VOLUME 18 VALDEZ, ALASKA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1»15. NO. J2«
AND DIFFICULTY
III FLDATIN6 LOAN
American Bankers are Not Subscrib
ing to Huge Loan for British
and French Bonds.
NEW YORK, Sept. 17.—It is re
ported in financial circles here that
the bankers arranging for the huge
loan to the British and French gov
ernments are finding difficulty in se
curing the promises of hankers
throughout the country to take part
in the big game of finance.
The original plans of the bankers
•were to loan $100,000,000 through
the banking house of J. P. Morgan
A Co., on British and French govern
ment bonds. The bonds were not to
toe guaranteed by other collateral as
has been the case heretofore when
European government bonds were
brought to.America, and placed with
hankers as security to protect the
bankers.
/ "Site failure of the bankers to co
Y^prate with the promoters of the
Kan is taken to indicate that Ameri
can financiers are not so sure of the
ultimate victory of the British allies
in the struggle now being waged in
Europe.
Reports have it that Morgan & Co.
are now considering the proposition
of making a loan of $500,000,000 to
finance the purchases of the British
government in this country. Ameri
can banks are flooded with gold but
they are timid about staking their
money on the chances of the allies
winning the war.
BRITISH AVIATOR
SINKS SUBMUE
Squadron Commander Bigsworth
Drops Bombs on German Craft
Off Belgium Coast.
LONDON, Sept. 17.—A German
submarine has been destroyed single
handed near Ostend by Squadron
Commander A. W. Bigsworth, who
dropped bombs from his aeroplane.
*V<3 llicial announcement of the feat
was made this morning as follows:
“The Secretary of the Admiralty
announces that Squadron Comman
der Arthur Bigsworth, R. N., destroy
ed single-handed a German subma
rine this morning by bombs dropped
from an aeroplane. The submarine
was observed to be completely de
molished and sank off Ostend.
“It is not the practice of the Ad
miralty to publish statements regard
ing the losses of German submarines
important though it may seem, in
cases where the enemy has no other
source of information as to the time
and place at which these losses have
occurred.
“In the case referred to above,
however, the brilliant feat of Com
mander Bigsworth was performed in
the immediate neighborhood of the
coast in occupation of the enemy,
and the position of the sunken sub
marine has been located by a Ger
man destroyer.
TWO INDICTMENTS
AGAINST ELLAMAR MAN
The Federal grand jury this fore
noon returned two indictments
against Frank Katema, a Japanese,
who has been living at Ellamar. One
of the Indictments charges him with
having sold intoxicating liquor to
natives without having . a license.
The second charges him with selling,
bartering and giving away spirits,
malt and liquors, to an Indian. He
■was .^arraigned at 2:00 o’clock this
afterhoon, but being unable to un
derstand English, his case was set
over until tomorrow morning, when
the services of an interpreter will be
employed. *
•*!
Hans Stelnfeldt, who has spent the
summer in the Slate creek district,
has returned to Valdez and reports
the roads tn the Interior in good con
dition.
STEFFENSON FOUND IN THE ARCTIC REGION
HAS DISCOVERED NEW LANDS AND PEOPLE
NOME, Sept. 17.—V. Stfeffau
son, the Arctic explorer who nas been
believed dead, as no word had been
received from or about him since
Marcli 22, 11)14, has been located
safe on Bailie Island in the Arctic,
and lias reoutfitted by purchasing the
steamer Polar Bear and a small
whaler also secured more provisions
and plans to continues 'lis explora
tions for two more years.
The news reached here last night
when the power schooner Ruby, com
manded by Captain Cottle, arrived
here with letters and messages sent
by Steffenson on August 16th.
According to Captain Cottle, the
winter camp of Steffenson’s party is
on Bank’s Island, many miles east
of Point Barrow, and the party will
push into the ice pack this fall and
drift with the ice. Steffenson left
Herschel Island on March 22, 1914,
and since that time has traveled thou
sands of miles in the Arctic ocean,
discovering new and unknown islands
with tribes of natives unknown to
scientists.
He returned to Bailie Island and
met the whaling fleet, and purchased
the power schooner Polar Bear, re
fitted it from the stores of the other
boats, and with Storker Storkerson
and Ole Anderson, who have been
with him the past two years, Steffen
son returned to his work of explora
tion.
V. Steffenson left for the Arctic in
the summer of 1913 with three boats,
the Karluk, Alaska and Mary Sachs,
t
BUYS WHALER POLAR BEAR AND REOUTFITS AT BAILLE ISLAND,
STARTS BACK INTO THE DESOLATE WASTES OF THE NORTH TO
COMPLETE HIS WORK.—HAS TWO COMPANIONS WITH HIM.
EXPLORER HAD BEEN GIVEN UP AS LOST BUT WHALERS
HAD BEEN ON LOOKOUT FOR HIM AND PARTY.—MOUNTED
POLICE WERE SEARCHING THE SHORE OF THE ARCTIC EAST
OF MACKENZIE RIVER.—STEFFEN SON LEFT BEHIND WHEN
THE KARLUK BROKE ADRIFT AND WAS LATER WRECKED ON
HERALD ISLAND ON NORTH COAST OF SIBERIA—PART OF THE
STEFFENSON PARTY LOST WHEN SHIP W AS WRECKED.—RES
CUED BY SCHOONER KING AND WINGE OF NOME.
the expedition being financed by the
Canadian government. Captain
Bartlett, who was with Peary in the
dash to the north pole, commanded
the Karluk. Late in the fall the-Kar
luk made winter quarters many hun
dreds of miles east of Point Barrow,
and Steffenson and two companions
left the ship to hunt caribou. The
hunting trip was a success, but when
the hunters returned to the point
where they expected to find the Kar
luk safe in the ice, they were amazed
to find the ship gone, and the sea
open because of a heavy offshore
wind which had opened up the pack
ice and sent the boat drifting west
ward.
Steffenson made his way to Point
Barrow, and securing several dog
teams and provisions, started out
eastward to seek the land of the
blonde Eskimos, whom he had dis
covered on an earlier trip. He left
winter quarters on March 22, 1914,
and disappeared in the wilds of the
North, and it was feared had been
lost when the news came from Nome
of the finding of the party on Bailie
Island.
The Karluk drifted westward dur
ing the winter. The big whaler held
fast in the icepack was finally crush
ed when near Herald Island, north
of Siberia, and the party made shore
in safety. Captain Bartlett and one
companion started south and fortu
nately caught a whaler on the Siber
ian coast and reached St. Michael
reporting the plight of the party.
The Canadian government request
ed the aid of the United States to
save the men and the revenue cutter
Bear was dispatched to the scene.
Jafet Linderberg, the millionaire
mining man at Nome, sent the Cor
win to the scene when the Bear was
driven back by the ice floes. Several
whaling ships tried to buck the
floes but failed and finally the Alaska
power trading schooner, the King
and Winge reached the island, saved
those still alive, and was returning
to Nome when the Bear appeared and
the entire party was saved. Several
of the party died, however, on the
island arid four of the party who left
Herald Island and started for the
mainland, were never heard of since.
The Canadian government had
planned to send a relief party north
to find Steffenson. It was also plan
ned to send an aviator and a power
ful aeroplane, so that the seas might
be searched for hundreds of miles
to locate the party. The plan was
abandoned because of the lateness of
the season, but several mounted po
lice had been sent down the Macken
zie river to the Arctic and then east
ward for hundreds of miles to find
trace of the party which it was fear
ed had exhausted the food supply
and might be starving.
TORONTO, Sept. 17.—Scientists in
this city who are interested in polar
work are greatly pleased at the news
from Nome of the safety of Steffen
son and his companions. They are
also gratified that the explorer has
discovered new lands and new tribes
and await with great interest the
full report of the discoveries that
will reach here on the first mail from
the north.
ENGINE TROUBLE
CAUSED DISASTER.
HONOLULU, Sept. 17.—Investiga
tion of the wreck of the American
submarine F-4 by naval experts show
that the disaster was caused by the
electrical engines failing to work. All
the fuses of the submarine were
blown, indicating that the engineers
had exerted their utmost efforts to
avert the disaster. The blame for the
disaster was believed to be due to
faulty construction of the craft, but
it has now been definitely decided
that the accident was due to failure
of the engines to work.
Members of Survey Party Drowned
While Crossing River in Poling
Boat—Bodies Not Found.
FAIRBANKS, Sept. 17.—Tele
graphic advices have been received
here from Nenana stating that two
men, Pat McHugh and George Mc
Faun, members of a party of survey
ors working for the Alaskan Engi
neering commission, were drowned
yesterday in the Nenana river. The
men attempted to cross the river in
a poling boat and being inexperienc
ed caused the boat to upset.
The Nenana river is very swift
where the men attempted to cross
and they were swept away before
assistance could reach them. Their
bodies have not been recovered and
are believed to have been carried
out into Nenana river.
VALDEZ EXPERIENCING A
FRESH MEAT SHORTAGE.
A shortage of fresh meats exists
in Valdez, and the supply of beef,
pork and mutton has been exhaust
ed. Big shipments are reported com
ing on the Northwestern due to ar
rive tomorrow afternoon, and until
its arrival Valdez citizens will be
compelled to get along on ham, bacon
and native spring chicken.
Jack Callin, of the Arcade Cafe,
wired to Seward in an effort to have
a supply brought over from the west
ward on the Farragut, but found
that the steamer had taken all the
available supply, as her stock of
fresh meats had been exhausted on
the trip.
GERMANS EXPECT RUMANIA
TO ENTER WAR IMMEDIATLY
BELIEVES THAT MOVE OF RUMANIA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A
DECLARATION OF WAR BY BULGARIA AND THAT GREECE
SOON WILL BE ENGAGED IN STRUGGLE—BRITISH TRANSPORT
REPORTED SUNK IN ADRIATIC—BULGARIANS OPPOSED TO
KING FORCING NATION INTO WAR—H1NDENBURG CAPTURES
ANOTHER CITY—ARTILLERY DUELS IN WEST.
COPENHAGEN, Sept. 17.—Ger
man papers received here publish ar
ticles stating that Rumania is ex
pected to enter the war at any time
and has concentrated her troops with
a view of striking at the rear of the
Austrian army which is pressing the
Russians back in the south. It is al
so predicted that the entrance of Ru
mania into the war veill be followed
immediately by Bulgaria's declara
tion of war against Rumania. Greece
is reported to have concentrated her
army on the Bulgarian border and
is preparing to enter the war.
British Transport Sunk.
VIENNA, Sept. 17.—An Austrian
submarine is reported to have sunk a
British transport which entered the
Adriatic sea to convey Italian.troops
to the Dardanelles. ~ The commander
of the submarRie reports that the
vessel sunk with her crew and pas
sengers.
Bulgars Opposed to War.
BUCHAREST, Sept. 17.—Strong
opposition has developed to the plan
of the Bulgarian government enter
ing the war as ally of the Teutons
and Turkey. The leaders of the op
position will appeal to the people, ex
plaining that the country is being
forced into the struggle through the
activities of King Ferdinand and his
followers. King Ferdinand is a Ger
man prince and his sympathies are
naturally with the Teutons, but the
Bulgarians regard an alliance with
Turkey as pernicious and sure to lead
to disaster.
Hlndenburg Captures City.
BERLIN, Sept. 17.—General Hin
denburg’s command has captured the
city of Vidzy, an important position
in the advance against the remaining
forts of Riga. The Russians offer a
stubborn resistance but were forced
to evacuate the city.
Artillery Duels in West.
LONDON, Sept. 17.—The fighting
along the western battle front has
been confined to artillery duels which
have waged incessantly during the
past twenty-four hours. It is the be
lief of military experts that the Ger
mans are preparing to charge the
British lines after having subjected
them to heavy Bhell fire.
ABLE ARGUMENTS IN
THE FISH CASE.
The attention of the Federal court
was occupied this forenoon by argu
ments in the fish case, in which Lib
by, McNeil & Libby, packers, are
charged with having wasted food
fish. The court room was crowded
to the door during the trial and the
arguments of counsel tye reported
to have been brilliant. The case was
given to the jury this afternoon.
Harry Liston, who was employed
by the Road Commission, has sold his
house to Andy Dleringer, and pur
chased frpm him a team of mules,
with whty$ he wiU so to Fairbanks
for the winter. His wife and baby
will accompany him.
WILLIAM SOULE LAID
TO REST IN SEATTLE.
SEATTLE, Sept. 17.—The body of
William A. Soule, the Valdez man,
who died as a result of injuries sus
tained when an automobile in which
he was riding turned turtle, was bur
led here yesterday. Deceased was a
a member of the Masonic order and
was burled by that fraternity.
INDICTMENTS RETURNED
AGAINST ALVIN LUND.
The Federal grand jury this fore
noon returned an indictment against
Alvin Lund, of Ellamar, charging
him with having sold liquor to In
dians.
Subscribe for .he Prospector.
MEXICANS KILLED
IN TRAIN WRECK.
LAREDO, Texas, Sept. 17.—Nine
ty soldiers, forming a part of Car
ranza’s army being sent against Gen.
Villa’s command, were instantly kill
ed when the train on which they
were traveling was wrecked near Sal
tillo last night. The train rolled
down a highf embankment and many
of the soldiers were pinned in the
wreckage.
The cause of the accident is not
known but is believed to be due to
spreading of the rails, as the road
beds have not been kept in repair
during the years of strife.
PACKERS TO FIGHT
FOR TREIR MONEY
Will Appeal to the American Govern
ment to Force Great Britain to
Make Payment for Goods.
CHICAGO, Sept. 17.—The Ameri
can Packers Association has announc
ed that it will fight the decision hand
ed down by the British prize court
making shipments of meat and can
ned goods contraband and subject to
confiscation. It is estimated that un
der the decision of the prize court
American packers will suffer losses
aggregating more than one million
dollars.
The packers contend that as the
shipments were not destined for any
county engaged in the European war,
but for neutral ports that Britain is
violating international law by inter
rupting trade between neutrol coun
tries. The packers will lay their
grievance before the Department of
Justice and are determined that Eng
land shall be forced to pay for the
goods siezed while en route from
America to neutral European coun
tries.
OKLAHOMA RIVERS
ABE ON RAMPAGE.
BARTLESVILLE, Ok., Sept. 17.—
The rivers in this state have flooded
vast tracts of ground and have swept
away many homes, leaving hundreds
of people destitute. It is estimated
that the loss from the flood will ex
ceed $500,000.' Weather indications
are better and it is hoped that the
floods will recede and the rainfall in
the upper reaches of the river has
ceased.
CANADA TO GET
MUNITION OODERE
Munition Manufacturers Being Urg
ed to Operate on Co-operative
Plan on War Orders.
TORONTO, Sept. 17.— Canadian
officials who have just returned from
England state that Canadian made
munitions of war are meeting with
favor among the fighting forces at
the front. All orders placed among
Canadian manufacturers have been
delivered on contract time and new
orders aggregating $65,000,000 have
been placed in Canada.
The officials also state that the
British government has recognized
the right of Canadian manufacturers
to bid on contracts which have here
tofore been awarded to American
manufacturers through the financial
house of J. P. Morgan & Co.
Every factory in eastern Canada
is being operated to capacity turning
out munitions and the manufacturers
are being urged to operate their
plants on the co-operative plan, simi
lar to that in operation in the Ford
automobile works in Detroit. The
argument is advanced that it is un
fair to expect the workmen to exert
their utmost efforts in their loyalty
to the mother country while the own
ers of the factories reap immense
profits from the government for the
prompt delivery of shipments.
MEXICANS MUST
CEASE FIGHTING
French Minister Satisfied that Inter
vention is the Only Cure for
Mexican Strife.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17.—The
representatives of the Latin-Ameri
can countries, who have been acting
in consort with United States diplo
mats in considering the Mexican
situation will hear the representa
tives of the different Mexican fac
tions in order to gain a complete
knowledge of the desires of the Mex
ican people themselves.
Not only the Mexican leaders of
the different fighting bands have
been requested to appear before the
conference, but prominent Mexican
merchants and ranchers have been
asked to express their opinions as to
the cause of the strife which is grad
ually depopulating the republic and
bringing untold misery to millions of
innocent persons.
The French minister has asked his
conferees as to what method they
were prepared to adopt to restore
peace in Mexico, should the Mexi
cans refuse to entertain the plans of
the Pan-American countries. He ex
pressed the belief that intervention
would have to be resorted to before
the Mexican people would have an
opportunity of electing a government
without interference on the part of
the different factions.
ALLIANCE WILL
COME TO VALDEZ.
SEATTLE, Sept. 17.—The Inde
pendent steamer Alliance, now in the
Southwestern Alaska trade and call
ing at Juneau, Ketchikan and other
Alaska ports, left here last night for
the north with considerable freight
for the town of Valdez, which has
been added to the ports of call of
the Independent line steamer.
ANOTHER SUBMARINE
TO BE DISCARDED.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 17.—
Secretary Daniels, of the navy de
partment, announced that lnvestiga- v
tion has disclosed the fact that the
submarine P-1 is unsafe and will be
discarded by the ;aavy. Since the
accident to the submarine P-4 which
submerged In the harbor at Honolu
lu and caused the deaths of her crfew,
the undersea crafts of the navy have
been given a thorough overhauling.