,
ARCTIC BROTHERS
STEP INTO BREACH
With a present membership of
75 and a prospective list of 100,
the Arctic brothers of Flat City
got together last Friday in the
Finnegan & Mensel building and
established a camp. To make the
play good, they decided to build
the social hail for Flat, and thus
take upon their own hands the
erection of a public necessity
that has been the cause of much
agitation and controversy at that
place.
The meeting Friday night was
«. business and a social affair.
Charles B. Taylor presided as
chairman, while Dr. Carter was
elected secretary, and C. R. Peck
was made treasurer. A board of
trustees was also appointed
whose chief business will be the
building of the social hall which
they were directed to begin al
once. This board consists of
Fred Carter, A. V. Thorns, Dr.
Spaulding, Bob Hart and Jack
Connolly.
They voted to telegraph to Se
attle at once for a charter, and
then the 70 odd members present
turned to for a session of music
and song.
Town Lot Question
Bobs Up Serenely
Last week a jury told Bill Ansley he
would have to give up the possession of
that corner lot on Richmond Court and
First street. They did so at the behest
of Greg Stewart who claimed the right
of possession in a case tried before
Commissioner Maltbv. Major Albrecht
appeared for the plaintiff and Charles
Taylor represented Ansley.
This is the same lot tiiat occasioned
all the trouble last summer when Lan
dahl’s bookstore and Kientz’ barber
shop were thrown into the street early
one morning in the merry month of
August. That very night a hearty
bunch of citizens got together and
moved the building back on again, and
they have stayed there ever since.
Stewart believed that he was entitled
to the possession of the ground, where
fore he brought a suit of forcible entry
and detainer and upon the trial of the
case, the jury agresd with him.
Anslev immediately served notice of
appeal and the thing will be tried over
again before Judge Overfield next
spring.
Having succeeded In that case Stew
art also brought suit against Teresa
Roscoe for the possession of the lot oc
cupied by the Roscoe candy store on
Richmond Court.
Casey sells Bock cigars.
Charles Hanover, formerly deputy
marshal, and member of the mercantile
establishment of Chesley, Ryan & Ke
hoe at Discovery Otter, returned the
other day from Spruce creek on George
river where he has beendelving in the
gravels for some time past. He came
back for supplies and incidentally a few
rents and profits, and was due to hike
back to Spruce at the end of the week
Vest Edwards and Frank Whelan
arrived last Saturday with a big load
of fresh meat from Ophir. They had
beef and mutton and their were buyers
around before they got their team un
hitched. _
Billy Gilcher and Eddie Welsh, the
tin man and the merchant, left last
Tuesday on that long promised trip to
the Outside, taking to the hills in the
general direction of Seward. As has
been announced in these pages hereto
fore, Billy goes to take a prominent
part in the automobile races at Ormond
Beach, Fla. He will sit on the side
lines and cheer lustily. Welsh will
join his wife in Seattle and the two
will remain out for the winter,
ArthurCelene, after whomthe Celene
fraction on Otter was named.was laid up
with the grippe. He is now convales
cent. __
NOTICE
In order that everyone on the creeks
may ride to town, the fare on Keyes &
Mayhan’s stage from Flat City has
been reduced to $3, round trip, $8.
For cleaning and repairing aee Wile the
Tailor, Second avenue.
H. Main builds and repairs houses—
See him. First avenue, near Black st.
Uua tod cues II Merchants cafe, j
\
On New Years day, the first of January, 1911, there will be held
a dog race from Iditarod city through Flat to Discovery Otter and re
turn. It will be a race far money, marbles and chalk, and will settle,
for at least one week from the date thereof, the long mooted question of
tlie respective merits of certain dog teams that are now' touted as the
fastest in the country, and will give a chance for those yet unsung to
get in line for fame.
Through the efforts oi the Iditarod Pioneer, the business men of
the city have subscribed a purse that will be not less than $150 for first
money and $5o for second. An entrance fee cf $10 will be charged for
each team and the race will be open for ail comers. At least six entries
ar* guaranteed, and from the preliminary survey, it looks like one of
biggest things of the winter.
The idea germinated in the desire to hold a two day celebration in
the city during New Years. On Saturday there will be a big dance
for town residents and visitors, and as the mystic hour which presages
tlie birth of the New Year approaches, all will gather for the watch
patty that is to be held at the Merchants cafe, where there will be
music, wine, song and good eats.
On Sunday morning, January rst, the holiday spirit will be allowed
to recuperate from the night before, and in the afternoon, the dog race
will he held, be it rain, snow or sunshine.
When the race was first proposed, it immediately met with an en
thusiastic reception for thtre are a number of dog team owners who are
anxious for a chance to show what they can do. Besides it promised
excitement and variety and a chance to see a really good race. Argu
ments that had been going on for weeks were started over again with
renewed vigor, and dog teams began to crop up in the most unexpected
quarters. Those who owned no dogs immediately became partisans of
teams that will be entered, and men who know something about the
game began to wonder if they would be able to pick up suitable entries
Although the matter has been under consideration but two days,
there are a number of good entries already promised and in the ne x
week more will undoubtedly be heard from.
At the present writing John Duncan’s team seems to be a favorite
TRIES TO SNUFF OUT LIGHT
Filled with despondent brocdings occasioned by bard lucic and
misapplied energy, Frank Hammond, an old time Northerner, and a
man of about 53 years, tried to commit! suicide on Moore creek last
Saturday forenoon by shooting himself through the breast with a shot
gun. He bungled in the attempt and succeeded in inflicting only a
slight injury, bnt perserved in the original intention to the extent of
trying to cut his throat with a knife on the Monday morning following
in the brief interval that the attendants’ backs were turned. Oti Fri
da/ mcrtiing, in this city, be was adjudged insane by a jury of six men
and will be held in the tederal jail here until he can be sent to Fair
banks or Mt. Tabor.
Hammond, who at one time lived in Dawson, catne into the Moore
creek country last fall from Ophir, where he had been engaged in min
ing. He was an educated individual, and well liked by all who knew
him.
Adversity seems to have met his efforts on Moore and he finally
engaged to work for the Japanese roadhouse man who was puttiHg up
a building at 6-a, on the creek, and it appears that he began to think
himself of but little use in the world. Saturday afternoon last while the
Jap and another man were w orking on the roof of the house, Hammond
secured a 16 guage shot gun from the cabin and going to the back of
the building attempted his self destruction. He placed the muzzle of
the gun over his heart and leaned down to push the trigger with his
thumb Pressing closely against the barrel as he was, the concussion
threw him back, and swerved the gun, so that the charge merely passed
through his clothing and out under his left arm. The blow struck him
with the force of a sledge hammer and spun him around like a top,
j causing him to bleed at the nose, and impressing his companions with
the belief that he W'as mortally wounded.
MISFORTUNE
SAVES HIS LIFE
I
With a wicked cut in his foot which severed a large artery and
| filled his boot with blood in a moment, Charles Bradshaw hobbled into
I the roadhouse at 6 a Moore creek Monday morning last, and was saved
j from almost certain death by the timely arrival of Dr. Brooks who bad
| reached that remote point in answer to an urgent call in the case of
! Frank Hammond.
Bradshaw had been cutting wood on the creek not far from the
roadhouse and cut his foot badly with an ax. The blow struck on the
instep and cut a big artery from which the blood flowed in a copious
stream. When be reached the roadhouse his boot was full of blood and
before the boctor had finished with him, the place was full of gore. It
was necessary to tie the ends of the artery and sew up the wound, and
when Dr. Brooks left there, the injured man was resting easily enough
and out of danger.
Had there been no physician on the spot by ihe fortunate cireutn
stance that actually obtained there, it is doubtful if Bradshaw would be
alive today. The only way possible to stop the flow of blood would
been to have tied the leg so as to stop the circulation in the entire loot,
and before the sufferer could have been brought here he would have
been in a sorry plight.
SPECIAL
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Manila—HER MAN AS—Cigars
Tin Foil
25 to Box
All Dealers Sell Them.
BARRETT & LEWIN, AGENTS.
Ham and eggs $1 at Merchants cafe.
The Sideboard sella Bock cigar*.
FOR SALE
Six Siberian huskies, one year old,
same litter, team weight 500 pounds,
harness and rigging complete, fast and
in good condition; exceptional oppor
tunity. Jack Baird, Budweiser.
A ticket is still given with every $1
purchase in ladies’ goods for chance on
lady’s tailored suit. Goldstein’s, Front.
for it is generally admitted that he has a fast lot of dogs. George Marsh
of the Northern, however, says that he will back his own team, and he
has a number of followers, for those Nome dog mushers have been rac
ing iCgs in the Northern saloon for the last month, and all are in good
trim.
J. B. Mitchell, who has run in many of the Nome races, and won
two of them, has the makings of a team, and says he will use every
effort to secure a suitable entry. Friends of Charley Renaud cf Fair
banks, say that be is expected here at aoy time, and if his team is in
shape, it will carry their money.
Claude Shea has a fine team and will be one of the entries, as will
also the string of dogs owned by Ed Rusk at Flat. “Alabam” Laboy*
tean has a good team, but he wants to enter them in a pulling race.
Henry Weir and Geo. Riley may hitch up their pups if the betting gets
strong and will take a chance in a go-as you please.
Besides there is the Malamute Kid with a big team and Hrrry
Karstens, both of whom expect to be here on the first of the year, It
is also thought that Bob Griffith will be back here from Nome and it
is possible that he will enter. In addition there are a number ot good
dogs in detached teams, and some of the old time mushers are expected
to gather these into racing teams. Among these are Tommy Bullene
and Geo. Kiiroy of Flat Everyone is talking dog and by next week
we hope to be able to announce more entries.
Although the committee has not yet been named, the concensus
of opinion among dog mushers favors a race without restriction as 10
the number of dogs in a team above three, or as to the kind of a sled
used. There will be no rules as to weight carried, but each driver
must return with the outfit complete, whether he drives his dogs or
carries them. The di-tance is about 20 miles and the progress of the
race can be reported from the Summit roadhouse, from Flat city and
from the turning point Discovery, where a five minute interval will
be taken for checking i _ the teams.
It is desired that all entries be phoned in to this office as soon as
possible that a lineup can be tarnished to the public next week.
Ill passing, the charge of shot had torn through his clothing in two
places and had driven a suspender buckle into the skin over his breast.
With the accompanying powder burn he looked to be in bad shape and
was put to bed and kept there.
Arthur Eaton, the well-known musher of Ophir, who happened to
be on Moore creek last Saturday volunteered to come to town for as
j sistance, and was fortunate enough to catch Dr. Brooks at Discovery
Otter. He turned right around and mushed back over ihe hard 50.mile
! trail, landing the doctor at the scene of the accident Sunday evening.
By tliis time Hammond Lad recovered sufficiently to he very
; hungry and a brief examination by Dr. Brooks disclosed the fact that
he was absolutely uninjured.
His actions during the night, convinced Dr. Brooks that the man
was not mentally sound, and on Monday morning, he invited Hammond
; to accompany him to town on a vacation, to which he readily assented.
In making preparations for departure, they neglecfed to watch him for
fa moment with the same constant vigilance, and that moment gave him
just the opportunity lie had been waiting for.
With a pocket knife which they had overlooked in searching him
; he slashed at his throat and cut a gash over four inches long, exposing
the jugular vein but not penetrating it.
This wound was repaired with a needle and thread, and knowing
1 the man would kill himself if not taken into custody, Dr. Brooks
brought him into town, arriving here last Wednesday night. Carl Carl
; sou mushed the dogs for the expedition and remained to appear as a
■ witness in the insanity investigation.
Hammond has no relatives known of in the country and will leave
no property.
DID THESE MEN
MEET FOUL PLAY?
There is vast speculation concerning the whereabouts of O. J.
Sampson and C. H. Boyne, the two men who left this place in October
j carrying between $4000 and £5000 in currency which they were taking
to Bethel and Unalaklik for the purpose of purchasing reindeer for the
Iditarod trade. Since that time, these men have not beeu seen nor
heard from, and two of their dogs were picked up on the lower Kuskok
wim, one of them having been caught in a trap
According to another rumor that reached the city, they had secured
their reindeer and had started back, but that the animals were drifting
aimlessly a few days later and the men not to be seeu. This report is
too indefinite to be given much credit.
The disappearance of the two men, who are experienced mushers
has caused considerable comment in the Kuskokwim, and the general
belief prevails that they were drowned on the lower river.
Since it was learned however, that they carried a large amount of
money, basis is given for the fear that they might have met with foul
play and have been done away with. The fact that they had so much
money was not generally known, as of course, it was kept very quiet
by the people in on the deal.
They left Discovery Otter with two dogs, and have had plenty of
time to return here with the herd they were after, unless they were
compelled to go much farther than was expected. However, if it be
true that their dogs were picked up ou the Kuskokwim, then there is
grave doubt that they are alive today.
Those who were interested in the purchase of the reindeer a; e
strictly on the anxious seat here, and should nothing be heard in the
next few days, a search party will undoubtedly be dispatched toward
; Bethel.
WILL MAKE MERRY
m ST. JOHN’S DAY
In commemoration of St. John’s
day which is observed by Masons
the world over, the Iditarod Ma
sonic Club will give a grand ball
and banquet on Tuesday night,
December 27, thus breaking into
the mid-holiday season and keep
ing the spirit at fever heat until
after the explosions of New Year.
The proposition was decided
upon at the meeting held last
Thursday night and it carried
without a dissenting voice, con
sidering the splendid time the
Masons had at their first social
session last Monday.
They will make every effort to
pull off the social event of the
year, and will be ably seconded
by the Masons of the creeks, who
will be invited and who will
doubtless respond in a body.
With this affair to count on, it
begins to look like a continuous
whirl of pleasure from Christmas
to New Year.
Among the visitors from the creeks
I last week, who came chiefly to attend
| the social meeting of the Iditarod Ma
sonic Club, were Mr. nad Mrs. N. N.
1 Jaffe, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Passer, Mr*.
| Selma Swanson, J. F. Monkmana und
i Philip Jaffe.
ALL BETS WERE
DECLARED OFF
There was an expectant hush at Flat
| as the gong sounded and the entries
went to the post. In the betting ring
the odds had been backed 17 different
ways, and as they filed front the pad
dock the crowd rushed eagerly to the
j fence just to get one look at their fa
! vorite before the barrier was sprung.
Quaker Maid Miller hobbled jauntily
| out carrying black and blue and it
j could be seen at. a glance that he vras
j giving age and weight. He lined up
just even with the sign at Billy Casey’s
place, and danced around with his
crutch, champing at his hit and telling
everybody to show the color of their
money if they wanted any more of his
game. The talent had backed him
clear across the board and he looked fit
J enough, indeed—ready for the race of
j his life.
Just then Gibson Hoy Carter came
down the fence carrying one leg in a
sling, but handling his crutch like a
veteran. Ha was wearing goggles and
had a spreader on his left hind foot.
His color was creme de violet, and he
began jockeying before he got to the
post. He fiddled cautiously for an op
ening because he had backed himself
heavily and wouldn’t take a chance on
losing the cuter.
Just then somebody fired a pistol
and they were off, headed for Jack
Connolly’s place, the first one to arrive
with his crutches being privileged to
buy all the drinks he wanted if the
other fellow paid for them.
They got away nose and nose and
passed Frank Stanley’s place at a good
two-mile-a-L-hour gait. The crutches
were working good, and the crowd
cheered lustily as they passed the
quarter post. At the half, the Gibson
Boy sat down to roll a cigarette, while
the Quaker Maid took off the bandage
and looked at his sore ankle.
At the three-quarter flag the excite
ment was intense. Both seemed to be
going easily, but it was only seeming
for both wete very thirsty and in real
j distress. They whipped up expect
antly as they saw a man coming out of
Connolly’s place, and several books
I were made as to which would bolt the
course and head directly for the swing
ing door.
It was a great race and the finish
will never be forgotten. They bit the
door at the same time and got their
crutches crossed. The judges were up
in the air and while the Gibson Boy
stopped to argue, Quaker Maid Miller
slipped in and tipped one over, thus
tyiDg his best record and pulling in all
the short money.
Baird sells Bock cigars.
DANCE
AT ANSLEY'S HALL
Every Saturday night.
Some lady will gat a $5 box
of Roscoe’s Candies, and some gen
tleman a box of Optimo cigars.
Music by Bourrette, Berggren
and Drake Don’t miss the fun.
Don t miss the fun and feast—reserve
your seats now for the hi-yu New Year
watch festival at the Merchants eafeu