VOLUME XIV VALDEZ, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1917 NUMBER 11
CHAMBER WORKING
COMMITTEE GATHERING DATA
Will Make Determined Effort to Se
cure Summer Service Between Here
and Fairbanks and Yearly Service
to Sound Points.
The Valdez Chamber of Commerce
held a meeting in the city hall last
evening, and considerable business of
importance to the community v as
taken up.
One of the most important actions
t.y the Chamber was the appointment
of a committee to secure data regard
ing the Interior and Sound mail ser
vices. This committee, consisting of
W. N. Cuddy, J. C. Martin, E. E.
Ritchie, and H. H. Jones, were in
structed to gather and forward to the
postofflce department all the noces
n4ry data regarding the necessity for
ihe establishment of mail services
from Valdez to various sound points
and to the Interior, and to consult
inteh prospective bidders as to the
jjBbable cost of handling the mail on
these routes.
The activity of the Chamber along
these lines was stimulated by a letter
from Chief Clerk of the mail service,
Alvah Eames, to Postmaster Todd, in
which he states that in due time the
emergency service for the summer of
1917 will be advertised for handling
a limited amount of mail from either
Chitina or Valdez to Fairbanks, the
service to be performed by auto. The
service will be advertised from both
Valdez and Chitina. but one route
will be selected. He asks for sugges
tions regarding the running time, pe
riod of service, weight of mail, fre
quency of service and class of ma'i
to be handled. The committee will
gather such data as is asked for and
such other as may be advisable to pro
mote the interest of Valdez in the
proposed route and service.
jFThe data to be gathered and sub
mitted to the department for th3
Sound service will be for the purpose
of securing if possible, a regular mail
service between Valdez and points in
Prince William Sound. It is believed
that a showing can. be made to the
department which will result in a re
sumption of this service, which for
several years was in operation, bet
which was dropped by the department
two or three years ago. At the pres
ent time there are more persons to
be served by such a service than at
any time in the history of the Sound,
and a determined effort will be made
by the Chamber to have the service
again established.
SOLDIERS IN STREET EIGHT
CIVILIANS IN HONOLULU
HONOLULU, T. H„ Jan. 12.—A
A free for all fight took place here on
one of the principal streets between
civilians and soldiers and a provost
guard which was ordered out to close
all saloons was attacked by the sol
diers when three of their numbers
were arrested. The soldiers threat
ened to “clean out” the police depart
ment. One policeman was badly
beaten. Army officers finally restored
tlie mob to order.
('OLD PUTS THERMOMETER
OUT BUSINESS KUSKOKWIM
Postmistress Mrs. F. L. Clough of
McGrath, advises that the mercury is
cut of business in that section of the
country and that the spirit thermom
fcter has averaged 50 degrees below
zero for the past two weeks. Sho
further says that this is entirely too
cold for dog mushers and mail car
riers to be on the trail.
1 1 |
ARMY AVIATOR FLIES 137
MILES IN 86 MINUTES
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 12.—Sorgt.
William Ocker, an army aviator, who
piloted Congressman-elect E. D.
Blakeslee of Franylin, Pa., to the cap
i ital from this city on November 25.
Allew from Washington to the Phila
delphia navy yard today. Ocker said
he made the trip of 137 miles, rail
road distance, in one hour and twen
ty-five minutes.
Moose Dance Saturday
Don’t forget the big Moose dance
Saturday night. F client music and
a light lunch ser. I at midnight.
DESTROYED BY ROUMANIANS TO CHECK TEUTONS
The enormous C'eruuvodu bridge across the Danube, which has been wrecked to hold back the Germans un
der General von Mackensen invading the Dobrudja section of Roumanla.
CONDITION IS
' KECTSECRET
THAW TERRIBILY MUTILATED
Police Say He Sat In dialr and Calm
ly Watch Blood Spurt from Gaping
Wounds Until He Fainted—No
Statement of Condition Obtainable
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 12.—The
hospital authorities are very reticent
as to the condition of Harry Thaw,
and his physician refuses to make anv
statement. It is reported, however,
that he is terribly mutilated as a re
sult of his attempt at suicide yeser
day, but the hospital officials refuse
to admit the truth of the report that
Thaw died last night.
The police who made the arrest
state that when they entered the
house Thaw sat in a chair calmlv
watching the flow of blood from his
wounds in wrists and throat until he
fainted from loss of blood.
NINE OF 25 EXPLOSIVE
CIGARS ARE LOCATED
'v„ .. -:
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12.—Three
more of the 25 “bomb cigars" mail
ed on a Santa Fe train Decembci 22,
were found yesterday. Nine of the
explosive cigars have been located. A
conductor on the Santa Fe states that
the packages were left on one of the
seats on his car addressed and stamp
ed for mailing, and that he mailed
them, thinking that a passengei had
forgotten them. They were address
ed to all parts of the country, i.e de
clared.
John D. Bennett, of Brawley. the
first person known to have receiv
ed one of the cigars was seriously
injured about the face by copper and
iron filings when it exploded.
Sergt. Kidwell Re-Enllsts.
Sergeant F. A. Kidwell, of the
Quartermaster department, U. S. A.,
stationed at Valdez, reenlisted last
week for a term of seven years, his
former enlistment having expired.
Under the terms of his present en
listment he would serve three years
with the colors and four on the re
serve, but as he has already served
nearly thirty years in the army, he
will be entitled to retire next fall.
This is the Sergeant’s ninth enlist
ment.
Boiler Jams Tunnel Roof.
KELSO, Wash., Jan. 12.—A tubu
lar boiler being shipped from Port
lan dto Seattle on a flat car on the
Northern Pacific freight train jammed
against the roof of a tunnel near
hfere last week and trains were tied
up for several days clearing the track
of the wreck and the tunnel of the
boiler.
See the Basketball Game.
See the ladies play basketball to
night at Moose Hall. An exciting
game. Marquis of Queensbury rules,
biting in clinches, each lady guaran
teed to wear her own hair—as long
as possible.
Badly Scalded.
The little son of Sergt. Huff of Ft.
Llscum, was badly scalded a few days
ago by falling into a bucket of hot
water. The little fellow is now pro
nounced out of danger, although still
suffering considerable pain.
STATE FOOD DEPARTMENT
New Yorkers Propose BUI Aimed at
Manipulation of Prices
NEW YORK, Jan. 12.—Creation
of a new state department to be
known as the department of foods,
with “authority to study, supervise,
and, as far as necessary, regulate this
division of the business of the state,”
will be recommended by the legisla
tive committee investigating the fool
supply at the coming session of the
legislature, it was announced tonight
ty Senator Charles W. Wicks, chair
man of the committee.
NOTE COUCHED
FRIENDLY TERMS
ENTENTE REPLY TO WILSON
Neutral Diplomat says Most Courte
ous anti Fidendly—Opinion Pre
vails that Door to Peace Negoia
tions not been Utterly Barred.
_ ,>
WASHINGTON. D. C., Jan. 12 —
A neutral diplomat is authority for
the statement that the Entente reply
to the pease note of President Wilson
is couched in language most friendly
and courteous. The impression pre
vails that it does not utterly bar the
door to peace negotiations, and that
it will lead to further correspondence
on the subject. President Wlison re
fused to make any comment this
morning, stating that his furthe.*
movement would depend entirely up
on the sentiment expressed in the
note, and until it had been received
he could make no statement.
RIGO CLAIMS PRINCESS
WILLED HIM $500,000
NEW YORK, Jan. 12.—Guisseppe
Rigo, famous gypsy Hungarian vio
linist, who was the second husband
of the beautiful Princess Chimay,
who before her marriage to the Bel
gian nobleman, was Clara Ward, of
Detroit, declares that she left him
$500,000. He is playing at the Lit
tle Hungarian restaurant in New
jYork. He says that when war is
over he will claim his fortune.
| Rigo at one time played at o’ie of
the Portland Cafes about four years
ago.
George Mead has commenced the
reconstruction of the upper story of
the building on the wharf, and will
convert it into an attractive and com
fortable dwelling for himself and his
family.
Basket Ball Tonight.
Two games of basketball will be
played this evening in Moose hall,
one game between the first and sec
ond Moose teams and another between
two teams of young ladles, the Blues
captained by Miss Ruth Selby and
the Whites captained by Miss Pearl
Miller. A very interesting and excit
ing contest is looked for.
Cabins Falling In.
It is reported that several cabins
located in various parts of the town
belonging to people out of the city,
are about to c&ve in on account of the
heavy accumulation of snow on the
roofs. Two years ago five or six cab
ins were ruined by neglect to remove
the snow, and a similar experience
seems lmmident this year.
BIG AMMUNITION
PLANT DESTROYED
FIRE OF A MYSTERIOUS ORIGIN
| Entire Countryside Panic Stricken by
I
tiie Tremendous Explosions I last
ing for Two Hours—Plainly Felt
in New York City.
i
NEW YORK. Jan. 12.—For two
hours this morning a series of tre
mendous explosions, resembling the
firing the heavy artillery, proceeded
from the munitions plant of the Can
adian Car Foundry Company, at
Lyndhurst , New Jersey, which was
destroyed by a fire of mysterious
origin. Jhe shocks of the explosions
were plainly felt in this city, and
the countryside adjacent to the plant
was panic stricken by the tremendous
concussion caused by the exploding
ammunition. A large amount of dam
age was done to buildings adjacent
to the plant, windows being blown
out and the structures otherwise dam
aged by concussion.
Valdez. Cafe to Open.
The Valde^ Cafe and Bakery, now
I being put in readiness for bus'ness
| by Hugo Bergstrom and Christ Rog
stadt, in the Gelineau & Bell bui.d
;ing on McKinley street, will be open
jfor business tomorrow, Saturday,
i morning. The proprietors are ex
I perts in their line and bespeak the
patronage of the people of Valdez.
Boys Basketball Game.
See the manly forms of the Moose
ten exposed to the rigors of an Alas
ka winter at Moose hall tonight. Bow
legs barred. No toeholds nor full
nelsons allowed, and all birds at un
known angles. One of the best
games of the season. An unparal
leled display of pulchritude, a hair
raising display of basketball.
1
“LE’ME SMELL YER BREATH;
AHA! COME ALONG!”
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 30.—The ex
i ecutive board of the Nebraska Dry
Federation here today drafted a pro
hibition law which will be introduced
| in the legislature, and which is in
■ land to Seattle on a flat car on the
(Constitutional amendment adopted
jlast fall, and effective May 1 of this
.year. Among provisions of the law
are:
Any peace officer in the state may
arrest anyone whose breath has the
odor of liquor.
Advertising intoxicants in any man
ner is prohibited.
Sale ol flavoring extract and whis
key tablets is prohibited.
It is made, a criminal offense to
tell a man where he may get a
shot of life-saving fluid.
' Seattle Markets.
SEATTLE, Jan. 12.—Wheat—Tur
key red, $1.53; bluestem, $1.51; for
ty-fold, $1.47; club, $1.47; fife, $1.47
and Red Russian, $1.25.
Barley, $37.26 per ton.
Yesterday’s car receipts: Wheat,
15, hay 14, flour 4., ,
Civic League Meeting.
The Civic League will hold Its
first meeting of the New Year at the
City Hall, Saturday afternoon, Janu
ary 13. The annual election of offi
cers will take place, therefore all
members are urged to be present. ?t
GUARD IS ATTACKED
BY INSANE PATIENT
Among the passengers on the Wet
son for Seattle were Deputy Marshal
Wardell and Captain Frank Johnson,
of Anchorage, taking Charles Esmere
an insane engineer, to the Portland
sanitarium. While the steamer was
at anchor at Iriqh Cove the patient
attacked the guard. Captain Johnson
with a sling full of dishes and would
have beat him up but for the timely
interference of passengers.
VOTE AGAINST
A LEAK PROBE
WILL REPORT A DV ERSE L V
House Committee on Rules Vote to
RejKjrt Against Resolution Provid
ing for a Congressional Probe of
Alleged Ijeak.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.— The
House Committee on Rules, probing
the alleged leak of the German peace
proposal, by a majority vote, todav
decided to report adversely on the
resolution providing for a federal in
vestigation into the alleged leak. The
Committee, at their public hearing,
learned nothing to warrant the belief
that the note had been tipped off to
c few speculators prior to its bein.r
made public, and they expressed the
belief that the charges were made sol
ely for the purpose of gaining a little
(heap notoriety. Lawson, who wa3
supposed to have absolute proof of
the leak, failed utterly to substan
tiate the charges, or to produce any
testimony of worth.
WILSON GETS
ENTENTE NOTE
PEACE IS IMPOSSIBLE NOW
Recites Entente Aims and Roughly
Outlines Conditions Upon Which
Negotiations for Peace May He
Brought About.
WASHINGTON. D. C., Jan. 12.—
The text of the Entente reply to the
note of President Wilson waa receiv
ed here today. It states Jhat the
President’s communication Jlas been
carefully considered and joins in the
league of nations may be Wormed to
insure enduring peace in Europe.
The reply pre-suppose«fe satisfac
tory settlement of the conict now in
progress, but expresses th# belief that
peace can be obtained at this time on
terms which will assure reparation
by Germany for the damages inflict
ed and the restitution of the territory
occupied, as well as binding guaran
tees of permanent peace.
The note defines the aims ot the
Entente nations and points out Ger
many’s aggression and crimes against
the people opposed to her. Condi
tions for the ending of the war, upon
which the Allied nations are agreed,
must contain among other things the
restoration to Belgium, Serbia Mon
tenegro, of their territory intact, and
an indemnification for the losses they
hav esuffered; the evacuation of the'
invaded territories of France, Russia
and Rumania, and reparation for the
injuries sustained in these countries;
the reorganization of Europe and
suitable guarantees for the inviola
bility of the territorial frontiers, the
liberation of the Slavs, Rumanian3, j
and Czechs, the enfranchisement of
the nations subject to the bloody tyr
anny 6f the Turk; the expulsion of
the Turk from Europe; the freedom
of Poland, and the liberation of Eu
rope from the brutality and covetous
i ess of Prussian militarism. The Al-1
lies are united, the reply said, in their
determination to bring a vigorous j
close to the conflict, on which their'
own safety and the future civilization
of the world depends.
The Moose will hold their regular
Saturday night dance this week. Ex
cellent music and a good time assur
ed all who attend. 2t
TAKES OWN LIFE
FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM
Well Known Business Mitn Found
Tills Afternoon With His Throat
\
Cut—Had Been Dead for Nearly
Twenty-Four flours.
Bathed in his own blood, and witli
his throat cut from ear to ear, the
body of Angus Chisholm, one of the
pioneer business men of Valdez, was
found in his room over the Senate sa
lrton about 2 o'clock thi& afternoon.
He had been dead for some hourr.
So far as can be learned there was
no cause for the rash act, nor had
Mr. Chisholm ever exhibited any
signs that such an act was contem
plated. He had not been in the best
of health for some tirre past, but his
ailment was not of such a character
as to lead to despondency.
Yesterday noon Mr. Chisholm, who
was interested in the Senate saloon,
relieved Sam Jenson while the latter
went to dinner and on Mr. Jensen's
return he sat in his office for a time
and then went up to his room over
the saloon. He was apparently in his
usual jovial mood and ro'de no ref
erence to feeling badly or that he
contemplated the rash act. As he
frequently kept to his room for 24
hours at a time, nothing was thought
of the fact that he did not come down
stairs this morning.
About 2 o clock Mr. Jenson re
quested J. D. Hamilton to go up to
Chisholm’s room and see if he did
not wish something to eat. On en
tering the room Hamilton was hor
rified to find Chisholm covered with
blood and a gaping wound in his
throat. He immediately gave the
alarm and Doctors Boyle and Silver
man were called in. An examina
tion by these physians led to the dis
covery that the body was cold and
that the victim had been dead for
probably 24 hours, indicating that he
had committed the rash act within a
few minutes of the time he went to
his room. On the bed, by his side,
was a razor, covered with blood, giv
ing evidence as to the weapon em
ployed.
Mr. Chisholm had been a resident
of Valdez for a number of years, dur
ing which time he had gained a wide
circle sof friends and acquaintances.
Of a most amiable disposition, he al
ways had a smile and a pleasant word
for everybody, and is probably the
last man in Valdez who would be ex
pected to take his own life. For sev
eral years past he has been engaged
in the liquor business, being a part
ner in the Senate saloon.
Mr. Chisholm was born in Nova
Scotia, and was about 45 years of
age. He was unmarried.
Oil Is Advanced.
SHREVEPORT. La.. Jan. 12.—No
tice of an advance of 10 cents in the
prices of all grades of oil produced
in the Northwestern Louisiana field
was posted yesterday by the Standard
Oil company, the Texas Oil company
and the Gulf Refining company. This
is the sixth advance since Nov. 29.
Satisfied or Busted.
TACOMA, Jan. 12.—A heavy drop
in the number of applications for li
quor permits at the court house
marks the after Christmas spirit of
Pierce county residents. Where there
was a steady jam at the liquor coun
ter every day last week yesterday and
today there was no line at al'. Coun
ty Detective Shaw, however, reports
that the principal freight and express
being received is in the form of pack
ages of beer and whiskey, obtained
on last week's permits. The total
permits issued for the first year of
prohibition, up to noon, was 64,727.
Will Leave for States Soon.
H. P. King, Jr., with Mrs. King,
and son, will leave on the next trip
of l!he Mariposa for Seattle, where Mr.
King will again resume his occupa
tion' traveling for Seattle wholesale
honses. Valdez regrets to lose Mr
and Mrs. King, but Wishes them pros
perlty in their now home.
Notice to the Public.
The Pinzon will be open for busi
ness again Saturday mroning in the
Gelineau building juBt above the Owl
Drug Store. Your patronage solicit
ed. 2t