Idita’od Pioneer
One Doij.au Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1911. _ Two Bits Pei?. Cory
Remains of Dr. Craig
Consigned to Earth
. “ I
Followed to the grave in the local
cemctary, by a long lino of friends and
acquaintances, the remains of Dr. T.
B. Craig, whose sudden death shocked
the community last Sunday, were quiet
ly laid to rest this afternoon.
Funeral exercises were held at
Smith's undertaking parlors with Judge
Alfred K. Maltby presiding. There was
a beautiful song service rendered by
Mrs. Main-, Mrs. Gluts. Larson, Mrs. F.
M. Dunham, Mr. Frank Morgan and
Mr. Mosos, the songs being “Meet Me
There," “Though Your Sins be as
Scarlet,'' a quartette and duet by Mrs.
Larson and Mrs. Dunham, while the !
services closed with the beautiful old !
hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee.”
From the chapel to the grave the j
conveyance was of the North, and emi- |
ucnlly fitting for one who braved the :
dangers of Dvea, and who has faced the ■
hardships of this land ever since. Six
of his old time friends, Billy Newman,
Jack Frick, Win. Stoner, Chas.
Maltby, Jack Sheeny and Ltn De Coo.
the pall hearers, placed the coffin on a
<1 'g sled, and with Wm. Greer’s team j
they slowly wended their way to the ’
burial ground.
Hero a few words were solemnly
spoken when all that was earthly of an ,
old-time Northerner was quietly con- :
signed to the clasp of the centuries.
l)r. Craig was a man of about 5!) years
of age, is supposed to have been a na- j
tire of Pennsylvania, and was one of!
the ablest physicians that ever came j
North. He came into Alaska over the i
Uvea trail and was one of the. first to be |
called by the early Nome excitement.
Here he practiced his profession with j
Dr. If. M. Iteniger, now of Seattle, and I
later mined in the Council district. He |
went to the Imioko in 1908 where he j
established a hospital with Dr. Martin. !
dust about a year ago he came to the
lditarod, and has lived here ever since.
It is supposed that Dr. Craig’s father
was a physician, and that lie has a
brother who is surgeon for one of the
big railroads of Pennsylvania. He was
a close friend of A. B. Stewart, of
StewaTt A Holmes, the big wholesale
druggists of Seattle, and to both Mr.
Stewart, and to Dr. Iteniger, inquiries
have been sent, asking for particulars
concerning his relatives.
Just a few days before his death. Dr.
Craig received from the government a
cheek for $1300 for services rendered
in tin- case of Neil McGregor, the young i
man who accidentally shot himself in
the leg last winter, necessitatingampu
tulion. Although lacking the proper
instruments for the work, Dr. Craig
brought the young man through in ex
cellent shape, and was highly compli
mented on his work by Seattle physic
ians.
Aside from his money, he leaves no
property, and Mr. Dunham will doubt
less be appointed administrator to set
tle up all his obligations.
Why Did Edna Quit Hervy Nat?
New York, Jan. 21.—Although she j
says ho pesters around chorus girls too j
much to suit her, and that she wants a j
•divorce, Edna Goodrich, the beautiful i
actress who became about the 47th wife j
of Nat Goodwin, says that Nat was aw- j
fully good to her and gave her a trust
deed at the time of marriage for a mil.
lion and a half, from which she has
been drawing an income. (Think of
quitting a meal ticket like that! Hold
•on to yourself, Edna; anyone can afford
to be jealous for that much money.)
Carnegie Coughs Copiously
New York, Jan. 21—Andrew Car
negie, the steel king, has given ten
million more to the Carnegie Institute
of Washington, making a total of
twenty-five million dollars that he has
bestowed upon that institution.
Jimmy Gets Large Wad
Seattle, Jan. 21—Having raised $10,
*100,000 for the big Western-Steel cor
poration, James A. Moore of this city,
.now in New York, wires that the big
gest manufacturing concern on the Pa
cific coast will soon be established at
Irondale. _
Melt's Murderer Sentenced
Marshfield, Jan. 21 Walter Diply
aud Goldie Smith were today found
guiity of the murder of Stanley Ket
cheil. They were sentenced to im
prisonment for life.
—
Quietus for Quacks
Washington, Jan. 21—The federal
government has commenced the prose
cution of several fake medical con
cerns.
NO SEWARD TRAIL FOR THIS WINTER
While congress is bickering whether or not they
will give Seward and Idltarod $50,000, a lone party of
mushers goes over the proposed route and arrives with
the statement that it don't make any difference whether
we get the money or not, there will be no Iditarod
Seward trail that can be practicable for even fair travel
until the Alaska Northern railway is built to Susitna
station, arid the winds of heaven are tempered by a
kind and beneficent Providence.
Bob Griffis, the well-known Nome musher, has been
over the trail twice in the last four months. He left in
November with a party, carrying out gold dust for the
i\l. & M. bank of this city. He returned yesterday
afternoon after one of the hardest journeys of his ex
perience in Alaska. With him came E. Haley, who has
been in the Iditarod before, and as far as the K. C.
post on the Tokotna came Hans Erickson, bringing back
the dogteam that had taken out Mr. Fowler, of the Kus
kokwim Commercial Company.
They were 41 days from Seward to thelnnoko, and
they snowshoed all the way. They traveled light and
they traveled slow, and slept in their snowshoes for
fear they would disappear in the night.
Coming this way, Mr. Griffis said, they figured they
would be over the worst of their journey after covering
the 180 miles from Seward to Susitna, after round
ing Turn a gain Arm. As a matter of fact their troubles
had just commenced. They bought all the dog feed
there was in the town and started out. Prom that time
on their journey was a weird dream of white, dotted
now and then with little currant bushes, which were in
reality the tops of tall trees.
They encountered the Goodwin party in difficulty
just this side of Rainey Pass, but were able to render
but little assistance. They were compelled to hurry on
for lack of supplies, and each day but the heart-break
ing repetition of the hard work of the day before.
According to Mr. Griffis, it is almost idle to talk
about a mail service between Seward and Iditarod until
the extension of the Alaska Northern is built to Knik,
cutting out the almost impossible going between that
point and the present terminus of the railroad. This
part of the trail lays over mountains and gorges, and is
practically impassable for laden dogteams. Prom Kern
creek, the present end of the track, they follow the
railroad, dragging through the tunnels on dry ground.
These are glaciered at the entrances so that it is neces
sary to cut one’s way in.
Even were the road built to Susitna, the trail would
not be practicable at this time of year unless constantly
traveled, for the heavy fall of snow and the constant
winds of the Kuskokvvim are a positive menace Later
in the spring when the snow packs, it will be fair trav
eling from here to Susitna Station, but the balance of
the journey to Seward will be even worse than it is now.
On account of the adverse conditions, Goodwin’s
party has probably accomplished little in the way of
marking out a trail. Eide and his party bad done good
work between Susitna and Rainey Pass, but the two
parties were still 150 miles apart when last heard from.
Contrasted with these rather pessimistic observa
tions, Griffis reports that Seward is quite confident that
the Alaska Northern will be extended as far as Old
Knik next summer with a branch to the Matannska
coal fields: The work of the road commission, this
winter, though not rich in actual accomplishment, is
extremely valuable in experience and knowledge, and
will set them off on the right foot next summer and fall.
Seward is boosting strenuously for the trail at the
present time, but there is danger that many a chechaco
will be up again t it if not properly prepared for this
hard journey, which is at least 600 miles long.
SURVEYOR GOODWIN’S PARTY IN SERIOUS DIFFICULTY
Caught 20 miles this side of Rainey Pass in snow
that left only the tops of the trees in sight, with grub
down to the lowest limit, 11 men and 40 dogs to feed,
200 miles from assistance if they went ahead and 100
miles if they returned, the Goodwin survey party, blaz
ng out the trail from Iditarod to Seward, is believed to
have been in serious difficulty on their way to Seward,
and further news from them will be anxiously awaited.
The plight of the party was learned by Bob Griffis,
who met Ross Kinney on Rhone river. Kinney was re
connoitering for the shortest route to the Pass, and the
main party was some 10 miles away on a cut off trail
that they had put through from Tokotna towards Fare
Well mountain. Ross reported the condition of the
party and asked for all the grub that Griffis could pos
s:b!y spare, which was only 30 pounds. They were out of
salt, tea, smoked meat, and other luxuries and necessi
ties. They had killed a moose a few days before and
were depending upon that mainly for the immediate
future.
From that point to Susitna station was approxi
mately 200 mites. That was their first haven of refuge
in'that direction. From the same point toTokotna was
approximately 100 miles, with nothing between to offer
promise for a restocking of provisions.
It is Mr. Griffis’ opinion that the party continued
on toward Seward, but he is emphatic in the opinion
that they gave up all thought of trail clearing, and were
compelled to get over the ground as fast as they were
able to reach supplies before facing actual starvation.
Griffis does not apprehend danger of loss of life on the
expedition, but he is quite convinced that they must have
experienced suffering before reacting their destination.
Caravan of Unfortunates Finally Started This Morning
After being beguiled into a false start yesterday inorn
ing when the sun smiled for a biief moment early in the
day, and the sky later let loo^e a raging blizzard, the cara
van of insane patients under charge of Harry Sheppard and
his guards got away this morning while the wTitffff town
turned out to see them off and wish them well.
Yesterday they got the six patients loaded into the
sleds but the stoim increased in fury with every minute and
by the time ilie work was done and they were ready to pro
ceed, it was apparent that to make the start on such a day
would be folly. The teams were driven back to the jail,
and the patients, who seemed to enjoy their brief outing
were put back in their cells
Today, the weather conditions being more propitious,
the party was quickly assembled and got away about to
o'clock.
hive big dog teams driven by Harry Sheppatd, deputy
marshal in charge. Roy Stevens, Slim McRae, Arthur Mel
lette and Frank Simms conveyed the patients Jack Mer
ritt and W. A Van Horn accompanied the expedition
as guards.
The patients themselves were in fair shape for the
journey and it is anticipated tli.it they will cause little
trouble as all are tractable and delighted at the prospect
of ihe trip Tom Walsh, the wit, demurred at staiting
yesterday, because he said he hadn’t secured all of his
powers of attorney fot that stampede to Tabor Mountain.
Besides Walsh, there are Frank Wallace, of George
[town, A. L. Anderson, John Call of Otier, j. A. Acklin,
formerly of Dawson, and John Hammond, of Moore creek.
They will go to Fairbanks in Sheppard’s charge and will
doubtless lie hurried over the Valdez trail, it being
possible that Sheppard will go all the way.
MARKS HIGH TIDE OF WINTER SOCIAL LIFE IN ELAT CITY
If you ask tire ladies, they will tell you, that the j
Washington Birthday Ball given by the Otter Masonic
Club was the very finest dance that has been given in the
Iditarod since the first blush of dawn mantled its virgin
brow. The men might be heard to echo that sentiment
too, except that their opinion isn’t worth anything in mat
ters of this kind. If the ladies were pleased there's an end
Oll’t.
The hall was beautifully decorated, and there were
many people present to take advantage of it. They came
from all points ot the compass, from all the creeks and all
the towns, and Iditarod represented in a truly gratifying
fashion.
American flags hung everywhere. Streamers of bun
ting made the place gay with color, while the grave port
raits of Washington and Lincoln looked down upon the
assemblage as though in mild approval of the spirit o(
gayety that carried through the happ/ throng.
There were mirrors to reflect the movement and the
color while Masonic emblems spoke eloquently of the grati
tilde of the hosts that so many had come to enjoy their
party. Among the last, the large square and compass
made and donated by F M. Terry is deserving of special
mention. Along one side of the ball, a plentitude of robes
bad been provided to protect the ladies from the cold of the
wall, but this part of the conveniences found little use tor
the reason that the ladies weie dancing most of the time
with scarcely opportunity to get their breath between ouiu
hers.
The grand march began at 9:20 with Mrs N N J iff
and J. F Monkman to show the way they should g >
through the intricate figures devtsed by E. A. Smith who
was stage director for the prettiest figure ever danced in
the Iditarod. From that time on the dances followed ac
cording to the card, except when somebody lost a card
and at midnight the announcement was made that a sun
per was ready a’ the Grand hotel
Here there were three sittings of 8 > eac , and agai
Mrs. Swanson distinguished herstlf for ihe excellence <*f
her catering as she has done many times in the past Tnc
tables weru very prettily decorated and silver can llel ibra
shed a delightful glow over the big dining room vvhicn
again was decorated with flags and emblems in keeping
with the riot of color that greeted the guests in the hall
room
Following the supper they danced until rosey fingered
dawn had torn aside the curtains of the night The or
chestra, composed of Connolly, Berggreu and Drake were
responsible for this, as the melod , was as fascinating as any
music that ever invited to the dance
At 6 o’clock they danced the '‘Home Sweet Home”
and many left with a regretful sigh at the close of one of
the most etjovable parties tver held in the Iditarod
The following are the names an 1 lodges of well-known
Masons who were ihete :
J. F, Monkman, Areatti. Cal 106 ; C. E Taylor,
Fairbanks, 162; Lee Robv, Glendeane, Ky. 747; G. W.
Albrecht, Bellain, Mich 398; I-adore Bayles, Fairbanks,
:6i; J. H. Scott, Fairbanks, 162;], B. Adams, Vancouver,
Quadra; Albert Wiuschell, Bakersfield, Or, 47; H J
diller, Arcotia, Seattle, 87; Wm, Breeze, Anvil, Ncmt.
140, H R, Walters, Black Diamond. 89; Chas. E Miller,
Ke isington. 111 804; John Worth. King Herain, Provioce
>wn; Ford M. Ten v. Walton Lodg 559, New York; M.
A O'Malley, Plymouth 16 >; VI E, P te s. Clay, lit, Cal ;
Nat Lyons, Adclplti 23. N Y city; James Hagan, Ce'.iten
nial 25, Wash ; T. L Thurston, Hagerstown, Ind , 49:
Harry D11 m. Cranbrook, B C. , 34; J C Junkin, W
Union 9, B C ; E H. Langley, B >die, Cal 252; John
Strelic, C*ias, Carroll, Grant Murdock, Cecil Cleeg, Ciias
Patton E M Spaulding. Fairbanks 162; E M Ru>k, A
L Lincoln 297; Dan A. Sutheiland, Anvil, Nome, 140;
Earl B Hunt, Anvil, Nome, 140; W S Reese, Kendrick,
Idaho, 26; 1) H Phillip-, Hamer 1393, Liverpool, Eng.;
T W Jackson, E. P. 114 Columbi , Portland; W. H.
Holmes, Pawnee 17, Oklahoma ; John J. Donovan, Mt.
Moriah 2, Salt Lake City, Phillip Jaffe, Pleadies 478,
Chicago.
Pronounces Squirrel River Country an Absolute Frost
Seven years above the Arctic Circle without once
overstepping the bounds, and 37 days from the Kobuk,
Martin Josephsen, accompanied by Fred Ellsley, ar
rived in Iditarod last Tuesday and announced that the
Squirrel river strike northeast of Nome is a delusion
and a snare. He says that there is only one producing
claim in the entire district, and that is 1-a. Klery creek,
where they took out some $20,000 last summer. Seven
other creeks have been thoroughly prospected but there
is nothing doing.
He believes that Greenburg, the man who has been
most prominently mentioned in connection with Squir
rel river, has deliberately falsified the news concerning
the country to get people there that he might dispose
of his goods, Men are leaving it every day, and many
are headed this way.
The two travelers left Squirrel liver, which is a
tributary of the Kobuk, on January 16, coming by way
of Candle, Kiwalic river and the Koyukuk- They encoun
tered fierce storms all the way, and after striking Nor
ton sound had two narrow escapes from death.
Josephsen, in the time that he has been in North
ern Alaska, has traveled from the Porcupine to the
coast. He mined in the Chandlar and the Ko.yukuk,
and it was in the latter camp that he sunk a hole on
Wiseman creek to a depth of 365 feet, working from
September until the following May without striking
bedrock- This is believed to be the record in Alaska.
He is the man who found the frozen body of Joe
Magah.i at the far head of Wild river, an upper tribu
tary of the Koyukuk, in the fall of 1909, and brought
the effects back to civilization. He says that all eyes
are now turned toward the Iditarod.
SOUNDING KNELL OF THE ENTERPRISING LEAD-PENCIL SVIINER
Washington, Jan. 19.—Reported favorably by the
house committee on mines and mining, it now looks as
though Delegate Wickersham’s bill for the limiting of
turning claims to 40 acres and the abolishment of the
power-of-attorney evil in staking claims, has a good
chance for nassatre at. this session of congress._
In limiting the power of an attorney to stake
claims, the bill provides that an agent has the right to
locate only two claims a month, and further provides
that assessment work must be done on each separate
claim. The law will have no effect on claims already
staked as it cannot he given retroactive effect, how
ever there is a good chance that it will be in open.t on
by spring. [The news of the passage of this law, if it
comes to pass, will be received with mxed feelings in
this country. That it is a step in the right direction, no
one will scarcely deny, yet it will put many a hardy pen
cil artist out of a job.]
Nevada Awfully Good
Carson, Jan. 27—Having put the anti
gambliDg law into successful practice,
the Nevada legislature is going all the
way through in its efforts to tame the
wild and wooly population of this state
and has passed a stringent anti-cigar
ette’ Cw which prohibits the celling or
giving away of cigarettes or the mak
ings thereof. The action came as a
surprise in view of the fate of similar
laws in other states.
Czarina Has Melancholia
St. Petersburg, Jan. 28.—The condi
tion of the czarina continues to cause
grave anxiety. Her majesty is suffer
ing from acute melancholia, and all ef
forts of her physicians to cure her have
been in vain.
Will Sse Why Kofoho Did it
Tokio, Jan. 29.—The body of Kotobo,
the famous Socialist who was hung
yesterday, has been willed to the med
ical department of the University of
Tokio, where it will be dissected.
May Still Enjoy Themselves
Salem. Ore . Jan. 25. The lagWa
Hire today passed ao act repealing the
law providing whipping-post punish
ment for wife-beating husbands. The
industry will probably flourish in the
state immediately.
When you visit Flat creek call at
Carroll’s Globe Bakery and Coffee
House for a luncb.
Byes examined free *• Simpson’s.
Ask Square Deal for Territory
Tacoma, Jan. 28—With a big cartoon
covering half the page, the same head
ing a petition entitled “A Square Deal
for Alaska,” the Tact ma Ledger comes
out with a strong appeal this morning,
and a.sks for signatures to the petition
that it may be presented to congress
Through the- state- Wgislatnre.
They Had a Tough
Trip to Seward
The following letter received from
F.url Byers explains in very graphic
manner, the hardships of the Seward
trail. The letter was brought in by
Bob Griffis who arrived in Iditarod
yesterday afternoon, after a trip of 11
days from Seward to Opliir during
which he was compelled to use snow
shoes most of the way. Here is what
Byers has to say of the trip :
Susitna, Dec. 30th. 1910,
To the Iditarod Pioneer :
Wo arrived at Susitna late last night.
Have had a hard trip. We have been
breaking trail and wading in overflows
ever since we left Tocotna. We would
have been all winter getting here had
we not joined forces at Tocotna with
Myers and Zimmerman from Moore,
Bain from Disakaket, Frisbee from
Fiat and Alex. Smith, Billy Gilcher
and F,d Welch from Iditarod. There
were 10 men and 19 dogs in the party
and we were able to keep four pairs of
snowshoes ahead of their dogs. We
were so much longer on the trail than
! we expected, that, we ran out of grub
j and were pretty hungry for several
l days. We were absolutely out of every
thing eatable Christmas day and would
have been in serious straits had we not
come across a hunter who had a little
| grub.
I would not. advise anyone to attempt
this route until spring. There will
probably be a fair trail then. The
! trail is impracticablo for horses and the
! Iditarod will not receive any large
I amount of grub over it this winter.
| The distances as given by Tommy Me
j Smart's directory is 100 miles short of
| the true distance. I enclose a tabic of
I distances and list of roadhouses which
! is fairly accurate. The new survey
will change the trail considerably,
j There is a party of nine men working
I toward Tditarod from here.
We intend resting here two days and
! will then be on our way again.
Tablk op Distancks
Miles
Iditaiod ... n
Flat - - - - '
Discovery Otter - - J
First Roadhouse on Mona mu - it’
Next " - 1
Summit. " ...
Disco’' 'r.v Moore - • '
Japs “ - d
Stanford's on 4th July - P
Trapper's Cabin - - -
Jce Whalers, mouth t'h .lily 111
Tokotna • - - i.i
Forks lib
Berrys .... Ju
Nicolai - - - JO
G uggfciilielui - - -
Snug - - - U
Rig John's, mouth llohn river .i‘i
S.imni i l - - - id
Summit Rainy Pass - - ft
Mouth of Happy • - 4S
Dutchman’s - - 4n
Cache Creek - - d."»
Susitna Station - - - lift
Total 44u
From Susitna station to Seward the
distance is said to be IK'J miles witli
roadhouses accommodations all the
way.
We were unable to purchase grub or
dog feed between Nicolai and the Cache
Creek Mining Co.
If tiiis account of tlie trail does not
coincide with reports sent back by
earlier musliers it is because condit ions
were not the same. I understand that
: Doc Mading and Kd McAdams had no
j snow to tight and had glare ice on all
| the river traveling, while we hud at.
times four feet of fresh snow.
Truly yours.
Eaki. By nits.
Republican Progressive League
! Washington, Jan. 21 Formal an
nouncement was made here today of'
the formation of the Republican Pro
grcssive League. Senator Bourne has
been elected president of the league.
The platform includes the direct elec
tion of officials and the initiative, ref
erendum ami recall.
New York, Jan. 24 -It is generally
j believed here that the new Republican
, Progressive League will receive the
J endorsement of Mr. Roosevelt.
—
Trusted Official Arrested
j -
Denver, Jan. 24—A great sensation
j has been caused here by the arrest of
Carson Wilson, who is charged with
the embezzlement of $1,200. Wilson
h been superintendent of mails for
tbi. division for over 15 years. He has
be i liberated on bail.
i _ -
Panama Exposition
Washington, Jan. 21.—Thirty thou
sa 1 telegrams have boon received by
P. esident Taft urging that San Frati
c co should be the location selected for
the Panama exposition of 1915, and
| protesting against the claims of New
; Orleans. _
| F'''U SALE—Piece of boiler-plate steel
i 'nchrs ]p^nn**»r nffic#