DON'T START OVER THE TRAIL IS • j ^ * TH£ HON££«JWI iii£ liUil.
■ A hk Residents along the route of the Sewtird
I’ntil you have made arrangements to have |gi Hf w Ej S M M at 5g B n B B R ^LJh BL^Jg B Iditarod mail trail can have The Iditarod
The Iditarod Pioneer mailed to your ad H fl Kg S| || f 8§ ■ 1 H H H |^| BT| B Pioneer delivered to them weekly during
dress. It will be a welcome weekly visit ir f ~ tR JR J| B ■ tf R, V « W jB JaL Vq Mr IS the life of the mail contract for the sum of
while you’re on the Outside or in any of Send in your names You cannot
the mining communities in Alaska Oo it alien! to be without it.
uow^before it slips your mind. _._i_.. -■“■ ■ i ■ 1 '■■— ■
ONE dolear per month _IDITAROD. ALASKA. SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY 6. 1917__25 cents per copy
ENTENTE ALLIES REPLY
TO WILSON’S PROPOSAL
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2.—The reply of the entente
allies to President Wilson’s note suggesting peace
demands reparation and restitution, with a special
guaranty of the integrity of the small nations of
Europe. They also want the blame for the war put
on Germany. The reply is a refusal of the German
peace offer, and is the subject of much discussion
here.
Explanatory Note to Follow
PARIS, Jan. 2.—The allies, in addition to the
note already sent to President Wilson, have also
drafted a note said to be of an explanatory nature,
which will be forwarded to President Wilson soon.
Berlin Makes a Discovery
BERLIN, Jan. 2.—Germany regards the reply of
the entente allies as a flat refusal of the peace offer.
A member .of the Russian duma is quoted by the
Overseas News Agency as saying that the indications
are that the Russians are tired of the war.
London Newspaper Comment
LONDON, Jan. 3.—The general comment of the
newspapers on the reply of the allies to the peace
proposal indicates that there is no present chance
for peace. The newspapers say that the war must
go on indefinitely. The Spectator devoted almost
the whole of a recent issue to a discussion of the
peace demands of the allies, which would have the
effect of “stripping Germany to the bone.”
Lodge Criticizes Bernstorff
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—Senator Lodge of Mas
sachusetts today criticized Ambassador Bern
storff in a speech for publicly approving President
Wi Ison’s peace suggestion. The senate again defers
indorsement of the Wilson note.
Investigating Leakage
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.—Thomas W. Lawson
has been before a congressional committee which is
investigating the manner in which the news of Presi- j
dent Wilson’s peace note became public.
FRENCH EDITOR BECOMES ALARMED
BY PROPOSED ACTIVITIES OF GERMANS
PARIS, Jan. 4.—-Fred B. Litney, a Paris editor,
says that France is in danger of a German drive :
through the Alps. V'on Hindenburg, he says, has |
massed his legions for the supreme effort of the war, |
and Germany has added from half a million to a mil
lion men, with a quick rush through the mountains
in view. He makes a strong appeal to Great Britain
for help.
Russians Evacuate Dobrudja
PETROGRAD, Jan. 6.—The Russians have evacu
ated the Dobrudja region, and leaving Machin, have
crossed the Danube toward Braila.
German Progress Uninterrupted
BERLIN, Jan. 4.—Machin and Jinilai, towns in
northern Dobrudja, have been captured by the Ger
mans. Tire Russians have dropped back to the Sereth
line. The Germans forces are pressing the attack in
Moldavia, through Transylvania, and are still forging
ahead in Roumania. Stubborn resistance by the Rus- i
sians has been met, and the Germans have gained j
only slight victories.
Prisoners and Guns Taken
BERLIN, Jan. 6.—About a thousand prisoners
and machine guns were taken before the Rouma
nians and Russians could quit Machm.
British Transport Torpedoed
LONDON, Jan. 6.—The British transport Ivenia
has been torpedoed in the Mediterranean. One hun
dred and fifty military officers and men were lost.
The Deported Belgians
THE HAGUE. Jan. 6.—The Belgians deported by
the Germans complain bitterly of poor food and bad
treatment.
From Other Sources
PETROGRAD, Jan. 30.—The Teutons are battling .
with the Russians and Roumanians for the heights at j
Sesmezo.
BERLIN, Jan. 3.—Turkish reports say that the
British have retired from Magdhobo.
ROME, Jan. 3.—Artillery duels continue along the
Austro-Italian front.
PARIS, Dec. 30.—The Germans are pressing the
lighting northwest of Verdun.
_ __A._
MURDER MYSTERY SOLVED THROUGH SUICIDE
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Jan. 6.—Bernard Wesley
Lewis, son of a wealthy Pittsburgh coal man, com
mitted suicide here yesterday to escape arrest in
connection with the murder of Maizie Colbert, an
artist’s model. The police believe the suicide solves
the murder mystery. Maizie Colbert was killed in a
Philadelphia apartment last Saturday night.
CHILDREN KILLED IN SCHOOL HOUSE WRECK
MUSKOGEE, Okla., Jan. 6.—A tornado yesterday
.wrecked a school house near here, killing eleven
children and injuring twelve:
r- »
h
ELECTION IRREGULARITIES
MAY CONSTITUTE GROUND
FOR CONTESTING RETURNS
In case the official count of the election
returns in the contest for delegate to con
gress, which will take place some time in
February, should reveal the fact that the
vote is as close as now appears, it is not
improbable that there will arise a legal con
flict. The latest returns received by The
Pioneer showed that Sulzer had a lead of
but nine votes over Delegate Wickersham,
end it is evident from the newspapers of
other sections of the territory that these
figures may not be altogether correct, as the
claim is still being made that Wickersham
has received a majority.
The closeness ol the contest may lead tne
defeated candidate, whoever he may be, to
contest the official award, and it is likely
that sufficient irregularities will be found
upon which to base such a contest.
Elections in Alaska have been conducted
in a notoriously slipshod manner in the
past, and it appears that the last election
was no exception to the rule. Whether
these alleged irregularities will be considered
serious enough to furnish cause for upset
ting the award of the canvassing hoard re
mains to be seen.
One puestion which is likely to have a
bearing on the matter is that of the par
ticiyation in the election by natives. It has
been held that native Alaskans are entitled
to exercise the franchise under the terms of
the treaty of purchase from Russia. Re
cently, however, it has become the custom
to bestow citizenship upon the natives only
through court action, U|>en showing that
they are leading a civilized life. Whether
or not this procedure has the sanction of
judicial test is not apparent. But it ap- ;
pears that there is a confusion of ideas on |
the subject, and that this course has not ;
been generally followed. The Nome news- |
papers speak of the natives at Umlakleet j
having voted, apparently in considerable |
numbers. This in itself might furnish the j
grounds for a contest.
In the matter of selection of election offi ;
cials al-o there apparently has been irregu j
larity. One outlying precinct has been re !
ported to The Pioneer as having an elec- |
lion board which consisted of two aliens 1
and one qualified voter. The alien mem- ;
bers of the board did not further incrimi- !
uate themselves by voting. W hether this j
would furnish sufficient excuse for throwing [
out the vote of the precinct is not clear; j
in fact, court decisions rather infer that it |
would not, although no hard and fast rule j
:s cited.
It appears that many persons still hold to i
the belief that an alien acquires the right
to vote upon making his declaration of in
tention to become a citizen, and there is no
doubt that many such votes were cast in j
remote precincts at the recent election.
It seems entirely probable, therefore,
that either Mr. Wickersham or Mr. Sulzer. j
should he be defeated by a close margin,
would have little difficulty in finding
grounds upon which to base a conflict.
TOUGH TIMES ON THE TRAIL
REPORTED BY MAIL CARRIER
George Adams arrived yesterday after
noon from the Halfway roadhouse with the ;
mail, which had been brought to that point '
by Henry Martella on Thursday evening. I
The arrival of the mail wes somewhat tin- !
expected, as it was not thought possible |
that the mail carriers would attempt to |
travel in the face of the severe cold. The
severity of the weather was shown by its j
effect on Mr. Martella's dogs, nearly all of
which were suffering from frostbite.
A letter received by Postmaster Ansley
from T. W. Boyd, the mail carrier, says:
“On account of carriers between Seward ]
and Anderson roadhouse using twelve days, :
the mail will be billed out of flat and Idit
•arod at the same time, Wednesday, instead
of Monday, in order to accommodate pa
trons of the office as much as possible.”
WALTER STOKER TO BE TRIED
FOR THANKSGIVING MURDER
WTalter Stoker, the man arrested for the
murder of John Hendricks on the Alaska
Northern railroad on Thanksgiving day, was
taken to Valdez on the Evans last evening
to stand trial, says the Seward Gateway of
December 8. He underwent a preliminary
hearing yesterday, but waived examination
and was held to the district court. Only the
officials were present at the hearing. It is
believed that the defense will rely on a plea
of insanity.
During the time Stoker was in jail in
Seward he never in the slightest way alluded
to anything connected with the shooting.
He seemed to be in a dazed condition when
he was first placed in the jail, but ap
peared to brighten up when he learned that
he was to be taken to Valdez.
TERRITORIAL DIVISION
SEATTLE. Dec. 7.—At the annual dinner
of the Alaska bureau of the Seattle Cham
ber of Commerce last evening several promi
nent Alaskans spoke on subjects of im
portance to the Northern territory. Scott
Bone, editor of the Post-Intelligencer, the
retiring chairman of the bureau, was the
guest of honor. Judge Gunnison of Juneau
brought up the question of the division of
the territory, and said that as the interests
of the coast and the Interior are so different
the territory should be divided. James P.
Daly of Nome, member of the territorial
legislature, opposed the Gunnison views, de
claring division to be inadvisable. Falcon
Joslin also spoke, and rapped the Washing
ton bureaucracy for the mismanagement of
the coal and oil interests of Alaska.
COMMISSIONER AT MARSHALL
The Nome newspapers contain the an
nouncement that Martin Moran, recent can
didate for the territorial legislature, has
been appointed United States commissioner
of Wade Hampton precinct, with headquar
ters at Fortuna Ledge. He is to succeed
Ray Fuller, who has been filling the posi
tion since the resignation of Commissioner
Waskey.
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS ITEMS
FROM THE METROPOLIS
OF WASHINGTON STATE
SEATTLE, Jan, 6. Emmet Whitfield, a
supposed hold-up man, was shot and in
stantly killed today by police in front of
their headquarters.
David Paul, a Seattle newspaper man,
well known on the water front, died sud
denly in Chicago yesterday.
William Hess Einck, a retired Seattle
jeweler, and an authority on trout and
salmon, committed suicide on Wednesday.
Ill herlth was given as the cause.
Lucille Baumgart, 4 years old, was
burned to death on Wednesday night, when !
four houses on Alki avenue were destroyed
by fire.
W. H. Pielow, a transfer man who was j
indicted with the Billingsleys in connection
with the liquor law violations, has surren- i
dered to the federal authorities in Seattle. j
The first Seattle-built submarine for the
United States government was launched on
December 30 at the plant of the Seattle Dry- j
dock & Construction Company. Two more ;
are in course of construction.
The steamship Northwestern collided with j
a schooner otf Eureka, Cal, on December
30. The vessel’s sde was dented, but she
sustained no serious damage.
Captain W. W. Kelly, well known on the
water front and in the North, died at his ;
ranch near Port Blakely on December 29.
Both the Seattle Commercial Club and
the New Chamber of Commerce have acted
favorably on the proposition to merge the
two bodies. The consolidation will end a
long and bitter fight.
Otto Powell and wife of Tacoma are lost
in the snow below Mount Rainier, and par
ties ere out searching for them.
Libby, McNeil & Libby have lot a con
tract for a #22,000 cannery tender for use
in Alaska waters during the coining salmon
season.
A.
WIFE OF PROMINENT DOCTOR
HORSEWHIPS HER TRADUCER
WALLA WALLA, Wash.. Jan. 3. Mrs.
N. C. Montgomery, wife of a prominent
physician, todny horsewhipped County
Treasurer Guy Allen Turner, she says ;
Turner slandered her.
MYSTIC ADVISER OF CZAR
WAS PROBABLY MURDERED
LONDON, Jan. 3. -Reports from Petro
grad say that the Russians believe that the
death of the monk. Gregory Rasputin, the
czar’s close friend and adviser, was the re- '
Isult of a murder pilot.
PECULIAR DECISION UPHELD
OLYMPIA, Wash., Dec, 30. The su
preme court has upheld the conviction of
Paul Hoffer, a Socialist, for libel, in de
faming the memory of George Washington.
-- *
OLD-TIME BASEBALL PLAYER
—
NEWARK, N. J„ Jan. 4. — R. A. Walters,
who was a famous baseball pitcher forty
years ago, and who is said to have pitched
[hr first “no-hit” gam-’, died her? today.
BRITISH CASUALTIES
LONDON, Jan. 2.—British casualties
in the Somme campaign total 520,017. A
decrease was shown in December.
BUFFALO BILL IS WORSE
DENVER, Colo., Jan. 4. William F.
Cody, who has been ill for four weeks, is
reported to be worse.
CALIFORNIA SOCIALIST VOTE
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Dec. 2 - Socialist
presidential electors in California polled
42,615 votes at the recent election, and
Prohibition electors 36,693, according to
semi-official figures obtained from the sec
retary cf state.
In the election of 1912 Eugene V. Debs j
received 79,201 votes, and Chafin, the Pro ]
hibition candidate, received 23,366.
DISAPPEARANCE OF MORAN
REPORTED BY ANIAK MINERS
It has just been reported here that Frank j
Moran, a miner wed known in this part of j
Alaska, was in all probability drowned in
the Aniak river, a tributary of the Kusko
kwim, some time last fall. A strange fea
ture in connection with the matter Is that
the news of the disappearance of Moran
should have remained unknown for 3Uch
a long period.
W. Y. Fisher and Harry Buhro, who are
engaged in mining on Marvel creek, a trib
utary of the Aniak, arrived in Iditarod some
weeks ago, and have been awaiting a break
in the weather before returning. They state
that Moran left Akiak, on the lower Kusko
kwim, about September 1, in a poling boat,
bound for Marvel creek, where he was to
work for Mr. Fisher. He had a load of
grub. The only information since heard of
him was contained in a note which he left
at the roadhouse at Stubbs’ crossing of the
Aniak. The note read: “I am on my way
to Marvel creek. Common sense tells me
to leave part of my load. But I am in a
hurry and am going to try to make it.
Mr. Fisher says he left Marvel creek on
the 25th of November, and Moran had not
shown up.
On the way to Iditarod Fisher and Buhro
made the round of the different cabins
where they thought he might have stopped,
but could find no trace of him.
The Aniak is a treacherous stream, and
two men, Oscar Boulet and Roscoe Marker,
have lost their lives in its waters in the
past two years. The river was very high
and swiff last fall, and it is thought that
Moran’s boat, with its heavy load, may
have been swamped.
Messrs. Fisher and Buhro expect to return
to the Kuskokwim within a few days, and
intend to make another search for the
missing man.
FORMER SENATOR FREEDING
BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED
IN WILDERNESS NEAR NOME
That Conrad Freeding, a member of the
First Alaska senate, has perished miserably
from cold in the wilderness of Seward peuin
sula is now accepted as a sad fact by the
people of Nome, according to a dispatch
from that city in the Seward Gateway of
December 7.
Mr, Freeding disappeared on the morning
before Thanksgiving day, when the tem
perature was 40 degrees below zero, and has
not since been heard of, although parties
have been out constantly. He left his j
store at Taylor creek and took his wife
to the springs, twelve miles distant. On
the morning before Thanksgiving day he
left here there and started on the home
journey lo Tay'lor creek afoot. He has
not been seen since. Twenty men searched
the whole country in the neighborhood for j
it wo days after it was found that he had j
not reached home, but they found not even j
a trace of him. As there is no shelter in |
the district, hope that he will ever be found j
alive has been abandoned.
Conrad Freeding formerly was a business I
man in Nome, and was elected to the First j
territorial senate on the Democratic ticket
by a tremendously big vote. Later he I
went to Seattle end took over the Barker j
hotel, on Pike street, where he conducted i
an extensive business with Alaskans. Later
he decided to go back to Nome, and be
bought a store on Taylor creek, in the
iKougarok country, and put a large stock
of goods into it.
Senator Freeding was also once mayor of
Nome.
A.
FORMER IDITAROD SURVEYOR
COMMITTED TO MORNINGSIDE
Charles Estmere, a man we' 1 known in
the Iditarod district, who left here for the
coast during the past summer, h*is been ad
judged insane by a jury in Ju^ge David's
court at Anchorage. He was committed to
the care of Frank Hoffman, the marshal,
pending provision for taking him to the
Morningsidc sanitarium at Portland, Oie.
This news reached here in the mail which
arrived yesterday.
Mr. Estmere. who had been engaged in
mining operations on Flat creek, was a
surveyor by profession, and had been a resi
dent of this section for some years. He
met with financial reverses, and recently he
acted queerly. His eccentricities while in
this district were noticeable, but he was
apparently afflicted only with harmless de
lusions. He was married, and his wife left
here two years ago for Juneau.
LABOR AND LLOYD GEORGE
LONDON, Dec. 8.—That Lloyd George
has been successful in making British labor
friendly to him is a fact’ which is being
emphasized by all the newspapers here. It
Is now taken for granted that Lloyd George
Ecoept the proposal to include British labor
representatives in the peace conference
when that body is convened. This is be
lieved to be a concession demanded by the
labor leaders for their support of the new
prime minister. The laborites also demand
government control of mines and shipping,
the distribution of vacant lands to the peo
ple, the increase of food production, the.
conscription of wealth, and the government
appropriation of war profits. On the whole,
the people begin to see with tne elevation
of Lloyd George to the premiership an ex
traordinary revolution in British social life
already.
MASK BALL POSTPONED
BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER
The committee in charge of the Pioneers'
mask ball, which was to have been given on
the evening of January 1, were compelled
to call the affair off for the present, owing
to the severe weather. On Monday morning
the temperature was 52 degrees below zero,
and as it was impossible for the creek people
to face such weather, it was decided to post
pone the ball until more propitious weather
conditions prevailed.
No definite time has been set for the
event as yet, and none will be until the
weather moderates. The committee states
that at least three days’ notice to the public
will be given of the date, snd that the origi
nal plans will all be carried out.
Considerable regret was expressed at the
unfortunate necessity of postponing the
ball, as much expense already-had been in
curred in preparations.
MOOSE LODGE TO ENTERTAIN
LADIES OF THE DISTRICT
The entertainment committee of the
Moose lodge is making preparations for a
social and entertainment to be held at the
Moose hall in Flat on January 20 which
promises to be of great interest. It is to be
in honor of the ladies of the district, and
will be in the nature of an appreciation of
the work of the ladies in connection with
the Christmas entertainment which was so
much enjoyed. It is stated that a splendid
program is in course' of preparation, and
a good time is guaranteed. The entertain
ment is free to all ladies and their escorts.
--——--——
PATRIOT’S HEIRS ASK BIG SUM
The heirs of Hyani Solomon of Phila
delphia, a Jewish patriot who more than
140 years ago gave George Washington
$660,000 to help finance the American revo
lution, will petition congress to restore them
the money, says a Baltimore, Md., dispatch.
Many years after Solomon died congress
ordered the money refunded to his son,
Hvam II. The papers reached him on Jew
ish Sabbath. He declined to sign them un
til Monday, as he was strictly orthodox.
The next day he fell dead.
ON THE WAY HOME
Mr. and Mrs. Percy G. Charles arrived on
the Mariposa en route to Iditarod, where
Mr. Charles is or was deputy marahsl.—
Seward Gateway, Dec. 9. t
INCENDIARISM ST VALDEZ
CAUSES IMMENSE LOSSES
VALDEZ, Jan. 2.—Incendiary fires started in four
different sections of the business district at 4 o’clock
this morning caused a conflagration which destroyed
the Golden North hotel, the Arcade cafe, the big mer
antile establishments of Blum & Co., the Empress
theater, the Pinzon bar and cigar store, the Louise
cafe. Max Schmidt’s store, the postofhce, the Arizona
hotel, Alameda house, Ellis block, three residences
and the Haines Sheet Metal Works.
The loss is estimated at $300,000, only partially
covered by insurance. ^
One suspected person is held by the federal au
thorities pending an investigation.
VILLA’S FORCES ROUTED BY CARRANZA,
WHO INSISTS ON WITHDRAWAL OF PERSHING
CHIHUAHUA, Jan. 4.—A Carranza bulletin says
that Villa has been driven south by General Murgia,
and that headquarters of the de facto government
troops have been established at Juarez. Torreon,
I>aredo and Gomez Palicio are reported to be in the
hands of the Carranza troops.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Carranza refuses to sign
the protocol prepared by the joint American-Mexi
can commission unless General Pershing and his
force are withdrawn from Mexico. Tire troops may
be ordered withdrawn.
EL PASO, Dec. 30,-The Carranza government
recently sent a million dollars to Japan for guns.
Report says that one shipment has been received.
-♦
ADAMSON TO PRESS NEW LEGISLATION
WHICH PROPOSES DRASTIC STRIKE REMEDY
WASHINGTON. Jan. 4.—President Wilson is
pressing the railroad legislation for consideration by
congress. Representative Adamson is pushing his
bill providing for sixty days’ notice of an intended
strike, and empowering the President to place the
railroads in danger of tie-up under military control.
Ihe railroad companies are represented at the
congressional hearings on the compulsory arbitra
tion measures, and may have suggestions to make.
The railroad officials and employes’ brotherhoods,
who have been in conference here, have reached a
deadlock, and the questions at issue will be put up
to the four hundred thousand members of the broth
erhoods for the next move. Developments may
hasten action by congress on President W'ilson’s
legislative program.
-A
NEW BILL TO REGULATE ELECTION EXPENSE
CONTAINS SOME STRINGENT PROVISIONS
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2.—The new election bill
that is now up for consideration by congress limits
campaign contributions to one-half cent per capita
of party membership, penalizes betting, and compels
newspapers to accept all nominations advertising
matter or lose their mailing rights. Reports must be
submitted ten days before election.
Congressional leaders are going over the free list,
and may propose an extension of the tariff to avoid
a deficit during the present fiscal year.
The senate committee continues its hearings on
the proposed railway legislation.
-. 4.
OPERATIONS OF GERMAN SUBMARINES
BRING OUT ANOTHER PROTEST FROM SPAIN
MADRID, DEC. 30.—The Spanish government
has send a note to Berlin protesting vigorously
against the operations of submarines off the Spanish
coast, and refusing to recognize submarine warfare
as lawful. The recent reports of submarine activi
ties in the Bay of Biscay were responsible for the
action of the government.
This is the second note Spain has sent to Berlin
on the subject, and recent dispatches from Spain
said that indignation was growing throughout the
country over the loss of Spanish ships through the
operations of German submarines.
Japan Will Ann Merchantmen
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Japan has notified the
United States that she will defensively arm her mer
chant ships to guard against submarine divers in the
Pacific.
ENORMOUS INCREASE IN PRICE OF FOODS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—The department of
labor reports that food prices have increased from
20 to 120 per cent during the past year.
-♦
THIS FELLOW BELONGED TO WRONG CLUB
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 6.—E. L. McClure broke
up a meeting of the “Efficiency Club” last night by
brandishing a knife. Tire “Maturity Manhood” Club
wanted the same hail.