OLD PRO SPEC TOR
TAKES OWN LIFE
Pausing long enough to write his regrets for the deed he must
do, and wishing the people of Tanana the best of holiday greet
irgs, Fred Mattfeldt, nn old timer who has been in Alaska many
years and is widely known, shot himself through the head at Fort
Gibbon December 17, in the afternoon, causing instantaneous
death.
The self destruction was brought about by long continued i’l
ness which preyed upon his mind. He believed himself to be be
yond medical aid, and decided to make an end of it.
Mattfeldt had taken in many stampedes in this country, and
has mined at Glen Gulch, Rampart, Fairoanks, Chandlar, Novi
kaket. He was at one time a brickmason in San Francisco, and
was believed to be a Mason. In a most pathetic letter he gives the
reasons for suicide, as follows:
Tanana, Alaska, December 10, 1910.
Sirs:—As I am sick and have been ever since last June am not
able to work any longer, I have therefore taken this step to end my
distress.
I know it is not right for a man to take his own life as he will
be considered insane, but in my case the true conditions are as 1
have stated above.
I had some money borrowed but have paid all my debts which
leaves me now’ in poor circumstances Some money will be found
in my clothes and I have a little coming to me for what wood I cut
for Mr- J. Dehn. Yes, and I am sorry that I can’t cut some more.
Now will you, kind sirs, please use your influence with the cit
izens of Tanana and see that this poor unfortunate prospector is
buried, as I have never done anything great you can believe me 1
have never done no man a wilful harm. Wishing all a Happy
Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
T. H. Mattfeldt, Tanana.
WHISKERS
Man shaves with all his might and keeps the lather flowing;
he shaves by day and night, and whiskers keep on growing.
The corn may wilt and die in hot winds that are blowing be
neath a brazen sky, but whiskers keep on growing. The crop
of wheat may fail, the oats may make no showing, while ruined
farmers wail, but whiskers keep on growing. I’ve lost my
crop of beaus, there are no peas surviving; but still my whisk
ers are flourishing and thriving. The plants that bring us
men all kinds of care are needing; we labor in the sun, at hoe
ing and at weeding; when shipped, they bring us dough, to
pay us for their crating; and still our whiskers grow, and need
no cultivating. We do not sprinkle them with Paris green and
water, the ravages to stem of bugs that gnaw and slaughter;
we do not set up poles between friskers. Our whiskers need
no care, no chemicals to nourish; they rear their fronds in ait
like island palms, and flourish. But in the marketplace, where
people buy and barter, the whiskers on your face won't bring
a bogus quarter. And that’s the way things go throughout the
world, my neighbor: the things that brings us dough are fruits
of care and labor.—Walt Mason.
Gladys Simply Will Net Say
Des Moines, Jan. 5.—Highly iu
censed at the fact that he has chal
lenged Hackenscbmidt after promising
her he would never lake to the mat
again, Gladys Oestt'ich, fiance of Frank
Gotch, will not say whether or not she
intends to break the engagement.
(It’s a cinch that Frank has got to win
this match.)
No Use Stalling on Way lo Bono
Reno, Nev., Jan. 5.—The divorce
colony here, including Governor-elect
Oddie, who was himself recently di
CAP’S PLACE
Imperial Cigar Store
Just received lar^e stock Peterson
and Calabash Pipes
NEWLY BUILT PRIVATE CARD ROOMS
To enjoy an evening call and see us.
_WILLOW ST., IPITAROP_
SUMMIT
ROADHOUSE
Furnished Rooms and Bunks
Cafe in Connections,
Liquors and Cigats
Tel: “Summit Roadhouse.”
Fort Gibbon’s Uo-to-Date House
Golden North
HOTEL
Finest and Neatest Rooms
Caters Especially to Family Trade
NO Bar
KD Y. LEE. PROP.
rorced, is considering divorce reform
; for Nevada which will make the law
■ much more stringent, and clear up th*
fair name of Nevada which has becom
a joke all over the country.
Throw Juice In o Few of Them
Winnipeg, Jan. 5.—Tlie street ca
company claims a rapidly growing ad
vantage in the fight with the strikin',
motorraen and conductors. They an
running a hundred cars a day and havt
been able to prevent ail violence, ex
eept at night.
Strikers Win Long Sfruggli
Baltimore, Jan. 1—Following a striki
by the machinists, boilermakers am
blacksmiths of the road, which hm
continued for the last eighteen months
the Baltimore and Ohio managemen
has at last yielded to the demand of the
laborers.
Oynamitsss Still Busy
Kansas City, Jan. 4—Walter Vai
Stone’s sheet-metal works and furnace,
were completely wrecked by dynamit
here last night. The outrage is be
lieved to be the outgrowth of laboi
troubles, as this concern has beenfight
ing for the opeo shop.
Sells Goffie to Keep on Living
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 16.—Merie Bren
nan, a quaint character of this city
who recently picked out and purchased
the coffin he intended to inhabit after
death, today sold his coffin, giving as
his excuse therefor “the increased and
high cost of living.”
System Already Bearing Down
Chicago, Dec. 16.—The weekly busi
ness statement shows that the entire
csuntry is experiencing business stag
nation, pending the action of congress
on the tariff.
Full line optical goods at Simpson’s.
Baird sells Bock cigars.
FIRST GLASS Snyder House
WARM DOG KENNELS
Second Avenue, Flat City Snyder & Smith, Props.
"H"rwr Beattie House
Bath Rooms in Connection. Furnished Rooms and Spring Cots
First-Class Stables and Dog Houses
WRITE A LETTER HOME AT
Ernest's Cigar Store
“You Don’t Have to Frog.”
Cigars, Tobaccos, Candies, Lemonade,
Milk Shake, Stationery and Fruits
NIEHQFF & HAKES,
First and Willmv,
iditarod Oddfellows Ciub
At a well-attended meeting held at
the store of N. N. Jaffe in Flat City
Monday night, the Pioneer Oddfellows
rlub of tne Iditarod was successfully
launched and most delight fully lunched.
A large number of Oddfellows of the
district were on hand, and they went
into executive session immediately,
with JafTee in the seat of temporary
chairman and John Ronan, acting as
temporary secretary.
Permanent officers were elected,
John Ronan being elevated to the office
of president, J. F. Ris*er, vice-presi
dent and Charles Ehrieh, secretary
and treasurer.
It was decided that the regular busi
ness meeting of the club be held on the
2nd and 4ih Wednesdays of each month.
F< 11 iwing the close of the business
-ession, the members of the new club
were entertained by Mrs. JafTee at
lunch which was pronounced the reai
! hit of the evening.
The Crystal Lake Ice Co., which
numbers Charles Martin and Dan O'
Brien among its chief stockholders, has
just finished putting up a bunch of ice
that will keep the whole camp cool
next summer. They have close on to
a thousand tons in and around their ice
tiouse, and a careful survey made the
other day disclosed the fact, that there
• teed be no apprehension concerning
tlie season’s supply of highballs.
Those Who Forget Home
Postmaster Thurston is in receipt, of
some more of those letters of inquiry
about missing persons, which came in
on the last mail.
From Cleveland, Ohio, and from 3201
\rchwood avenue Nancy A. Tonsley
writes concerning her son, Thomas H.
fonsley, from whom she has heard no
word for the last six months. During
ihattime, it appears that Tonsley lias
been in this part of Alaska, but his
silence is causing uneasiness at home,
it would be well, if anyone knows his
whereabouts, to send the news to hi>
mother.
Then again. Mrs. Tim Sullivan o
Joiusa, California, writes to ask about
i young man, presumably her son, by
lie name of Steve Sullivan. He left
for Alaska four years ago, but she ha
tever heard from him. She is quite
sure she would tie very much obliged.
<iiou d someone furnish infortnatio.
concerning the young man in question.
3owles Again in ffia Money
After several years of waiting, dur
mg which the ground lay idle bccau^
jf extraordinary depth to bedrock. 11-b
'ait'banks creek, in the Fairbanks di
rict, has been added to the long list of
rroducers on that hisiot'ie stream. Tin
iround belongs to James Todhunte
,'owles, formerly of the firm of < 1 iv
tool, Kelluni & Cowles, and the fir>t
ommissioner of Fairbanks. Under a
ease taken last season by Freeman A
.arson, this claim produced $'i5.0,KI
md it is said they are just getting into
tie good st uff.
Havre, France, Jan. 5.—Incident P
he riots that have attended the eoal
leavers’ strike now in progres
hroughout France, Secretary Durand,
of tlie union, and six tri tens were
charged with the murder of a scab re
cently. The trial was a farce, three 01
the strikers being sentenced to 2('
years' imprisonment, and Secretaiv
Durand, who was not present at the
riot, has been sentenced to death. A
sympatheticstrike aP over the countn
will be called in an effort to save Du
rand. _
Mayor McCarthy Lands On ’Em
San Frat c sco, Jan. 4—In an attempt
to divert attention from the open gam
bling that has been going on in the
city since he took office, Mayor Me
Carthy of this city, has just started a
raid on bucket shops, and has m >de a
public declaration that he will drive
them out of the country. The move is
believed to be a slight concession to
the reform spirit that is again agitat
ing the city.
Kansas Still Chasing Octopus
Topeka, Jan. 5.--The anti-trust pro
ceedings started by the state over a
year ago against the Standard Oil
Company, in an attempt to drive the
concern out of the commonwealth, is
now being argued in the supreme
court. A hot legal battle has been
waged all along the line, and the re
sult is awaited with much interest.
Just received fine line o! high-grade
Hamilton watches. Call and see them.
We need the money. SIMPSON’S.
They Herded Them
Just Like Cattle
According to a letter received here
by Sam Adams, formerly of Nome, the
steamship Northwestern made a rec
ord-breaking trip the last time she
cleared from the Bering sea metropolis.
Site carried 930 souls, and although the
letter does not specify, it would seem
that many of them were lashed to the
poop-deck mains’l.
During the voyage one man was lost
overboard, five people were taken down
with measles, and six people met with
accidents resulting in six broken legs.
These later mishaps are believed to
have been occasioned when the pas
songers were being hoisted on board
the boat in the Nome roadstead.
After a tuff pull from Dikeman,
Hutchinson & Riley, freighters, suc
ceeded in landing the big 70-h.p. boiler
here which had been taken from the
-tramer Samson, of the Brumbaugh,
Hamilton & Kellogg company, and
which was purchased by George Riley
I for use on Discovery Otter.
Arctic Gels Into the Fight
Seattle, Dec. 15.—The Arctic Club
last nighr passed resolutions and for
warded them to Washington, asking
for lower commercial rates over the
Alaska cable line.
DR. B. F. BROOKS.
Physician and Surgeon
Over Merchants Cafe, First Avenue.
Telephone 30
Dr. Heinrich Wortniann,
Otfice at City Drug Store, Tel. 36
First Ave., Bet. Willow and Richmond
DR. T. B. CRAIG,
Temporary Office, Red Cross Drug Sion* j
DR. E. T. BRADBURY,
Dentist
Over Merchants Cafe. First Avenup
Telephone 30-B
CHAS. D. CARTER,
Dentist
Offices, Pioneer Drug Stores,
Flat Creek
McGowan, Clark & Albrecht
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ditarod, Alaska Phone No. 7
The Pioneer Attor: evs of This Camp
ALFRED E. MALTBY,
fU. S Commissioner]
Attorney at Law
Notary Public
Practice onlv in District Court. IDiTAROD
BIOHAM & BECKER,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Office—Ansley Bid".,Richmond St.
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law,
Notary Public, I'nnvryancin",
Ab-tracts of Titles
Iditarod Citv
J. S. HARDING,
Attorney at Law
Room 1. Iditarod Hotel
Iditarod, Alaska
The
Sideboard
Front St. J. it. Anderson, Prop. Idltarod
For Outfits
FLAT CITY
Enlarged Remodele
BLACK’S
HOTEL
Fort Gibbon
—
General Merchandise
and Out fitters
Stores—Iditarod City and Dikeman
Under date of November 2, Barney
Goss, secretary to Delegate Wicker
sham at Washington, writes the Idit
arod Pioneer, in connection with a re
quest made early last fall by him of the
postoflice department for the establish
ment of a money-order department in
the Iditarod.
The report of Postoflice Inspector
C. L. Wayland, of Seattle, is given
below and explains why the Iditarod
will have no money-order facilities be
fore next summer. The inspector's re
port is as follows:
"I have the honor to return this
case which concerns the proposed es
tablishment of money-order business at
Iditarod, Alaska, with report that that
place is one of the main centers of ac
tivity in the Innoko country, which
country seems to he a reasonably per
manent mining camp and containing at
present several thousand inhabitants,
and I therefore recommend that money
order business be established at Idit
arod.
"Letter mail only is carried into that
country in the winter time and there
fore blank forms and books for con
ducting tiie money-order business can
not be transported until the next open
ing of navigation. 1 suggest that the
blank forms he printed and money
order equipment be prepared and a
bond of at least $2,000 be demanded,
and that all of this be sent to Seattle
to be here held until it can betaken or
sent to Iditarod at the time an in
spector shall visit that country next
year, when he can see to it that a good
bond is procured, and instruct the post
master how to open and conduct the
money-order business.”
Ssirmy Stein Has
Gna ant Dsns it
In a letter addressed to the Society
E litor of the Iditarod Pioneer, Sammy
Stein, former merchant of Fairbanks
md Iditarod, writes from Seattle to
ell us that he has hitched up double
and likes it. He lias apparently set
tled down there, as has “Abbie” Low,
who left here for the Outside last fall,
in the le ter is enclosed the following
clipping from the Seattle Times of No
vember 24:
A pretty wedding occurred Thursd tv
evening when Miss Lena Bloom of this
city and Mr. Sam S;ein of Iditarod,
Alaska, were united in marriage by
Rabbi Samuel Koch at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Wagner, 2G1
Twenty-first avenue.
The bride, who was given away by
Mrs. Wagner, was gowned in white
and carried a shower bouquet of violets.
Miss Belle Stein was the bridesmaid
and Mr. J. F. Kelley acted as best man
Vocal selections were given preceding
and following the ceremony by Miss
Flora Clavem and Miss Ethel Wagner.
The rooms were decorated elaborately
with white and yellow chrysanthe
mums. Mr. and Mrs. Stein will make
their home in this city until spring.
Fame of Idffarod Spreading
This office is in receipt of a letter
from one Roy Wort ley, of the Southern
Electric Co., Ltd., of Kingston, Jama
ica, B. W. I., asking for information
concerning the Iditarod, the writer de
claring that he has read much about
the country in the papers and maga
zines.
He wants to know if the ground is as
rich as they say it is, and if so he wiil
come a running.
We don’t know how rich it has been
said to be, but we do know that it is
rich enough for us, and that should
Mr. Wortley cast his fortune with the
camp he wiil be following the proper
hunch. _
When you visit Flat creek call at
Carroll’s Globe Bakery and Coffee
House for a lunch.
SPRING BEDS,
LARGE OFFICE
_ MPS. C STOVER. FROP. \
THE
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Sheet Metal Works
Are ‘‘THERE” on Willow Street
A ITCH IS ON & LAWjRFNCF,
Kaitag General Store
ROADHOUSE AM) SALOON IN CONNECTION
Stables for Dogs—Lots of Salmon
The Only Government Trail to Iditarod and Innoko, and Short
est Starts from Kaitag.”
Job Printing at the Pioneer Office
i
Quaker Maid Whiskey our SpeclaSty
Rooms Spring Bunks
fVSouth of Flat Creek
. mu mu mi irrn—TrnrniTMriTnr—nnr _momb——
WHEN IN IDITAROD STOP AT
POOL, CIGARS, TOBACCOS, CANDIES WILLOW ST. ]
]
t-IKE WINES, LIQUORS AND CIGARS
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT CAFE IN CONNECTION FURNISHED ROOMS
Lartre Warm Stables and Do,? Kennels
Largest Poo! and Billiard Hall in Flat City!
CHOICEST CIGARS AND TOBACCOS.
STATIONERY, CANDIES, NUTS, SOFT DRINKS
Try One of Our Famous “Flat Creek Manhattans”
M. R. HUSSEY P. J. MANNION \
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Flat City ;
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