VOLUME XUI ' VALDEZ, ALASKA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 191B NUMBER 299
STAR OF THE MEXICAN
' REBEL CHIEFTAIN HAS SET
GENERAL VILLA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL LEAVE MEX
ICO AT TEARFUL SOLICITATIONS OF FRIENDS AND OF MRS.
VILLA, BUT THAT HE .WILL RETURN IF CARRANZA IS NOT
ELIMINATED—REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN DEPOSED BY
COUNCIL OF HIS GENERALS WHO PLAN TO ENGAGE IN GUER
ILLA WARFARE—VILLA REPORTED AS WEALTHY.
CHIHUAHUA. Dec. V- —General
Villa, the Mexican rebel chieftain,
has formally announced that be will
leave Mexico temporarily and that he
may a *vcr return. He says that he
is resigning from the command of
his troops at thd tearful solicitations
of his generals as well as his wife. He
believes A\is resigning command of
the immjb-'cnt troops will haster the
dowiifal/*. >f President Carranza, but
says Tb&-: Carranza is not «liiiilnal
od before the end cf next year that
he will r?;aru to again organise a re
bellion.
The an-onncement that Villa is
soon to iiuit Mexico does not come as
a surprise here as he is known to
have been virutally a prisoner of his
generals for several days. Many of
his guards believe that lie is becom
ing insane and at a recent council it
was decided that eleven of them
should take over the task which for
merly rested solely with Villa. He
was even excluded from their coun
cils and would have been deported
had he not consented to leave the
country willingly.
It is reported thai tne rebel coun
cil has decided to break upon into
separate parties and wage guerilla
warfare in the northern rtates. The
federal troops, while administering
a number of severe defeats to the
rebels have failed to cut them off
from munition supplies and it is re
ported that they have sufficient cart
ridges to last for several months.
Villa is reported to have sent his
store of gold, amounting to several
million dollars to California, several
months ago.
PILOT WALL CHARGED
WITH WRECKING MARIPOSA.
SEATTLE, Dec. 20.—The ferferal
marine inspectors who have investi
gated the wrecking of the steamer
Mariposa last fall, have suspended the
license of Pilot John Wall, who was
on the bridge when the accident hap
pened. The inspectors have report
ed that the accident was due to negli
gence on the part of the officer as the
ship was off her course. Pilot Wall
will be open for engagements again
In January if he can find employ
ment as the suspension period ends
on January 8.
BANK CLERK IS
CHARGED WITH PLOT
f)ai(l to Have Confessed He was En
* gaged in the Conspiracy to
Destroy the Welland Canal.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—Frederick
Schneidel. a bank clerk, who was ar
rested op the charge of being impli
cated in tye plot to destroy the Wel
land canal, is reported to have made
a full confession to the investigators
of the department of Justice con
cerning the conspiracy.
He is said to have confessed that
he furnished Paul Koenig, former de
tective in the employ of the Ham
burg-Ameyican company, with the ex
plosive which was to have been used
In destroying the canal. He had also
delivered the explosive at Buffalo,
where it had been turned over to
Emil Lyendecker, hired by Koenig to
do the work.
Otto Mottola, a detective in the
employ of the city government, has
been suspended while his connection
with the conspiracy is being investi
gated. It is reported that informa
tion was secured from a note book
found in the possession of Koenig
showing that he had agreed to pay
Otto Mottola $3 per day for some
purpose which is believed to be con
nected with the plot.
The federal prosecutor states that
the government has direct evidence
against the conspirators and that
their conviction is sure. The defen
dants have been allowed their liberty
on bonds pending a preliminary
hearing.
Pure Fresh Drugs at the Valdez
Drug Store *
Prussia has new pun
FOR TAXING PKOPLK.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 40.—
The Russian government has
announced that a new plan
has been adopted in levying
taxes which it is estimated
will result in raising an addi
tional six hundred and thirty
million roubtap, . annually.
The plan has the;,sanction of
the Duma. .
WICKERSHAM PLACED ON
IMPORTANT COMMITTEE
* -WASHINGTON: James \\ icker
sham, delegate to Congress from
Alaska, was appointed to’ the •om
rnittee on military affairs by Speaker
Clark. It is likely that because of
the administration’s preparedness
program that this committee will be
the most important during the pres
ent session of Congress. The fortifi
cations bill has been prepared and
will be first considered by the com
mittee. It calls for twenty-three mil
lion dollars to be expended on big
guns to be installed in the forts con
stituting the coast defeates and for
ordnance and ammunition. Last year
but six million dollars was expended
for similar purposes.
GUY STEEL TRUST
FAVORS ROOSEVELT
Believed that Big Interests are To
Launch Boom to Secure Him
Republican Nomination.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—It has be
come known that the Gary Steel
Trust recently gave a secret dinner
in this city at which a majority of
the guests were Republicans, with
Col. Roosevelt as the chief guest of
honor. The affair is being widely
discussed as it is believed to indi
cate that the big interests are about
to launch a boom to secure the Re
publican nomination for Roosevelt.
The guests who attended the din
ner have refused to divulge the mat
ters which were under discussion but
it is said that several Republican
leaders who were advocating the can
didacy of Gov. ’ Whitman for the
presidency have experienced a change
of heart. j
Leaders who talked with Roose-1
velt here assert that he will refuse
to haye any connection with the Re
publican party unless It is defthitely
understood that Root’s name should
not be allowed to go before the Chi
cago convention.
It is hinted that Gov. Whitman
is a possibility for the vice-presiden
cy but he has announced that under
no circumstances will he allow his
name to go before the convention for
the office.
Subscribe for ,he Prospector.
Lonzra
BEEN SUSPENDED
Berlin Newspaper Has been Offering
Opposition to Plans of the Mili
tary Party in Empire. *
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 20.—The Lo
kal Anzeiger, the largest newspaper
published in Berlin, has been order
ed to suspend publication because of
its support of the Liberal party in op
position to militarism. It is believed
the newspaper will not be permitted
to resume business as this is the
third time it has come in conflict
with the government officials.
Latest arrivals from Berlin state
that affairs are not so harmonious in
the Reichstag as reports from Ber
lin would indicate. It is said the
Liberal and Socialist members have
joined forces and are fighting the
authorization of the huge loan of
two and one-quarter billion dollars
as requested by the Imperial chan
cellor.
The Socialists are seeking peace
and are opposing the plans of the
ministry to annex the conquered ter
ritories, believing no lasting peace
can come to Germany after the war
if the conquered territories are held
in subjection.
STEEL INDUSTRY
VERY PROSPEROUS
*
Steel Corporation Unable to Keep
Up With Orders—Not all Mu
nitions for the Allies.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—Some idea
of the prosperity being enjoyed by
the steel industry of the United
States may be gained from the an
nouncement of the United States Steel
corporation that its output for the
month of November failed to keep
pace with the orders received.
Despite the fact that every plant
controlled by the trust is being oper
ated to fullest capacity and is em
ploying more men than ever before,
the close of November found them
with orders to the extent of 7,000,000
tons unfilled, an increase of more
than one million over that of Octo
ber.
The increased business, according
to high officials of the trust, is not
entirely duea to European war orders
las heavy orders have been received
■ from railroads operating in the mid
dle and western states for engines,
cars and rails. Deliveries are also
being made to the Russian govern
ment of steel contracted for its new
road connecting Pet.rograd with the
new Arctic port.
RUSSIAN MINER DIES IN
FAIRBANKS SALOON FIRE
REMAINS OF HA8B7 SALOFF, A RUSSIAN, FOUND IN RUINS OF
CALIFORNIA SALOON, WHICH WAS DESTROYED BY FTRE RE
SULTING FROM EXPLOSION OF GASOLINE LIGHTING SYSTEM—‘
BUILDING WAS LARGEST IN ALASKA DEVOTED TO THE SALOON
BUSINESS AND WAS BUILT BY AL. WHITE—NORTHERN HOTEL
GUTTED AND CASH GROCERY STORE STOCK DESTROYED.
FAIRBANKS. Dec. 20.—The Cali
fornia saloon building here was de
stroyed by Are yesterday afternoon,
despite the e’-orts of the Are depart
ment. The Are was discovered at
3:30 o’clock in the afternoon and the
building, which covered half a block,
was In ruins in less than one hour.
The California was the largest build
ing in Alaska to be devoted to the
saloon business.
The California was built during
the summer of 1904 by A1 White,
who came to Fairbanks, from Val
dez. It had changed ownership sev
eral times during the past few years
and was owned by Andy McKentie
when destroyed. The building and
stock of liquors are a total loss.
The Are was caused by a defect In
the gasoline system with which the
building was lighted, and had gained
considerable headway before the de
partment arrived on the scene.
TAX ON GASOLINE WILL
HURT THE FISHERMEN.
JUNEAU, Dec. 20.—Alaska fisher
men engaged In the halibut industry
will bfe hard hit by the tax which
President Wilson in his message to
congress urges being placed upon
gasoline. There are hundreds of ra.
boats operating in Southeastern Alas
ka in the fishing business and the in
crease in the price of gasoline will
materially reduce their profits. It is
asserted that the tax of one cent per
gallon on gasoline will hit the fisher
men of the Pacific coast harder than
any other part of the United States.
GERMANS KIND USE
FOR REINDEER MOSS.
t
STOCKHOLM: In order to avoid
the consumption of grain and pota
toes, the manufacture of alcohol and
fodder from reindeer moss is being
tried on an extensive scale '.n north
ern German. Reindeer moss is very
plentiful in the Arctic sections of
Scandinavia, belngvthe principal food
of the reindeer during the winter.
Several large shipments of the moss
have been sent xto Germany during
the past two months.
The department was handicapped
in fighting the flames as the mercury
stood at 25' degrees below zero. Sev
eral of the firemen suffered frosted
hands and feet.
One Life Lost.
FAIRBANKS, Dec. 20.—The fire
which originated in the California
saloon building yesterday afternoon
caused the loss of one life and the de
struction of property valued at more
than $30,000. It Was believed that
all had escaped from the building,
but the remains of Haabe Saloff, a
Russian, aged 36 years, was found
in the ruins after the fire had been
extinguished.
The California, which is a total
loss, was valued at $20,000 and was
partially covered by insurance. The
Northern Hotel, an adjoining build
ing, was gutted by the flames. The
Healy Cash Grocery is also a com
plete loss.
- 1 1 — .- ■ — !
POLES DELIVERED FOR
NEW ELECTRIC COMPANY
John Emel, who secured the con
tract for supplying the poles for the
lies Electric Light, Power & Tele
phone company, to be used for the
transmission lines within the city
limits, has completed the contract
and delivered the timbers yesterday.
The poles were cut at Jack’s bay and
range from thirty-five to fifty feet in
length. The raft was towed up the
bay yesterday by the launch Anita.
Bruce Haynes aided Emil in filling
the contract. They say that a strong
wind has been blowing out through
the Narrows for several weeks.
ADMIRAL EVANS IS
EN ROUTE NORTHWARD
SEATTLE, Dec. 20.—The steamer
Admiral Evans of the Pacific-Alaska
Steamship company, sailed for Val
dez and other Southwestern Alaskan
ports at 9 o’clock last night. She
sailed with a light passenger list,
none of whom were for Valdez.
Good Show
A good show at the Liberty Thea
tre tonight, five reels. Save your tur
key tickets.
•
GERMANY WILL PUNISH
OFFICIALS IF RECALLED
NEW YORK TIMES .RECEIVES OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE
GERMAN GOVERNMENT DENYING THAT ALLEGED CONSPIRA
TORS WERE ACTING UNDER ITS AUTHORITY — PROMISES TO
ADMINISTER PUNISHMENT TO OFFICIALS WHO ARE RECALL
ED AND REQUESTS UNITED STATES TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE
CONNECTING GERMAN OFFICIALS WITH CONSPIRACIES.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—The New
York Times, which has been regard
ed as strongly anti-German in senti
ment in dealing with European af
fairs and giving publicity to alleged
cgnspiracies of Teutonic agents to vi
olate the neutrality Jaws of the Uni
ted States, has received an authoriz
ed statement from the German gov
ernment concerning the alleged con
spiracies to destroy American com
merce.
The statement of the German gov
ernment. which was authorized by
Emperor Wilhelm, refutes the re
ports published in American news
papers that the German government
had authorized or encouraged Ger
man officials or former German citi
jzens in the United States to violate
j the neutrality laws of this country.
The Berlin statement announces
that if German diplomatic officials
i whose recall has been requested by
| President Wilson are guilty of the
crimes with which they have been
:charged, that the German govern
ment will administer punishment as
though the offenses had been com
mitted in Germany.
The American press is requested
to urge the administration to submit
as much evidence as is deemed ad
visable to the German government,
concerning the alleged activities of
Captain Boy-Ed, Captain von Papen
and Count von Brinckon and other
German representatives in America,
in connection with the conspiracy
plots.
It is intimated that Emperor Wil
helm and the German people feel
keenly the imputation placed upon
German honor that their accredited
representatives should violate the
neutrality laws ot' the United States,
whose repect they value and wish to
retain.
The authenticity ot the German
government's statement to the Times
has been verified by Ambassador
Bernstorfi'. He says that no diplo
matic discourtesy to Secretary Lan
sing of tlie State department, is in
tended by his government in sending
the statement direct to the Times as
Germany wished to employ the moat
direct method of informing the peo
ple of the United States that it had
not authorized illegal acts in the Uni
ted States by its representatives.
MILLIONAIRE TO MAKE
TRIP INTO THE ARCTIC.
CHICAGO: John Borden, the mil
lionaire sportsmen of Chicago, is
said to be planning to take a trip into
the Arctic next year along with Capt.
Louis Lane, on a whaling and trad
ing trip. Borden is a big game hun
ter of note and wishes to engage in
the hunting of polar bear, and has
been much interested in the publish
ed accounts of Capt. Lane’s meeting
with Steffansson, and his story of the
experiences of his party. Borden and
Lane are planning to leave Seattle for
the north in April, and Lane is al
ready making preparations for a boat
to replace the one he sold to Steffans
son.
ROBBER KILLED
REVOLVER DUEL
Driver of Seattle Laundry Wagon
I
Was Prepared for Holdups— j
Kills One, Captures One.
SEATTLE, Dec. 20.—John Woelfe
and Claude Tripp, both skilled me
chanics, attempted to hold up and
rob the driver of a laundry wagon
late Saturday *night, but met with a
determined resistance from the driv
er. In the revolver duel which fol
lowed the refusal of the driver to
hold up his hands Woelfe was killed.
The driver also captured Tripp and
turned him over to the police.
Woelfe had lived in Seattle for
some time and had a wife and two
children. His wife has been sick for
some time and the physicians fear to
inform her as to the real reason for
her husband’s absence.
Tripp has refused to talk regard
ing the robberies which they are be
lieved by the police to have continu
ed. It is believed they are the same
men who held up and robbed the dri
ver of a New Supply laundry wagon
two weeks ago and secured between
$50 and $60 from the driver.
Both men are reported to have had
steady .work as machinists and were
each earning $3 per day, and were
regarded by their employers as steady
and honest men.
Nugget jewelry made to order at
the Valdez Drug Co., by G. O.
Reinke. tf
AMERICAN REPLY
SENT TO AUSTRIA
Secretory Lansing Says It Will Be
the Last Unless Austria Ac
cepts Ites|M>nsibility.
WASHINGTON. D. C„ Dec. 20.—
Secretary Lansing has announced
that the American reply to the last
note of the Austrian government re
garding the sinking of the Italian
liner Ancona, has been cabled to Vi
enna. He states that the note is the
last which will be sent the Austrian
government unless the demands of
President Wilson are conceded.
In reply to the demand for the evi
dence upon which the claims of the
American government were based.
Secretary Lansing has forwarded the
sworn testimony of Mrs. Dr. Greil of
New York, who was the only Ameri
can born passenger who escaped from
the Ancona when she was sunk by a
submarine in the Mediterranean sea.
The testimony of Dr. Greil was sub
stantiated by the other survivors who
offered testimony before the Ameri
can Ambassador at Rome.
It is believed in official circles that
diplomatic relations will be broken
between Austria • and the United
States as the position assumed by
Austria in regard to the responsibil
ity for the sinking of the liner are
in opposition to the views of Presi
dent Wilson and Secretary Lansing.
Eagles Planning Dance.
The Eagles Tire planning a big
dance to be given at Eagle Hall on
February 14. St. Valentine’s day. The
announcement is made at this early
date in order that their friends will
keep that evening closed for the
dance.
HI GILL AGAIN
BF. A CANDIDATE.
SEATTLE, Dec. 20,—Al
though he declared last year
when he was elected after
being recalled, that he would
never again seek office, May
or Hi Gill has announced in
the Times that he will seek
re-election at the coming mu
nicipal election.