Iditarod Pioneer
ONE DOLLAR per month IDITAROD ALASKA. SATURDA Y~MORNINC. MARCH 17. 1917_2s cents per copy
CZAR NICHOLAS DEPOSED
IN EFFECTIVE REVOLT
PETROGRAD, March 15.—After a three days’ battle between
troops supporting it and those opposing it, a revolution has been
successfully effected in Petrogral. The casualties number 500. It
is reported that M. ProtopopoT minister of the interior, has been
killed. Emperor Nicholas has been warned that his dynasty and
even his fate depend on his acquiescence. The royal palace was
besieged by revolutionary trocps. The emperor himself is at the
front.
LONDON CONFIRMS REPORT
LONDON, March 15.—A successful revolution has taken place
in Russia, the reactionary party having been overthrown. It is re
ported that Czar Nicholas has abdicated.
DETAILS FROM BERLIN
BERLIN, March 15.—The Overseas News Agency reports that
the revolution in Russia was due to the disorganization of the
transport service, and that the population held the government
responsible for its sufferings. It says that the duma refused to
accept the imperial ukase of March 11, dissolving it, and continued
to hold meetings. An executive committee, presided over by L.
Rodzianks. president of the duma, has been elected and has de
clared itself to be a provisional government. It has proceeded to
take the establishment of public order into its own hands, arrest
ing all the ministers, who have been sent to jail. The army sup
ports the executive committee.
PREVALENCE OF GOOD ORDER REMARKABLE
LONDON, March 16.—The most remarkable feature of the
Russian revolution, says Reuters’ Petrograd correspondent, is the
speed with which the people have resumed normal life. Order is
the watchword of the day. and it even prevailed among the un
organized crowds during the height of the uprising.
A today’s Petrograd dispatch to the Chronicle says that ihe
Russian empress has been placed under guard. The new national
cabinet has been announced, with Prince Lvoff as president of the
council and premier. The other offices are held by men close to
the Russian people.
GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS ADVISED ABDICATION
PETROGRAD, March 16.—Grand Duke Nicholas, command
ing the Russian army in Transcaucasia, telegraphed to President
Rodzianks of the duma today that in agreement with General
Alexeiff, the Russian chief of staff, he advised the czar to abdi
cate. Such action, he held, was a possible step to have Russia
bring the war to a successful conclusion.
—-—♦
GERMAN NATION, WHILE SUFFERING MUCH,
BELIEVES SUBMARINES WILL YET WIN WAR
WASHINGTON, March 15.—Ambassador Gerard has arrived
here, and in his first report to Secretary of State Lansing he repre
sents the Germans as enduring hunger and privations of all kinds
with grim stolidness. They are confident that the submarines will
eventually win the wrar. Germany, says the ambassador, can hold
out for another year.
Sign* of Imminent Breakdown
HAVANA, Cuba, March 12.—Ambassador Gerard arrived here
today. He declined to make a statement, and expects to depart
immediately for Washington. He will confer with President Wil
son before talking for publication. Members of his party, how
ever, declare that Germany’s food supply is very short, and that
the mortality among infants and aged persons is high, due to lack
of nourishing food. The shortage of nitrates and metals is greatly
curtailing the munitions output. Confiscation of private property
is being considered to avoid repudiation of war indebtedness. The
empire is close to bankruptcy. These things are looked upon as
signs of an imminent breakdown.
-.-«
FRENCH WIN SUCCESS IN MACEDONIA
AND BRITISH THREATEN TURKISH ARMY
BERLIN, March 16.—French troops have carried the ad
vanced trenches on the Macedonian front, in the region of Mon
astir, and an important battle is imminent.
PETROGRAD, March 10.—A Russian advance from the east
and British successes near Bagdad have imperiled a large Turkish
army, which is now threatened with being cut off from the main
Turkish force, according to official announcement made today.
LONDON. March 10.—The Chronicle says that it is virtually
certain that the British have taken Bagdad. The Turks are re
ported to be fleeing from the Russians in various parts of western
Persia.
A BAD GUESS FROM STOCKHOLM
STOCKHOLM, March 12.—Serious food riots, coupled with
peace demonstrations, are taking place in both Petrograd and
Moscow.
ALLIED AIRCRAFT COME TO GRIEF
BERLIN, March 12.—Germans shot down four of a squadron
of seven aeroplanes in the British service today, and three other
allied aircraft.
FRENCH REPULSED IN ANCRE DISTRICT
BERLIN, March 12.—Heavy fighting is reported in the Ancrc
district, the French being repulsed at many points.
TERRIBLE TOLL TAKEN OF GERMAN SUBMARINES
WASHINGTON, March 13.—Sixty German submarines were
captured or destroyed between January 1 and February 15, ac
cording to reports received today.
---
DEADLOCK IN TERRITORIAL SENATE
IS BROKEN BY ELECTION OF HUBBARD
JUNEAU, March 16.—The deadlock in the territorial senate
was broken yesterday by the election of Senator Hubbard of the
Third division to the presidency over Senator Sutherland of the
Fourth division. He has named the following committees, the
first-named senator in each instance being the chairman: Finance,
Contingent Expenses, Corporations and Printing—Gaustad, Heck
man and Aldrich. Roads, Transportation and Taxation Aldrich,
Sutherland and Ronan. Elections, Election Laws and Rules
Sundback, Sulzer and Ronan. Education, Engrossment and En
rollment—Ronan, Gaustad and Sulzer. Fisheries, Game and Ag
riculture—Heckman, Sutherland and Sundback. Judiciary and
Federal Relations—Sutherland, Aldrich and Ronan. Mining, Man
ufacturing, Labor and Capital Sulzer, Ronan and Sundback.
The house also adjourned after a short session. Two bills
were introduced, one by Benson, providing an eight-hour day for
women employed in all occupations except housework, and one
by Sowerby, by request, defining the duties of commissioners un
der Section 366, Compiled Laws of Alaska. The house passed
resolutions of sympathy with Representative McCormack, whose
died laei Tuesday. ^_; ^_i. __f .
TOLL OF WAR’S VICTIMS
REACHING FRIGHTFUL TOTAL
WASHINGTON, March 12.—'Ten million
men have been killed, wounded, captured or
are missing in the European war, according
to the first complete tabulation of official
Ind authenticated reports of the various
belligerents received here. Among the mili
tary proper 4,421,200 are reported dead.
-«
OFFICERS OF STEAMSHIPS
DISCIPLINED FOR COLLISION
SEATTLE, March 13.—A fine of *50 was
Assessed against each navigating officer and
*200 against each vessel in the matter of
the collision between the steamship Hum
boldt and the Mexican steamship Provi
dencia last winter for exceeding the speed
limit during a fog.
CONSPIRATORS CONVICTED
LONDON, March 10. Mrs. Alice Wheel
rlon, her daughter, Mrs. Winifred Mason,
and the latter’s husband, Alfred George Ma
son. were found guilty today of conspiracy
to murder Premier Lloyd George and Ar
thur Henderson.
FIRST ANCHORAGE SAILING
SEATTLE, March 10.—The Admiral Far
ragut will be the first passenger vessel sail
ing direct for Anchorage this spring, the sail
ing date being April 1.
BIG ORDERS FOR MATERIAL
FOR GOVERNMENT ROAD
SEATTLE, March 10.—Purchasing Agent
Dole of the Alaska engineering commission
placed an order today with the United States
Steel Products Company, amounting to
$467,000. for 10.000 tons of 70-pound steel
rails, bars, bolts and spikes for delivery in
the spring of 1918. It is a duplicate of the
order placed a month ago for this spring’s
delivery.
PERSONNEL OF TARIFF BOARD
AN0UNCED BY PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, March 14.—President
WTilson today announced the completed
tariff commission as follows:
Professor Frank W. Taussig of Harvard.
William Kent of California, a cattleman,
and former congressman.
Congressman David D. Lewis of Mary
land.
Daniel C. Roper of South Carolina, now
first assistant postmaster general.
E. P. Costigan of Colorado.
W. S. Culbertson of Kansas.
—— -♦
SPLENDID SPORT PROMISED
IN TODAY’S DOG-TEAM RACE
IF WEATHER IS FAVORABLE
If the weather prove auspicious today
there promises to be some fine sport in the
dog-team race provided by the. Pioneers in j
their celebration of St. Patrick's day. Up
to Thursday no entries had been made with
Secretary Farrell, but it is understood that
at least three teams will be entered, and
possibly more, contingent upon weather con
ditions. The three teams assured for the
race are those of Sture Stenberg, Cyril
Wood and Garrison Costar. Stenberg will
drive a team of light dogs, with the famous
leader which has participated in winning
races heretofore. Cyril Wood will drive
the team of huskies belonging to Ira Wood,
and Mr. Costar will drive a team of bird
dogs. All have entered into the spirit of
the contest, and for some time past have
been putting their animals through a severe
course of training. Should there be a pos
sibility of a heavy trail it is likely that there
will be other entries of heavy dogs.
There appears to be a disposition on the
part of the dog fanciers to pick Stenberg
for the winner of the race, but there are
possibilities of a splendid contest, and it is
conceded that the race will not be won until
the finishing point is reached.
-«.
DENIZENS OF UNDERWORLD
GIVEN NOTICE TO VACATE
Deputy Marshal Percy Charles paid a
visit to Flat during the early part of the
week, and as a result of his visit there is
grief among the denizens of the under
world. After investigating the conditions
there the deputy marshal gave notice to
the frail sisterhood that they must make
immediate preparations to vacate the pres
ent restricted district, and take up their
abode outside the confines of the town of
Flat.
The action of the marshal was taken as
a result of many complaints of disgraceful
scenes enacted on the public streets of the
town. The restricted district is in the Very
heart of Flat, and the flaunting of vice in
the faces of the inhabitants has been any
thing but edifying.
It is understood that a new restricted
district will be set aside for them below the
‘own.
-«-—
Fritz Wolters of the Ditna roadhouse and
Arthur Malette, the well-known old-timer,
*re among the visitors in the city for the
JSt. Patrick’s day celebration.
TRIAL OF HI SILL
IS SENSATIONAL
Damaging Testimony Introduced to
Show That Mayor Accepted
Money from Billingsley
SEATTLE, March 10. The trial of Meyor
Hi Gill and others for conspiracy developed
some sensational testimony yesterday. Lo
gan Billingsley testified that he paid Mayor
Gill $4,000 in currency on the afternoon of
August 30. The statement of the witness
came as a dramatic climax to a long line of
sensational testimony. The crowd in the
court room hung breathless upon his words.
The bribe that Billingsley testified to was
paid to the mayor in the office of Chief of
Police Beckingham.
“I took the money out of my pocket and
laid it on the desk in front of the mayor.”
said Billingsley. “He picked it up and put
it in his pocket.”
Today Billingsley, on cross-examination,
swore that George Vanderveer, formerly his
attorney, arranged the preliminaries, and
told him not to offer Gill less than $7,500.
It was brought out that witness had gone
to Portland with a woman not his wife,
where he registered as “H. Clay Allen and
wife,” using the name of the United States
attorney.
A Marvelous Witness
SEATTLE, March 12. The econd week
of the Gill trial opened with Billingsley still
on the stand. He is proving a good deal of
a marvel as a witness. He testified today
that he gave Rev. Dr. Matthews $1,000 to
hire detectives to get evdience on which to
base recall proceedings against Gill. He also
said that he gave John Evans, a Times re
porter and an ex-convict, now a fugi
tive, $50.
Corroborates Billingsley
SEATTLE, March 13.-y. H. Davis, pro
prietor of the Hotel Washington, today con
firmed Logan Billingsley’s statement that
the latter got a roll of currency from him
during the latter part of August, but said
it was August 29 instead of the 30th, as Bil
lingsley had testified.
Showing That Bribe Served Its Purpose
SEATTLE, March 14.—Sergeant Putnam"
testified today that Chief of Police Becking
ham had forced him to give up papers seized
from the Billingsleys, to whom they were
later returned by the mayor.
Prosecuting Attorney Lundin swore that
Beckingham and Gill blocked his efforts to
secure the same papers.
The government introduced evidence
showing that the Billingsleys were never
arrested after the date of the alleged pay
ment of the bribe to Gill, though Putnam
had informed the mayor that they were
still operating.
--♦
URGE WOODEN VESSELS
FOR TRANSATLANTIC TRADE
WASHINGTON, March 14.—'The federal
shipping board has assembled the wooden
ffhipbuilders of the country here to advise
with them and to devise means of at once
constructing a great fleet of wooden vessels
(or the transatlantic trade.
ALASKA POSTMASTERS
WASHINGTON, March 12.-- Postmasters
for Alaska have been appointed as follows:
C. Doty, at Tyee, a new office on Baranoff j
island; William C. Freebirn, Chicagoff; Max
Simel, Cripple; G. H. Jernegan, Dolomi;
Emrys B. Morgan. King Cove; Conrad
Freeding, Taylor.
TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES
UTICA, N. Y., March 10.—An incendiary
fire was discovered today in the plant of the
Savage Arms Company, manufacturers of
the Lewis machine gun.
OLYMPIA, March 10.—Supreme Justice
Morris is very low, as the result of an opera
tion for appendicitis.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 10.—A
powerful chemical bomb was found in the
Union passenger depot today. It weighed
seven pounds.
LONDON, March 10.—The condition of
the Duchess of Connaught, who is suffering
from pneumonia, is reported to be very low.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 12.—Nearly
fifty bodies, twenty-four of which were those
of women, were recovered from the ruins
at Newcastle, which was struck by a tor
nado.
WASHINGTON, March 14—Bids are to
be opened for six cruisers having a speed
of 35 knots.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., March 10.—It is
reported that Governor Johnson will resign
the senatorship, to which he was recently
elected, and retain the governorship.
WASHINGTON, March 16.—Rear Ad
miral Cottman, retired, died here last night.
FOR “BEATING” ROADHOUSES
James Reid was arrested on Thursday
last on a warrant charging him with viola
tion of Chapter 14, Session Laws of 1915,
making it a misdemeanor to “procure food
or lodging frpm hotels, inns, boarding or
lodging houses by false representation,” and
providing punishment for its violation. He
will be taken before Commissioner Vinal at
Ophir for trial. A woman known as “Big
Aggie,” who keeps a roadhouse on the Ophir
Tolstoi trail, is the complaining witness.
-4
John H. Scott, wife and son, accompanied
by Mrs. Ellinor, arrived last Thursday even
ing from Dikeman, aboard ’Gene Norton’s
sled-boat Nortonia.
INVENTOR OF WAR MACHINE
GOES TO MEET HIS MAKER
ROTTERDAM, March 12.-Count Zeppe
lin, inventor of the dirigible airship which
hears his name, is dead. He will be buried
in a simple vault which he himself erected
several years ago, his widow having de
clined the honor of burial in the royal vault
at Wurtemburg cemetery.
SAN FRANCISCO MAN
TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, March 12.—Secretary of
'the Interior Lane has announced the ap
pointment of T. C. Bradley of San Fran
tisco as assistant secretary of his depart
‘ment, succeeding Stephen T. Mather, who
fis to become director of the national parks
service.
-*
PUNISHED FOR SABOTAGE
FLORENCE, S. C., March 10. -Eight of
ficers of the German freighter Liebenfels,
which was sunk in Charleston harbor, have
been sentenced to a year's imprisonment in
the federal penitentiary at Atlanta, and to
pay a fine of $500 each.
AMBASSADORAT HIS POST
MEXICO CITY. March 10.—Having pre
sented his credentials to General Carranza
at Guadalajura, United States Ambassador
Fletcher arrived here today.
GERMANY PROVIDES REASON
FOR HOLLAND'S NEUTRALITY
COPENHAGEN, March 13. Five Ger
man army corps, concentrated on Holland’s
frontier, furnish fairly convincing explana
tion, in default of other reasons, for the
failure of the Dutch government to adopt
the policy toward Germany’s unrestricted
submarine warfare recommended by Presi
dent Wilson.
LIKE THE WANDERING JEW,
HE MUST TRAVEL ETERNALLY
WASHINGTON, March 15.—Franz Karl
Ziutelman, German consul general in the
Philippines, is traveling back and forth on
the Pacific ocean, unable to land. San Fran
cisco, Honolulu and Yokohama are closed
to him, and he is now head for China,
which has just broken off relations with
Germany.
-
CONDITION OF PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, March 12 - President
Wilson’s condition continues to show im
provement, but he is still confined to his
bed. He was able to sit up yesterday after
noon.
--4
PIONEERS’ DANCE TONIGHT
TO BE SCENE OF MARRIAGE
OF WELL-KNOWN COUPLE
The Pioneers’ dance tonight is to be a
memorable occasion. For the first time in
the history of the camp there is to be a
public wedding, and it is looked upon as
most fitting that one of the participants is
the ceremony is not only a Pioneer, but one
of the best known and most respected of
the tribe of trail-breakers.
When the c'ommittee in charge of the ar
rangements for the St. Patrick’s day ball
learned that ’Gene Norton and Mrs. Elb.nor
were to be married today, they waited on
the happy couple and invited them to have
the ceremony performed at the Pioneers'
dance, in order that their hundreds of
friends might be present and participate in
the felicitations of the occasion.
Mr. Norton, with characteristic frankness,
accepted the invitation for himself and the
bride-to-be, and Commissioner Geraghty
will perform the ceremony at 10 o’clock
this evening in the presence of the Pioneers
and their guests.
Mrs. Ellinor, the bride-to-be, is an esti
mable lady who came to Alaska last summer
to find change and rest from her arduous
life-work as a professional nurse. She had
never been in the North before, although
her professional services with the hospital
corps of the army had taken her to distant
parts of the world. She found the life in
Alaska congenial and determined to remain.
Mr. Norton is one of the real oldtimers of
the North, having been in Dawson in early
days and later in the Fairbanks country.
He was one of the early arrivals in this
camp, and is known and respected by every
resident of Iditarod and surrounding coun
try. The happy event this evening will be
the occasion of sincere congratulations by
his hundreds of friends.
The committee of the Pioneers is busily
engaged in the preparations for tonight's
events, and announce that the music will
be furnished by Messrs. Costar and Jacobs,
and the lunch will be served by Harry
Nonagaki and a corps of competent assist
ants.
It is needless to say that the event is be
ing looked forward to with unusual interest
by all residents of the district.
--—«
Attorney Charles E. Taylor left last week
for the Marshall camp on a business mis
sion.
SUBMARINES LOOKED FOR
IN AMERICAN WATERS
WASHINGTON, March 12.—Within six days, in th* opinion of
naval authorities in Washington, German submarines will appear
off the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, ready to pounce
upon any shipping which attempts to leave American ports. This
is the explanation given for the sudden cessation of the sinking of
merchant vessels last week. The state department has been ad
vised that armed merchantment have the right to shoot German
submarines on sight, and the President announces that he is free
at once to arm American merchantmen against German sub
marines operating in violation of international law. All plans for
the arming of vessels have been completed, and they will be mov
ing within a few days, though nothing must be printed as to time
of departures.
The President has decided to call an extra cession of congress,
to meet April 16.
WILL SOUND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
WASHINGTON, March 16.—Because some foreign govern
ments are inclined to object to the harboring of armed American
merchantmen, this government has inquired of European nations
whether they would agree to admit such vessels.
GERMANY EXPECTED TO DECLARE WAR
WASHINGTON, March 13—Persistent reports are in circula
tion to the effect that Germany will reply to the arming of vessels
by the American government with a declaration of war.
AMERICANS ON BOARD TORPEDOED VESSELS
Consul Frost, at Queenstown, today cabled that the Belgian
relief ship Storstad had been torpedoed without warning from a
distance of four hundred yards. She carried neither guns nor
wireless, and made no attempt to escape. John Roy Christin of
Seattle, the only American on board, was saved.
Consul Frost also cabled that the Cunard liner Folia, carrying
no passengers, was sunk off Waterford. The survivors were landed
at Dungaron. The sole American on board was the surgeon, W.
C. Cole of Nashville, and he was saved uninjured.
AMERICAN LINER SUNK WITHOUT WARNING
LONDON. March 14.—The American liner Algonquin, which
sailed from New York on February 20, laden with foodstuffs, has
been torpedoed without warning by a submarine, which refused
the crew any assistance, according to American Consul Stephens,
at Plymouth, though all were saved.
NEW YORK, March 14.—The American line Bteamship Al
gonquin was in command of Captain A. Norberg, a naturalized
American. W. T. Holmes of Chicago and Charles Schultze of
Brooklyn were the only American-born persons on board.
NEW SHIPS FOR THE NAVY
WASHINGTON, March 15.—'The navy department today
awarded contracts for new ships at a total cost of $136,000,000.
Included are five battle cruisers, costing $19,000,000 each, and six
scout cruisers, at a cost of $6,000,000 each. The Seattle Drydock
& Construction Company and the Union Iron Works of San Fran
cisco were each awarded two scout cruisers.
WARREN LINE STEAMSHIP SUNK
BOSTON, March 15.—Agents of the Warren line announced
today that they had received indirect word that the British steam
ship Sagamore, which sailed from Boston for Liverpool on Feb.
20, has been sunk.
BEACH PATROL ESTABLISHED
GALVESTON, March 16.—Under the direction of the coast
guard service, a twenty-four-hour beach patrol has been estab
lished here.
CHINESE REPUBLIC, FOLLOWING OUR LEAD,
BREAKS OFF RELATIONS WITH GERMANY
WASHINGTON, March 14.—China has severed diplomatic re
lations with Germany, and has taken possession of all interned
German merchant ships at Shanghai, placing their crews on shore
under guard. Armed guards have been placed on board the ves
sels.
Minister Reinch, cabling from Pekin, says that the German
minister has been handed his passports.
LEGISLATURE BACKS UP GOVERNMENT
PEKIN, March 12.—The house of representatives, in secret
session, today approved the government’s diplomatic policy, in
cluding the rupture with Germany.
BREAK CAUSED BY SUBMARINE WARFARE
LONDON, March 13.—A dispatch to Tokio says that China has
broken off diplomatic relations with Germany because of the sub
marine warfare.
EXPLANATION IS DEMANDED FROM TOKIO
WASHINGTON, March 13.—The state department today or
dered an investigation into the arrest and detention of Professor
Ralph Hoyt Thayer of Utica by the Japanese authorities at Tokio.
-#
LIBERAL PROMISES TO GERMAN PEOPLE
ARE MADE BY CHANCELLOR OF EMPIRE
LONDON, March 16— A political reorganization of the Ger
man empire after the war, involving a greater share by the people
in the conduct of imperial affairs, was predicted by Chancellor Von
Bethmann Hollweg, in a speech before the Prussian diet, according
to a Berlin dispatch to Reuters by way of Amsterdam.
-♦--—
PRESIDENT EXPRESSES HIS AMAZEMENT
AT CONTEMPLATED RAILROAD STRIKES
NEW YORK, March 13.—Information received by the na
tional conference committee, composed of the managers of the
great railroad systems, which was made public today, indicates
that the four brotherhoods of railroad employes have now com
pleted arrangements for a progressive series of strikes, beginning
at 6 o’clock on Saturday night, if the conference on the eight-hour
question, to be held here Thursday, fails to reach a satisfactory
agreement.
THE PRESIDENT’S FRAME OF MIND
WASHINGTON, March 14.—President Wilson expresses him
self as amazed at the plan for a nation-wide railroad strike at
such a critical time as the present.
The indications are that President Wilson will be asked to
mediate in the threatened railroad strike.
WOULD ACT AS MEDIATOR
WASHINGTON, March 16—President Wilson will act on a
suggestion by the railway brotherhoods or the managers that he
mediate between them if sueh suggestion should reach him.