A
Merry
Christmas
To Everybody
Sam’l Applebaum
I6L09 NO. 10, PIONEERS OF ALASKA, THIRD ANNUAL
__
| Mask Carnival 1
A. B. Hall, Iditarod
NEW YEAR’S NIGHT, MONDAY, JANUARY I
SEE LIST OF PRIZES AND THEIR DONORS IN NEWS COLUMNS
A SUPPER OF-DELICIOUS VIANDS
Under the Supervision of that V eteran Chef, FRANK KEENAN
—
Tickets on sale at all business houses in the district. $3 takes you
ail the way through
WANTED TO GO TO JAIL
TO SERVE OUT SENTENCE
When a nun is convicted of a crime or
misdemeanor, and the judge condescends
to suspend sentence, the culprit usually con
siders himself very lucky, and is glad to
take advantage of the liberty unexpectedly
THANKS
FOR YOUR
VERY LIBERAL CHRISTMAS
PATRONAGE.
GET YOUR MASK
FOR THE BIG
MASK BALL.
WISHING ALL
A MERRY CHRISTMAS,
TOO,
Ansleys
Store
IDITAROD, ALAC'AA
bestowed upon him. Not so with C. L.
Baker of Ophir, however, who was found
guilty of trespass in Commissioner Vinal’s |
l court at Ophir on November 25 last and
was fined $13. The convicted man re
fused to pay his fine and demanded that
he be allowed to serve out the penalty in
jail.
But here was where the rub came. There
, is no jail at Ophir, and it was necessary
| while Baker was in custody pending trial
| to keep him at the roadhouse, and he evi
l dently found his quarters comfortable. The |
j only thing for the commissioner to do was i
j to take him to Iditarod and have him eon j
j fined in the federal jail to serve out his j
j sentence, or to suspend the sentence. By }
the time the prisoner had been brought to i
this city his time would have expired al
most. and Commissioner Vinal, rather than
! incur the expense for the government, sus
| pended the sentence, incidentally giving him
' tome friendly advice.
Baker was found guilty of trespass on
; mining ground at the mouth of Gave creek !
1 claimed by John Rieck. This is the ground j
) that has been the subject of much comment |
recently. For years efforts have been made j
| to locate pay on lower Gane creek, but !
! without success, until Rieck came along j
, and restaked the claim. He commenced
development work and soon uncovered pay,
which created a ere: t deal of interest in
that section. Baker claimed the ground
on which Rieck had staked. The contro
versy resulted in the arrest of Baker for
trespass, and his conviction and the infiic
tion of the nominal penalty.
It is more than likely that civil pro- j
ceedings will be commenced.
--
For steam baths, go to the Snyder House, |
Flat.
_
DEC.25 1916
To One and Ali
A Merry Christmas
C. R. PECK FLAT
CANDY I
Society Chocolate Creams, per lb . 9 .75
Imperial Chocolate Creams, per lb . t.00 '
GASOLINE FLAT IRONS £eorn 8p®clal F,at |ron. ««<* . 7.bo
jnotUHL 1 Lrt I liXUlIJ American Flat Irons, each. 7.60
Tents, Tarpaulins, Nome Dog Harness, Webbing, Gasoline Lamps, Guns, Am
munition, Hardware, Stoves, Heaters, Furniture and Bedding, Rugs.
SMITH'S CUN STORE
IDITAROD, ALASKA PHONE 6 8ECOND AND WILLOW
THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING
(A Parody by Frank J. Bonnelle
How dear to thus heart is the stock
ing of childhood, when fond recol
lection presents it to view! On
Christmas St. Nick came from frost
whitened wildwood with every
loved toy which my infancy knew.
The wide-spreading chimney, the
sled which stood by it, a horse and
some books I remember them all
a doll for my sister, and baby house
nigh it, and then the full stocking
which hung on the wall—-the Santa Claus
stocking, the bountiful stocking, the
Christmas morn stocking which hung on
the wall! The well stuffed envelope 1
hailed as a treasure as early that morn
ing I opened my eyes, and found there
the source of an exquisite pleasure, the
purest and sweetest that nature supplies.
How ardent I seized it with hands that
were glowing, and back to my white
sheeted bed went with all; then soon,
with the emblems of love overflow
ing, was happy in what to my lot
did befall the Santa Claus stocking,
the generous stocking, the Christ
mas morn stocking which hung on
the wrall! How sweet through
its round open top to explore
it, as poised on my knee it
f inclined to my view! wot a
hot. tempting breakfast could
make me ignore it for
longer at most than a
minute or two. And
now, far removed from the
loved situation, the tear
of regret will intrusively fall
as fancy reverts to my youth’s
habitation and sighs o’er the
stocking which hung on the wall
the Santa Claus stocking, the plethoric
stocking, the Christmas morn stocking
which hung on the wall! But grown people
find there’s a later sensation as grateful as any they
felt long ago. It comes when they witness the glad
exultation which on Christmas morning their own off
spring show. And now, dear old Santa Claus, let me
petition your favor for children, both large ones and
small. . Bring all the bright hopes to the fullest
fruition that rest in each stocking which hangs
on the wall — the wealthy child's stocking,
the poor urchin’s stocking; yes, fill
every stocking which hangs
on the wall!
STORY OF A NARROW ESCAPE
FROM BEING MURDERED
BY TREACHEROUS NATIVES
The story published in The Pioneer of
November 25, from the Nome Nugget, tell
ing of the mysterious disappearance of two
men on the Innoko river “a year or so ago,”
and the belief that they were murdered by
Indians, has created a great deal of dis
cussion, ond while as yet there has been
no intimation of the identity of the sup
posed murdered men, there are many stories
going the rounds concerning men who have
disappeared on the trails and along the
streams of this section. One man tells of
the disappearance of a traveler on the win
ter trod between Ruby and Tan an a some
years ago which was never explained, al
though it was the subject of a grand jury
inquiry. He intimates that the known facts
were not brought before the grand jury.
All newspaper readers are familiar with the
story of the trial of Chief Toby at Fair
banks for the murder of an unknown pros
pector near the mouth of the Koyukuk; and
while the native was acquitted because of
lack of evidence, there was plenty of con
firmation of the fact that the man had
been murdered for his possessions, even
though the murderers escaped. There have
been numerous disappearances of prospec
tors and trappers in the Kuskokwim region
which have never been satisfactorily ex
plained, and which bore at least a suspi
cion of foul plav.
It is known that District Attorney Roth
himself is convinced that some of the mys
terious disappearances of the past few years
are attributable to the natives, and it was
with the view of sifting them to the bot
tom that the indictments were obtained
against Old Toby and another native, who
later was drowned in the Yukon while en
deavoring to escape from the officers.
The “Three Days’ Fast''
A peculiar thing about the stories of
missing men and the relation of the In
dians thereto is the continued reference to
the “three days’ fast endured by the na
tives on occasion. It appears that it is
customary among the aborigines of this
region to undergo this form of penance for
the commission of the crime of murder,
but whether it is a religious rite, a tribal
custom, or whatever its significance is not
generally known. The Indian traders are
spoken of as being familiar with this cus
tom, and yet there appears to have been
little or no curiosity or concern as to 'he
cause of these manifestation of crime. This
constitutes one of the mysterious features
of the situation—as though human life,
native or white, were of insufficient im
portance to form the basis of official in
huiry.
Tolstoi Man’s Adventure
Paul Keating, who conducts a general
merchandise store at Tolstoi, relates an
experience of his own in the fall of 1911
which gives color to the belief that the
natives are treacherous and cunning. Mr.
Keating says:
“Kenneth Whitehorn and I were going
to Ruby in the fall of 1911. It was about
:he first of October, and the water was
very low in the slough to the Yukon, and
he natives evidently thought that we were
he last who would be going through, and
vould not be apt to be found out. They
lad seen me collect money from the trader
a Holikachek, and my suspicions were
iroused because of their inquiries as to
whether we would leave that night or in
the morning. I told them we would not
go till morning, and as soon as they left
we started. 1 happened to remember two
men telling me in the fall of 1910 about
the natives there misdirecting them to the
, lower slough on their way to Iditarod, and
i firing a number of shots at them. They
. lay down in the boat and were not hurt.
They told the Watson family, who were
going to Iditarod in a smtli boat, and they
stopped at my camp and told me and
‘Ptarmigan’ Brown about it.
I “Whitehorn and I started through the
! slough, and traveled about six miles, and
were looking for a comping place that was
where a creek called Sucker creek came in,
when we heard a stick snap, and only one.
I thought at first it was a bear, and
grabbed by rifle, and then yelled to White
horn to get his gun ready. Then we went
across the slough and camped without
lighting up the tent. Next morning we
searched out the brush and could not find
any animal sign where we heard the noise.
1 am satisfied it was one of the savages
trying to get a winter grubstake, but he
thought he might get hurt after he made
the noise and I got my gun. But I think
if it had been daylight 1 would not be
telling about it now, as be had a ‘cinch'
in the thick brush, and we out on die
slough.
“A trader who is married to a native
woman informed me that his squaw told
him about several of the natives taking the
'three days’ fast,’ and it was not natives
they killed. It is a wonder to me that they
do not ‘get’ some of the traders, but I
think their nerve is poor.”
_ _A_
AMERICAN WRITER TELLS
OF GERMAN SPIES IN AMERICA
LONDON, Nov. 14.—D. Thomas Curtin,
continuing his series of articles in the Times
dealing particularly with “spies and semi
spies,” writes in his latest article:
“How active they (spies) have been in
the United States may be gathered from the
revelations concerning Von Bernstorff, Von
Papen. Boy-Ed, Duniba, the officials of the
Hamburg-American line and other machina
tions revealed in American journals.
“It is the duty of the German minister
and his staff in foreign countries, particu
larly countries likely to become hostile to
Germany, to get as close as possible to the
members of the government and legislature, 1
the leaders of thought, society and the press
-—especially the first and last.
“Von Bernstorff, in the United States, is ,
doing exactly today what Prince Lichi- i
nowsky did in England before the war, but
a deal more successfully. American am- j
bassadors confine their attention strictly to t
their ambassadorial work.
“The excellent German consular system, j
which has done much to hold German trade j
in adverse countries, is openly a spy bu- :
reau, provided to work in almost every im
portant center, each with its own secret j
service funds. The attaches are sines and |
semi-spies, such as housekeepers, hair dress- |
ers, tutors, governesses or employes of gov
ernment establishments, such as shipbuild
ing yards and armament factories.”
Spe: king of the measures which have
been taken by the allies to hinder transmis
sion of information from England and !
France to Germany, Dr. Curtin says these j
measures have proved a very serious check i
to the efficiency of the German spy system. |
“Take the great question, all important j
A
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
TO ALL
A. J. WEISS
'o Germany, whether Great Britain would !
enter the war in the eventlof the invasion !
>f Belgium,” he writes. "I am informed
on good authority in Berlin that from every
part of Great Britain and Canada came
reports of vast difference from the Germ; n
spies on this point. As far as London was
concerned, Prince Lichnowsky said ‘No/ and
Baron von Kuhlmann was non-committal.
V- a result, Lichnowsky is disgraced and
Kui lmaiiii is in favor.
“It is common knowledge in Berlin,” Dr.
Curtin adds, "that the most surprised per
son in Germany was the kaiser, whose vio- j
lent and continued denunciations of the i
Biiti>h government and of the late King
Kdward and King George are repeated in •
official circles with a sameness that indi
cates accuracy.”
SHORTEST DAYS PAST
Thursday last, December 21, was the '
shortest day of the year, by general consent,
although the 22d, Friday, was probbily of
almost identical duration, and today the
difference will be hardly perceptible. From j
now on the days begin to lengthen.
Dr. Moore, the Hat druggist, has grease |
paint and nose putty for those who wish |
to “fix up” for the masquerade ball. Also !
a full line of Gillette razors and blades.
THE WEATHER
The following table of temperatures is ;
from readings taken daily at 7 a. m. by
E. J. Smith. The minimum is for the [ire- i
ceding twenty-four hours. The third col- ]
umn gives the temperature for the corre- !
sponding date a year ago:
Pate 7 a. in. Min. 1U1.7
Dec. lti 12 14 12
17 . IS -20 - 28 l
18 . 20 20 37;
19 . 28 30 40
20 . 18 22 40 I
21 10 IS 1,V
22 . 4 — 8 4 !
--*
Robert Goebel of Otter creek, who is i
convalescing from the effects of a severe j
accident at the Riley dredge several weeks
ago, was a visitor in the city on Sunday
and Monday last.
_1_▲___
HENRY SIENKIEWICZ DEAD
_ i
NEW YORK, Nov. 16. Henry Sienkie
wicz. the Polish novelist, and author oi j
"Quo Yadis,” is dead at Yevev. Switzer- i
land, according to cable advices received |
here today.
WHAT A TOURIST HEARD
A tourist in Ireland came upon a couple j
of men "in holts” rolling on tlie road. The j
man on top was pummeling the other within |
an inch of his life. The traveler looked j
on in silence for a moment and then inter- j
veiled.
"I say, it's an infernal shame to strike a ,
man when he’s down.”
“Faith, if yez knew ail the trouble I had j
gettin’ him down yez wouldn't be talkin' j
like that,” came the intermittent reply. - j
Judge. _
SUSPENDED SENTENCE
Three-year-old Keith had told his mother
a deliberate lie and she had put him to j
bed as a punishment. Sitting by (tie bed- j
side, she asked him what he would do if j
he had a little boy who did such a thing. I
After a moment’s thoughtful silence the
child replied, “I fink I’d give him anover
chance.”—Christian Herald.
-♦
For steam baths, go to the Snyder House, j
Flat.
_ - -♦ j
Caps made to order. Furs repaired, j
Mrs. Shaller, Flat Citv.
--—
Fresh Olympia and Ovuters It .in i
pier can.
♦oooooooooooooooo^
* LOCAL AND PERSONAL 2
o o
♦O0OOOOO0OOOOOOOO*
The mail arrived on Tuesday evening 1 st,
and with the present condition of the trails
there is a likelihood that more time will he
made up this week. Henry Martella, the
carrier, expects to reach here tomorrow
with the next mi:!.
A. J. Weiss, the Flat clothier, was a vis
itor in the city yesterday.
Charles Stanford and Frnie Gove were
among the arm : !- from Tol-toi on Thurs
day last.
Mrs. Cus Christoph was t visitor in the
city from Flat on Thursday host
William Duffy, Sture Stenbcrg and Fedx
Riley arrived from Tol-toi In-t Thursday
Torn Kiilea left Flat on Saturday last c.n
a prospecting trip to the Kuskokwim
Harry Lawrence, the Northern Commer
cial Company agent at Tokotna, was a vis
itor in the city on Saturday and Sunday
la>t. He returned with a hesvdy loaded
>lcd.
C; plain 1'. G. Norton reached the city
last evening from Tol-toi.
Mrs. C. IT Crau-e vas in the city last
Tuesday on a short holiday shopping trip.
IN NEW QUARTERS
During the present week Captain hi uer
J. Smith, the local weather observer.
been moving his office and sled factory from
the municipal building to the large tw
story frame on Willow street lately occu
pied by Judge James C. Moody. The 1 ever
pert of the hou.-e is to be used for manu
facturing pr.rpt scs, while the upper room-'
will be fitted out as an observatory and
smoking rooms, because Captain >mi;h 1
iDefined to tnjov a smoke occasionally
--4.
REMEMBERS GERMAN POOR
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 21.- To the
poor people of Brnckcnheim, Germany. In*
birthplace. $25,000 is left by the will of
Henry Miller, who became known in the
West as the “cattle king,” and who wa*
the largest individual owner of land on
the Pacific coast. It is estimated that he
was worth $20.000.000.
Fresh Olympia and Eastern Oysters,
$1.50 per can. Iditarod Meat Cu.
- --♦—
CHRISTMAS GOODS
Will be on display about December 1 at
the Postoffice Store, Flat, Alaska, with the
usual assortment of Dolls. Books. Sleds,
Phooffies Children's Sets. Mechanical Toys,
Blocks, Games, Christmas Trimmings, Fresh
Candies, etc.
A. CHITTICK
FOR SALE
Two Yukon stoves, In good
condition.
Ladies' Furnishing Store
MRS. L. C. THORNTON, Prop.
Watches and Diamonds
At
STRICTLY OUTSIDE PRICES
J. L. SALE
FOR
GOOD potatoes and cigars
CALL UP
DCOIlllHOiOlOJlMtooHI
We Still Have Some to Wholesale
RING US UP ANY SERVICE WE CAN DO YOU - R,NG US UP
Marquette AA Rye National Club Bourbon
GEORGE MARSH BUDWEISER ID1TAROD FLAT CITY THE BRANCH A. D. CURRIE