VALDEZ, ALASKA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1914. NO. 115.
VOL. 10 '_____
RAILROAD BILL PASSES HOUSE
PRIEST DENIES
OWN CONFESSION
Says That Body of Anna Aumuller
Was Left on His Hands and Thus
Forced Him to Dispose of It.
SING SING, N. Y„ Feb. 18.—Hans
Schmidt, the priest who is now in
dea Ih row here awaiting the carry
ing out the sentence of the court that
he be electrocuted for the murder of
Anna Aumuller. today issued a state
ment to the press in which he re
pudiates his former confession of the
crime and says that the girl died as
a result of the effects of an illegal
operation performed by another and
that the body was left on his hands,
thus forcing him to dispose of it,
which he did by throwing the parts
overboard from the North River ferry.
Schmidt says that he cut the body
up and disposed of It. because he fear
ed that suspicion for the crime would
fall upon him if the body was dis
covered in his apartments. The ap
peal takea by attorneys for Schmidt
will not be heard for many months
and a stay of execution will be grant
ed in his case by the courts until
the case can be reviewed by the su
preme court.
YOU! GIRL IS
CLUBBED TO DEATH
Aurora Man Refuses to Marry Sweet
heart, Whom He Had Wronged,
and Kills Her.
AURORA, 111., Feb. 18.—The police
today arrested Anthony Petras, of
this city, and charged hint with hav
ing cause dthe death of his sweet
heart, Theresa Holland, a young girl
of 20. The police say that Petras
killed the girl rather than marry her
when she informed him that she was
in a delicate condition and threaten
ed to have him arrested unless he
kept his promise to her.
Petras refused to make any state
ment but the police say they'have
enough evidence to convict him. The
murderer, they assert, used a club and
beat the girl’s brains out. The clothes
worn by him when he committed the
deed have been found and they are
covered with blood.
-—
Has Capacity Freight and Passenger
Cargo—Is Making Maiden Trip
to Valdez.
SEATTLE, Feb. 18.—The steamer
Admiral Evans, of the Admiral line,
v
left here last night on her maiden
voyage to Valdez. The boat has a ca
pacity load of freight and passen
gers.
The Valdez passengers are Robert
McLeod, Charles R. Crawford, wife
and child, J. C. Byard and wife, Felix
Steppe, A. Davis and wife; for Fair
banks via Valdez, Ray Hobart and
wife; for Latouche, M. Deegan.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—The
Chamberlain railroad bill passed the
House by a vote of 230 for to 87
against, the administration leaders
pressing the bill to a vote at this ses
sion rather than wait another week.
The majority was even greater than
sxpected by the administration.
The Mann amendment, giving to
the president the full power of oper
ating or leasing it at his desvcretion,
Mas passed by a large vote.
The Chamberlain bill is also
amended to allow for the direct ap
propriation of the $40,000,000 needed
From the treasury and not from the
sale of bonds as favored by the Sen
ate and also advocated by the dele
gate.
The amendment which provides that
the physical valuation of any railroad
should be the basis of the purchase
price and that no good will phould
be incorporated in the money paid
for existing roads, was defeated and
the matter is left to the president to
decide the value of any road purchas
ed and incorporated in the govern
ment system of roads.
SEATTLE, Feb. 18.—The people of
this town are parading the streets and
are manifesting great joy at the pas
sage of the bill. The Chamber of
Commerce will arrange for a large
public celebration when the presi
dent signs the bill and a large ban
quet will be given to the members of
the Washington delegation and to the
Alaskans who aided in the passage of
the bill.
As soon as the news was received
in Valdez, Fire Chief Finical ordered
the fire siren to be blown and the
people of Valdez manifested in many
ways their joy at the passage of the
bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18—Tbe
House today resumed the considera
tion of the Chamberlain railroad bill
and after a few members had
spoken the debate on the bill was
closed and the matter of voting upon
the amendments already proposed and
others still to be presented, com
menced.
It is expected that the bill will come
to a final vote towards the close of
the session today and that the opposi
tion to the measure will be over
whelmed by the majority given the
bill. All party lin s have been wip
ed out and Republicans and Demo
crats are voting for and against the
measure. President Wilson is using
his personal influence to keep the
Democratic majority in line.
So far the only amendment to the
bill that has passed the House is the
Mann amendment, which provides
that President Wilson shall have the
power to operate the road or he may
lease it if the government can secure
a fair bid. The amendment is aimed
at the Guggenheim interests, as Mann
claims that the Alaska Syndicate
would be the only bidder and could
dictate terms to the government un
less the president were authorized to
reject the bids and operate the sys
tem.
1L IS FIRST
SEATTLE PRIMARY
Leads Trenholme, Who is Second
Highest—The Two Will Fight for
Election as Mayor of Town.
SEATTLE, Feb. 18.—Hi. Gill, the
former mayor of Seattle, who was re- j
called because of the conditions al- |
lowed to exist by the police depart- j
ment under his administration, was >
yesterday elected at the preefrential ;
primaries as one of the two candi- |
dates who are to be balloted upon al
the coming municipal election. Gill I
was the high man and is followed !
by J. D. Trenholme, whose election j
is being urged by the reform element, i
The selection of Hi. Gill as first j
choice of the people did not come as j
a surprise to many as it was expect - i
i'd that he would receive a big vote. \
He has announced that he has for- j
saken his old habits and will give the
city a clean administration and that
the forces of the underworld, which
caused his recall, will not be allow
ed to rule the Spirit City.
Trenholme followers claim that at
the final election they will have a
walkaway, as the reform forces were
divided in the primary election, but
will all vote for Trenholme at the
coming election.
The Socialist candidate for mayor
was the third highest man and his
large vote caused great surprise.
HUNGER DRIVES GIRL
TO BECOME FOOTPAD
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Feb. 18.—
Miss Eliza Francis, a stenographer,
claimed to the police that she had
been held up by Miss Mary McCor
mack at the point of a revolver, and
when the authorities arrested Miss
McCorrrtack she told the police that
she had had nothing to eat for the
past week and was starving and final
ly decided to hold up some one In
order to secure enough to eat. The
police immediately gave the starving
girl a meal and sent her to the city
hospital for treatment. It is not ex
pected that the charge of highway
robbery will be prosecuted.
The Bible study class of the Con
gregational church will meet in the
lecture room of the church tomor
row night at 7:30 p. m. The class
is conducted by the pastor and in
teresting topics are discussed. The
increasing attendance', shows the
growing interest and you are cor
dially invited to attend. Keep the
date open and be there. Charlefc S.
Price.
The president of the Ladies Aid
takes this means of announcing that
there will be a business meeting of the
society after the tea of Thursday af
ternoon. Would like for all members
to try and be present.
Main springs 11.50. All, work de
livered on time. Plant & Co., jew
elers. tf
IMS MEET
ON SAME TICK
Cars Telescoped and Sixty Hurt -
Interstate Commerce Commis
sion Fixing Blame.
SPRINGFIELD. Mo., Feb. 18.—Two
passenger trains met on the same
track going in opposite directions and
running at top speed. As a result of
this sixty people are seriously in
jured.
The trains were operated by the
’Frisco line and the two engineers
each claim that the other is to blame.
The trains were hidden from each
other by a sharp (urve.
The Interstate Commerce Commis
sion will investigate the wreck, as
they are opposed to ha' ing two trains
on the same track running in oppo
site directions and intend lo see that
it does not happen again, at least not
for some time, besides which they
would take delight in punishing the
party guilty of negligence resulting in
the injury of sixty people.
All the injured were brought here
and cared for, a special train having
been sent to the scene of the disas
ter with doctors and nurses.
Caminetti Report* 1,197,000 Came
Here in 1913—Large Increase
Over Previous Year.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—Commis
sioner Caminetti, head of the Immi
gration department, reports that 1,
197,000 immigrants were admitted in
to the United States during the past
year. This is an increase of. 350,000
over 1912.
Since 1824 the repons show that
31,000,000 immigrants have entered
the United States. New York still
continues to be the port through
which more than half of all immi
grants reach this country. Many,
however,' come in via Canada because
of the many immigrant lines running
to Canadian ports.
Don’t forget the dance tonight at
Eagle hall. Everyone welcome. Ad
mission 31.00 for gentlemen. Ladies
free. Dancing from 9 to 12. The right
to refuse admission to questionable
persons is reserved by the committee.
Charles R. Crawford, superintend
ent of the Gold King Mining Co., ac
companied by his wife and baby, are
returning passengers on the Admiral
Evans.
Matinee at Orpheum Saturday.
RENEW THE WAR
IH THE BALKANS
Turks Are Preparing for Aggressive
Action Against the Greeks,
is the Report.
BUDAPEST, Austria, Feb. 18.—
Business men returning from the
Balkan states predict that the hostili
ties between the Turks and the Greeks
will be renewed in the spring and that
both the Turks and the Greeks and
Servians are preparing for the com
ing conflict.
It is generally expected here that
the Bulgarians will assist the Turks
in order to crush the Servians and
Greeks, provided some treaty of peace
can be made with King Charles of
Koumania, whereby the Roumanians
Will not attack the Bulgarians in the
rear.
_
Murdered Striker; Must Serve Time.
HOUGHTON, Mich., Feb. 18.—The
four mine guards hired by the cop
per operators to protect the mine
property, and who murdered a strik
er, are to serve fifteen years each in
the state prison for the offense.
Mill
SEATTLE AUTO
John Zug, Alaska Road Commission
Superintendent, is Serious
ly Injured.
SEATTLE, Feb. 18.—John Zug, the
Fairbanks superintendent of the Alas
ka Hoad Commission, now in this
city, was hit by a nautomobile yester
day and is now suffering from con
cussion of the brain. Zug says he re
members being taken to a drug store,
where he was treated and after re
storatives had been administered, he
thinks he was taken away by the au
tomobilist, and when he came to again
he found himself on the street alone.
He cannot remember anything that
happened between that time and when
he came to this morning at his ho
tel, and after a doctor examined the
injured man it was reported that he
is suffering with concussion of the
brain.
The police are Investigating the af
fair but are unable as yet to secure
any information leading to the iden
tification of the driver of the machine.
The Ladies Aid Society will hold
their monthly tea Thursday afternoon,
Feb. 19, in the lepture room of the.
Congregational church, commencing
at 2:30. All ladies of Valdez are wel -
come.
PASS LAND BILL
SAYS SECT LANE
Alaska Has Been Held Back While
Theorists Discussed Best Way
to Open the Country.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18—Secretary
Lane of the Department of the Inter
ior appeared before the House com
mittee on public lands yesterday and
spoke in favor of the adoption of the
Ferris leasing bill. The secretary
stated that Alaska development had
been hampered and retarded long
enough and that it was time that
some constructive legislation should
be enacted by the congress of the
United States looking towards the
opening of the coal and tile use of it
not only in Alaska, but also in the
markets of the Pacific coast cities.
“While theorists have been discuss
ing and arguing as to what policy
would best develop the territory of
Alaska, the population of the north
has been dwindling and the pioneers
have been robbed of the fruits of the
great work they have performed for
the people of the United States by
prospecting for the hidden leads of
gold, copper and coal," said the sec
retary.
ill utJitJiintf ui uit; it dsliifi pmu on -
retary Lane said that ninety per cent
of the coal lands of the United States
were being operated under leases
from the owners of the lands.
“The Ferris bill will open the coal
lands of Alaska, but will prevent the
monopoly of them by any group of
capitalists,” is the opinion of the head
of the interior department.
Alaskans Fighting Bill.
Many Alaskans in this city are op
posed to the leasing plan, as they be
lieve it will result In the control of
the coal fields by the Alaska Syndi
cate and that in the end the people
will pay excessive prices for fuel.
They point to the fact that under the
short term leases provided for under
the Ferris bill that only the man with
plenty of money can afford to take
the chance of opening the mines, up
on which he will have to install ex
pensive machinery.
They also point to the failure of
the leasing of the Seal islands by the
government to the North American
Commercial company, and claim that
greater waste and graft will follow its
adoption for the operation of Alaska’s
coal lands.
POWDER MIXING PLANT
GOES TO PIECES
BLAIRSVILLE, Pa.. Feb. 17.—The
mixing plant of the West Pennsylvan
ia Powder Company, located here, wqs
blown to smitherines today and the
two operators of the machines were
blown to atoms. Hardly a piece of
the two bodies can be found. The
shock of the explosion was felt for
thirty miles and many windows were
shattered.
General Agent Tracy Is making the
round trip on the Northwestern.
Masked Mob Take One of Gang Who
Murdered White Man and Force
Him to Jump to Death.
H KHMANDO, Miss., Feb. IS.
Masked men stopped the train at this
place on which the sheriff of the
county was conveying a number of
negroes, charged with the murder of
a mill owner, to the county seat for
safe keeping. The sheriff was forced
to give up his prisoners, when the
masked gang forced one of them to
jump to his death from a high trestle.
The body crashed to the bottom of
i lie dry gulley far below. When the
other negroes heard the terrifying cry
of their fellow prisoner as he leaped
to his death, and later the sickening
thud when the body reached the hot.
tom. they begged piteously for their
lives.
The sheriff pleaded with the gang
to allow the law to take its course
with the three remaining blacks and
promised that they would be given
speedy trial. They were turned over
to the sheriff again.
No arrests will be made, as the
sheriff says he does not know who th
men were. >
mm may
Would Like to Succeed Johnson a;
Governor of California—Expect
ed to Resign.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.—lT. S
Commissioner of Immigration Cam!
netti will resign in a few days, ac
cording to a report current in polit.
cal circles and will leave for Cali
fornia to commence a campaign t >
be elected governor of the state. '*
is stated that Caminetti has had some
friction with Secretary of Labor
Wilson, in whose department immi
gration matters are handled, because
of the Asiatic question.
Caminetti believes in exclusion ar.J
is anxious to have the latfs strictly
enforced to prevent Japanese, Hindus
and Chinese from entering the Unit
ed States and would bar all in spit"
of the diplomatic complications in
volved.
_ jj
i
Rev. James McBride and Wife Wilt
Journey to Bering Sea to Save
the Natives.
CHICAGO, Feb. 18.—Rev. James
McBride, a Presbyterian minister, ac
companied by his wife, will leave hete
in a few days for Alaska, They will
journey to the Arctic, where on ‘.lie
shores of Bering sea they intend to
establish an Esquimo mission to stive
the natives and bring to them Fie
gospel of Jesus Christ.
The funds for the mission have been
raised by the foreign mission board
of the Presbyterian church and will
be added to us needs demand.