IDITAROD PIONEER
PIRLISIILU KYLHY SATURDAY MORMNC. AT IDITAROD, ALASKA
Vol 6 Geo. M. Ar buckle. Publisher No. 14
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ABOUT GERMAN ATROCITIES
The Philadelphia Ledger of recent date publishes a lengthy defense
of the German military forces against the charges of barbarities alleged
to have been perpetrated in Belgium and elsewhere from the pen of
James O'Donnell Bennett, correspondent of the Chicago Tribune in the
war zone. 1 lie article is too lengthy for reproduction in these columns,
and at best is the result of the observations and investigations of but
one man. Even after a reading oi this article it is hard to believe that
the varied accounts of the actions of the military in the conquered dis
tricts could all have been untrue, as is suggested by Mr. 0 Donnell,
especially when taken in conjunction with the professed military policy
of Germany and the teachings of its military writers. While no doubt
the accounts of the alleged atrocities have in many instances been ex
aggerated, as was only natural, it will take more than the word of one
man, whose observations were necessarily under the.scrutiny of Ger
man officialdom, to refute the testimony of tne thousands of unfortu
nate refugees and the reputable and supposedly impartial writers who
have preceded Mr. Bennett. Granting all that has been said about the
humane instincts of the Germans as a nation, there is little doubt that
the teachings of Neitsche, Bernhardi and others have had their effect
on the German officer, if not on the private soldier, and the natural
consequence was to make war as hideous as possible, due telegraphic
news this week describing the sinking of a passenger ship and the loss
of hundreds of non-combatants does not tend to create a belief in the
infallibility of Mr. Bennett’s conclusions. However, the editorial com
ment of the Ledger on the subject contains much wisdom and is well
worth reproducing:
The stories of German atrocities in Belgium, which were fed to the United States
in the early days of the war. could not have been true unless the Germans had been
transformed overnight from a nation of civilized human beings into a horde of brute
beasts. They were incredible from the first. But they were believed by people willing
tc accept any report about the horrors of war.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s impassioned arraignment of the modern Huns, as he called
them, was eagerly read, and his wide reputation gave to it a weight which it would not
otherwise have carried. James O'Donnell Bennett, an American correspondent in Bel
gium. has written an open letter to Sir Arthur disputing his sweeping charges. The
Germans, he says, have not been brutes. He cites instance after instance of their civility
and kindness. And he reports that when he attempted to verify tales of atrocious treat
merit of Belgian non-combatants he was always told that the thing happened “in the
next village.'' But the next village, like tomorrow, was always one stage ahead of him.
Mr. Bennett's cumulative argument may not convince the extreme anti Germans; hut
it will persuade thoughtful people that most of the tales were provided by st|.sation
mongers who discovered that there was a market for their wares. Even the Briti.-h have
already begun to punish the purveyors of fal-e stories of German brutality. Within a
week a Scotch girl has been convicted of such an often-e because she gave out a letter
from her sister describing how she had been maltreated by the Germans while acting as
a nurse at the front. The letter was proved to he a forgery. If the British have ceased
to tolerate the circulation of such yarns. Americans certainly can stop believing them.
There are horrors enough in war without manufacturing others.
There are doubtless brutal German soldiers, and there are French and English and
Indian and African soldiers who are also brutal. Women and children have been mal
treated and civilians who have taken pot shots at the soldiers have been summarily
killed. This is an inevitable incident of war. We in America ought to be able to keep
our heads and not fall into the stupid error of assuming that all the members of one
group of armies are beasts and all the members of another group are saints.
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE
That the past winter was a most remarkable one in Interior Alaska
is generally commented upon and acknowledged. But a most singular
thing has developed in connection with this comment, and that is that
a description of peculiar weather conditions in Iditavod applies equally
to those prevailing on the coast, or at any rate at Cordova. In The
Pioneer of January 2 last there appeared a write-up of local
weather conditions under the caption, “Winter Is the Mildest Ever
Known.” By a strange coincidence, there appeared a leading editorial
in the Alaska Times, Cordova, of February 20, under the heading.
“This Winter the Mildest Ever Known in Alaska,” which shows that
newspaper writers may sometimes hit upon the same form of expres
sion in describing simiarl events or circumstances. At least this is one
explanation. The “deadly parallel” will make clear this phenomenon:
(Alaska Times, Cordova, Feb. 20'
This Winter the Mildest Ever Known in
Alaska
The unseasonably mild weather which
has prevailed throughout Alaska during the
past three or four months is the subject of
congratulation and much speculation as to
effect. The perfect day-, when the ,-un is
above the horizon for several hours, are a
delight, and the nights are less cold than
in the favored states on the western coast
rhi* season of the year. Of course this
mild weather was accompanied by some
rainfall in this section, but there have been
no storms of any violence, and compara
tively little snow.
This record is considered most remark
able. even by those who have been resi
dents of Alaska for many years. No one.
^o far as known, lays claim to having ex
perienced mob weather conditions in this
portion of Alaska before, and unlike the
editor of the Whitehorse Star, we have
not acces3 to the records of the Indians
to compare the present weather conditions
with those of years and ages previous to
the arrival of the whites. There is, how
ever, a striking contrast between the rec
ords of this winter and those of 1913-14,
although that was bv no means a severe
winter.
As usual, there are many theories ad
vanced to account for the unusual weather
conditions, and probably the most ingeni
ous is that of a local business man, who
affirms that climatic changes are due
the great European war—the firing of
immense amounts of high explosives in that
taction of the world causing atmospheric
disturbances which affect the climate even
at this distance. No one has yet come for
ward to refute this theory authoritatively,
and it will have to stand in the absence of
any other.
(Pioneer. Jan. 21
Winter Is the Midest Ever Known
The unseasonably mild weather which
has prevailed in this part of Alaska during
(he fall and winter months so far this sea
son is the subject of much speculation as
to cause and congratulation as to effect.
The perfect days, although of short dura
tion at present, when the sun is above the
horizon but a few hours, are a delight, and
the nights c:re scarcely less cool than in the
favored states on the western coast of the
United States at this season of the year.
Hut twice ibis season—on November 19 and
November 23 has the thermometer regis
tered a temperature below zero.
This record is considered most remarkable,
even by those who have been residents of
Alaska for many years. No one, so far as
known, lays claim to having experienced
such weather conditions in this portion of
Alaska before, and unlike the editor of the
Whitehorse Star, we have not access to the
records of the Indians to compare the pres
ent weather conditions with those of years
and ages previous to the arrival of the
whites. There is, however, a striking con
trast between the records of this, winter and
those of 1913, although that was by no
means a severe winter.
As usual, there are many theories ad
vanced to account for the unusual weather
conditions, and probably the most ingenious
is that of a IocpI business man. who af
ns that, the climatic changes are due to
the great European war—me bring oi im
mense amounts of high explosives in that
section of the world causing atmospheric
disturbances which affect the climate even
at this distance. No one has yet come for
ward to refute this theory authoritatively,
and it will have to stand in the absence of
any other.
The summer mail contract between Nu- ,
lato and Iditarod has been taken up by
Charles DeWolf, and a bond has been filed
to insure performance. The contract for .
the service commences June 1, but a trip !
during May has been arranged for. This j
was the contract held by the late James
Aitchison, who lost his life in the Yukon
during the early part of the winter.
Fine Watch Repairing, ''or,11 nu Tay'
I
Fresh Olympia Oysters, for cocktails, $2
can. Iditarod Meat Co.
CLIMER’S
FOOTWEAR HOSPITAL
FLAT CITY
Now is the time to get your boots and
shoes repaired—just before the busy sea
son begins. You’ll save time and money by
having your repair work done now.
GOOD WORK REASONABLE PRICES
C. C. CLIMER, FLAT CITY
MRS. LANG'S
HOME BURNS
A lire starting in an overheated stove in
the laundry conducted by Mrs. Lang, on
First avenue, caused the total loss of the
contents of the building and only through
the timely work of Iditarod’s modern lire
apparatus and the energetic work of the
volunteer firemen stopped short of total de
struction of the building. The loss will
amount to several hundred dollars, on which
there was no insurance.
About 7 o’clock on Tuesday evening ex
cited cries of “Fire” startled the people in
the business district of the city, and flames
were seen pouring from the laundry. A
fierce northerly gale was blowing at the time
and anxiety was pictured on the faces of
all. Volunteer firemen were numerous, and
while some repaired to the tire station to
bring forth the apparatus, others quickly
secured lire extinguishers and rushed to the
cene. It was seen apparent that the build
ing was doomed, and the efforts of the fire
fighters were directed to confining the fire
to the one structure. The chemical and fire
extinguishers in the hands of willing work
ers kept the fire in control until the fire
h>?e was hid and the pump started at the
fire station, and in about ten minutes from
the time that Chief Byers was called from
his dinner at the Merchants cafe by the
alarm an effective stream of water' was be
i poured on the flames, and it was the
work of but a few minutes to squelch the
blaze.
Practically nothing of value was saved
from the building except a few trinkets,
which were reached from a window. The
rlace was so completely fi led with smoke
as to prevent entrance.
An Unfortunate Delay
Water was turned into the hose several
minutes prior to this time, however, but
owing to an unfortunate occurrence the full
force of water was turned into one line of
hose, and the result was that the hose burst
and caused a delay while a new coupling
was made. The lire pump is intended to
provide two streams of water, and it is cus
tomary to leave one outlet of (he valve at
the standpipe open to carry off the excess
water when only one line is in use. But
someone had closed the valve and the ac
ent was the result. Everything consid
ered, the first actual test of the fire appar
:tus more than justified the purchase of
he equipment, and the town officials are
greatly pleased with the demonstration.
Had the tire of Tuesday evening gained
much headway it must have resulted dis
astrously, as the high wind would have
carried the Haines through the heart of the
business portion of the city.
A Second Alarm
Scarcely had the fire equipment been re
turned to the station and the crowds dis
persed than there was a second alarm of
fire, this time from trip McDonald hotel.
It proved to be an incipient blaze in an
upstairs apartment, and was quickly smoth
ered without the use of the fire apparatus.
THANKS TO FIRE FIGHTERS
Mrs. Lang, whose home was partially de
stroyed in Tuesday night’s fire, wishes to
express her appreciation of the efforts of
the citizens to save her property, and to
thank all who assisted in the work.
POOR MARKSMANSHIP
LONDON, March IS. A member of the
crew of the Glasgow, which was in the
fi irh t with the Leipzig and the Dresden off
Chile, says the Germans scored only seven
hits out of a thousand shells fired.
UNCLE HEN HATCHES SOMETHING
“Pa, I heard Uncle Henry say that he
had hatched out a scheme. How could he
do that?"
“He probably had his mind set on it.”—
Boston Transcript.
WAS FIRST TO FIND GOLD
IN THE YUKON VALLEY
(Dawson News)
In the address given by the Right Rev.
I. 0. Stringer, bishop of Yukon, on the life
of Archdeacon McDonald, occurred the fol
lowing :
“Two circumstances connected with the
life of Archdeacon McDonald will he of spe
cial interest to the people in Yukon.
“He was the first to discover gold, so far
as we know, in the Yukon valley. In 1803.
while visiting Indians on Birch creek, he
saw gold on an exposed bedrock and col
lected some of the yellow metal, using a
spoon to gather it together. He sent speci
mens of this to the British museum, with
other collections of bones of the extinct
horse and rhe like. The London Times pub
lished an article regarding this discovery
of gold, and years afterward, when the
Klondike gold discovery created such a stir,
the Times republished this article regarding
the discovery of gold by McDonald some
thirty-three years before. The discovery
f the precious metal was interesting to the
young missionary, but his work was not
tha tof a miner. His whole aim and ob
:pct*in life was to bear the unsearchable
riches of Christ to those who were in need.
“Again, he was the first missionary, so
'ar as we know, to visit the Klondike and
fo hold services in this region. About fifty
vears ago he made his first journey up the
Yukon, accompanied by a man and a hoy.
He ascended the river by canoe from Fort
Yukon, visiting the Indians eamned along
he way. Wherever a human being was to
be found, the little hire hbark canoe stopped
and the young missionary ministered to the
spiritual and physical wants. Thus the
journey proceeded day after day. till Mc
Donald reached the ‘Trohndik,’ or Klondike
river, and landed among the tribe of In
dians at this [ lace. A few hours afterward
the first Christian service was held where
the city of Dawson now stands. McDonald
'hen continued .up the Stewart river, visit
ing the native camps along the way, and
afterwards returning to Fort Yukon. Sev
eral-journeys of this character were made
from Fort Yukon as the center.”
MEMBER OF COMMISSION
IS MOST OPTIMISTIC
Thomas Riggs. Jr., addressed the Sour
dough Club of the University of Washing
ton recently end gave the students an idea
of what Alaska will become within the
next decade. He said in part:
“Millions in money are awaiting a chance
to go into Alaska. The same kind of mil
lions that opened the Rand in South Africa
to wealth, in South America and Australia,
end made possible the fortunes in California,
Colorado and Nevada mines, are clamoring
for admittance into Alaska. Alaska is the
la.-t great undeveloped empire. Just as
soon as capital is assured transportation,
-n investments will be made and develop
ment get its impetus. We are going to
brill railroads in Alaska, ami I look for
a healthy, steady and wonderful growth
during the next decade. The gold mining
ndustrv is due for a richer life than it hps
ever had. The placer miner of today in
Alaska is a different man from the placer
miner of the old bonanza days, lie does
not come home from a night in the dance
fall now to start work the next morning
Pi a haphazard way; he reads the mining
magazines .md engineers reports and goes
about the development of his properties in
a scientific and systematic fashion.”
He urged the younger generation of
Alaska, typified in the university students
mv,rising the Sourdough Club, to do wh it
they could to dispel the pessimism of the
eld'sourdoughs who bemoan the passing of
the “old day-.” Cordova Alaskan.
EPITAPH FOR FAITHFUL DOu
A Chitir.a pioneer, whose faithful dog
was poisoned, is the author of the following
epitaph:
Here the b< dy of my faithful oog Jack.
In the tortures of hell I hope and pray
The fiend that poisoned him will go and
stay."
Ts ^ - Gold Si., Flat City
||0 ^ !F^ ^sll Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
Seward Gold Seal Pacs
] ARE THE BEST ON THE MARKET '
' H. DONNELLEY, discovery, otter i
pr W ® w ff FIRST-CLASS
McDonald Mouse accommodation
Furnace Heat in Every Room Large and Warm Dog Houses
_FREE READING ROOM.—All the Late Outside Papers and Magazines._
When at « ■ CLEAN, WARM ROOMS
Stop 'a't"*the B B O Li S O Tub and Steam Baths
New Stables for Horses and Dogs MRS. DICKSON, PROP.
Fresh Meats
Beef, *Fish
SesondSt. SD1TAROD HEAT GO. phonel5!
&
_ THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
Caribou Cafe
FIRST AVE.
GOOD MEALS
SHORT ORDERS s
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
ROBT. SOUTAR
Prop
REPRESENTATIVE SNOW
DESCRIBES TRAIL TRIP
(C. K. Snow in Ruby Record Citizen)
Seward, Feb. 15, 1915.
I arrived here Thursday, the 13th, after
a never-to-be-forgotten trip of eighteen
days. It was one continual outing from
the time I left Ruby till I arrived in Sew
ard. and I enjoyed every minute of it. The
trail was a little heavy from Poorman to
Ophir and for about seven miles over the
summit, forty-nine miles out from Seward.
In all, I used the snowshoes about six
hours. There was about sixty miles on the
South Fork of the Kuskokwim where there
was absolutely no snow, and here the nig
gerheads were quite bad and pretty hard on
a sled, but as soon as one is over Rainy pass
there is plenty of snow.
As far as Knik the lay of the trail is
fully as good as one could expect overland
trail to be, but after leaving Knik one en
counters about sixteen miles of bad trail
around Turnagain arm, although they tell
me the present route is much better than
over the Crow pass, which trail was used
up to two years ago. The railroad, which
ever way it goes to the coal fields, will elim
inate this bad portion of the trail.
I found good dog houses at every road
house, and received the most courteous
treatment at every stopping place. For
about one hundred miles in the vicinity of
Rainy pass meals are $2, bunks $1. At
most other places the price of meals is
$1.25 to $1.50. The meals were excellent,
with an abundance of wild meat. Along
the South Fork of the Kuskokwim and in
the Rainy pass section there was plenty of
mountain sheep in every cache, and you
ctiay he sure the mutton is in great demand
by all travelers Several roadhouse men
asked me which I preferred—moose, cari
bou, bear or mutton, rabbit, bird or fish.
I thought that was going some.
At Anderson’s roadhouse. Rainy pass,
there is a register kept of all travelers, and
I found that I was the ninety third trav
eler who had passed this season, not count
ing the mail carriers. I passed there on
January 29.
laken a'l m all, I cannot see any legiti
mate reason why this trail should receive
the “black eye” i does by many who pass
over it. I was undoubtedly lucky as far
as weather conditions are concerned; but
even so, these weather conditions must nf
feet any overland trail, and for niv part I
believe this Seward-Yuknn trail has been
too often unjustly condemned, often per
haps by parties who do not know what to
vxpect on an overland trail in Alaska. For
scenic beauty it by far excels any other
trail I have traveled in Alaska, and for this
*'ne feature alone I would not have missed
this trip, even though the trail were as bad
a? it is often reported to be, and much
more expensive.
If you love the grandeur of nature—its
canyons, its mountains and its mightiness,
and love to feel the thrill of their presence
then take the trip by all means; you will
not be disappointed. But if you wish to
travd on ‘‘flowery beds of ease” and wish
to snooze and dream that you are a special
•roduct of higher civilization too finely ad
justed for this more strenuous life, then
on’t. But may God pity you. for you will
1 >se one thing worth living for if you have
he opportunity to make this trip and fail
to do so.
MET! AKAHTLA QUARREL
LEADS TO ARREST FOR LIBEL
(Ketchikan Progressive. Feb. 13)
The article which appeared in last week’s
issue of the Progressive, purporting to be
he story of the trouble between Father
Duncan of the Metlakahtla settlement and
the natives, has added furl to the contro
versy.
In view of the fact that Mr. Duncan’s
• ide of the trouble had been broadly adver
iised, the relator referred to in the article
being desirous that the natives’ side be
told, made the statement published, to
which Mr. Duncan to-.-k exception, with the
result that the editor of the Progressive
was arrested, taken before the United States
commissioner, the charge read, which was
followed by a long explanation by Mr. Dun
can of his relations with the tribe from the
beginning up to this day, and the editor
was ciischarged.
It is only fair that Mr. Duncan’s state
ment and refutation of the charges made
by the native. Mark Hamilton, be also pub
lished, to the end that justice may obtain.
According to Mr. Duncan, the story as
tf Id by the native does not contain one
truthful fact, and he denies absolutely every
part of the statement therein made.
That the 850.000 which the native said
had been given to Mr. Duncan is a pure
fabrication. Theft the only sum of money
he ever received from outsiders was 811,000
from a private source, and that was bor
rowed money with which the sawmill and
cannery were constructed. That when the
loan was made he organized a company,
with himself as manager, bookkeeper, etc.,
and proceeded to work, employing the na
tives and paying them wages. After several
years of devotion to the work and strict
economy, he paid every cent of the bor
rowed money back, besides 15 per cent per
annum for the money so used. That in no
manner did he ever receive a cent from any
religious association or otherwise, except his
salary as secretary of the association that
employed him while in Canada.
Mr. Duncan further explained that the
natives never asked for the kind of school
they are having now. The school that they
have prayed for was a boarding school,
where the natives’ children might be cared
for while the parents were away, such as
when out hunting or fishing, etc.
That whatever property there is at the
settlement, such as wharves, warehouses,
water works, etc., is the result of his in
dustry, and that neither the government
nor anyone else ever contributed a cent.
That the community, through his ef
forts, was self-supporting. That during his
administration more than one million dol
lars passed through his hands, and every
cent of which is accounted for, as his books
will show.
Mr. Duncan’s deduction is that Mark
Hamilton has deliberately and maliciously
slandered him, and that no part of that
statement contains a grain of truth.
Such is in substance the statement made
by Mr. Duncan, which is published with
the full belief in its truth.
FELT SAFE IN THAT
“How many hotels here?” asked the man
who had just left the train.
“Two,” answered the man who was stand
ing on the platform.
“Which would you recommend ”
“Well, I’m stopping at the Hotel Horn
swoggle. I’d recommend the other one.”—
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Job Printing at Pioneer office.
MEET OF NEUTRAL LEAGUE
CAPTURED BY GERMANS
CHICAGO, Feb. 7.—J. J. O'Leary of New
York, president of the American Truth So
ciety, denounced England, pleaded for Ger
many and ridiculed the United States at a
mass meeting here today under the auspices
of the American Neutrality League. The
avowed purpose of the meeting was the
promotion of peace, and a large crowd at
tended, a great percentage of the audiencce
being Germans.
“I believe it was right in this hall that
William J. Bryan, our gifted secretary of
state, proclaimed that the Republican party ]
was trying to crucify the people of this
country upon a cross of gold," Mr. O’Leary
said. "He is now trying to crucify the
fatherlands of more than 25,000,000 of our
people upon a cross of British gold."
There was hissing at the mention of Mr.
Bryan’s name, and the chairman of the
meeting arose and declared he would leave
•he platform unless neutrality was pre
served.
oustave ncnvan, a .'■“'wedish lecturer, wno
was to have been one of the chief speakers,
told the audience he had sat in shame listen
ing to the inflammatory speeches.
He was not in sympathy with the spirit
shown, he said, and would not have come
to the meeting had he foreseen the character
it was to assume.
Frank Buchanan, a labor leader, was met
with hoots and catcalls when he defended
the sincerity of purpose of Mr. Bryan.
“While I may not agree with the secre
tary of state,” he said, “I do believe in his
sincerity in his work for peace, and I be- j
lieve he will be able to do some work chat j
will be valuable. You are not going t > I
make progress by appealing to prejudice.” i
The Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, pastor of
All Souls’ church, who had been asked to I
act as chairman, arrived half an hour late, j
When he reached the Coliseum he saw the
• sidewalk lined with men selling banners
bearing pictures of the German emperor,
| the German eacle, and the inscription.
“Deutschland Uber Ailes.”
O’Leary was speaking amid applause when j
Dr. Jones entered the hall. German ban
ners hung from the galleries and the ban
r.ers of German societies numbering 150
decorated the space about the speaker.
American flags were outnumbered.
Dr. Jones pleaded for a place for the
allies’ flags.
“Where is the rose of England?” he de
manded. “Why is the French flag not
there Where is the Russian flag?”
“Put them all there. I say. If this is a
pro-German and an anti British meeting—
and mind you. my attitude would be the j
same if it were pro-British and anti-German
I have no place here, and respectfully beg
leave to withdraw.”
Before the arrival of Dr. Jones the meet
ing adopted the declarations of the princi
ples of neutrality adopted at Washington
in a conference of various organizations, as
well as formal resolutions protesting against
the export of arms, ammunition and muni
I tions of war, calling for the national con
: trr.l of the manufacture of weapons, and for
I peace and harmony on the promotion of
; neutrality without arousing animosities. The j
resolutions deprecated the use of airship- 1
as a means of dropping bombs or other |
missiles of destruction on unfortified and I
non-militant communities.
After the meeing many of those present
paraded he streets singing “Die Wacht Am
| Rhein.”
I -
LARGEST DREADNAUGHTS
BEING BUILT FOR BRITAIN
A London dispatch says that Great Brit- j
1 ain is to amaze the world with several war- !
| ships of a new type, as much abcne the i
; super-dreadnought as that is above the j
dreadnought. Admiral Jel icoe will be able
| to lay down a hand on the playing table
■ t the North sea next summer at which th*>
| ••i.-er’s navy will stare in astonishment.
These new ships are of the Queen Eliza
j bcth class, not one of which is yet in cun
i mission. Details of them are carefully ;
guarded, and j ublicatit n of facts concerning
m in Great Britain probably would he i
followed by severe punishment. A man who
recently visited the jealously-guarded Dev .
! onport yard, however, gives a layman’s j
! view of one of these giant craft. She was i
' the Warspite. which will be ready for ac
; ticn within three months.
The Warspite will carry ten 15.5-inch
! guns. What this means can be realized !
•hen it i- remembered that the latest Amer
can battle-hips carry only 14-inch guns. ,
Even more important is the wonderful tur J
ret arrangement. The turrets rise above 1
each other like boxes in a grandstand, so j
that it is possible to fire all of her 15.5
gun? from her bow. This is an achievement i
of which naval construction would have
despaired inly yesterday.
More wonderful still, this monster float ;
*ing fort is not unable to pursue swift cruis
ers. She makes twenty-six knots, a speed
greater than the fastest transatlantic liner.
Her bow is narrow at the water line and
i widens in such a way as to offer the least
possible resistance to the seas.
Another important feature is her armor.
It is said she will be able practically to defy I
any ordinary torpedo or mine. This is ac
complished by means of a triple coating of
armor below the water line. An external
explosion can damage but not sink her. Of
course she is oil-driven. Her cost will be
about S16.000.000.
There are six such ships building, which
are expected to shake out their colors within
three months. Construction is so perfectly |
organized that they can he built in eighteen
months from the time they were started, ir j
is estimated.
It is impossible to learn whether all or j
only one of the new battleships will be
able to fire all ten of its large guns from
the bow. It is known, however, that be
sides these six new battleships, the Devon
port and Portsmouth dockyards alone are
to produce light battle cruisers by next
spring or early summer.
At Devonport 9,000 men are employed,
with about 5,000 soldiers and marines al 1
ways on guard.
Winston Churchill, first lord of the ad- j
miralty, recently stated in the house of j
^commons that Great Britain could lose a
superdreadnought every month for twelve
months without diminishing her relative su
periority over the German navy, even
(though the Germans kept all their ships in
,tact. From what is learned, this is no idle
boast. __
HARD LUCK
“Hear about Ferdy’s hard luck? His i
father told him he’d have to go to work.” J
“Well, can’t he make a bluff at going j,
around applying?” j
“He thought he could, but hang me if j
they didn't accept him the first place he j
tried.”—Louisville Courier-Journal.
Location Notices at PioBeer office j
Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska,
Kentucky, 1S91
George Woodruff Albrecht
< OUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
■"he Pioneer Attorney of Iditarod
E. M. STANTON,
Attorney at Law
Offir p: Corner Willow and Second Sta.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
W. F. HARRSSON,
A’torney at Law
IDITAROD, ALASKA
Room 12, Regina Hotel
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
Firs' Avenue Iditarod
DR. RflOORE,
Golrl St., Opposite Postoffice, Flat Cty
Eye Glass Fitting Telephone
UR. H. E. AURINGER,
Cffice: Gold St. Flat City, Alaska
Coi sultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
DR H. BEHLA,
DENTIST
Will arrive from Chicago on one of the
tir*. boats this spring and will be at his
office in Flat City for about two months.
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT TIIE
Arcade Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Dav and Night
MRS. N. P. GILMORE
FURNACE HEAT
REASONABLE RATES
Second and Willow Streets
W.trin Horse and Dog Barn3
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
FLAT CITY HOH BACK & DURAND
Bet. the Grand and Bagoy's Bars
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE HERE TO STAY
PIONEER CREEK AGENCIES
FLAT CITY. Mrs. C. C. Chittick
DISCOVERY OTTER. Harry Donnellay
For General Express and Delivery
of Wood in the City
Leave Orders at Idiisrod Hotel
DAN HARTNET
A “MOVIE” ANNIVERSARY
Forty-five years ago a great crowd
jammed the Academy <-f Music in Philadel
phia to see the first in »ving pictures, and.
crude though they were, the audience mar
veled, cheered and marveled again. It was
Henry H. Hoyl's invention, and he called it
the “phasmutrcpe.” Hoyl turned a wheel
and the audience saw a dancing figure, and
a performer turning a somersault. It was
great, and the mechanical world sat up with
delightful anticipations of remarkable things
to come, though few of the prophets, if
any. dared to dream of what we of today
are seeing.
None, perhaps, had thp imagination to
foresee the vast field which this experi
menter was opening. It would have been
bold indeed to have predicted that in 1915
the “movie” would afford perhaps the great
est single pastime of the wide world, that
it would carry education into the remotest
corners of the earth, and serve in that
greatest of processes—making the wide
world kin.
Hoyl’s pictures were taken one at a time,
with great patience. They were reprinted
on thin glass. These plates were fastened
in a skeleton wheel with eighteen compart
ments. A shaft of light, sent through the
wheel, flashed the pictures on a screen. By
turning ihe wheel the pictures were made
to “move.” That was before the days of the
electric and acetylene lights. An old-fash
ioned “magic lantern” was employed. Hoyl’s
announcement thus described his invention:
“This is a recent scientific invention, de
signed to give to various objects and figures
upon the screen the most graceful and life
like movements. Men are seen walking,
running and performing various feats in
most perfect imitation of real life. This in
strument is destined to become a most val
uable auxiliary to the appliances for illus
tration, and we have the pleasure of having
the first opportunity of presenting its merits
to an audience.”—Tacoma News.
John Bagoy, editor-in-chief of the Three
Times-Move bar, is having a two-room addi
tion built to his residence on Gold street,
i lat City.