Xditarod Pioneer
om dollar PER month ~~ IDITAROD. ALASKA. SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 24. 1917 _ aa cknto pm corY_
DECLARATION OF WAS
EXPECTED AH MOMENT
WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.—Official* do not dis
guise the fact that the German situation is daily
growing graver, and that if orders have not been
issued to prevent any overt act, only a miracle can
prevent war.
President Wilson has partially decided to appear
before congress to ask for additional authority to
protect America seamen and ships against German
submarines. While there is a bare chance that he
will not carry out the plan, there is every indication
that he will make the address this week or early next
week.
Only the President and Secretary Daniels know
the whereabouts of the United States fleet.
Next Few Day* Should TeO the Tele
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20.—Because there » a seri
ous doubt in the mind of President Wilson regarding
the real intentions of the officials who are directing
the German submarine activities, no action has yet
been taken relative to the ship blockade of American
ports. The President believes that the next few days
will show how far Germany intends to press hostile
measures against neutrals.
The administration is urging upon congress the
importance of the immediate and complete fortifica
tion of the Panama canal and islands in the vicinity,
and also the naturalization of all Porto Ricans. The
administration espionage bill, providing for a severe
penalty for spying on United States defenses, and for
conspiracies to violate American neutrality, passed
the senate today.
To Avoid Recoarn to War
Secretary of State Lansing and Attorney General
Gregory appeared before the senate judiciary com
mittee today and asked the passage of a bill which
- would give the President power to handle the inter
national situation without recourse to war. The bill
would empower the President to employ the land
and naval forces to enforce compliance with and
prevent violation of the obligations of the United
States under the law of nations.
Secure Services of Eminent Engineers
WASHINGTON. Feb. 17.—The greatest single
step in the national military preparedness program
was announced today by the war department, in the
appointment to be signal officers in the reserve corps
of five leading electrical engineers. The world’s five
largest telegraph, telephone and electrical companies
have given their chief executives to the nation and
organized and officered their men to become reserv
ists in the sitmal corps.
The Yarrowdale Prisoner*
WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.—An Amsterdam dis
patch reports that a message from Berlin again re
ports that the Yarrowdale prisoners have been re
leased. A peremptory demand for the release of
the American prisoners from the Yarrowdale has
been sent to the German government The state de
partment in announcing last Monday that Secretary
Lansing had dispatched the demand on Saturday
last, added that late on Sunday the department had
received word from Berlin, presumably from the
Spanish ambassador, that the prisoners “would be
released shortly."
Austria’s Position Must Bo Made Known
WASHINGTON. Feb. 21.—The United States has
demanded Austria’s answer as to whether she pro
poses to abide by the assurances given this govern
ment after the sinking of the Ancona and Persia.
UNITED STATES IS CONFRONTED WITH
WHAT AMOUNTS TO PRACTICAL BLOCKADE
WASHINGTON. Feb. 17.—A great steel net was
put in place at the entrance to New York harbor to
day, and what amounts to virtually a blockade of
American Atlantic ports by German submarines is
regarded by officials as overshadowing the collateral
issues of the situation. That President Wilson will
soon go before congress to announce steps to re
lieve the situation is the generally accepted view, but
no time is set for his action.
The President today personally assumed direct
charge of the problem of moving American shipping
to and from Europe. He has plans for further moves,
which do not contemplate acquiescing in the German
-submarine methods, but are said to involve arming
merchant vessels.
Defying the Submarines
NEW YORK, Feb. 17.—Ships are beginning to
defy the submarines, and the freight congestion is
greatly relieved. Twenty-one merchant ships which
arrived yesterday give promise of greater cargo
space than has been available at the port of New
York for some time. Fourteen of these came through
the war zone.
War risk insurance today shows a reduction from
the high rates which have been prevalent since the
beginning of the German blockade.
KRUPPS’ FABULOUS RICHES
PORTLAND, Or*., Keb. 23—David
Starr Jordan, in a speech here last,
night, said that the Kruppa, in Ger
many, are now far richer than the
kaiser or anybody else in Germany,
and can afford to watch the war go
right on with complacency. President
Wilson did right in saying we cannot
shake such hands any longer, and in
breaking with Germany he ws* right;
but for us to get into the war'Would
not help settle the essential things.
DOUBLE TRAGEDY RESULTS
FROM SENSATIONAL CASE
ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Feb. 19 —Mre. Dag
mar Crocker, whose name was brought into
the McDaniels murder trial, was shot and
killed today by her husband, John C.
Crocker, who then shot himself, perhaps
fatally.
McDaniels, who was prosecuting attorney
here, and a candidate for re-election at the
November election, was recently tried and
acquitted of the murder of his wife. There
were intimation* at the trial that McDaniel
and Mr*. Crocker were sweetheart*.
FATHER OF GEORGE GRIGSBY
BURIED IN SOUTH DAKOTA
SEATTLE, Feb. 20 —Melvin Grigsby, for
merly United State* attorney at Nome, and
father of George Grigsby, th* recently
elected attorney general of Ala**, was
buried at Sioux Falls, S. Dak., today. He
died at Birmingham, Ala., of pneumonia,
last Thursday. He was 72 year* of age.
SUPPORT OF HER ALLIES
IS ASSURED TO GERMANY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 —Germany has
solidified bar allies in support of hsr sub
marine policy. Definite announcement to
that effect is now in the hands of the state
department.
RESIGNS j^S PROTEST
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1#.—As a proteet
against ths continued picketing of the
White House by suffragettes during the
present international cnee, Mrs. Harriot
Stanton Blateh, ths notsd suffragette
worker, today resigned from ths Congres
atonal Union.
ALASKA'S APPROPRIATION
MAY GET SENATE SUPPORT
WASHINGTON, Fsb. 23 —Colonel Rich
ardson, president of the Alaska road eom
j mission, is confident that ths $500,000 ap
propriation for Alaaka roads and trails,
which was stricken from the army appro
priation bill by the house committee, will
be put back by ths senate.
WHERE AMBASSADORS ARE
HALIFAX, N. 8., Feb. 17.—Examina
tion of the papers and credentials of the
German steamship Friedrich, having on
board Ambassador Von Bsrnstorff, is pro
seeding slowly.
MADRID, Feb. 32.—Ambassador Gerard
arrived bare this morning.
BERLIN, Feb. 17—Brand Whitlock,
United States minister to Belgium, will re
main in Brussels in his diplomatic capacity.
INAUGURATION ON SUNDAY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23-President
Wil/ion vrill teke the oath of office pri
vately at the White House on Sunday,
March 4.
It wae announced today that the Presi
dent would esll an extra session of the
senate to eoneider nominations.
-«
HURRIED TRIP OF MARSHAL
BODES ILL FOR EVILDOERS
IN OUTLYING DISTRICTS
Without divulging the nature of hie mia
sion, Deputy Marshal Percy Charles left
town on Thursday morning last for Tolstoi,
Ophir, Poorman, "end possibly Ruby,” as
he casually remarked. He war accompanied
by Sid Ensor and bia dog team.
There heve been persistent rumors re
cently of impending arreete in connection
with violation of liquor lawe at Tolstoi and
it has been generally expected that come
action would be taken by the authorities
It is eurmieed that the significance of the
marshal's remark about the possible exten
sion of his trip to Poorman and Ruby lies
in the fact that one of the alleged trans
greseors recently departed for those points,
and it may bo the derign to bring beek the
supposed culprit.
In spits of the fset that no liquor license
has been granted for the town of Tolstoi, it
stems to be pretty generally known that
it has not been difficult to obtain liquor
there, and it is likely that the authorities
are determined to pres* the recently-adopted
policy of a general round-up of violators of
the anti-gambling and liquor lawe,
-♦
Cyril Wood left on Thursday morning last
the Tolstoi and Tokotna.
FIRE IN DAWSON
Many Old Landmarks Destroyed
and Two Men Are Believed to
Have Lost Their Lives
DAWSON, Y. T„ F*b. 22.—Last night,
while the thermometer registered 20 degrees
below aero, a fierce fire raged near the cor
ner ol Front and Queen streets, and six
business houses were burned before the
flames were under control of the fire de
partment. Several of Dawson’s most his
toric structure# were consumed, among
which were the Yukonia hotel (Tom Chis
holm’* old Aurora saloon location I, owned
by Joseph Segbert; Martin Piwka'i big
clothing store was burned, but the stock
was all saved. Two or three of the destroyed
buildings were unoeeupied, but the old Pio
neer saloon building, in th# early days
owned and occupitd by Georg* Butler, and
the Northern saloon building, formerly eon
ducted by Arthur Field and George Auten,
were among the losses.
By hard work the firemen stopped the !
flame* before the Del Mont* building, now
occupied by a restaurant, wa* reached.
Murray Eads' Alexandre hotel and the Bo
nanza saloon buildings also narrowly
escaped destruction.
There wee little insurance on nny of the
property burned.
This morning it we# reported that two
men were missing, and it i* behaved by
many that they perished. Search ha* been
started over the burned area to determine
Whether eny unfortunate* were taught in
the ruins.
«a, . - . — -
HIGH PRICES FOR FOOD
CAUSE OF SERIOUS TROUBLE
NEW YORK, Feb. 23.—Many women
from the tenement district* common**'
demonstration* at the city hall on Wednes
day last again*! the advanced price* of
food. They eay they will continue the
demonstration* until the mayor cauaee a
lowering of price*. The mayor ha* prom
ise dto do all in hi* power to eope with the
advanced price*. Potato** are now selling
at 175 per ton, tb* best bringing 185.
The East side sufferers from high prices
awoke this morning to find condition* even
more critical by reason of a heavy fall of
snow, bringing cold weather to increase the
suffering.
Blames tb* Carmens
NEW YORK, Feb. 23 —The Bun today
sey* that the Teutonic power* are resjionn
ble for the women’s food riot*, the leaders
having been paid 1200,000 to create dis
turbance*.
Trouble in Philadelphia Alia
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22—Food rioting
bee teken piece in tbii city, several hundred
Jewish women attacking dealers.
Ssnator Lewis Hat Remedy
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23—An amend
ment to the revenue bill, empowering the
President to seise foodstuffs held for unjust
increase in prices, was introduced in the
senate today by Senator Lewie of Illinois.
The amendment is aimed at the cold stor
age interests, which the federal trade com
mission held to be reeponsbile for the food
situation.
Congressional leaders swart that they will
never give the federal trade commission as
mueh ta 1400,000 to inveatigat* tb* high
cost of living.
MANY LEGISLATORS ATTEND
LUNCHEON BY SEATTLE MEN
SEATTLE, Feb. 20—J. J. Dely and J. R.
Heckman of Ketchikan, Messrs. Daly and
Sudabek of Nome, Dan Sutherland of Ruby,
John Ronan of Seward, Andrew Nerlend.
Frank Manley, C. J. Hurley end Jack Price
of Fairbanks, Elmer Ritchie and J. L. Reed
of Veldts, Captain A. F. Lathrop of An
chorage and other Alaskans were enter
tuned at luncheon today by the Seattle
Chamber of Commerce. Most of the guests
are members of the Alaaka legislature,
which convenes at Juneau on March 5, and
they are scheduled to leave for Juneau on
February 22.
-4
WIRELESS SPARKS
TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Feb. 17 —C. W.
Dwyer, former sheriff of Twin FeBe county,
and widely known throughout southern
Idaho, committed suicide here today.
SEATTLE, Feb. 19 — Mrs. Nettie Van
Ormer, a widow, while waiting in tb* etreet,
was run down and killed by a jitnay. The
driver, O. Dister, wsa arrested.
HAVANA, Cube, Feb. 20.—The revolt is
on the wane. . _
EMPORIA, Kaa., Feb. 20.—General Fun
eton'e mother it seriously iU.
SEATTLE, Feb. 21—Hesketh, Dale, Er
ickson, William Calhoun, W. D. Lana and !
Byron Phelps have been nominated for city i
councilman.
DEATH OF AN INFANT
The infant child of Mr. and Mra J. E.
Kettlewell, which died on Tuesday last, we*
buried from Joe-Smith's undertaking parlors
on Wednesday. The baba lived but a faw
hours.
♦OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA
2 200 SUBS DESTROYED °
o o
O NEW YORK, Feb. 22.—Great Brit- O
O sin's anti-submarine fleet consists of ^
O 4,000 private yachts, whalers and fish- O
O ing vessels, manned by 60,000 men, O
O and this force has destroyed 200 Ger- O
O man submarines. This was the aaier- O
O tion made here today by Alfred O
O Noyee, the English poet. O
O O
♦OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA
BIG LINERS TO BE BUILT
IN SEATTLE SHIPYARDS
j SEATTLE, Feb. 19 —The Cunard Steam
j ship Company placed orders last Saturday
J for six steel freighters of 7,500 tone with
the Seattle Construction A Drydoek Com
pany. The contract calls for a total of
16,500,000, and delivery is to be made be
veen April and September, 1918.
SEATTLE, Sept. 21.—The submarine
N-3 Was launched this afternoon at the
yards of the Seattle Construction A Dry
dock Company. She cost 1500,000.
Anether Big Contract
WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 21.—The Cu
nard line has placed orders with Harlan A
Hollingsworth of this city for $13,000,000
worth of ships.
SWEDISH STEAMER SUNK
WITH AMERICANS ABOARD
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.—The (inking
by • cub marine of the Swediah eteamihip
Skogland, with five Americana on board,
after the crew had been given three min
ute# to take to the boata i» reported by
Consul General Huret at Barcelona. All
were landed.
ILLEGAL TO SH*P LIQUOR
INTO PROHIBITION STATES
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.—The houee of
repreaentativee today concurred in the eefl
at# “bone dry” amendment to the poetoffiee
transportation bill. Prohibitioniete ehanted
"Bone dry” when the rote we# taken.
NO LIQUOR PROPAGANDA
OLYMPIA, Waih., Feb. 20—Any at
tempt by liquor ehpipere from Californi.-i
and other at a tec to eend money to
Wachington to defeat the "bone dry" law
at the coming referendum will be met by
vigoroue prosecutions, eaid Governor Lie'.er
today.
MANY GERMAN REFUGBES
KILLED IN TRAIN WRECK
BERLIN, Feb. 21.—Five hundred Ger
man refugee! were killed and ae many in
jured in a train wreck in northern Rou
mama. A Moecow newepaper, deaeribing
the wreck, aaya that five hundred person?
were killed outright, and that when the
care caught fire and burned large num
bere of other# ware killed by exploding am
munition.
WItIT AMERICAN ARMY
EL PASO, Feb. 21—General Scott today
appointed General Perthing commander of
the Southern department. He aeeumed
temporary command on the border yeeter
day.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22—National
guardsmen returning thia afternoon from
the Mexican border were given a great
weleom# when they paraded.
KETCHIKAN’S*POSTMASTER
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21— Preaident
Wileon today nominated J. F. Warder to
be poetmaeter at Ketchikan, Alaska, to euc
eeed Mre. Swineford, widow of former Gov
'ernor Swineford.
JANUARY ^EXPORTS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.—The depart
ment of commerce announced today that the
export# for January exceeded thoee of any
previoue month by $100,000,000.
JUMPING OF PLACER CLAIMS
IN TOLSTOI DISTRICT
CAUSES LITTLE FLURRY
New* reached here this week that there
i* eoasiderable excitement in the Tolstoi be
cause of claim-jumping on Midway creek,
upon whieh discoveries of excellent pros
pect* were recently mad*. It appears that
William Stenbloch and Alex Holmberg have
relocated ground claimed by J. W. Williaton
because,of alleged non-compliance with the
proviaon* of the mining law whieb stipulate
that claim* shall not exceed 1,330 feat in
length. The claim* involved are those
upon which Williaton recently gave an op
tion.
Ground claimed by 8tenbloch and Jorgen
son, also on Midway creek, is said to have
basn restaked by Mrs. N. 8. Jaeobsgaard and
Pats Jorgensen. The latter claim that the
ground was open to relocation for the rea
son that the annual assessment work had
not been done.
It is quite probable that legal proceeding* I
will rsnult from the coatroveraen.
BRITAIN FEELS PRESSURE
OF SUBMARINE BLOCKADE
LONDON. Feb. 23.—Premier Lloyd George said
in a speech in the house of commons today that the
success of the allied cause depended on the ability
to solve the tonnage shortage, which was affecting
the needs of the nation. The situation calls for the
gravest measures. He said there was no surer way
to victory than hunting the submarines from the sea.
Enormous sacrifices were necessary from the British
public. The government proposed to dispense with
non-essential importations to save tonnage.
The premier concluded by saying that there was
a shortage of tonnage not only for ordinary needs,
but for military necessities as well. More than a
million tons of British shipping had been assigned to
France as its share. The gravest measures were
necessary; otherwise there would be disaster. "We
must find ships to carry iron ore at all costs," he
said.
SUBMARINE BLOCKADE IS INEFFECTIVE
ACCORDING TO BRITISH CABINET MINISTER
LONDON, Feb. 21.—"The Western Atlantic, the
North sea and the Mediterranean are now outlaw
waters, and murder may be committed upon them;
but attempts to hold up all sea traffic there have not
succeeded.” This is the reply of Lord Robert Cecil,
minister of the blockade, to a question as ,to the ef
fect of the new submarine warfare.
French Steamship Sinks Submarine
NEW YORK. Feb. 19.—In a forty-minute battle
between a U-boat and the French steamship Guayne,
off the coast of France, the submarine was sunk, ac
'ording to officers of a freighter which arrived today
from Bordeaux.
Transport and Armed Ships Sunk
BERLIN, Feb. 21.—A crowded Italian transport,
ind also two armed steamships with cargo for Sa
oniki, were sunk by a German submarine in the
barred zone of the Mediterranean today.
French Raid on Western Front
PARIS, Feb. 20.—Many prisoners were captured
n a surprise raid north of FUrey and west of Water
ville, according to an announcement made by the
French war office today.
GERMAN STATESMAN IS SHOCKED BY WAR
BUT PREDICTS DREADFULNESS WILL END IT
BERLIN. Feb. 21.—Count Von Pertling. chair
man of the foreign affairs committee of the federal
council, said today: "We desire to bring the war
to an end because we are shocked by its sorrows.
Our adversaries wash to continue the war because
they are terrified by the horrors that peace will
bring. As the war draws nearer its termination the
final struggle will be of the greatest dreadfulness,
but it must be fought to the bitter end”
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY OF CAPTAIN
OF INTERNED GERMAN STEAMSHIP CECIUE
BOSTON, Feb. 17.—Captain Pollock of the in
terned German steamship Kronprinzessin Cecilie tes
tified today at the federal court hearing on petition
for sale that he had been ordered by a man con
nected in an official capacity with the German em
bassy to disable its machinery. This was done, he
said, to prevent the ship’s use by this government in
the event of hostilities with Germany.
Captain Pollack refused to divulge the name of
the man who gave the order. He said he was in Ho
boken when he received the order, and that he tele
graphed his chief engineer here to disable the en
gines. The work of destruction, he said, was done
on January 31 and February 1. When asked to
give the name of the person from whom the order
was received. Pollack said: ’’Your honor, I am an
officer of the German navy. If I should have to dis
close the name of this gentleman at this hearing I
might be tried for treason when I return to Germany.
I wish you would not oblige me to answer that ques
tion.” The question was not pressed.
-»
GERMAN NAVAL OFFICER AND PUBLICIST
MAKES GRAVE CHARGE AGAINST GERARD
AMSTERDAM. Feb. 19.—Count Von Reventlow.
in the Berlin Tages Zeitung today, attacks United
States Ambassador Gerard, whom he accuses of hav
ing used his official position deliberately to transmit
important war information to the entente by way of
America. "Many indications,” he writes, "have con
tinually pointed to the theory that uncontrolled cable
service and letter service to the United States per
mitted to the American embassy had also amounted
to an uncontrolled method of communication with
London and Paris.”
JAPANESE WILL ARM MERCHANT VESSELS
TOKIO, Feb. 22.—The admiralty is planning to
arm ships plying the Atlantic and Mediterranean,