Postponement Notice
The Chri-tmas Tree and Dance which
was to have taken place at Flat tonight lias
been postponed until Monday (Christmas)
night, on aeon it of ba 1 wrather today.
One Dot.[.ah Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1911. Two Bits Per Copy
FRED SCHMIDT
FROZEN AT ROBY
Ruby. Dec. 21. —Fred Schmidt, for
merly of Iditarod, was found frozen to
death on the trail near Long creek,
Tuesday, Dec. 12. He went crazy and
wandered aimlessly over the creeks.
\\ hen the authorities were asked to
try and save the man they replied that
there were no fuuds for that purpose
Fred Schmidt, who was about 25
years old, was in the Iditarod last sum
mer. He was employed od one of X
X. Co. boats. His mother Mrs. Le
Fine, resides at Dawson.
The trial of F.ugene Schm’tz for al
leged bribery in connection with the
San Francisco graft prosecutions will
begin some time in January.
St. Paul, Dec. 22 — Attorney
General Wickershnm says federal i
control of the natural resources ol J
Alaska is the only solution of the
prtsent difficulties.
Secretary Fisher held a confer
ence on conservation here with;
representatives ironi six Western j
Staies.
Dawson, Dec. 22.- The biggest stam
pede since ’99 is now on from Dawson
to the head of the Sixtymile, 120 miles
from Dawson. Two hundred men have
left here light with the fastest dogs
procurable. The creek on which the
discovery has been made is 20 miles
long and half a mile wide. There are
several 4 and 8-mile tributaries, and it
is believed that the discovery is equal
to that of Bonanza in the early days.
Tew York, Dec. 22.—Lillian Graham
and Ethel Conrad, acquitted last week
ot tlie charge of attempted murder of
H. 13 Stokes, have commenced suit
against the latter for 8100,000 damages
m ilicio is prosec it ion.
BREVITI
Mrs. McNamara, mother of the con
victed dynamiters, is dying iti Cincin
nati of a broken heart.
Detective Burns has received the
reward of $5,000 offered for the capture '
of the dynamiters of the Los Angeles j
Times.
Testimony given at the federal in
quiry into the dynamiting outrages j
shows that the dynamiters' headquar- i
ters were at Tilfin, Ohio.
William Loeb and Eliliu Root have
been named as managers of Taft's re
election campaign.
Aviator Cook flew over Mount Ta
tnalpais, Cal., during the week.
A blizzard is sweeping over Texas.
Two persons have been arrested in
Mexico for admitted complicity in an
attempt to assassinate President Ma
de ro.
Addressing a meeting at New York
City, President Taft said the people
are living too fast, and advised the na
tion to beware of the evil effects of
such a course, if continued.
President Estrada of Nicaragua is
dead.
Judge Overfield has granted two sa
loon licenses at Olnes and one at
Cleary.
John Zug, of the road commission,
has been transferred to Valdez.
Fairbanks A. B.’s initiated 25 mem
bers last night.
Ten tons of rock from the Rexall
claim, on Wolf creek, in Fairbanks
district, went $180 to the ton.
Taft refuses to pardon Banker Morse
at the present time.
Vice-President Sherman says he will
not seek re-election.
The Republican territorial conven
tion to be held at Cordova March 30 is
expected to endorse the present Alas
kan administration._
Select Outside Lumber, corrugated
iron and roofing paper at Ross & Nes
tor’s.
Correct clothes for men. H. Boas.
!
,
San Francisco, I)cc. 22.—Lew Wing, formerly a
I clerk for the Fairbanks Banking Company, was arrested
here on a charge of perjury in connection with the
i failure of the Washington Alaska Bank. He waived
1 examination and expressed himself as willing to pro
j ceed North immediately to face the charge
Fairbanks, Dec. 22.—Lew Wing was arrested last
Wednesday at Alameda in connection with the failure
of the Washington Alaska Bank. He was indicted
secretly by the grand jury Dec. 4 and Dec. 7 under
sections 74 and 00 of the code, for having, in the ca
i pacify of secretary of the Fairbanks Banking Company,
(signed false reports on Sept. 14, 1909, and also for hav
J ing sworn to the correctness of the report, which con
i stitutes perjury B. K. Dusenbury and Pi. T. Barnette
were jointly indicted. Dusenbury is in Vancouver, B
('., and will resist extradition.
It is believed that seme time last July two brothers named
Gits and John Nelson were murdered oti the Ktiskokwira river a
few miles from tite native village of Tuluksak. Rumors of a
crime of the kind in that region came to the Iditarod and were
mentioned in tite Pioneer last August: hut if tlie fate of the
Nelson brothers was the cause of those rumors it is only now that
the names of alleged victims have been lean ed and the main
facts of tite case vprilied.
A native named W.iskey Junior was in the vicinity and
claims to have seen a white man shoot one of the brothers, who
fell. The other brother ran and was followed into die brush by
be assailant, after which another shot was fired. The native,
afraid, left without attracting attention, and reported what he
had seen to Mr. Haines, tite missionary at Bethel. At tite sug
gestion of 'he missionary Mail Carrier Oscar Samuelson made an
investigation of the ground where the revolution was reported to
have occurred. In the effects discovered there he found articles
hearing the Nelson brothers' names. In their outfit was also a
prospector's hand drill, which may help to establish tite identity
of the owners of the outfit. Tite equipage was found in a boat.
In searching the ground Mr. Samuelson is said to have found
what appeared to be a shallow grave, which had been abandoned
on striking frost. In the edge of the water were found blankets
weighted Sown with rocks in a bag, giving the impression that
bodies had been bound in the blankets, It is presumed the bodies
had raised and floated away. What was taken for blood stains
was seen on tite sand, and two empty government cartridge shells
were found.
The above particulars are learned from Karl Preiss and
others lately arrived from the Kuskdkvrim. Their information
was obtained from conversation with various persons and differs
somewhat from that received by the marshal's office. For in
stance. Mr. Preiss had heard that the Nelsons’ outfit was found
on an island some three miles above Tuluksak, while Mr. Samu
elson writes that '.lie place is below the village.
j>. n o, Mar-Pal Sheppard lias received a letter from C. A.
1- evil :-. i f the K-t-k ikwim Commercial Company at Bethel. The
letter -at : "The mail carrier found the boat back in the willows
with evert thing in it but a lied, and at the water's edge there
was a sack partly filled with rock with a rope fast to it. The
natives found robe near by. Among the stuff in the boat are
two suit cases, one of which has a tag with the name of John
Nelson on it."
This letter mentions the fact of a native reporting that lie
saw a while man shoot another early last spring; but adds that
the native claimed to be a long way off. and his story was dis
ci edited.
The marshal's office also received a letter from Samuelson.
the mail carrier, dated Bethel, Nov. 12. []e told of finding the
boat and other effects Oct. 10. lie had camped at Tuluksak vil
lage and was directed to the place, some four miles below by
natives. Tie found a blanket and a gunnysack in the edge of the
water. The. water had been fully three feet higher. Looking
around to see what else could be found, the boat was discovered
tied to some willows. It was a poling boat made of rough un
paint cd lumber, and was six or seven feet above the then stage of
water, ft was full of stagnant water and was partly covered by a
tent. In it was a leather suit case with a wooden tag bearing the
name “John Nelson”: a straw suit ease also with a wooden lag,
from which ihe name had faded; tvarsaek, rubber boots, felt
shoes, stove, grubbox, provisions, tools, etc. Charley Jacobson, a
mail carrier, was with Samueison at the time, as well as several
natives.
The only clew to the perpetrator of the crime—if a crime
lias really been perpetrated—is that a man with a blue shovel,
nose boat was seen to act suspiciously about the time the report
was made by Waskey Junior, and this man drifted past Bethel.
John and Gus Nelson were in Georgetown last winter. Mrs.
Frank Dawson, of Flat City, is their sister, and a brother is said
to be on Bonanza creek, Norton sound. The Nelson's were re
puted to have considerable means.
Washington, Dec. 22.— President Taft has sent n
special message to congress dealing exclusively with
the wool schedule of the Payne Aldrich tariff. He
urged a further reduction in the import duties on wool
aud articles manufactured therefrom.
Congress has adjourned to Jan. 3. After the holi
days the Prestdent will send a special message to eon
gress dealing with Alaska, and urging the immediate
granting of some form of home ruilitB or partial home
rule to the territory.
Washington, Dec. 22. - In his annual report to
congress, Franklin McVeagh, Secretary of the Treas
nry, urges better supervision of the hanks of Alaska.
He asks for an appropriation to cover the cost of send
ing bank examiners to Alaska three times a year.
Fast week the case of Buckley vs Rato was decided
by the Con t in favor ot the defendant
Readers of the Pioneer will remember that this case was
commenced in the Commissioner’s court ai Iditarod some i
tittle time ago, and while the amount in controversy was!
no! very great, the principle involved in the case is of the!
gieatest interest to all portions of Alaska, and to all who J
are interested in the cutting, sale and purchase of wood
The case was brought by t lie plaintiff for the recovery!
of something like 60 cords ot wood, alleged to have been !
cut by him on the hill opp site the mow b of Flat. He,
claimed that the defendant had taken possession of this |
wood and refused to return it or pay for the same The
defendant answered by saving that the wood he had poy. I
session of did not belong to the plaintiff and denied that 1
the plaintiff had suffered any dtntage by reason of any
thing done by him Mr. Coke Dili teas attorney for Buck- t
lev and Hturv Roden appeared for lack Rato.
When the plai. tiff and his witnesses took the stand 1
they testified that Buckle}' had cut the wood and that Rato
had taken possession of it. Upon cross examination Mr.
Roden elicited the fact that Buckley had cut this wood ;
Irotn tlie public domain, without any petmit lion: the In
terior department, and, alter the plaintiff had turned in all
his testimony, moved the Court to di-miss the action for t
the reason that if Buckley had cut any wood, it was the
wood and timber of the government, and that he could not
only tccover nothing from any person who might have I
taken the wood, but that he was even liable to prosecution
for cutting timber to which he had -o tight
After -ome argument by the attorneys, Judge Stanton
overruled Roden’s motion and the defendant and his wit
nesses took the stand From the testimony it would ap
pear that the wood sai l to have been cut by Buckley was
sold to Rato by a couple of men who are now at Ruby
When all the evidence had been submitted, the Court
announced that he would himself investigate the law
quoted by Mr. Roden and would tender his decision at a
later date. The decision has been rendered and is to the
effect, in practical language, that anvhodv who go.s upon
CH MWESTGOMNMENT
San Francisco, Dec. 22.—Advices received here
from reliable Chinese sources are to the effect that Dr.
Sun Yat Sen has been elected first President of the
Republic of China.
Shanghai, Dec. 21.—The majority of the peace
emissaries assembled here from all parts of China favor
a republic absolute and without restriction.
Pekin, Dec. 21.—The Chinese premier refuses to
accept the proposal to proclaim a republic, but suggests
a limited monarchy founded upon lines similar to that
of Great Britain. Many prominent and influential rev
olutionists are said to side with the premier.
Shanghai, Dec. 22.—The leaders of the revolution
ists have announced that unless they are allowed to
have their way and proclaim a republic they will con
tinute to resist, even if that means fighting the united
powers.
Late estimates of the past season’s gold production
for the Iditarod place the total at $3,061,695 Of this)
annul' t $2,758,695 has been forwarded hv the Wells Fargo
Express and $303,000 is yet on hand or has been taken out |
by individuals.
r] l e estimates have been made by numerous business I
men at the request of Alfred H. [books, head of the Alaska
geo'ogicnl survey They are conservative by all who went ]
into the data availah’e, and by several are believed to he)
yet considerably under the true figures. ft may be said ]
that the figures given are based almost entirely on amounts
that can he readily traced, and little or no allowance is :
made for small pokes carried away in the pockets of]
individuals.
Some of the business men believe that the estimate |
for next season, made some time ago, (§5.000,000) is too i
high. The past season most of the operators h id gone I
in debt in the opening of ground and installing of machin
ery. and consequently were compelled to work tor large
and immediate production, rather than for the ultimate I
profit to he derived. In some instances only the richer j
spots were handled and the poorer dirt left for future ex
(donation. In future no such necessity will exist, and tin
work will he cartied on more in accordance with strict |
business principles. It is net yet possible to give a very !
intelligent estimate of the future output, on which the
length of season will have an important bearing: but it
seems reasonable to predict that the gold will be extracted I
at better profit than heretofore.
the public domain and cuts timber without a permit is a |
trespasser; that he has no right to the wood aud timber so
cut, and it it is set on fire or taken by any person he has
no cause for action against *urli person, for the reason that
the wood and timber remain the property ot the govern
rnent; and that the government can take it wherever ii
may be found, and can make any person who takes it o;
destroys it pay damages tor the same.
brom this it follows that where a man buys wool cu .
from the public domain without a permit, the government
agent can come and take it away front him and make him i
pay lor it again, because, as abeady explained, the mar
wlto cuts wood on the public domain wi'hout a permit ha*
no right to it, and tries to sell something that does not be
long to him
To apply the law to the facts in the ca*e just decided I
would mean that if Buckley cut any wood which was taken;
bv Rato, the government can rente and take it away from j
Rato or make him pay lor it, and if the Couit would give
judgment again t Rato in favor of Bncklev the govern |
inert agent would make Rato pay him again, and the lat. i
ter would tlieiefere have to pay twice for the same wood. I
The difficulty ran easily be overcome i; the woodchopuet i
nil! apply tor a permit, which will be issued to him ver\
gladly by the prop, r officer.
flie decision is of great importance and the chances
are an appeal will be taken and the question decided bv
the Disttict Judge.
fi
The town council met in regular
session last Wednesday evening with
Messrs. Mutehler and McDonell again
absent.
The matter of the tax levy was gone
into at great length, and the council
adjourned to Friday night to give it
further consideration.
At the adjourned session a levy of 1J
per cent, was agreed upon. The total
valuation of property assessed for tax
ation is between $1,300,000 and $1,
400,000.
At the Wednesday night meeting
the report of the committee which
had been charged with auditing the
books of former Clerk Earl B. Hunt
was received. Two minor errors had
been found, besides tbeoverpa mentof
$85.40 on the Cleveland bill. The com
mittee was discharged, the finance com
mittee to investigate and rectify the
e rors.
Chairman Worden of the fire com
mittee reported two pumps ready to
work independently of each other in
connection with the fire main. The
council was invited by Chief McGovern j
to go in a body and inspect the fire
fighting appliances at 1 o’clock today
(Saturday). The town is said to be
better safeguarded against fire now
than ever before.
Annual assessment work blanks at
Pioneer office,
LAND
OF POCO TIEMPO
A. J. Lang, who arrived last Thurs
day, comes straight from the laud of
frijoles and revolutions—Old Mexico.
He left Mexico two months ago and
came North to cool o(T and, incident
ally to dodge Mexican bullets.
Lang paints a vivid picture of con
ditions “down there.” There are live
or six factions, each warring against
the other. Each loots a town in turn
and by the time they're all through
there’s very little left.
Lang was in business at Tijuana, and
stood by the ship for quite a time, but
when the federalistas came along and
peppered the town with machine guns
he thought it time to quit. Without
even an “Adios!” to the visitors Lang
made for the border,and got out of a
tight place by the skin of his teeth.
He says Mexico is no white man’s
country anyhow, at present, and he
doesn’t see how his staying to be shot
would help business any.
Decorate Your Tree or Store
Roscoe Sweets, home-made fresh
candy and Christmas decorations at
Roscoe's, in the Iditarod Bakery.
Old Lace}', Tyler, Monogram, Ather
ton and Cedarbrook, also fine old Port
Sherry and Clartts at Empire Com
mercial Co.
Oregon City woolen goods. H. Boas.
Power-of -attorney blanks -Pioneer.
!
Mrs. K. Silvers! ein, accompanied by j
her daughter Olga, left for Fairbanks
during the week.
Louis Marymont has gone to Fair
banks.
Mr. and Mrs Walter Riley are spend
ing the winter in Los Angeles.
A. J. Lang and Harry Stevens came
in over the Seward trail Thursday,
(.'has. Strandberg came in from Flat
during the week.
Capt. J. J. Donovan has been ap
pointed deputy-marshal at Wiseman, in
the Koyukuk, and is now on his way
there.
Cyril Wood, J. F. Baird and Ralph
Lumen have been appointed as a com
mittee on membership for Camp Xdita
rod No. 27, A. B.
V. H. Pierce, manager for E. W.
Griffiin, came in from Flat Thursday.
E. Coke Hill arrived from the Kus
kokwim Thursday evening after a hard
trip. Mr. Hill will probably leave for
the Outside within a few weeks.
Harry Johnson came in from Flat
Friday.
E. J. Ives is a visitor in Iditarod.
W. C. Abeudroth has been appointed
Court bailiff at Fairbanks.
Several Iditarod people are visiting
Flat today for the Christmas tree and
dance.__
Select Outside Lumber, corrugated
iron and roofing paper at Ross & Nes- j
tor's.
jmnwfl
Nome, Dec. 22.—The City of Nome
extends to the citizens of Iditarod and
vicinity the compliments of the season
and wishes them a merry Christmas.
No snow in this vicinity makes
freighting impossible, as the sleds were
all knocked to pieces.
A dog race limited to teams of five
was held during the week, but was not
very successful, as the dogs’ legs were
painfully cut.
A stampede is on to stake placer in
Grounder Mountain country, Port. Clar
ence district, GO miles north of Teller.
A general boom in tin properties is
on in Nome and vicinity.
A miner named Nelson fell down a
shaft on the submarine beach line. He
dropped 90 feet, and sustained severe
body bruises and both legs were frac
tured. He will die.
Mrs. Sharp, an oldtimer of Council
City who went to the Iditarod last
summer, was asphyxiated by stove gas
in her cabin. She was buried Tuesday
last.
THE LATEST
We will sell during the holidays— |
i-lb. fancy box candj, 50c.
l ib. fancy box candy, $1.
1-lb. plain box candy. 75c.
5-lb. plain box candy, $3 and $3.50.
Bucket and bulk candies at 50c lb.
We guarantee these candies to be as
good as any candies in Alaska. Your
money back if you are not satisfied.
ANSLEY’S BOOK & CIGAR STORE.
The Du.xbury has arrived safely a1
Sratl le
SEWARD
A. J. Lang and Harry Stevens nr- J
rived in town during the week. Lang j
is an old timer of tiie Nome camp, whilt ;
Stevens is well known here.
The journey from Seward with a do; j
team occupied 24 days of travel, an
what with lack of snow, overflows, etc i
aggravated by shortage of grub at th j
roadhouses, the trip was no picnic.
Several of the roadhouses were quiu j
out of supplies and mushers suffere
accordingly. One party of three wa
met the members of which had eatc
nothing for 48 hours and they wen
still 60 miles from where food could
be obtained. Naturally they wen
making poor time.
At a roadhouse on Happy the pro
prietor was living on moose rnea
straight, and had been for sever,
days. His partner was away for su -
plies. Even where provisions were to
be had the diet was principally beans,
and $2 a meal at that. Bunks are $1
Doc Mading was met at Skwentr a
crossing Deo. 4. He was traveling dr;,
and night. It was learned at Sewar
that his quartz holdings in the neigh
borhood vrere showing up well.
The James party were met half-wry,
and at Big river a man was passe. 1
I necking it. The gold train was pas-. .1
j a few miles beyond the Jap roadhou
i Their dogs had given out and they
I were siwashing.
I Over 150 men were passed going o -‘
I
!
I
Washington, Dec. ‘12.— Failing to
come to an agreement with Russia
over mat tors connected with the tariffs
of the two countries, the senate and
the house of representatives have
passed a joint resolution abrogating
| the commercial treaty with Russia.
President Taft has signed the abroga
tion papers.
Berlin, Dec. 22.—Berlin newspapers
say that President Taft is malting him
self a laughing stock by his action in
the matter of abrogating the treaty
with Russia.
St. Petersburg, Dec. 22.—Notice from
the United States of the abrogation of
the commercial treaty with that coun
try is attracting little notice here.
Later.—F’lans are being made for a
tariff war with the United States.
MALONE EXONERATED
Fairbanks, Dec. 22.—Pete Malone,
wiio was arrested at Seward on the
complaint of 13. R. Peonies and charged
witli embezzlement as bailee, has been
exonerated by the commissioner, it
was proved that Malone was unaware
that a team which lie sold to Ferris
was already mortgaged to Peoples.
JOHNSON
New York, Dec 22. — Jack John
son has arrived home, and has al
ready changed his mind about re
entering the ring. He says he is
ready to fight for the title, although
be has j lei ty of money.
London, D.-c. 22—Bombardier
Wells knocked out Fred S'.orl eck
in the eleventh round.
Sydney, Australia, Dec. 22.—
Bandsman Rice got the decision
over Cyclone Thompson after going
the full twenty rounds.
On Monday week next. January I,
the Iditarod Kennel club will hold the
second annual sweepstakes of Iditarod.
A meeting of the board of directors
of the club was held Thursday evening
and rules and regulations which will
govern the race were drawn up.
It has been decided to give three
prizes, viz., ¥150, ¥75 and $25.
The entry fee will be $10 and entries
close Thursday at 6 p.tn. Post entries
may be made until 6 p.m on Saturday,
upon payment of an additional fee of $5.
The course will bo as follows: Start
ing from the Miners & Merchants
bank, up First to Willow, out Wiliow
past the Summit roadhouse to Flat,
along Front street to the Grand hotel
corner, on to the Otter trail to Discov
ery, and return over the same route.
The race will start promptly at noon
and teams will follow one another at
intervals of five minutes.
The following will officiate:
Judges: Sumnit—Starr Ballard and
Frank Chew; Fiat—Dr. E. M. Spaul
ding and Dr. Carter; Discovery- A. A.
Shonbeck and Karl Thiel; Iditarod
Dr. S. Hall Young, Capt. A. H. Peter
sen and J. F. Baird.
Timkeepers: Jorgen Nelson and R>
Simpson.
Starter: Cyril P. Wood.
Bulletins will be posted in the leading
resorts giving the progress of the race.
NOTICE
W. H. Mendham closes his store and
retires from business between Christ
mas and New Year. Please call for
work left.
BROWN BEAR A PEST
Juneau, Dec. 22.—In his report on
the game laws of Alaska, Governor W.
E. Clark says that brown bear are fast*
becoming *3 pest in Southeastern
Alaska.
RE-ELECT TAFT, SAYS CARNEGIE
.New York, Dec. 23.—Andrew Car
negie scoffs at the idea of Roosevelt
being a candidate for the presidency
and says that it will be adisgrace if Mr.
Taft is not re-elected.
^ Ret us quote you prices on outfits.
Everything absolutely guaranteed.
Northern Commercial Company.