I
One Dollar Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1910. Two Bits Per Copy
IDITAROD CLUB
FAIRLY BLOSSOMS
They opened up the Iditarod Clul
last Monday night, and with a gentle
push, started the new organization or
what will doubtless bo a long period ol
prosperity and content.
The newly furnished rooms were well
crowded with members who had come
to hear President Mark Sullivan make
the dedicatory address, a stunt that ht
pulled off in a happy manner which
tickled everybody so much that they
all gave each other some punch.
While the orchestra, consisting ol
Berggren, Bourret and Drake, turned
out tiie marmony, the attendants turn
ed out the stuff tiiat cheers and tiie
flowing bowl was there in tne true
acceptation of the term. Believing they
could improve on the quality of tiie
music as being furnished by the or
chestra, several of the members tried
to sing,—but that is another stery.
John Duncan of the N. C. Co., had
donated a barrel of beer, and Capt.
Peterson, of the Empire Commercial
Co., was there with gallons of punch,
and when the sad hours of parting
came, there was’nt a dry throat in the
place.
The club is now equipped with a pool
table and plenty of good literature for
those who want quiet relaxation from
business cares.
SENATOR CLAY
DIES SUDDENLY
Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 15.—United
States Senator Alexander Step
hens Clay, of Georgia, died at
his home in Marietta today of
heart trouble, aged 53 years.
Senator Clay was first elected
to the senate in 1896 to succeed
Hon. John B. Gordon; his pres
ent term would have expired in
1915- _
Wants to Be Governor
Seattle, Nov. 15. — Sheriff
Hodge, of King county, against
whom an active fight has been
waged by some of the local pa
pers, has announced his candi
dacy for governor on the Repub
lican ticket.
NICE iF THEY’D
HAND OS A LEMON
t
\
Probably its the first time in his
tory that a man is thankful if you
hand him a lemon. They are out
of the market you know, and are
becoming just as scarce as hen’s
teeth.
It looks very much like fizzless
days ahead for the Idiiarod. Try to
picture a smoking fizz, full of tink
ling ice, but without a lemon,—
could anything be more desolate ?
Those lemon pies that were
wont to cheer the day when New
Year revives old desires,—they too,
will be but a figment oi the imag
ination.
They do say that Frank Miller,
ot the Miners' Home saloon, has
25 cases on the Minneapolis at
Lewis' landing. Soma cl these are
reported frozen, but even ibis will
not destroy them if they are kept
frozen until used. Frank will try
to bring these lemons in over the
trail, but he is up agaiust a tough
proposition.
Great Success as Bill Says
The dance given at Anslev's hall
Thanksgiving eve for the benefit
of the Iditarod fire department, was
one of the classiest affairs ever
pulled off iu this city.
The holiday spirit enthused them
to a high speed pressure and before
the steam gave out, the hours had
slipped into the early morning and
were little, small things, not worth
noticing.
From a financial standpoint, the
dance was most successful for a
large crowd attended, and the gal
lant swains cheerfully dug up for
the good of the cause.
SPECIAL
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Manila—HER MANAS -Cigars
Tin Foil
25 to Cox
All Dealers Sell Them.
BARRETT & LEWIN, AGENTS.
H. Main builds and repairs houses—
See him. First avenue, near Black st.
Worden sells Bock cigars.
HOLOCAUST AT TOLOVANA
Old Riley Roadhouse Proves Funeral Pyre for Three ¥achon Babies.
Captain Vachon Narrowly Escapes With His Life and Is
Badly Burned Trying to Rescue His infants
Fairbanks, Nov. 15 (via. Nnlato, Special Dispatch for
the Iditarod Pioneer). Early this morning, at an hour
when the entire household was wrapped in slumber, a dis
astrous tiro destroyed the Vachon store and roadhouse at
Tolovana, burning the three little Vachon children to
death, seriously injuring Captain Vachon, who strove vali
antly to save his little ones, and barely missed sacrificing a
number of Gibbon-Fairbanks stage passengers who were
stopping at the roadhouse for the night.
John A. Vachon, brother of Peter and Andrew Vachon,
of Fairbanks and Gibbon, and formerly captain of the Daw
i son fire department, is reported to be in a dangerous eoncii
jtion. Peter Vachon hurried from Fairbanks by dog team, in
the company of a physician to the relief of his brother. He
was badly burned, and from the tenor of the telegrams re
ceived here, it would appear that he may not escape with
his life.
The origin of the fire is not given, but it seemed to
have come with a suddenness that found them unprepared.
1 The building was a two-storv atfair, with the store down
I stairs and living quarters on the second floor. There was
| but one stairway, and it is probable that the fire had
|achieved considerable headway before the sleepers were1
' aroused. The sleeping quarters of the house were evidently
crowded to the limit for the Gibbon stage had arrived there
the evening before with a number of passengers for Fair
banks, among whom was Mrs. Curley Atchison, who was
returning from Hot Springs with her child and the body of
her husband, who died at Hot Springs last month.
Although these guests at the roadhouse are all re
ported safe, they had very narrow escapes.
In its meagre details, the message does not give the
manner of the death of the three Vachon children, but it is
conceivable that they were caught in a separate room where
their father was unable to rescue them. They were small
tots, the eldest being about 4 years old, and the youngest
but a babe in arms. Mrs. Vachon presumably escaped with
out injury, as the message says nothing about her.
The entire building was destroyed, and a stock of
about $18,000 worth of goods a total loss.
Captain Vachon came down from Dawson last fall with
his family to take charge of the store and roadhouse at
Tolovana for the Vachon brothers. They had purchased
the old Riley roadhouse and had been established but a few
weeks at the place before the tragedy which resulted in the
loss of their little onces and their worldly goods. It is one
of the saddest misfortunes in the history of Alaska, and
causes a sigh of pity throughout the country.
Cordova, Nov. 13—Caught in a terrific storm off the coast of
! Katalla, the Alaska Coast company’s steamer Portland of the regu
' lar "inside’’ summer and winter run between Seattle and south
: eastern Alaska, was abandoned by her crew at four o’clock this
j morning, whereafter she shortly drifted into the rocks and was
dashed to pieces, a total loss.
The vessel had stopped off the dangerous Katalla roadstead
for the purpose of delivering passengers, mail and freight, when
she was caught in one of the heaviest gales of the year. Captain
Moore and crew fought valiantly for hours, landing passengers,
and the greater part of a light cargo. The passenger list, for
tunately was light, else there would doubtless have been fatalities.
Just before dawn, the boat was found to be leaking so badly
that it was considered necessary to abandon her, as she was be
coming water-logged and unmanageable. The debarkation was
accomplished successfully and all landed safely with the exception
of a few minor accidents. All but thirty tons of the cargo was
saved.
Immediately upon landing, Captain Moore telephoned to Cor
dova, that it would be impossible for the steamship Alameda to
render any assistance. He then came on to this city, and the mail
and passengers will be brought to Cordova in launches as soon as
the weather clears.
Although in the service a nntnber of years, the steamer Port
land was one of the finest and largest boats in the Alaska waters
On account of her exposed position off Katalia, which is admitted
to be one of the stormiest portions of the coast, she is being poun
ded to pieces and is already declared a total loss.
OESERTEO CAMP TELLS
AN UNCERTAIN TALE
Far over in the little explored
wilds of Reindeer creek there is a
deserted camp that may have be
longed to one now dead and gone.
A camp that seems to have been
left without premeditation on the
part of the dweller, who either
dropped everything and ran or else
strayed a wav and was lost in the
hills’.
Jim Tansy catne in from Rein
| deer creek F.iday, accompanied by
] two other prospectors of that re
I gion, Messrs Abrahatnson and I,ew
| is.
; He tells about discovering this
i deserted camp about midway of
Reirdeer creek. He and his part
ner, C. C. Elder, stumbled across
the wrecked habitation for it ap.
pears to have suffered from the
floods of last spring. There was a
tent, a stove, bed ting and blankets,
personal effects but no grub.
Tansy can throw no light on the
! matter as the things appear to have
! been left there, long before any
; one was supposed to be in the
j country.
MASONS WiLL GET
TOGETHER HERE
After considerable preliminary spar
! ring, the Free and Accepted Masons of
Iditarod hav® decided to get together
next Monday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m., and
talk over the proposition of organizing
a Masonic club here. They will meet
at Ansley’s hall, on Richmond street,
and will immediately go into executive
session. There are a large number of
Masons here and they should establish
a most prosperous club.
Pete Jensen, who was with John
Ness on the morning that the latter
started on the fatal mush, is in from
Georgetown. He reports that Ness has
been given up for lost with but little
chance of finding the body until spring.
Jensen says that Georgetown is thriv
ing and already has more than two
hundred buildings.
When you are in doubt, ask for a La
Verdad cigar at Johnstone’s.
Lost in the broken country between the heads of Rainey and Little
creeks of the upper Iditarod, Otto Chittick, a young German prospector
who has been in that section since last summer, is reported dead, hav
ing been missing for 18 days. His cabin, stocked with an ample grub
stake, stands at the mouth of Little creek, deserted and cold, while the
owner lays buried in the deep snow that has fallen there.
The story was brought in Thursday by Paddy McKnight, who
came down for additional grub.
It appears that Chittick had crossed to the Black river country
with some companions for the purpose of staking ground. They’ went
up into the Sawtooth range, but upon their return, Chittick left his j
companions in order to visit some fiiends on Rainey He was caught
in a heavy fog that enveloped the hills and which was followed by’ very
cold weather. It is thought that he perished within a short time as he
was but ill prepared for a fight with hunger and cold.
Chittick is well known here, and everyone who knows of the
tragedy' up the liver has given him up for dead. The matter will doubt
less be investigated by the marshal s office.
EDDIE MCARD IE
HAS BIRTHDAY
Eddie McArdle celebrated the attain
ment of his majority last Thursday, the
same being the birthday of the national
bird. Eddie’s birthday comes on Thanks
giving every seven years, which is
often enough.
A few friends spread a light feed at
the Merchants consisting of a little
white and dark meat. In addition
there were some other things. Those
in attendance were Col. Charles Knell,
Parson Edward Anderson, Deacon \Vm.
Rose, Capt. James O'Niell, Major Ed
die McArdle, Judge Roy Bigham and
Mr. Frank E. Becker.
Roy Stevens, deputy marshal, is back
in town after safely delivering Ins
charge, Frank Jensen, the insane pa
tient, to Deputy Wright at Nulato.
He reports an entirely docile patient
for he succeeded in landing Jensen on
the Yukon in record time. Loss Ber
nard and B. B. Smith helped him, and
Jensen mu3hed willingly. The trip
seems to have improved him consider
ably. __
John Kieland, one of the discoverers
of Julian creek, has returned to the
Kuskokwim after a brief sojourn in the
city. He took back some needed food
supplies for prospectors over there.
ENTIRE BAR HAD
A HAND IN IT
The Ceiene Fraction lien case
which has occupied the time of Ihe
coraniisdoner’s court for the last
three davs, incidentally requiring
the attention of a large bunch of
witnesses and all the attorneys in
town, has been concluded, at least
for a time, hy a judgment rendered
this afternoon.
At two o’clock, the court gave
his decision, allowing all the claims
of the lien-holders but refusing to
hold the owners responsible. He
refused to giye them the royalty
they claime i howeve
Chris Anthonison, the man who
makes watches and tilings over at Sale’s
jewelry store, has been laid up with
the gout or something. Chris was
pretty sick for a while, but Dr. Wort
manu seems to be bringing him around.
Pat and Jack O'Connor mushed in
Thursday from the Kuskokwim. They j
have been prospecting on Moose, a
tributary of George, and will get in
shape to work a lay in that vicinity
next season.
Casper Ellinger is in from Granite
creek, taking a look at a boiler flue.
Baird sells Bock cigars.
TURKEY COMES HIGH
BUT WE MOST HAVE IT
Arriving in the nicotime, as it were.
Loss Bernard, Roy Stevens and B. B.
Smith reached Iditarod City last
Wednesday with half a ton of turkey
and chicken. It was what might be
called a tea strike, for the boys cleaned
them out even though turkey meat
was selling for two bucks the pound,
and yellow-legged broilers cost one and
a half samoleuns a pound.
They claim however, that they got
all that was coming to them. They
caught the birds at Nulato, just as they
were being brought in from the stran
ded steamer Minneapolis. By hurrying
up and mushing at high pressure they
were able to beat father time to
Thanksgiving day, thus pulling Idit
arod through in the most approved
manner.
Speaking of turkey,—well turkey is
good to eat on Thanksgiving and if you
don’t have it you feel bad about it. Ber
nard says that turkey is selling for 70c
a pound in Fairbanks, then it costs
abotd 70c to get it to Kaltag. What
show have we got for holiday turkey V
It appears that Nome is cleaned. In
dividuals who went there for the
national bird mushed across the coun
try, neglecting to telegraph. They
were either short on their shipments
or someone had cleaned the market, for
there are no turkeys in Nome.
Besides the lot that Bernard and as
sociates brought in, there are a few
coming with the same shipment that
was met at Nulato. In addition there
are pork loins and other delicacies that
go to make up an epicurian holiday.
We may have pork chops for Christ
mas if we go shy on the gobbler.
In the city, a big raffle was pulled off
at Rose’s cigar store whereat some
twenty chickens and tan turkeys were
dedicated to the goddess of chance!
Many a man paid as much as he would
or a full-grown turkey on the hoof and
never even had a chance t® shake
hands with a bird.
Out at Flat they had another raffle,
and there were quite some things stir
ring thereabouts. Ain’t it funny how
a turkey will make a man act?
Sam Sequin, who operated at the
mouth of Black cret-k last summer,
came into the city to assist in the
Thanksgiving festivities.
HE IS NOW PORK
KING ONCE MORE
With nine dog teams and two tons of
smoked meats, Tom McMahon once
more has the situation well in hand.
Ho came in early last week with ham
and bacon enough to supply all the
amature “cornets” in the country.
The return trip from Holy Cross was
not without Us difficulties. Tom had
engaged Simon as the leader of his
Indian forces, and with plenty of can
ines started overland for Flat City.
They passed through the Reindeer
creek country and found some very
heavy goittg, taking nine and a half
days for the journey. The Indians said
they could get back in five days any
way, and they left. Wednesday, striking
due west from the mouth of Otter.
There are two barges at Holy Cross,
caught there by the late season. One
of them is empty and the other has a
considerable quantity of provisions
aboard. The ham and bacon has been
the chief call since it was discovered
that the Iditarod was supposed to be
short. It develops however, that
nearly every private speculator in the
country has more bacon than he can
eat in the next tenyears,—sojustcheer
up.
FLAT DWELLERS
DANCE WITH GLEE
They say that the dance given by
Mrs. Swanson at the new Finne
gan building in Flat City oil
Thanksgiving evening was the
swellest affair yet puiled off on the
creeks. Everybody just simply
' went to it and had the best time of
I his life.
A number of people went out
from Iditarod and travelers gather
ed to the frolic for miles around.
They lunched and they danced un
til an early hour in the morning,
and only quit because the piano
strings resisted.
—
Saturday, November 19.
Assignment of Lease— Arthur Hayes,
John Fletcher and Wallie Humfrey
| to (.'has. Peterson, lay on 1-b. Black
creek, $1,500.
Location—Charles Erickson and three
others, Good Enough association, Alder
creek, 80 acres.
Monday, November 21.
Notice—Victor Erickson and O. F.
Marholz for owners of Wildcat associa
tion, Flat creek, claiming water right;
same, for owners of Hilltop association,
Flat creek.
Agreement — Anna MeMorty aDd
Jennie Howard, to sell lot on Lyons
! street. Flat City. $700.
Location -Gust and Mary Junthi, As
toria association, Montana creek.
Local ion--Elias Liinamaa and Gust
Juntti, Bens association left limit bench
Bonanza creek.
Chattel Mortgage -Eric Pal men to
Allen P. Gilmour, 4 horses, miscellan
eous articles, $900.
Tuesday, Nov. 22.
i Deed—Max Menard to Alexander
Beder, \ interest Jumbo claim, Wonder
creek; 1 interest Minnesota claim,
Black Butte creek, $1.
Lease—Frank Ingels to Jack Bel
lerby, wood saw and gasoline engine,
$1,200 rental, $400 payments, option to
purchase.
Lien—Anderson Bros. & Norland vs.
T. L. Thurston, against north half of
lot 12, block 3, Iditarod, $140.
Wednesday, Nov. 23.
I Lien—Clark Lumber Co. vs. A. F.
Morgan and E. Hammer, against lot
11, block 1, west, $531.91.
Friday, Nov. 25.
Mortgage—Samuel Dubin to John W.
Duncan, lot 1, block 3, between First
and Second, Dikeman, improvement*
and fixtures, $500.
Deed—Charles Goebel to Louis Del
lamonica, all (i-a. Slate creek, left
fork, $1. _
CHRISTMAS
Another Christmas away from the old
folks, pard;
That we can't help, but we can send
them a card
And cheer their dear hearts if we can’t
share their joys —
We know there’s welcome there for all
of us boys.
Just write them a line and say you are
well,
So they’ll know you’re alive and
haven’t gone to—Dikeman.
Yukon and Iditarod Christmas post
cards at Landahl’s book store. Iditarod.
Have your nuggets made into souve
nirs at Simpson’s, the pioneer jeweler