The Alaska Prospector
And Valdez News.
Published at Valdez, Alaska, eTery Tuursday
by the PboHoker Publishing Co.
io.'PEc Main 1.
Entered at the Valdez Postoffice as secand
Class matter.
Subscription ?S per year, 92 f«r six mouths
Single < opics 10 cents
Since the first small party arrived
on the beach of what has since been
Valdez—in 1897—we have been sorely
afflicted with what is familiarly know n
as a bunch of knockers. For at least
seven years we have had to contend
with proposed rival townsites and
whenever a railroad has been proposed,
it has never been from Valdez. Hazo
letville, Swanitzville and Bloomerville
buve all figured iu previous plans as
terminals of a railroad to the interior
but never Valdez.
Now when a man comes nere ana
says he is going to build a road, com
mencing in the center of the town of
Valdez, and shows his own faith in
his ability to do so by buying large
amounts of real estate in the heart of
the city; hires every ma» possible to
aid i i the coustruclon of the road and
by his owu tireless energy stimulates
every mau associated with hims ask
nothing at the hands of the people ex
pect what they voluntarily subscribe—
it seems as if the “Knocker’s Club’
must be out of a job but it is not.
Certain people, whose names we need
not mention at this time, are not over
looking any opportunity to attempt to
discredit the railroad and we ask our
re iders, whenever these things are
brought to their notice, to trace them
to their source and they will find that
these people are actually being paid to
knock or doing it in the expectation of
being paid.
We have no more respected citizen
•than Mr. George C. Hazelet and hare
no hesitation in stating that our re
marks are not aimed at him in the
least, but let us suppose, as is constant
ly suggested, the C.R.& N.W.Ry. will
have to come back here, (they will not
otherwise) where will they build from ?
—not Valdez—nor near enough Valdez
to do it any good.
These knockers who have already
benefited largely by the arrival of
Reynolds are traitors to the town and
we challenge any man to show where
the coming of Reynolds has done any
thing but good to the town or where he
could possibly do it any barm.
Let us stand together at least once.
We have nothing to lose and everything
to gain. If we allow the Trust,through
its would-be representatives, to mould
our opinion we might as well quit.
All A aldeziaus are aware of the
active work in progress on the con
struction of the Home Railway, but to
bring this fact more forcibly home to
the merchants of the city, and to give
them some tangible evidence of the
part they are taking in the construe
tion, and the way they are housing and
feeding their men. Mr. George W.
Nelson, of the firm of Antonelle &
Nelson; yesterday extended invita
tions to an infomal banquet at the
workmens dining ro >m on Keystone
Avenue. Chef J. J. O’Brien and Stew
art Joe Murphy had prepared a fi. e
turkey dinner; which was fully appre
ciated by those in attendance. P«e
vious to the Sit down the gentlemen
gathered in the office building where
a smoke talk was enjoyed, and after
taking seats for the banquet, all were
welcomed in behalf of Mr. Nelson by
Ex-Dist. Atty, Judge O. P. Hubbard,
who stated that Mr. Renyolds was
fortunate in securing the services of
such a firm of contractors, aud that;
they had guaranteed the construction
of the Railway to the summit this fall,
and that they intended to fulfll their
contract to the letter
After the repast Sup’t Sheldon
moved a vote cf thauks to Antonelle &
Nelson, aud among other things stated
that although he had been connected
with railroad work iu 36 States, he had
never 6eeu a promoter the equal of. H.
D. Reynolds, for honesty and fair
dealing. Mr. Nelson was also toasted
for hit kindly entertainment.
Rushing Railway Work
Mr. Nelson of the contracting firm
of Antonelle & Nelson informed the
Prospector this moruiug that his firm
was rushing malt era in connection
with their contract for the Alaska
Home Railway. They have four camps
and altogether 200 men are at work in
actual railroad construction between
Valdez aud Camp Comfort. Pile
drivers, tie cutters, axemen aud work
men cutting out the piling—all are at
work at top speed and the contractors
are auxious to double aud triple the
f rc', in order that the con'ract for
ine construction may be fully carried
out, Mr. Nelson stated that his firm
had guaranteed to buvo the road com
pleted this Fall to the point desired by
Mr. Reynolds nnd that his Arm in
tended absolutely to fulAl their con
tract. Eugiuneer Blarney Stevens aud
his corps of hustlers are rushing their
portion of the work, and with Mr.
Reynolds in Seattle, working with his
tireless energy to secure material, the
days to come promise to be full of life
and activity. All realize that the num
ber of working days before winter are
limited so every man is working his
utmost,aud as Mr. Reynolds has always
mado a success of his commercial en
terprises, the results are sure to be
highly satisfactory. In its railroad
Valdez is to have a great commercial
artery which means the future prosper
ity so long desired. It is the natural
gateway into the interior, the geo
graphic and economic centre for whole
some indust iiul development* Every
cog in the great commercial machine
which Reynolds has constructed is fit
ting perfectly and his temporary
abst ice will in no way affect the for
ward march of the prosperity boom* for
capable men are in charge of each div-1
iskms of the work and their ambitions
are on a par with those of Mr. Reynolds.
Ai touelle & Nelson the contractors
of the Home Railroad are fast whipping
into shape the headquarters buildings
at the corner of McKinley St , and
Keystone Ave. Desks for the buying
and paymasters and t imekeepers clerks
have already been constructed, aud the
dining room and bunk house for the
men is also well along. In the former
J. J. O’Brien has been installed as
chef, and he is the right mhn in the
right place, and is dealing out big
plates of real grub to his hungry
crowd. He has a bully flue cooking
range, and as a juggler of pans aud
kettles he has no master.
A subscription list is being circulated
with a very fair measure of success
for the purpose of raising the funds
needed for the erection of a Catholic
church in ibis town. This undertaking
is one of undoubted importance to the
stability, well being, and growth of the
community and deserves the counte
nance and substantial aid of all public
spirited citizens. It is intended to use
the body of the church on weeks days
as a free reading room open iudiscrim
inately to all and thus make some tem
porary provision for a crying need of
the intelligent and sober working men
of Valdez
Mr. E C. Hawkins, Chief Engineer
of the Copper River and Northwestern
Railroad, is registered at the Seattle,
having come to Valdez by launch from
Katalia where he has been engaged tbfe
past two months iu work connected
with the railroad there. Mr. Hawkins
is engaged in familiarizing himself
with this entire section of Alaska in
the interests of the Morgau-Guggon
heirn syndicate and the Copper River
road, and will spend at least a couple
of weeks more in the District before
going out. Mr. Hawkins has had con
siderable railroad engineering work
in Alaska, and was the engineer that
Hbuilt the White'Pasv-tfc-Yukon road
Launch Hammond Burns
Capt. Tyler and the crew of the
schooner Brighton came into port Sat
nrday evening and brought the sad
news of the loss by fire of the gasoline
launch Hammond, and the drowning of
Engineer O. V. Cater. The Captain
told the Pbopsector that the Hammond
left Valdez Thursday afternoon bound
to La Touche and everything went well
until a mile off little Naked Island,
fifty miles down the Sound. About
10:30 o’clock in the eveniug the engine
stopped and it was while making the
nece-ary investigation and repairs
that t he tragedy occured. ''’rom those
aboard the launch it is reported that
the en /ine back tired, exploding gaso
line which had leaked and was floating
in tne bilge water, and in less time
than it takes to tell it the whole stern
of the Hammond was ablaze. At this
time there was a heavy southeast wind
blowing, with a good big sea a running.
Attempts were made to keep the Ham*
mood's head ap into the wind, and at
the same time the dingy was put over
but in tbe excitement she was capsized
almost as quickly as she touched the
water. The boat was again hauled
aboard and relauched, but then it was
found she had no oars, so J. J. Beetles
split the sidlelights and used them for
padd!es and headed away for Fred.
Lile^ieen’s house on Naked Island with
a view of secunog assistance. While
this was taking place those aboard had
put on life preservers, all except engin
eer Cater, and had jumped into the
water supporting themselves against
the side of the launch by ropes. In the
heavy sea it was a frightful tight for
life, and with the knowledge that they
were on a lee shore, and with a wicked
chain of rocks between them and the
laud, their position was deperate in the
extreme. However, Providence seemed
to guide and protect them and their
craft fur the Hammond was swept right
over the rocks and up on the beach.
All this time Beetles had been making
heroic efforts to reach Lilegreen’s house
two miles away and it was a struggle in
the heavy head sea and with only tin
paddles for power. He made it though,
only to find no one at home, but found
a dory on the beach in which he imme
diately returned to tbe help of his
mates, but who had reached ttie beach
on bis return. They hollared to him
that all had been saved, but at daylight
Friday morning it was found a sad
mistake had been made, for on examin
tbe wrecked Hammoud the discovery
was made of the body of Engineer
Cater with his knee wedged tightly
in a hole in the bottom of tho craft. It
was bad enough to be wrecked hut this
fact cast a gloom of despondency over
the men. At daylight a distress sig
nal was hoisted, and later in the day
the schooner Brighton came through
the passage, as the result of the signals
and the firing of guns, notice was at
tracted with the result that she took
the men off and brought them here,
arriving at 8.30 Saturday evening. The
body of engineer Cater bad been eu
closed in a rough coffin, .and was also
brought here being taken in charge of
by Uudertaker De Moss.
In addition to Capt. F. W. Johnson
and Enigneer Cater, there were on the
Hammond, J. J. Beetles, Supt. Page of
the Knights Island Copper Alining Co.,
Alartin Anderson, Axel Lund, and two
workmen bound to Reynolds.
The Hammond was about 10 tons,
and cost originally about 83.000, and
was owned by the Great Northern
Development Co. and was under lease
to Aloore & AlcCarty of Valdez
Engiueer Cater was a resident of
Chicago, and about 46 years of age He
leaves to mourn his departure, a widow
and two children. He wras a member
of the AlasoniC Fraternity, and it was
also reported that he is an Odd Fellow.
_
Alaska Home Railway Shafes.
Every man, woman, boy and girl
Should own some shares in this enter
prise not only because they are A good
investment but also because it will be
a proof to the generations to come of
the home bride aud determination of
thepfeoble.
As an indication of the amount of
business that the Home Railway j3
making for Valdez, we may cite the
cable office. Everybody else is also
getting a good share, all of which i§
only an indication of what is to co n®
So hurrah for the railway, aud help ^
along every way yon can.
A meeting of the Masonic brethern
was held last evening in the Court
House, and it was decided to hold a
funeral service over the lemaius of
deceased brother Cater this evening at
7:30 o’clock. All Masons in the city
are requested to meet at McKinley
Hall this evening at 7 o’clock sharp, to
participate.
For Sale—20 room lodging or board
ing house. Apply Alameda House.
C C Rudolph
PHONE NO. 3
DEALER IN .
Doors, Windows, Builders* Hard
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Tar, P. & B. and Build
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PAINTS OILS GLASS
The A. Van der Naillen School
of Practical Civil, Electrical Mining
Engineering. Established 1804
Occur)- ing their own building, workshop mul
and laboratories. Open h11 year. Great
mand for ex-students in all lines. New -: >v
dents should* enroll at once. Address VO
Telegraph Are Oakland, Cal.
SEATTLE
New Management Popular Prices
European Plan Central Location
Finest Cafe and Bar In The City
Wilson & White Co., Props. Chos. Perry,
Hotel ARLINGTON
W. G. POTTS* Prop.
European Plan, Remodelled and Newly Fi
nished. Telephones In Each Hoorn. U. 8.1 •).
in Building, Hot and Cold Water. Rate? »)c
to 12.00. Qpattlp
1st AVe & University St. dwdllic
HOTEL OILLER.
Headquarters for Valdez people. 120 rooms
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Cos. First Av. & University st., SEATTLE
When in Seattle stop at
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Reasonable
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St. Paul, Minn.
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