Iditaroc Pioneer
One Dollar Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1910. Two Bits Per Copy
CACHE THIEVES
ARE VERY BUSY
Friday night some miscreant stole
800 pounds of grub from a resident of
Willow Point, or the settlement op
posite the towe of Iditarod City. The
thief loaded the supplies into a small
boat and started down river thinking
to make a clean getaway. Cnfortunate
lv for him, he found the river blocked
with ice three miles below the town,
and was compelled to store the booty
in the willows on the river bank.
Adolph Miller and Alex. Reid, the
ownsrs, following a well-directed
hunch, went down river after him and
recovered the goods, the thief, in the
meantime, having disappeared into the
open country.
Ear]v in the week, Jim Neashi, the
proprietor of the Moosa cafe, missed a
quarter of beef. This succulent mor
sel has apparently disappeared into a
dull and aching void, wherefore it
would seem to be incumbent upon
every inhabitant to put the bacon in
the safe at the same time that he puts
the cat ont.
Don’t miss the dance tonight (Satur
day) at Anslev hall. ,
—
FILED FOR RECORD
DEEDS
Addie Galbraith to F. J. Ostehroltz,
undivided i interest in None Snch as
sociation claim, Alder creek; also 1 in
terest in Trio claim, Otter creek, and
Graeie bench, mouth of Otter, $1:
Sept. 29.
Peter Jensen to M. E. Manson, 2-9
interest in third tier bench claim, left
limit Otter creek, opp. No. 1-a; $1.
W. D. Stewart to John Holmgren, 1
interest in Wildcat association claim on
Flat creek: $1: Oct. 1.
Greg Stewart and C. B. McDowell to
A. S. Kemp, west 30 feet lot (>, block 4.
Fairview trading post: $450: Oct. 1.
MORTGAGE
Greg Stewart to American Bank of
Alaska, i interest in 3-b. Glen gulch
association claim; $2,000: Oct. 1.
POWER OP ATTORNEY
Luther C. Hess to J. F. Shropshire;
Oct. 3.
LOCATION'S
Prospector association claim, Little
creek, tributary Iditarod river, by R.
Dixon et a!.; Sept. 29.
Wild Gco;e association claim and
Discovery claim, right limit of Little
creek: Tom Davis et ah; Sept. 29.
Nugget association claim, Happy
creek, tributary Willow, by P. Dahl,
W. P. Ryan; Sept. HO.
Evelyn association claim, Saturday
cteek, tributary Iditarod riyer, J. W.
Atkinson et ah; Sept. HO.
Tuesday, Oct. 4.
LOCATION.
California association. Caribou creek,
Steve Bojanich et ah, 100 acres.
Joseph Loraugo et ah, 40.
White Star fraction, Willow creek.
AGREEMENT.
Gilbert Bates, Nellie Bates, Sam
Bates with J. D. Schwartz and M. H.
Marston, transfer of lease on 450 feet
1-A; Otter, to Schwartz and Marston,
unless pay $4,000 by Aug. 1, 1911.
DEED.
John Merritt to M. H. Marston,
$4,000, 1-6 Discovery bench, left limit
Otter; 1 in lay on Discovery bench,
left limit Otter; 1 interest ditch, flumes,
etc.
Frank Cioli to Jake Mutchler, $260,
lot 30x50 between First and Second sts.
Wednesday, Oct. 5.
LOCATION.
Twenty acres fraction claim, head
Happy, Tom Davis.
Emper Peters, 2.
Thursday, October 6.
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Jennie MeDowell to E. G. Lindbcrg, !
general.
DEED.
William Pig-get to Wm. Davenport 4
interest Celene Fraction, Otter creek.
A. Mitchell, Segurd Wiig, Jno. Ol
son, G. F. Kilroy to C. I. Jordon and
Louis Seyler, 4 interest to 450 feet
square north west corner Up Grade as
sociation, Flat creek.
Thursday, Oct. 7.
LOCATIONS.
Last Hope association, Slate creek,
A. D. Williams et at.
Florida association, Littlecreek, Jno.
Cascaden, Jno. Beaton, Geo. Friend,
Joe Farris, Tom Davis, Chas Hill.
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Duncan Michile to W. CL Mading.
RELEASE OF GRUBSTAKE.
F. H. Griffin, F. B. Ingels, Duncan
Michile to J. B. Mading and W. C.
Mading.
DEEDS.
J. B. Mading and W. C. Mading to
F. B. Ingeis and F. H. Griffin, $1 con
sideration, 1-3 interest in Mading lay
on Wild Cat. association, Flat ereek.
J. B. Mading and W. C. Mading to
Duncan Michele, *1 consideration, 1-6
interest in Mading association, Flat
creek. __
“GET THE HABIT”
USE MANLEY’S HOT SPRINGS
POTATOES. THEY ARE THE BEST
ON THE MARKET BECAUSE THEY
ARE MATURED, AND THEY HAVE
THE KEEPING QUALITIES. CALL
OR RING UP BARRETT & LEWIN.
When in town make The Sherburne
your HEADQUARTERS—you’ll find
the creek boys there. Clean, comfort
able rooms and buDks. Phone 57.
The coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding
the death of William Trisco, conducted befor Commissioner
Heavey and a jury at Georgetown resulted in a verdict of death
by the accidental discharge of a rifle. The latest arrivals seem
to think that Frank Wallace will be exonerated on the pre
liminary hearing.
Struggling for the possession of a rifle at a lonely camp on the
North Fork of the George river, on the Kusl okwim, William Tris
co, a Montenegran.’was instantly killed on the morning of Septem
ber 26, byr what appears to have been the rccidental discharge of
the gun. Frank Wallace, a well-known barber, formerly of Ester,
Cleary and Fairbanks, his opponent in the struggle, was trying to
stop a merciless beating that the Montenegran was administering
to their dogs.
The news was brought in Friday by William Gen ie, a Fair
banks man who had just returned from Georgetown. He reported
the tragedy to Deputy Marshal Donovan, stating that Wallace had
already given himself up to the custody of Deputy Marshal Siebe
at Georgetown, but could give no information as to the preliminary
hearing of the accused. Commissioner Heavey wTas there, how
ever, and it is probable that the preliminary hearing has already
been held. The result of this is, of course, a matter of conjecture
purely, although it would seem an even break that Wallace would
be turned over for the consideration of the grand jury.
Following the killing, which occurred 12 miles up from the
mouth of the North Fork, Wallace stayed two days, building a
cache for his outfit and another for the body of Trisco, as he was
afraid to risk bringing it down the river in a boat for fear he might
capsize. He had just started to Georgetown and had made camp
at the mouth of the North Fork when he was overtaken by Jim
Wylie, the “Optimist,” and Ed Lepin. A letter to the Iditarod
Pioneer from Wylie, brought in by Gerrie, gives a clear and con
cise statement of the affair:
“Already the new camp has furnished a tragedy, of which I
was the first to learn from the unfortunate victim's partner.
“On the 28th of last month, Ed Lepin and I, drifting down
here from Moose creek on a raft, stopped to camp for the night at
a trapper’s cabin at the mouth of the North Fork of George river,
and found the cabin occupied by a young man who told us that his
name was Frank Wallace—that he had just arrived a short time
previous from a point 12 miles up the North Fork and that he was
glad someone had showed up. He hoped we were not in a hurry
as his partner had got shot and killed in a scuffle between the two
over the possession of a gun, and he didn’t know wrhat to do with
the body. He was afraid to bring it down alone as the creek was
swift and crooked. He was afraid he might get capsized and he
wished our help to bring it down or advice as to what he should do.
“On asking what he had done with the body, and being in
formed that he had cached it, I advised him to come to Georgetown
with us and report to the commissioner.
“We came down the next day in his boat and upon arrival here
he immediately went to the commissioner, who ordered him under
arrest pending an investigation. The marshal, with Wrallace and
two boatmen, left for the scene of the accident this morning, and
will be gone five days.
“The victim’s name was William Trisco, as near as lean ascer
tain. He was a Montenegrin and had worked on Gaines creek, in
the Innoko country, during the fore part of the season.
“Wallace’s story is about as follows: .
“ ‘Trisco and I had been working over in the Innoko and he
wanted to go over to Nixon’s Fork, on the Takotna, with me as I
had been there last winter. So we went over to the Takotna and
outfitted, and then decided to come down here, and when here, de
cided to go up the North Fork of the Yukwonilnuk.
“ ‘We had got a siwash dog from a squaw and he was an orn
ery cuss, always fighting our other two dogs, and when we were
relaying stuff up the creek the siwash dog jumped one of the others
and Trisco, who was carrying the 30 40 rifle, flew into a violent
rage, and grabbing the gun by the barrel, started clubbing the
dogs.
“ ‘Thinking he would break the gun or kill the dogs, I seized
the butt end of the gun and tried to take it from him, but he was
in a frenzy and gave it a violent wrench and it went off, the bullet
tearing through his left arm and breast, killing him instantly.
“ ‘I stayed up there two days building a cache and putting
away our outfit. Thinking I would be unable to get him down
alone, Inbuilt a small cache and carried him up from the animals.’ ”
Frank Wallace was well and favorably known in Fairbanks
He was a barber by trade, an athlete, and a masseure, having been
rubber at the M. & M. bathhouse in Fairbanks for some time. He
came to the country some years ago and has always been a hustler
—turning his attention to mining, barbering or whatever holds
forth promise of an honest living. It will be remembered by those
who lived in Fairbanks a year or so ago that he trained Nick De
mara for the big Fourth of July Marathon race. It is the opinion
of his friends here that investigation of the circumstances of the
killing will prove his entire innocence of wrong, and that the final
verdict will be accidental kiiling.
He came down to the Iditarod with the stampede of last fall,
and went to the Innoko some time during the winter. Just where
he picked up his partner Trisco, or what are the antecedents of
Trisco cannot be learned. It is possible that later news may dis
close a different name or more concerning his identity.
With ground two feet deep on the rim where he can shovel in
$100 in hours, at the same time picking up small nuggets that
will average $15, T. Perry, one of the early believers in Moore
creek, has announced that he has just taken options on 5000 feet of
that stream for $82,000. He came in last Thursday with a poke
full of coarse gold and nuggets which he stated had been taken
from his ground. He also brought a quantity of dust, showing the
result of some small operations this fall, but stated that the work
thus far was simply prospective, that he might get a line on the
development work of next summer.
Perry, with his dust and options, comes back to give the merry
“ha ha” to some of his friends who got cold feet on his last visit to
this city. At that time he told them that Moore creek had the
goods but they thought he was trying to put one over on them and
wouldn’t play. Fred Osterholtz has enough confidence in the
country to back Mr. Perry and is therefore a partner with him in
the new enterprise.
This ground was reported last summer when the story of Fol
som and Kells, on Discovery, Moore creek, was published. They
were sluicing there in June, just about the time Smeaton and Lar
son returned from that section of the country. Moore creek is at
the head of the Takotna—in fact, it constitutes the very head, with
Fourth of July the other branch.
These two creeks head up against Deadwood, a tributary of the
Ditna, a tributary of the Innoko. The divide is the main watershed
between the Iditarod and the Kuskokwim.
The ground taken by Perry on Moore lays in the vicinity of
9 Above lower discovery, is 1320 feet wide and extends up and
down the creek for a distance of 5000 feet. One lease and option
takes in 2000 feet for $21,500, and the other takes in 3000 feet for
$60,000. The rich ground thus far discovered lays on the bench,
and is said to be the rim rock. Here it is from 3 to 4 feet deep,
and it only becomes necessary to strip off the moss and begin shov
eling, with an abundance of water.
The options were taken from Tony Zimmerman, C. B. Meyers-,
John Folsom and Richard Kells, the discoverers of the country,
who have been working there all summer. Following the initial
payments, Mr. Perry says the ground will pay for itself with the
first mining operations next spring.
Charles Densmore, an experienced mining man from Nome,
who went with Mr. Perry to Moore creek on his last trip to report
for Mr. Osterholtz, says it is one of the best and easiest placer
propositions he has seen in Alaska.
Four miles of pay has been located on Moore creek, according
to Perry’s statement, but the best of it, so far, lays in the ground
secured by Perry. Coarse gold is also reported from Fourth of
July creek.
Perry says that there are 700 tons of grub at the Kuskokwim
Commercial Co.’s post and at the N. C- Co.’s store on the Takotna,
40 miles from Discovery Moore. People are blowing in rapidly,
aud a busy camped is looked for this winter.
Why Saska ?
Since it became a question as to whether or not tlie Kuskokwim
would have grub this winter, this paper has made an earnest effort to
glean from returning travelers some information as to conditions as they
exist on the other side ot the divide The result of the inquiry has
been the most complete tieup since the Debs strike in Chicago in 1893.
Some people will not tell the truth, from habit; others color the truth
because they have yivid imaginations; others simply talk because they
have nothing to gain either way, and will let you draw as many as you
like and not look at the discard.
This is a period of primeval endeavar. Also it is a period of
primeval journalism, wherefore it will he handed out just as we get it,
and the devil take the hindmost.
The very grave question has been: Is there or is there not grub at
(Georgetown? That is a serious proposition because it means the well
being, the happiness, comfort and, mayhap, even the lives of some of
those who have gone forth to pave the way for those who will come
after them. Pity it is that there are those among them who will risk
their entire claim to righteousness and square dealing by dissemiuatfng
a feeble falsehood, simply to gain a momentary advantage over their
fellow men.
There will be no grub at Georgetown. Take heed, therefore, you
who would go forth to spend the winter hence. This is the concensus
of opinion among those who have been to the country, the wierd tales
of the unfaithful ones to the contrary notwithstanding.
Heretofore this paper has published news to the effect that the
Quickstep was expected at Georgetewn with supplies from Bethel, The
Quickstep is still expected and they are expecting her hourly, but there
is fringe ice on the banks of the Kuskokvvim and the season is no later
than the season here, contrary to the original reports. The Lavelle
Young is on the ways at Tafcottia, and Captain Boerner is fixing his
winter quarters, entirely satisfied with the fact that he has no more
than grub enough to satisfy the demands of the upper Takotua.
The arrival of the gasoliue schooner belonging to the Kuskokvvim
Commercial Co., upon which the Quickstep depends for her cargo is a
matter of the purest doubt. This was the cargo heretofore referred to
in these pages which was to arrive at Georgetown September 28. The
latest traveler having left Georgetown oti October 5 without news of the
Quickstep, it is almost a lead-pipe cinch that she will freeze in some
where in the vicinity of Bethel.
All the grub that was at Hoffman’s trading post, 60 miles below
Georgetown, is entirely bought up. The little mite that Tommy Bul
lene brought down from Takotna has been confiscated by eager pur
chasers, and Bullene is due to arrive here at once. Fredricks, the trad
ing post owner, who was serving meals at Georgetown for $r, has gone
out of business entirely, and those who went to Bethel are returning
empty-handed.
It would be rather painful to go into the details of the dope that
has been handed this paper in regard to this grub question. One man
told the writer that he stood on the bank and saw 92 tons landed at
Georgetown, and shortly afterwards he saw 115 tons landed at the same
spot. Another man told the writer that he saw 300 tons landed there.
He was also standing on the bank.
The very latest travelers say there is not a pound of grub at
Georgetown, nor has any arrived. They say that it is 100 to .1 that
none will arrive. You may write your own ticket.
INTERESTING LETTER
FROM THE OPTIMIST
The following interesting letter
was received last week from Jim
Wylie, the ‘‘Optimist,” written, as
he says, under the spreading
boughs of a bamboo tree on the
banks of the Kuskokwim. He tells
of the townsite question that has
already cropped out over there, and
also speaks of the wise'' rule they
have adopted to prevent lot jump
ing. Returning travelers say that
they have had no trouble.
Wra. Gerrie reports that A. B.
Ferguson and Fred Melius are
boosting for the upper town, and
have their stakes all set to catch
the oncoming settler. The letter
oi Wylie is as follows :
Georgetown (Kuskokwim), Oct. 1—I
must qualify this address somewhat by
saying that this is one of the George
towns, Old Town it might properly be
called, for although this is only my
secsnd day here, I have already run
across three towns of that name, and
by tomorrow there will likely' be an
other.
As I haven’t got a tent (not even an
umbrella) with which to hold down any
choice locations, I am at the present
encamped beneath the spreading
boughs of a generous spruce tree on an
Indian reservation, in manner emi
nently suited to my present mode of
life, which is exceedingly simple, even
primitive.
From this location I expect soon to
issue “The Optimist,” printed on
sheets of birch hark in lieu of paper,
which, like everything else here ex
cept fresh air and good nature, is re
duced to a minimum.
To return to the matter of townsites,
if this thing keeps up there will be a
good opening for an oculist, for people
are getting cross-eyed trying to watch
their lots in different towns.
The commissioner and Frederick’s
post is on the right-hand bank of the
Kuskokwim just below the Ukinilnuk.
The post begins at a high bluff just
below the confluence of the two rivers,
and is situated on a narrow ledge wid
ening out to a good-sized flat half a
mile lower. On this flat and just below
the native town, locators have staked
out a ton nsite 1| miles in length but
of unnoticeable width. At a town
meeting held some time ago, I am told
that it was decided to hold the lots by
staking, and allow stakers 60 days to
make provision for building or forfeit
the ground. Across the river, about a
mile above, on a low point between the
two rivers, another town is staked out,
said to be in the interest of the N. C.
and some of the other companies.
Another townsite is being located at
the mouth of Crooked river, about 18
or 20 miles below here, which will be
a supply point for the Smeaton & Lar
son strike.
The staker has set a new standard of
industry in this vicinity which rele
gates the busy bee into the background
of ancient history, and there are bush
els of stubs of pencils lying around
Ynkwonilnuk creek and towns, and not
one worn-out pick, shovel or pan to be
seen. Scarcely any talk of prospects,
all of claims and lots.
The food situation will soon be seri
ous here, although the steamer Quick
step is expected hourly. The Lavelle
Young went np about three weeks ago,
and went into winter quarters on the
Takotna. Fully 50 people have gone
down to Bethel, and there are about
150 here. Fredericks must have a
small stock, for he is setting a good
table and only charging $1 for meals.
Tommy Bulletin brought a stock of
groceries soma time ago to start a roa l
house but started a store instead, an 1
is nearly sold out.
There are lots of birds, however, an i
the man who couldn’t eat one grou ■ ■>.
each day for 30 days would have n >
business here.
There are a great many cabins bein ;
built hare; the weather is fine, and or
the whole it is a fine-looking countr ,
and with development work should tu j
out well. Such, at least, is the opini > n
of The Optimist.
MANLEY’S HOT SPRINGS POTA
TOES ARE NOW BEING USED AG
MOST EXCLUSIVELY—BEING TLr,
BEST AND CHEAPEST ON TEG
MARKET. IT WOULD PAY YC
TO GET SOME BEFORE THEY AT'.
ALL GONE. “GET THE HABIT
CALL OR RING UP BARRETT ...
LEWIN.
“Are you afraid to go home in th*
dark?” Get an “Ever Ready” electr a
flash light at City Drug Store, First av.
Don’t miss the dance tonight (Satur
day) at Ansley hall.
FOR SALE—An Emerson piano. Ap
ply Miss Jones. Riverside hotel