VALDEZ, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1916 NUMBER 9
VOLUBLE XIV.
HOOD ALCOHOL
CLAIMS VICTIMS
Seattle Police Report Ten Persons
Succumbed to Lethal Effects of
’ Unusual Stimulant.
SEATTLE. Jan. 11.—Substitutes
lor alcoholic beverages, the supply of
which has been cut off by the closing
of the saloons through the action of
the prohibition law, is responsible
for a number of deaths since the law
went into effect the first of the year.
Today’s list of unfortunates who gave
up their lives to an inordinate crav
ing for liquor, as reported by the po
lice, numbers ten. Of these a large
majority were victims of wood alco
hol, taken in lieu of usual “hard”
liquors. Notwithstanding the num
ber of victims of this poisonous spir
it daring tub past few days, and the
numerous warnings issued as to the
deadly character of wood alcohol, the
number of deaths from this cause
seem to be increasing daily rather
than diminishing.
Menthylated spirits, or wood alco
hol is a mixture of 10 per cent of
wine with wood spirits, and is used
as a preservative of animal structure,
and other commercial purposes. Its
name is a misnomer and confusing to
the ignorant, who think they are
partaking of a stimulant, when in fact
:it is a deadly poison.
Three More Victims.
SEATTLE, Jan. 11.—Late this aft
ernoon the police reported three ad
dition deaths from wood alcohol
poisoning, making a total of twenty
deaths from this cause since the city
went dry two weeks ago.
BURGLARS VERY
BUSY IN JUNEAU
Mercluwt's Cafe is Entered Early tills
Morning and Considerable Cash
taken from the Till.
S i
JUNEAU, Jan. 11.—Early this
morning robbers entered the Mer
chant’s Cafe in this city and rifled
the till, securing a considerable sum
of money and a lot of eatables, mak
ing their escape undetected. After
several hours’ work on the past of
the police suspicion was directed to
ward John Leroux, who was taken
Into custody this noon. This after
noon it was given out by the police
that Leroux had made a confession
of his complicity in the robbery and
Implicated several others.
PRIDE OF JENNICO
MAKES BIG HIT
The Paramount feature play in
four acts, “The Pride of Jennico,”
drew a targe crowd at the Empress
last night. The scenes were excel
lent and those who have read the fa
mous story know that the plot is one
of the most thrilling. It will be re
peated again tonight.
Manager Pinkus’ thoughtfulness in
fumigating the playhouse to guard
against a spread of la grippe met with
♦he universal commendation of his
{audience.
better bong on Way.
LOS ANGELES, CaHf., Jan. 11.—
A letter written by the Rev. Samuel
Ward, of Neoga, 111., November 6,
I860, the day he cast a ballot for
“Gobd Abe Lincoln,” was received
through the mails here last week by
Prof. W. D. Ward, of Occidental col
lege, a son of H. C. Ward, of Zanes
ville, Ohio, the man to whom it was
addressed. Where the letter went
after It was writen will probably for
ever remain a mystery.
The next postmark after that of
Neoga in 1860, is that of College Sta
tion, N. Y„ August 23, 1810. The
letter reached Zanesville last Octo
ber and, after search had been made!
for the addressee, was forwarded here
to Prof. Ward, who lacks three days
of being as old as the letter.
SKAGIT PIONEERS
, GO TO REWARD
SEATTLE, Jan. 11.—Three pio
neers of Skagit county, this State,
passed away yesterday. The deceas
ed were well known throughout the
Northwest and were active in affairs
concerning the early history of Wash
ington. They were Mrs. Sierra Ne
vada Cook, A. J. Thomas and Robert
Cockreham.
-- ^ i " ■
PLANT OEM
Believed that German Sympathizers
Set off Explosives at Carney’s
Point Powder Mills.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. II.—A tre
mendous explosion occurred this aft
ernoon at the Carney’s Point plant of
the DuPont Powder Company. Six
employes of the plant were killed by
the explosion and a number of others
received wounds of more or less se
rious nature. The force of the ex
plosion was so ...i-riflc that a ferry
boat passing the plant was complete
ly wrecked.
Investigation as to the cause of the
explosion indicate conclusively that
it was caused by outside parties, pre
sumably German sympathizers, who
took this method to prevent the com
pany from filling the huge orders for
explosives which it had lately receiv
ed from the Allies.
TURKISHJMLZ!
English Troops in Mesopotamia are
Reported by Turks to Be lu
Precarious Position.
BERLIN, Jau. 11.—The war office
bulletin issued this afternoon states
that advices have been received by
the department from Constantinople
advising that the British army oper
ating in the vicinity of Kutelamara,
in Mesopotamia, have been complete
ly surrounded by a large Turkish
force.’ The British troops are mak
ing a terrific drive to break through
the encircling Turkish lines, but have
been driven back with heavy losses.
It is predicted by the Turkish com
manders that the surrender of com
plete annihilation of the British force
is but a matter of a day or two.
NOMINATION BELONGS
PRESIDENT WILSON
When Speaker Champ Clark’s at
tention was called to statements in
New York and Baltimore newspapers
that he was being boomed for the
Democratic presidential nomination
in 1916, he said that his position was
the same as when he expressed him
self in the famous Panama Canal tolls
debate. At that time he said that if
the Democratic nomination in 1916
was worth having it would rightfully
belong to President Wilson and if it
was not worth having it would go to
President Wilson by default.
"I have nothing to add to or sub
tract from that statement,” said Mr.
Clark yesterday. "It was my atti
tude then and it is my attitude now.
Of course the situation might change
between now and nomination day.”
EDITOR OF EMPIRE
TAKES A VACATION
SEATTLE, Jan. 10.—John W.
Troy, owner and editor of the Juneau
Empire, accompanied by his daugh
ter Helen, left here this morning for
California. Mr. Troy is suffering
from a nervous breakdown, superin
duced by overwork, and will take a
long vacation upon advice of his phy
sician.
William Thompson returned to
town yesterday afternoon from Shoup
bay, where he has been engaged in
doing development work on a group
of gold quartz claims in which he is
interested.
ARE PLANNING A HUGE
UNION OF ALASKA WORKERS
JUNEAU CARPENTERS AND PLASTERERS FORM ORGANIZATIONS
1 AND OTHER TRADES WILL FOLLOW AT ONCF—IT IS PLANNED
TO UNIONIZE EVERY SKILLED WORKMAN IN ALASKA, TO PRE
VENT INFLUX OF CHEAP LABOR FROM LOWERING PRESENT
1 STANDARD OF LIVING IN THE TERRITORY.
JUNEAU, Jan. IX.—A movement
! Is on foot here to organize the work
men of Alaska on a large scale for
the purpose of preventing outside
cut-throat competition and holding up
the Alaska standard of wages.
Following the organization of a
carpenters' union here last night, the
plasterers are today holding a meet
ing for the purpose of organizing.
The meeting is largely attended and
the sentiment of those present is
largely in favor of an organized town.
It is understood that practically
every trade represented in this city
will be unionized within a few days,
and a movement has been inaugurat
ed to extend the propaganda through
out the entire territory. A communi
cation is in course of preparation,
which will be sent to every town in
Alaska, urging all skilled workmen
to organize to protect themselves
and setting forth the necessity for ac
tion if the Alaska working man would
escape from the competition and
wage cutting incident to unorganized
workingmen.
Particular emphasis is laid upon
the fact that the construction of the
government railroad and the exten
sive advertising which Alaska has
had throughout the United States
during the past two years is bring
ing a large number of men to the ter
ritory in search of work, and this
competition is being keenly felt in
many of the larger cities, and will
slowly but surely extend to the small
er towns and camps.
It is further planned to.fffcanize a
(trades council in connection with the
various unions, to act as a central
ized head to direct the workmen of
the various bodies.
Advices received from several
towns throughout the territory indi
cates that this movement will meet
with the approval of a vast majority
of the workingmen of Alaska, al
though it is doubtful is organization
can make much headway save in the
larger cities. The government action
in the matter is open to conjecture,
as the administration has never rec
ognized a union, and picks the men
upon their merits.
TERRIFIC STORM SWEEPING
THE COAST OF WASHINGTON
FORTY MILE GALE AND TERRIFIC SEAS DRIVE FRENCH BARK
ASHORE IN SEATTLE HARBOR—AMERICAN SHIP HITS HOOK AT
PORT ANGELES HARBOR—GALE IS WORST IN TWENTY YEARS
NO LIVES IjOST BUT DAMAGE TO SHIPPING WILL BE HEAVY.
SEATTLE. Jan. 11.—A sixty mile
gale, accompanied by heavy seas,
this morning sent the French ship
Marchall De Castries ashore at Har
bor island, in the upper bay. The
officers and crew of the vessel were
taken off and it is believed that the
ship will be floated when the storm
subsides.
Reports received here state that a
a storm of terrific violence is raging
all along the coast, and the weather
stations along the shore are flying
storm signals.
American itark Ashore.
SEATTLE. Jan. 11.—A report has
been received here this afternoon
that the American bark Jane L. Stan
ford, has been driven ashore at Ediz
Hook, at Port Angeles. The U. S.
revenue cutter Unalga js standing by
the vessel ready to render assistance
to the crew in the event the vessel
shows signs of breaking up. The
ship lies in an exposed position and
is being swept from time to time by
heavy seas.
AUSTRIANS USE DU MM A
GUNS IN TRENCHES.
PETROGRAD: Dummy machine
guns, which make a noise like the
real thing, and thereby, scare off the
attacking eaemy, are reported' to be
one of the latest innovation? Tied by
the Austrians on the southern front.
It is a well known fact that infant
ry once loosed on a charge upon a
trench defended with rapid fire guns,
are apt to swerve instinctively from
points where Maxims seem to be the
thickest: However dense the roar of
heavy artillery during attacks the
short, sharp, barking of these little
guns is distinctly audible, resembling
the noise of the old fashioned-horse
Addle, or a stick raked over palings.
In order to increase the phychologl
cal effect of machine gun Are, the
Austrians therefore hit upon the plAn
of mounting in their trenches alter
nately with real Maxims, a large pro
portion of dummies. These produce
a rattle identical in sound with that
of the real gun, and are operated by
rapidly turning a handle.
MOTHER KILLS SELF AND
HER FIVE CHILDREN.
CHICAGO, Jam II.—Mrs. Cris
tena Mayes, wife of a teamster in this
city, in a lit, of despondency, today
took her own life and those of her
five children. Shortly after the de
parture of her husband this morning
she gathered her children In one of
the rooms,of their apartment and
closing the doors and windows,
turned on the illuminating gas. When
found several houro later all were
dead.
LIBERTY HAS A
FINE SHOW ON.
The Liberty theatre played to a
good house last night, and the films
are said to be among the best ever
brought to the city. Comedy and
drama are both shown, and the show
is a big five-reel thriller from start
to finish.
Mrs. At White, the manager, has
some of the best features booked for
the coming month that are obtainable,
and this comfortable, steam-heated
show house is a pleasant place to
spend an evening.
THOMPSON WOULD
BE COUNCILMAN
SEATTLE, Jan. 11.—R. H. Thomp
son, the present city engineer, today
filed his candidacy for the office of
councilman. This act is the outcome
of pressure brought by a number of
the prominent business men of the
city upon Mr. Thompson to permit his
name to be placed on the official bal
lot.
The launch Shamrock, Capt. Tim
Marcum will leave in the morning
for Cordova, via Fidalgo bay. Among
the passengers booked are Judge C.
E. Bunnell, for Cordova; E. D. Rei
ter, for Fidalgo, and Mrs. Cook, wife
of the government school teacher at
Bllamar for that place.
The funeral of K. Reed was held to
day at 2 o’clock, under the auspices
of the Eagles, of which body he was
a member.
Subscribe for tbe Prospector.
'v
NO REPORT FROM
CABLESHIP BURNSIDE
The cable between Sitka and Se
attle is still out of commission, and
the local office has received no ad
vices as to when the repairs will be
made, or whether or not the cable
ship Burnlslde has left Seattle. It
is believed, however, that the repairs
will be made within a day or two and
communication restored.
Meagre Details Sent Out Lead to the
Belief that Works are Seriously
Crippled for Some Time.
AMSTERDAM, Jan. 11.—Advices
received here from Berlin today state
that a portion of the huge Krupp war
munition plant at Essen was destroy
ed by fire today.
Details regarding the catastrophe
have not been made public, and at
this time it is impossible to estimate
how great the damage is to the plant
or its effect upon the operations of
the Teutonic army.
It is believed here that the plant
has been damaged to a considerable
extent, and the lack of details sent
out by the government is due to a de
sire on the part of officials to cover
the gravity of the loss.
RAILROAD BRIDGE
IS COMPLETED
Structure Across Eagle River on Gov
ernment Line is Ready for
lYaflic of New Road.
SEWARD, Jan. 11.—The railroad
bridge over Eagle River on the line
of the government road about twenty
miles north of Anchorage, has been
completed, according to advices re
ceived here today. Notwithstanding
the severe weather which has pre
vailed throughout the district of late,
work on the line is progressing moBt
favorably and the progress so far
made with the work of construction
has exceeded anticipations.
SHIPS ARE SCARCE
ON ATLANTIC tJOAStf.
NEW YORK:— The demand for
ocean tonnage continues unabated
and the value of ships shows no sign
of receding. Shipping men are fig
uring that they can charter vessels
at rates which will soon return their
cost.
One American interest having been
forehanded in ordering eight ships in
England at the outbreak of the war,
delivery of which is not yet due to
begin for several months, has re
ceived offers of more than $1,000,000
for transfer of the construction and
this before they had paid in one dol
lar.
A 8IMPI.E TEST
■ FOR TUNGSTEN ORE
The discovery of a vein of tungsteL
ores In interior Alaska has stimulat
ed a search for this mineral in other
sections of the territory. The prin
cipal ores of this mineral are Schee
lite and Wolframite, the former vary
ing from colorless to grey, yellow or
brown, with a white streak and con
taining about 80 per cent tungstic
acid. The latter varies in color from
brownish black to reddish brown,
with similar streak. In a recent is
sue of the Mining and Scientific
Press the following simple test for
tungsten is given: Treat a small
quantity of the powdered ore with
hydrochloric add in a test tube. If
the metal is presents canary yellow
will be seen. To make sure of the
test add a scrap of tin, which will
give a blue coloration. <
The funeral services over the re
mains of George Yoshida will take
place at the Catholic church tomor
row morning at 11 o’clock.
Relatives of I. S. Irwin Relieve that
He Is Being Held for Ransom
By Fish I'irates.
JUNEAU, Jan. 11.—Another re
ward of $1,000 has been offered for
the return alive of I. N. Irwin, U. S.
fisheries warden, who has been miss
ing since October 9, with Mike De
Costa and Sandy Clark, of Ketchikan
Fisheries Inspector Ernest P. Wal
ker announced that Mrs. C. H. Smith,
of Warrentown, Va., a sister of Ir
win, had authorized him to offer $1,
000 more for the return of her broth
er and “no questions asked." Dr.
Fairfax Irwin, the missing warden’s
father, who a month ago offered $1,
000 for his son’s return, now declares
that no questions will be asked it
his sou is returned to him.
That the relatives of Young Irwin
are of the belief that Irwin has been
kidnapped, and is being held, is the
intimation which announcement of
the reward money conveys.
STEAMERS SNOWBOUND
ON INSIDE PASSAGE
JUNEAU, Jan. 11.—The steamers
Jefferson and the Princess May are
reported to be tied up near Wrangell
in a terrific snowstorm, unable to pro
ceed because of the thick weather pre
vailing along the inside passage.
The storm, which is one of the
worst in years, is accompanied by a
gale of great violence.
It is expected that all steamers
north or south bound will be off their
schedules on account of the unusually
thick weather.
FOR COMMISSION
New Barges and Tug Will be Purchas
ed for Use at the Railroad
Terminal at Anchorage.
SEWARD, Jan. 11.—Harry Docke,
harbormaster for the Alaska Rail
road Commission at Anchorage, is an
arrival here en route to the States to
supervise the purchase of a number
of barges and a powerful tng for the
commission. These vessels will be
used by the commission for the hand
ling of a large lot of freight, which
it is anticipated, will be received at
Anchorage next season, the equip
ment, possessed by the commission
last season being wholly inadequate
for the purpose.
COMMITTEE WILL SOON
APPORTION DELEGATES
The question of apportioning the
delegates to the territorial convention
was one of the subjects brought be
fore the session of the Democratic
Territorial Committee yesterday. Un
der the rules adopted at the Skagway
convention in 1914 the number of
delegates is increased from 50 for
each division to 75. This step was
taken to provide representation at the
convention for a number of new
camps which has sprung up since the
original allotment was made. The
apportionment of these delegates will
be in the hands of the several divi
sional committees. The apportion
ment of the delegates for the third
division will be taken up within a
short time by the committee tor this
division and will be announced at an
early date.
KENYON NAMED RECEIVER
PUBLIC MONEY AT BOISE
SEATTLE, Jan. 11.—President
Wilson today sent to the senate the
name of Frank B. Kenyon, of Boise,
Idaho, as receiver of public moneys
for the Boise district.
Advices received at tfie court bouse
are to the effect! tUtt fudge Fred M.
Brown and U. 8. dpmmtaeioner Geo.
J. Love will return to Valdes on the
boat leaving Seattle on January SB.