
officer In charge of public buildings and
grounds In Washington, and military
•Id to the president Major Ridley Is
the youngest officer ever chosen to
serve In this capacity, being, only thir
ty-four years old and but 12 years out
of West Point. He will be responsible
for the expenditure of millions of dol
lars in public buildings and park Im
provements.
STORM DRIVES
VESSELSTOGEIHER
I <'oiicu>si<>n Kill'- Hundreds and In
] juries Thousands of IVrsons—
Pars Thrown from Trark
i _
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Dec k
I Several hundred persons were kill' d
| and thousand.' w. re wounded when
ja munitions -nip at anchor in the har
; hor today exploded, during a tierce
j gale of wind. Half the city is in ruins
: and the wounded are tilling every
' iiuiiding left standing. So terrilic was
: the blast that freight cars on sidings
i'wo mill s away were picked up and
1 tossed about like chips, and the in
I nutation of every telegraph ilistru
, int'tit within a distance of thirty miles
: was ruined and the instruments ten
j tiered useless.
The explosion occurred when it Am
: ericaii ammunition ship which hud
| been lying at anchor in the bay near
| Rockingham, preparatory to sailing
: for Europe, collided with another
| vessel which dragged her anchor and
t drifted down upon her in the midst
i>f a tierce gale which swept in from
j the Atlantic ocean. When the two ves
sels came together, according to eye
witnesses there was a tremendous ex
plosion. which instantly dstroyed the
vessels and their crews, not a trace
being left. Every iiuiiding on the wat
er front was overthrown, and the roar
of falling houses and (lie screams of
i the injured could tie heard above the
j howling of the winter gale.
Relief was sent front Amherst and
j Dartmouth to the stricken city, and
j thousands of wounded tire being con
j veyed to other towns where they can
j receive medical attention. All husi
j ness is at a standstill in the province
! and all available men are being used
1 in search the ruins for dead and
. Willi tided before the extremely cold
I weather proves fatal to those fasfen
j ed in the .wreckage.
When the crew of the munitions
j vessel saw they were about to be rant
1 tiled by tin* approaching vessel many
| of then) leaped overboard, but the ex
j pldsion threw a tidal wave twenty
feet high across the bay drowning
many unconscious men who were
I hurled into the water by the shock.
I _
Vessel leaded With Explosives
AMHERST. Dec. 8.—The vessel
which caused the catastrophe in Hali
fax harbor had taken on a vast cargo
of powder, shells, caps and other mu
nitions. and was waiting for the gale
to abate before setting out on her
long trip across the Atlantic. Her
crew was aboard and all were killed to
a man. Not a trace is to be seen of
the two ships both of which were
over 5000 tons.
C
Dead Will Iteach I OOP
MONTREAL, Dec. 6.—Unconfirm
ed reports of the number killed at
Halifax now reach one thousand. Doc
tors and nurses are leaving this city
for the scone of the distaster.
City Calls for Aid
AMHERST, N. S., Dec. 6.—Hali
fax is calling on other Dominion cities
for aid. and many doctors, nurses and
much food must be dispatched.
—
Transports in Harbor
ST. JOHNS, N. S„ Dec. 6—Sev
eral transports known to have been
in the harbor at the time of the ex
plosion at Halifax this morning can
not be found.
Waterfront Cleaned t'p
AMHERST, Dec. 6.—The whole
waterfront along the city of Hali
fax was swept clean of shipping by
the explosion this morning. Hundreds
of fishing vessels were literally
blown out of the water and their
crews killed.
Man# Rascaew Working
AMHERST, Dec. 8.—Large part
i' s of rescuers are exploring the
ruins along the waterfront ami doz
ens of persons have been taken from
the debris alive. The number of dead
is swelling rapidly and may reach
-.OO'i, while the lists of injured will
total thousands. The catastrophe Is
one of the greatest in the annals of
the country, whole families having
been wiped up liy the tremendous va
cuum caused by the explosion.
!
City Under Martini Ij«u
\MHKIIST, N. S., I)er. H The re
| inaining portion of the city of Hali
| fa has hi—n placed under martial law,
j and orders have been given to shoot
any one caught looting
City fishing Center
I The city of Halifax, situated on ’ho
h rhor of tic- same name, in tho
County ot Halifax. Province of Nova
| Scotia, has a population of about 5b,
| "im persons. It Is a great tuainifact
j tiring city, nearly every kind of busi
ness being carried on. including im
mense tanneries and paper mills.
Huge munitions factories also line the
waterfront. About Ut.bbO perosns are
employed in the fishing business,
which is one of the greatest produc
ers of wealth in the British Colony.
Halifax is connected with Amherst,
the capital of Cumberland County, by
the Intercolonial railway, and with
Cnhequld Bay by a tine canal Sever
al British regiments were stationed
at Halifax and it lias been a stop
ping port for vessels hound from New
York to Europe, having a line har
bor. where shipbuilding is extensive
ly carried on.
200 Bodies in One Place
AMHEltST. Dec. K. A private
message received here today from G.
T. Bell, of the Grand Trunk Railway,
in Montreal, says that 200 bodies
have been located in the North Street
station. Halifax, lie states that the
damage to the city is indescribable.
Cruiser Causes Explosion
MONTREAL, Dec. li. A British
cruiser crashing into the American
munition ship caused the terrible ex
plosion at Halifax, according to re
pents received here today by cable
officials.
I tail wav Employes Dead
TKl.’RO. N. S.. Dee. ti. -Twenty
tive corpses of railway employes
were found this afternoon between
Deepwater Station and Rehmond, fol
lowing an explosion of a munition
ship in (lie harbor at Halifax.
Eire Under Control
TRURO. X. S. Dec. ti. At 2 o'
clock it was reported that the lire
in Halifax had burned itself out and
was under control.
Name of Vessel Given
TRURO. N. S.. Dec. ti. It is re
ported herq that the vessel which col
lided with the munition ship and
caused the explosion, was a Red Cross
Liner.
400 Bodies Recovered
MONCKTON. N. S. Dec. 6.— Lat
est reports received from the scene
of the eplosion at Halifax are to the
efTect that 400 bodies have been re
covered.
Just received a new line of Pyra
ln Ivory suitable for Christinas Rifts
at the Valdez Drug Store. tf
Two mushers with a dog team ar
rived at Wortman last night and will
be in town some time today.
Daniels Opposes Decorations
WASHINGTON. D. C., Dec. 6.
Decorations of any officers or men of
the Navy by foreign governments for
war services will be opposed by Sec
retary Daniels. He decflared today
that if asked for an opinion he would
advise a strict adherence to the pro
vision of the constitution which pro
hibits it.
A complete line of fountain pens,
perfumes, stationery, etc., at the
Valdes Drue Store. Buy your Xmaa
gifts there. H