Iditarod Pioneer_
one dollar fer MONTH IDITAROD, ALASKaTsATURDAY MORNING. MAY fe. 1916_ _CEWTO rEI1
GERMANY’S ANSWER
TO FRESHEST WILSON
IS PRACTICAL DEHANGE
WASHINGTON, May 5.—The unofficial text of
the German reply to the American note has been
received, and it is accepted as a flat defiance of the
/American position as outlined by President Wilson.
It charges the United States with being responsible
for the dangers imposed on its citizens traveling on
belligerent ships.
It is realized that the situation is fraught with the
gravest danger.
Was Received Yesterday
WASHINGTON, May 5.—The German reply to
the final American note on the question of submarine
warfare was handed to .Ambassador Girard at Ber
lin late yesterday afternoon. Officials here have yet
no definite idea as to what the contents are, but a
brief note from the ambassador creates the impres
sion that Germany has indicated that it cannot accept
the conditions proposed.
--♦ —- —
IMPORTANT MEASURES BEFORE CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, May 5.—The compensation bill,
providing benefits for government employes in case
of injury or disability, has been approved by tne
house judiciary committee.
The senate and house conferees on the army re- j
organization bill are deadlocked. They are unable
to agree over the details respecting the volunteer
army.
President Wilson insists upon the passage of a
bill appropriating $15,000,000 to build a govern
ment nitrate plant before adjournment.
The Hollis farm loan bill, to establish a rural
credit system, has passed the senate.
-♦
LABOR RIOTS IN PITTSBURGH ARE SERIOUS
PITTSBURGH, May 5.—Two men have been
killed in a battle with strikers, and scores wounded.
The United States district attorney will make an ef
fort to have the foreigners implicated in the riots
deported. Martial law has been declared, and the
mayor of Braddock, Pa., has dismissed the entire
police force of that city for refusing to attempt to
quell a riot.
-♦
TROOPS TO REMAIN IN MEXICO
TILL BANDITS ARE WIPED OUT
EL PASO, Texas, May 5.—General Obregon and
General Scott are reported to have agreed that the
United States troops are to remain in Mexico until
the bandit gangs are wiped out. It is expected that
the agreement w'ill be ratified by President Wilson
and Carranza.
Embargo Again in Effect
WASHINGTON, May 5.—The war department
has replaced the embargo on the shipment of ex
plosives and war munitions to Mexico.
The agreement between Generals Obregon and
Scott will be made public this afternoon.
--- ♦
BRITISH CRUISER BADLY DAMAGED IN ACTION
BERLIN, May 5.—The British cruiser Penelope
has been so badly damaged in a naval action that
she cannot be repaired.
Battle in Adriatic
BERLIN, May 5.—A battle in the Adriatic be
tween Italian and Austrian airships and warships
is reported to be in progress.
____
TREMENDOUS OUTPUT OF WAR MUNITIONS
WASHINGTON, May 5.—According to the April
reports of the treasury department, the shipments of
war munitions to Eurpoe during the past month
reached the immense total of $50,000,000.
-«
MANY FATALITIES RESULT FROM AIR RAID
LONDON, May 5.—Zeppelins raided the coast of
Scotland last mght, and as a result thirty-six persons
were killed. One airship was wrecked five miles
from Verdun.
-♦-—
WILL COMPLY WITH AMERICAN DEMAND
LONDON, May 5.—Thirty-eight German prison
ers, who were taken from American vessels by Brit
ish cruisers, have been ordered released.
-«
CONSERVATION OF DAYLIGHT IN GERMANY
BERLIN, May 5.—All clocks throughout the em
pire have been advanced one hour in order to con
serve daylight.
TERRITORIAL EMPLOYE DIES
Alfred R. Chantler, stenographer in the
office of Surveyor General Charles R. Da
vidson, dropped dead from an attack of
heart trouble at Juneau on the morning of
March 14. Chantler had just left his room
and was standing by the stove talking to
Mrs. L. P. Larson, at whose home he
roomed, when he died. He was 24 years of
age. Mr. Chantler arrived from Tacoma
early in February, starting to work in the
surveyor general's office on February 10.
and had been rooming at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. L. P. Larson since that time.
When he came out of his room he re
marked to Mrs. Larson, who was standing
by the stove, “Isn’t sleep a great thing?”
Those were the last words spoken by him.
As Mrs. Larson turned to answer him she
saw him fall. Chantler died instantly.
♦ -
James Finnegan, the Flat business man,
spent a few hours in the city on Monday
last.
HERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR LONELY BACHELORS
Postmaster William Ansley has received
a letter giving names and addresses of two
young ladies in Reading, Pa., who are well
recommended by an acquaintance of his,
who desire to correspond with two young
gentlemen in Alaska with a view to making
their future home “in this our beautiful
niggerhead empire,” as Bdl puts it, if, after
getting acquainted, satisfactory arrange
ments can be made.”
"Uncle Billy” adds the admonition:
“Get busy, boys. This may be a golden
opportunity to get a better half, to cheer
your drooping spirits, improve your appe
tites and make life worth living, as a man
who is past 30 and is without a home
doesn’t amount to much, for further in
formation call on or address the postmaster,
Iditarod, Alaska.”
Bill was asked why he himself did not be
come a candidate for the matrimonial
prize, and replied that he “already had one
on the string.” __
RUBY NEWS NOTES
(From the Record Citizen)
Among those who joined the rush to die
! Tolstoi were C. H. Stanford and Johnny
I Collins. Ed Fernald and Mike kaboski were
among the “sooners," and got in on what
! they consider most promising ground.
George Hoffman, a trader from Parks,
i lower Kuskokwim, was in town the first
j of the week, he having accompanied A1
1 Walsh over from the new stampede. Mr.
! Hoffman said things in that section of
the country were about the same as they ;
had been nothing new to report. While j
here Mr. Huffman made application for his j
final citizenship papers.
The left limit of Poorman e.reek still con- j
tinues to attract attention. Beginning at j
kittle Pup and extending from there down, i
the following outfits are endeavoring to line j
up the pay: McGettigan, Smith & Mossey,
Sutherland & Hutchinson, Shropshire & j
Ingstrom, Cook, Swindland & Hanson, John- j
son & Johnson, Osborne & Torrence, \ eck
land, Felton & Jensen.__
TOLSTOI RIVER DISTRICT STANDS GOOD CHANCE
OF BECOMING PRODUCER-NEW FINDS REPORTED!
Developments in the Tolstoi district continue to be the all-absorbing topic of conversation in this
city and district, and it is a dull day indeed which does not produce at least one new pay creek or new
pay on creeks on which discoveries already have been made. There appears to be a tendency in this j
case, as is usual with reference to the opening up of new mining districts, to hear omy the kind of news
that is of a boom character, and anything of a discouraging nature is cast aside as unreliable lhe Pio
neer believes that the public wants the news, whether it be good or bad, and tne tactics followed by
many of those who assume the task of disseminating information regarding the new district make it ex
tremely difficult to secure reliable information. The people of this city and district owe it to themselves
and to those who may be attracted to the new district by the reports of rich finds, to give publicity to re
liable information only. The publication of untrustworthy and false reports cannot fail to react upon
the city and district responsible for their circulation.
Truth Plenty Good Enough
And well-informed persons are generally agreed that the truth about the new district is plenty good
enough. Indications of extensive deposits of auriferoui gravels are everywhere apparent, and few camps
in the North which have turned out to be producers had better showings than the loistoi at its piesent
stage of development. . , ,
From a source which The Pioneer considers thoroughly reliable and disinterested we are able o gi\e
the following information: . , , ... ,
“There is bound to be a big stampede here, and it may make a camp. If it snould there wil be
better chances next fall. There is nothing like a ‘pay streak’ here yet. I believe that Boob creek is
merely a stringer. There are only two pay holes, and a lot in line with only colors. Ihey are not
doing anything in the shaft where the pay is; if they would it might demonstrate something, mas
todon creek has one shaft that shows pay, and that small. It is found to be very spotted. Ihey
have sunk shafts all around this pay shaft and crosscut the creek just below the pay shaft, and have
found nothing but colors. Two shafts show ten inches of 3-cent dirt. Wilson creek has one shaft
that they panned more than $1.50 from, coarse gold, there have been six shafts sunk all aroun
the prospect shaft and nothing has been found. I here are two Basin creeks, two Wilson creeks, an
a lot of claims given the same names. These are all old creeks, prospected on in 1907. 1 run imo
old shafts every day. * * * The formation of the country is good, and I am in hopes they will
dig up good pay, and there is a chance.
A! Walsh Is Favorably Impressed
A1 Walsh, the well-known local operator, who has been in the Tolstoi district since the nrot stam
pede there, with the exception of the time required to make a hasty trip to Ruby, returned to the city
on Wednesday evening last, and left later for Flat. Mr. Walsh, as is well known, never speaks for
publication regarding his own mining affairs, but it has been frequently reported that he has been bus
ily engaged in securing options on claims in the new district, and that his trip to Ruby was connecte
with a deal for securing ground on Boob creek. Asked as to tne outlook for the new district, r. a s
stated that the prospects were exceedingly good. He said, however, that comparatively little prospect
ing had been done, and he explained that usually the men who had staked claims would do sui cient
work to make a discovery, and thus perfect their claim, and then rush away to other holdings and do
similar work there. The result was that comparatively few men had settled down to thorough develop
ment work, and but few shafts had been driven to bedrock. There had been several new finds of more
or less importance, and in each case there had been small stampedes to the new location. The result
was that things had been very unsettled. He looked for thorough prospecting work to commence in
earnest now.
New Find on Madison Creek
Mr. Walsh states that new interest has been created in Madison creek, a stream that parallels the
Tolstoi, by the finding of pay that runs $2 to the foot, and that good prospects have been found on Es
meralda creek, a tributary of Madison. The Madison creek find was made by Harry Madison, a man
who has been in that district for the past ten years, prospecting and trapping. He is a Russian, and
he it was who bestowed the name of the great Russian author and reformer upon the adjoining creek,
Tolstoi. , , j
Mr. Walsh seems to think that a camp of considerable proportions is almost assured. He says
that there are now about thirty persons at the new town of Cooper, and that incorporation of the
future business center has either been accomplished or is in contemplation, and that an election to des
ignate the officials of the new municipality is to take place shortly.
Mr. Walsh is a musher of considerable note, and usually makes light of the difficulties of trail
travel. Therefore when asked about the trail he said it was “fine.” But it subsequently developed
that his trip was not what could be considered a pleasure jaunt. He brought with him his dogs, and
his experience in crossing swollen streams with sled and outfit would make an interesting story if c
would tell it—but he won t.
Other Arrivals Bring Reports
Dan and Andrew Olson, who have been in the Tolstoi district for the past several weeks, returned
! on Tuesday last, and speak optimistically of the future of the diggings. They will return to their hold
| ings in the fall. Speaking of the recent developments, the Messrs. Olson report that bedrock recently
! was reached on ground about four hundred feet below discovery on Boob creek, and that the results
obtained from pannings showed even better values than those which were disclosed on the Emmet
Fraction, the news of which was one of the causes of the stampede. They also state that the prospect
opened up on Wilson creek showed up fairly well, five pans disclosing values of 75 cents. The pros
pects on this creek are said to be remarkably good. Hurst creek is also reported to be showing up wel .
Herb Riley, who arrived in the city from the Tolstoi early in the week, stated that he and his part
ner, A1 Jones, working on a bench claim on Boob creek, had reached a depth of forty-five feet, the last
few feet in gravel. They had expected to reach bedrock the next thaw, when he was called home by
the serious illness of his wife. No reports have been received from the claim since he left.
It is probable that there will be few if any more arrivals from the Tolstoi until after the break-up.
While the news so far at hand apparently is not sufficient to warrant the statement that a camp of any
extent is assured, yet there is little doubt that what is already known is enough to start a stampede of
extensive proportions when the water runs. It is pointed out that the evidences of gold deposits of
extensive area which already have been uncovered constitute a good showing, and the average North
erner's well-known propensity to “take a chance” insures the belief that there will be a good-sized
movement to the new camp.
REVOLUTION IN IRELAND
COMES TO PITIFUL END
IN EXECUTION OF DUPES
LONDON, May 5.-—The revolution in Ireland has
subsided. One thousand men have been made pris
oners, four of the leaders have been court-martialed
and shot, and three have been sentenced to imprison
ment for life.
Sir Roger Casement, the head of the movement,
has been found guilty of high treason and will be
hanged.
Plea for Leniency
John Redmond and Sir Edward Carson, the Irish
parliamentary leaders, have pleaded for leniency for
the revolutionists.
Chief Secretary Discouraged
Augustine Birrell, chief secretary for Ireland, has
resigned, admitting failure.
More Executions
DUBLIN, May 5.—Four more leaders of the re
volt were shot this morning, and fifteen others who
were sentenced to death had their sentences com
muted later to penal servitude for life.
■ ♦
SELF-ACCUSED SPY WILL BE EXTRADITED
WASHINGTON, May 5.—Lincoln, the man
wanted by the British government for forgery, and
who has been fighting extradition on the ground that
he had operated in England as a German spy, and
would probably be executed, has lost his fight and
will be taken to England for trial.
-♦
SECRETARY OF NAVY GIVEN LIE BY ADMIRAL
WASHINGTON, May 5.—Rear Admiral Fiske,
who recently was ordered by Secretary Daniels to
refrain from reading a paper on naval affairs before
a convention in this city, has written a letter to the
senate in which he accuses the secretary of the navy
of falsehood.
FAILURE OF SIEGE OF YERDDN
SOGGESTED BY BRIEF DISPATCH
METZ, May 5.-—In anticipation of an attack
upon this city, the civil population is evacuating.
French Successes
LONDON, May 5.—During the past week the
Ge rman offensive has been pushed back in many
instances, and many German trenches in front of
Verdun are now in the hands of the French.
Norwegian Schooner Burned By Germans
LONDON, May 5.—The Norwegian schooner
Mars, en route to England with trench props, was
stopped by a German cruiser and burned.
For Supreme British Effort
LONDON, May 5.—David Lloyd George, British
minister of munitions, has made an appeal for the
immediate use of the full British strength in the field,
declaring that Russia needs time to equip an army.
-♦
LORIMER ACQUITTED, SEEKS VINDICATION
CHICAGO, May 5.—Ex-Umted States Senator
Lorimer has been declared not guilty of embezzle
ment in connection with the failure of his bank. He
states that he will again run for the senate as soon
as the depositors in the defunct bank are paid.
--♦
EFFECT OF THE WAR ON IMMIGRATION
WASHINGTON, May 5.—Immigration figures for
the month of April, just made public, show the
arrivals to have been fewer than in any month in
recent years. There has been a rapid falling off
in the number of immigrants ever since the start of
the European war.
-w-_
TO ASSUME SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE AIR
LONDON, May 5.—The Swedish government is
making an effort to have laws passed prohibiting the
passage of foreign air craft over Swedish territory or
tributary waters.
--♦
FATAL PEACE RIOTS IN MANY GERMAN CITIES
LONDON, May 5.—Peace riots in Berlin, Frank
fort, Bremen and other German cities have resulted
in many fatalities, the crowds being repeatedly
charged by the military.
--—♦
LABOR TROUBLES CAUSE POLICE TROUBLE
CHICAGO, May 5.—Police are on guard at the
plant of the International Harvester Company to
prevent trouble with the five thousand strikers.