Iditarod Pioneer
ONE dollar ter month __IDITAROD, ALASKA, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 20, 1917 _2:, cents per copy^
ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY
PASSES AWAY AT CAPITAL
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.—Admiral Dewey died
•t his home in this city yesterday morning, after a
•hort illness which reached a critical stage on
Wednesday last. The whole nation is in mourning,
-and the funeral, which is to be held on Saturday, will
be one of the most impressive ever held in the na
tional capital. It will be attended by thousands of
sailors and marines, by official Washington in gen
eral and by all members of the diplomatic corps.
Sketch of Hii Career
Admiral George Dewey was born at Montpelier,
Vt.. on December 26, 1837. He was the son of Dr.
Julius Yeamans Dewey. In 1858 he graduated from
the United States naval academy at Annapolis, hav
ing been appointed from Vermont. The future ad
miral was married in 1867 to Miss Susie Goodwin,
daughter of Governor Ichabod Goodwin of New
Hampshire, who died in 1872. His second wife was
Mrs. Mildred (McLean) Hazen of Washington, to
whom he was married in 1899, and who survives
him. i
Admiral Dewey’s naval career began with service
on the steam frigate Wabash, of the Mediterranean
squadron, with which he served until 1861, when
he was transferred to the steam sloop Mississippi, of .
the West Gulf squadron. He received promotion in
1861, and was with Farragut’s squadron which;
forced the passage of Forts St. Philip and Jackson,
in April, 1862, and participated in the attack on
Fort St. Philip and the subsequent fights with gun
boats and ironclads which gave Farragut possession
of New Orleans. In the smoke of the battle of Port
Hudson the Mississippi lost her bearings and ran
ashore under the guns of the land batteries, and the
officers and men took to the boats after setting their
vessel on fire. Afterwards Dewey was with several
vessels in the North Atlantic blockading squadron,
and later on was assigned to various duties and at
different stations. He was promoted to commander
in 1872; captain. 1884; commodore, 18%.
In January, 1898, Commodore Dewey assumed
command of the Asiatic squadron, and on May 1,
1898, occurred the crowning event of his career,
when he commanded that squadron in the battle of
Manila bay, completely annihilating the Spanish
Asiatic squadron under Admiral Montojo, destroying
eleven and capturing all other vessels and all the
land batteries without the loss of a man on the Amer- (
ican side. Immediately upon receipt of the official |
news of the victory he was promoted to rear ad
miral, and received the thanks of congress. He was 1
a member of the United States Philippines commis- j
sion in 1899, and was promoted to the dignity of
admiral of the navy on March 2, 1899. He had |
been president of the general board of the navy ;
since March 29, 1900.
I
Widow Attends Private Services
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—Mrs. Wilson, the wife
of the President, accompanied the widow of Admiral
Dewey in attendance upon private funeral services to
day. Mrs. Dewey will be unable to stand the strain
of attendance upon the public funeral services to
morrow.
POSTMASTER GENERAL S WISHES DISREGARDED
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 7.—The item providing an
appropriation of more than a million dollars for the
continuation of the postal tube systems in New York,
Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and St. Louis has been
retained in the postoffice appropriation bill by the
house of representatives. In spite of the opposition
of Postmaster General Burleson the item was retained
in the bill by a vote of 193 to 1 54.
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COMPULSORY ARBITRATION KILLED IN SENATE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.—By a vote of seven to
three, the senate committee on interstate commerce
has killed the compulsory arbitration and strike legis
lation proposed by the administration. Two Demo
crats, Smith of South Carolina and Underwood of
Alabama, voted with the Republicans.
PRESIDENT WILSON MAY AGAIN SUGGEST PEACE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.—President Wilson may
again move for peace. It is the belief here that if
Germany will name terms of peace a conference may
be possible.
“HIGHER-UPS” NOT YET IN TOILS OF LAW
SEATTLE, Jan. 13.—The federal grand jury still
continues its probe of the liquor law violations. The
“higher-ups” believed to be implicated in the boot
legging operations have not yet been indicted, ac
cording to report.
ANOTHER POWDER MILL SENT SKYWARD
NEW YORK, Jan. 13.—The Dupont powder
plant at Haskell, N. J., was blown up last night.
! PROMINENT AND WEALTHY ALASKA MAN
FALLS TO DEATH FROM SEATTLE BUILDING
SEATTLE, Jan. 13.—Samuel Blum, the pioneer
banker and merchant of Valdez, Cordova and Chit
ina, said to be worth half a million dollars, fell to his
death from the third story of the Pacific building, on
Yesler way, yesterday. He was still alive when
picked up, but died on the way to the hospital.
Opinion is divided as to whether it was accident or
suicide.
HARRY THAW WILL BE PROSECUTED
ON CHARGE OF KIDNAPPING YOUNG MAN
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17.—Harry Thaw, who
was arrested some days ago under an indictment
charging kidnapping, is confined in a hospital here,
where his mother, who occupies a room next to his,
nurses him day and night. Efforts are being made to
place Thaw in a private asylum and drop the charges
against him in New York, but they probably will be
unsuccessful.
REPORTS FROM TOLSTOI
OF NEW PAY BEING FOUND
Information recently received from the
Tolstoi is to the effect that pay has been
found on a new creek. Details are lacking,
but it is said that three holes were sunk,
slid that $2.50 was taken from the bottom
! of one of them. The creek is named Flat,
which is a tributary of Esperanto, the latter
being a tributary of Madison.
Whether this information was responsible
for the fact or not, the early part of the
present week developed what to all appear
; naees was another stampede to the new
district. Many dog teams left on Tuesday
and Wednesday, and there was considerable
speed apparent in preparations for the trip.
Some were of the opinion that the mushers
w’ere on their way to Beaver creek, in the
Innoko, from which most encouraging re
ports were received recently. However, it
transpires that nearly all of the travelers
had business entirely independent of any
stampede.
The fame of the Tolstoi is being noised
abroad. Travelers from that section are
eagerly interviewed by the coast newspapers.
Besides the glowing account attributed to
Dave Edwards of Ophir, which appears in
another column, the followng from the Sew
ard Gateway of December 16 will be read
with interest:
“Ira Van Orsdal, one of the original dis
coverers of the Tolstoi camp, who is now in
Seward, brings word of a recent discovery
on one of the creeks in that district which
is enough to cause anyone acquainted with
Alaska mining to believe that the chances
are good for one more great placer camp
in the territory when all hope of such a
possibility had about fled. Mr. Van Orsdal
arrived over the trail a couple of days ago,
and is waiting to go out on the Alameda.
He was in the Tolstoi district a month ago,
and at that time got his information direct
about the new discovery. The pay was
found on Madison creek, which is about
seven or eight miles from Boob creek, and
the remarkable fact about the discovery is
that the pay was found in the second tier
benches, and is located in a manner that
show the possibility that it is of great
extent. On election day Mr. Van Orsdal
was on the spot, and Wilson, the discoverer,
panned some of the dirt for him, and by a
little panning showed $5.
Boob is the original creek of the district
where Mr. Van Orsdal and the others made
the discovery. It has five claims and a
fraction now on which pay has been devel
oped. The difficulty of prospecting the
country is illustrated by the name of the
creek, the discoverers having given it that
name because apparently no one but a boob
would ever think it could contain pay. The
creeka run through low mud divides that
are almost glaciers, and run through flats.
These facts will show any old-timer that the
discovery of pay on the second tier benches
promises extraordinary developments. Van
Orsdal also says that numerous creeks in the
district have prospects that could be made
to pay if any means of traasportation were
available. One of the paying creeks in there
now was crosscut some years ago. but it
was abandoned. The discovery of pay now
is one more illustration of the old lesson
taught Alaska prospectors -the lesson that
only a thorough prospecting can be de
pended on to locate the paystreak.”
In reference to the above interview, it
may be said that the substance is substan
tially correct, with the exception that the
strike was made on the first bench instead
of the second, as stated by Mr. Van Orsdal.
The news of the find was kept concealed
for obvious reasons. Mr. Van Orsdal was
in Iditarod before leaving for the Outside,
and was careful not to mention the fact
that the find had been made on the Madison
creek bench.
.A. ..._
WANT BETTER MAIL SERVICE
FOR KUSKOKWIM DISTRICT
Duke E. Stubbs, postmaster and United
States commissioner at Aniak, on the Kus
kokwim. who has been in tho city for a
couple of days this week, is endeavoring to
call the attention of the postal authorities
to the miserable service provided for that
section of Alaska. As has been noted pre
viously by The Pioneer, it is not unusual,
because of lack of proper facilities, for mail
addressed to residents of that section to be
chivied around for periods of from one to
two years, and on more than one occasion
Kuskokwim mail has been brought to Holy
Cross near the close of the season, and then
sent back Outside to Seattle, to be dis
patched,the next year for a second trip to
Alaska. The citizens of that section com
plain that merchandise ordered by parcel
post is sometimes worn out before it reaches
them because of being handled so often.
Mr. Stubbs yesterday sent a telegram to
Charles Ross, who is now in Seattle, urging
him to interest the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce in extending the Seward-Iditarod
service so as to include Marshall and Aniak.
Such a service would take in Bonanza,
Smeaton’s, Crooked, down the Kuskokwim
to Aniak and across the portage to Mar
shall, and consume five days. Mr. Stubbs
was induced to take the matter up with Mr.
Ross because that gentlman had already in
terested himself in an endeavor to secure
a service for Marshall via Idit&rod.
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MONTANA FOR PROHIBITION
Prohibition carried in Montana at the
recent election by a majority of 28,886
votes.
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Mrs. Elinor of Dikeman, who has been in
the city for several weeks, returned home
on Monday last, on hoard the “Nortnnin."
STORM'S VICTIM
IN BAD FLIGHT
Well-Known Resident of Kusko
kwim District May Lose His
Life as Result of Exposure
During Recent Storm
Duncan McDonnell, familiarly known all
over this section as “Cinnabar" McDonnell,
was so fearfully frozen during the recent
cold spell on the trail between Bear creek
and Ophir creek, on the lower Kuskokwim,
that his life is despaired of, and even if
he survive he will be practically helpless.
This was the story brought to Flat late
last evening by Arthur Wil.is, who came
through by dog team from Aniak, where
McDonnell had been taken, almost without
stop, in order to procure medical assistance
for the stricken man, who was suffering
terribly. After hurried preparations, Dr.
Moore, accompanied by Duke E. Stubbs,
left for Aniak last night. Mr. Willis brought
word that Mr. McDonnell was being cared
for by Mrs. Stuubs at Aniak, and that
everything possible was being done for him
under the circumstances.
By a singular coincidence, Mr. Stubbs had
started for his home at Aniak when he met
the messenger on the trail. He accompa
nied him back to Flat and departed with the
ihysician at the earliest possible moment.
It appears from the few details obtainable
last night that McDonnell was traveling
from Bear creek during the recent severely
cold weather and was caught by the storm.
What really happened was not learned, but
he was lost for nine days, and when he
finally succeeded in reaching a human habi
tation, by crawling on his hands and knees,
he was in a most pitiful condition. It was
sifted that his tongue was frozen to his
teeth and his hands and feet also were
frozen.
McDonnell is a well-known resident of
he Kuskokwim district, where he has re
sided for many years. He makes his home
it or near Bethel, and is interested in quartz
properties near Kolmakoff, among which
are some cinnabar propositions, from which
his sobriquet is obtained.
Under favorable conditions Dr. Moore and
Mr. Stubbs should reach Aniak in three or
four days._
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS
TO BE CALLED BY PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19. President Wil
son conferred today with the members of the
house steering committee, and as a result it
is stated that an extra session of congress
seems inevitable. The regular supply bills,
which have been before congress for seven
weeks, still remain undisposed of, as is also
the case with some fifteen administration
measures.
President Lee of the Brotherhood of Rail
road Trainmen appeared before the house
committee on interstate commerce today in
opposition to the compulsory arbitration
bill. He contends that the Adamson law is
unnecessary, and urges the appointment of
a board of eight members to solve the pres
ent difficulties between the railroads and
their employes. _
FATHER SIFTON TO SAY MASS
AT FLAT SUNDAY MORNING
It is announced that Rev. Father Sifton
will say mass in the upper hall of the Moose
building at Flat tomorrow (Sunday) morn
ing at 10 o’clock.
It is more than three years since any
of the Catholic clergy have held services in
this district and it expected that the many
loyal members of that church will be in
attendance.
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BUZZARD IN MIDDLE WEST
FARGO, N. D.. Jan. 13. Three deaths
have resulted from the blmard which is
raging throughout the Middle West.
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MISS KLEV AT MARSHALL
The many friends in this city of Miss
Edricka P. Kiev will be interested to learn
that she is now fully established in her new
lodging house at Fortuna Ledge. A letter
to Mrs. J. J. Smith, dated November 18,
has just reached here, in which the former
Iditarod lady tells of the completion of her
work of fitting up the establishment. She
says the prospectors thereabouts are very
hopeful of finding more pay ground this
winter.
-4
MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS
For some as yet unexplained reason The
Pioneer's Seattle correspondent has again
failed us, and the telegraphic service this
week is not up to the usual standard. Ef
forts to locate him by telegraph were un
successful. Arrangements will be made
for a new service, which we hope to have
in operation next week.
-4—
J. G. Rivers, Frank Dawson and Fred
Smith, all from Discovery, passed through
the city during the week on their way to
the ToNtoi.
DEATH OF HANK MARTIN
CONFIRMED BY LETTERS
A report circulated some two weeks ago
to the effect that Henry Martin, better
known all over the district as “Hank” Mar
tin, had died recently in Los Angeles, was
generally discredited here, because friends
i and associates believed that they would
have been notified by wire in the event of
his death. The mail which arrved last
week, however, brought confirmation of the
news. James Finnegan of Flat received the
following letter from John Best, who is a
member of the Pioneers of Alaska, dated at
Los Angeles, December 2:
“I am writing to let you know that Henry
1 Martin died December 26 and was buried at
Inglewood cemetery jesterday. He had sev
eral doctors and other good attendants, and
was subjected to an X-ray examination be
fore the operation; but the doctors say he
was too far gone before he waa operated od.
“We are unable to locate any of his rela
tives, so I am writing to you, as you know
most of his friends, and may be able to find
out where his relatives are.”
Jack Mullen, who had been an intimate
friend of the deceased for many years, also
received a letter informing him of Mr. Mar
tin’s death. Mr. Mullen could give no in
formation of the relatives of Mr. Martin,
however, and it is understood that the local
lodge of Pioneers, of which he was a mem
ber, will make an effort to locate them.
Mr. Martin left here last fall for the Out
side for the purpose of receiving medical
treatment for stomach trouble. While he :
had been ailing for some time, it was not
thought that his condition was serious, and j
his death came, as a great shock to his
many friends.
Henry Martin, according to the meager
record of the Pioneers, was 48 years of age,
and was born at Rushford, Minn, He came
to Alaska in 1897 and had not since visited
the Outside. He was a miner by occupa
tion.
MAX SIMEL IN TOWN
Max Simel, the pioneer trader, who now |
makes his headquarters at the mouth of ;
the Tolstoi, where he has established a well- j
equipped trading post, arrived in Iditarod j
Thursday afternoon on an urgent business j
trip, accompanied by his son. He expects
to start on his return trip tomorrow.
Mr. Simel is very optimistic in his pre
dictions regarding the future development
of the Tolstoi and Ditna districts, but no
more inclined that way than he has been
for at least nine years to The Pioneer’s cer
tain knowledge, Mr. Simel has been in busi
ness in the Innoko valley for many years,
has visited nearly every nook and corner
of the vast area during that time, and no
one has kept more closely in touch with
affairs generally therein than he; conse
quently when he gives any information rela
tive thereto it is invariably first-hand intel
ligence.
LAVISH PREPARATIONS
FOR BIG MOOSE SOCIAL
The social to be given by the Moose lodge
at Flat next Saturday night, in honor of the
ladies of the district, will undoubtedly be
one of the big affairs of the present season.
The Pioneer was informed by a member of
the committee on arrangements that several
musical and comedy “stunts” were being
rehearsed by a number of local amateurs for
presentation on that happy occasion that
will be worth traveling miles in sixty-below
weather to witness. The program of enter
tainment is as yet incomplete, therefore it
does not appear in this week's paper.
The social will conclude with a fine lunch
and dance.
SERIOUS CATASTROPHE
IS NARROWLY AVERTED
While driving a four-horse team with a
big load of cordwood across a slough near
the city on Thursday last, Felix Riley had
a most interesting experience. The team
included the two heavy draft horses brought
in by J. E. Riley last summer, and when
about half way across the slough these ani
mals broke through the ice and were pre
cipitated into seven feet of water. The team
of Paul Laplant, which had crossed in safety
but a few minutes previously, was brought
into action, and after considerable difficulty
the floundering animals were dragged to
safety, although one of them had a narrow
escape. No serious injury was sustained by
the horses, but one of them was somewhat
scratched by the jagged ice.
Riley himself received a thorough duck
ing, and as there was a cold wind blowing
frnd the temperature several degrees below
jero, he had a rather unpleasant time until
he reached town.
ON THE TRAIL
Elia Fisher, who returned to the city dur
ing the week from a trip to Marshall, re
ports that Dan McKiniie, who was taken ill
on the trail between this city and Marshall
and was laid up for a time at Akiak, on the
Kuskokwim, has almost fully recovered, and
is now at Marshall.
Mr. Fisher met Mrs. L. C. Thornton and
William Schirmeyer at Ohogamute, about
three days from Bethel, to which place they
were journeying. He says they were not
enjoying the rather severe weather they were
experiencing.
Earl Hunt, representing the New York
Life, will be in town for two eeks or more,
Life, will be in town for two weeks or more,
those interested.
MANY VESSELS ABE SUNK
BY OARING GERMAN TARS
LONDON, Jan. 18.—The daring exploits of the
famous German sea raiders Emden and Moewe have
been outdone by another German vessel whose name
and description have not yet been established. Ac
cording to an official announcement given out yes
terday, eight British and two French ships have been
sunk and two British vessels have been captured by
the mysterious raider, which has so tar eluded all
the patrols of the British and French.
| Information just received from Pernambuco,
| Brazil, are to the effect that the Japanese steamship
i Hubson Maru has landed there with the masters and
; 237 men from various sunken vessels, and Rio Ja
neiro confirms the Pernambuco report. The British
and French patrols are being materially increased.
The names of some of the British ships de
stroyed were the Dramath, Radnorshire, Minith,
Netherdy Hall, Mount Temple, King George and Vol
taire. The French ships sunk were the Nantes and
Asnieres.
Prize crews were placed on the two captured ships,
but their destination is a mystery.
Reported to Hunt Boon Captured
RIO JANEIRO, Jan. 19.—The German auxiliary
| cruiser St. Theodore, armed with two guns and a
! German crew, which is supposed to have been re
! sponsible for the raids on British and French com
merce, is reported to have been captured.
--+
GERMAN INVASION OF SWISS NEUTRALITY
INTIMATED AS POSSIBLE IN NEAR FUTURE
NEW YORK, Jan 19.—According to cable advices
received here, Germany has in contemplation a heavy
stroke against the French in Alsace, as indicated by
the concentration of German forces near Basel, on
the Swiss border. It is believed that an invasion of
Switzerland is contemplated, and this is generally
commented on by Swiss papers.
Reports indicate that there is heavy fighting in
progress on the Roumanian front. The Russians and
Roumanians are said to be holding their own.
Fighting in Moldavia
BERLIN, Jan. 17.—The Teutons have crossed
over the mountains into Moldavia. The Russians
have made a counter-attack on the Riga flank, and a
heavy battle is in progress on the Dvina.
Sixty-six allied aeroplanes and seventeen German
were lost during December, according to official re
ports.
PETROGRAD, Jan. 1 7.—The Russians, it is offi
cially announced, have recaptured Vadeni, six miles
southwest of Galatz.
LAWSON GIVES NAMES OF PROMINENT MEN
WHEN THREATENED WITH INCARCERATION
WASHINGTON, Jan. I 7.—Threatened with a jail
sentence for contempt of court in the event of his
refusal to disclose the names of those whom he al
leges were responsible for the recent leak of news
as to the German peace proposals and the President s
response thereto, Thomas Lawson has named several
prominent men in this connection before the congres
sional investigation committee. The house has or
dered the committee to proceed with the investiga
tion and has extended the time for the report to the
house thirty days.
Among those named by Lawson were the follow
ing: Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to President
Wilson: a brother of Secretary of the Treasury Mc
Adoo; Bernard Baruch, a broker, and Archibald
White, a banker.
All of the accused deny their guilt, and Lawson is
branded as a liar.
J. P. Morgan and other financiers have been sum
moned to appear before the committee by Represen
tative Harrison, the chairman, who merely says in
explanation that they are wanted for what they
know.
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GREECE MAY BE FORCED INTO THE WAR
BY THE ATTITUDE OF THE ENTENTE ALLIES
PARIS, Jan. 17.—The dethronement of King Con
stantine is said to be planned by the entente allies.
This will be the signal for war by Greece on the
allies, according to dispatches from Athens.
LONDON. Jan. 13.—The allies are maintaining
the pressure on the Greek king.
VILLA CAPTURES GARRISON AT SANTA YSABEL
EL PASO, Jan. 17.—The Carranza garrison at
Santa Ysabel, consisting of 1,500 men, has fallen
into the hands of Villa. He is moving on Chihuahua
with a large force.
Villa has written a letter asking what attitude the
Americans will take towards his establishment of a
provincial government in Northern Mexico.