Miners & Merchants Bank
IDITAROD, ALASKA
Capital, $50,000.00
General Banking Business Transacted Gold Dust Bought and Assayed
Drafts Issued on Any Part of the World
SEATTLE CORRESPONDENT: SCANDINAVIAN AMERICAN BANK
OFFICERS:
('has- Ross. President
T. J. Nestor, Vice President
John Holmes, Cashier and Assay er
GEORGE CARMACK’S STORY OF
KLONDIKE’S DISCOVERY RETOLD
The story of Carmack's discovery of gold
in the Klondike is thus told by E. 8. Hunch
in the Seattle Times:
How the riches: gold strike of American
history was made because a prejudiced pros
pector had objected to the presence of two
redskin companions of George Carmack was .
the wonder-story or.e that never grows old I
even to those who know its drift with
which the discovered of the Klondike at a
banquet in his honor held spellbound a
group of his Northland associates of two
decades past.
The occasion was an observance of Dis- |
covery day. the anniversary of the first gold j
strike in the Klondike, made by Carmack, |
August 17. 1S96, participated in by mem- j
hers of Seattle Lodge of the Yukon Order j
of Pioneers. Carmack, who now lives in
Seattle, was guest of honor.
The gathering, which was held at the j
Rathskeller, was one unique in many re ,
spects. Not only were present more than ]
a score of the best known personages of the j
most spectacular gold rush of the century, j
but. as well, in the center of the group sat j
the most important figure of all the stain- j
pede’s history ihe man who started it. I
Carmack, who, like most men of the great |
open j laces and frontier, is reserved ami i
yields us treasures of personal reminiscence |
reluctantly, unexpectedly yielded to a re- ;
quest made that he devote his part of the j
speechmaking to a detailed first-hand story j
of the great strike. Old-timer-like, once he ;
had agreed to the proposition, he undertook j
to make the narrative a complete work, be- j
ginning with his boyhood days.
The veteran prospector went into the
North in youth’s search of adventure more j
> than with any purpose of mining and for- j
& tune hunting, when he first sailed up the !
southeastern coast a quarter of a century j
ago. In 1SS9 he became established in j
hunting, fishing, trapping and prospecting ;
about the Southwest. In the several years ;
following his migrations led him towards '
the interior, but seldom more than a week’s j
journey. He had heard vague reports of
mining activities 000 or 800 miles back |
from the coast, of the diggings at Circle ]
and Forty-mile, and had been lured through ’
wanderlust by the tempting sweep of the j
mighty Yukon when he had happened upon
its headwaters.
He knew he could launch a canoe upon j
the swift current and keep going for hun- (
dreds of miles, always penetrating new and j
little explored regions. Forty-mile was on |
the way. Finally, with friends he had made j
among the natives, he pulled up stakes and j
became a voyageur. He landed in Forty- 1
mile and joined the little handful of white
people settled there. Gold was the talk
everywhere, and the fever soon had him as
a new victim.
One of his earliest big “hikes" out of
Forty-mile took Carmack up to the mouth
of a river the Indian pronounced Throndak
—the Klondike—for there it had been
planned to make a big catch of fish with ;
which, in Forty-mile ,a grubstake could be
obtained. Fishing proved to be poor, howr
ever, and Carmack gave t up. With “Daw
son Charlie’ 'and “Skookum Jim,’’ his two
Indian companions, he w’ent back inland a
few’ miles and there, on what now’ is known
as Gold Run creek, found a veteran pros
pector, Bob Henderson. The latter had
been finding encouraging “dirt.” Carmack
proposed that he remain and do a little
prospecting. Henderson, a gruff Scotch
man, assented, but told Carmack “them
damn Siwashes will have to get out; they
can't stake in these diggings.”
Carmack's loyalty to his copper hued
friends caused him to make a stand in their
behalf. There was a row, anil Carmack,
with the Indians, left the creek. On their
return they came upon the promising look
ing valley of Bonanza creek, a few miles
above the mouth of the Klondike. Carmack
decided to prospect and told the Indians
to keep a lookout for bedrock exposures .
‘ Down along the GO’s (designations of
claims later staked on the creek) we picked
up a few colors,” Carmack told his hearers,
' but they didn't run very high. We didn’t
find enough to get excited about and as we
were pretty shy of grub we decided to go
on up to the ‘moose pasture” (a district
finally to become known as the golden heart
of the Klondike) and kill some meat. We
got a bear and were coming back down
Bonanza when we again began watching
out for prospects.
“Charlie took a pan at one point and
found a little gold. 1 went over to look at
it and began examining the ground there
abouts. I picked up a pretty good-sized
flake of gold on a slab of bedrock. It was
stained and of such unexpectedly large size
that I doubted it was gold. I bit it and saw
then that it was the real thing. Then I
turned the rock over and what I saw
knocked the breath out of me. The ground
under it was speckled with gold looked
like it was shot full.
“That was my find, the first Klondike
discovery, and I squared off some corner
posts and staked it as Discovery claim."
Carmack then told of his rush back to
Forty-mile for provisions. He an dthe In
dians bad stopped only long enough to pan
about a quarter of an ounce of dust. They
were without food enough to last a week
and had no money whatever. Forty-milers
were dubious of the story Carmack told
and gave little heed to his extravagant
offers for a stove and supplies. Finally,
however, he convinced a few. They out
fitted him and accompanied him back to
the scene of his strike, and thus began the
great stampede, the event that suddenly
made the inconspicuous little seaport of
Seattle blossom into a great city and elec
trified the world.
Many of the old-timers present told per
sonal experiences almost as interesting as
Carmack’s, making the gathering one of
the most interesting ever held in the North
west. Those present were: George W. Car
mack, George Butler, George P. Snow, J.
C. Nelson, R. II. Mason, Peter Bauman, B.
Klepser, B. R. Campbell. A. H. Winter,
John P. Bassett, Charles Goodenough, II.
Armour, Dr. F. B. Whiting, B. O’Sullivan,
A1 Christopher. Harry King, Charles Frey,
James O’Neal, John G. Johnson, Ben Wad
dell and James W. Morrison.
Experimenting by a large telephone com
pany have proved that 1,800 wires can
be crowded into the same size cable here
tofore used for only 1,200 wires without
impairing their efficiency.
GRAND BAR nothing but the best
CITY The Pl3ce to IVIeet
Nels Glantz, Prop. _Your Friends
OLDOHHOIDEj saloon i ^
Full Line of Cigars g
0 ptimo, Lo vera Jua n de Fuca J
| NEW SUPPLY OF BUDWEISER BEER \
> . . . „ ?
Gold St., Flat City
Mrs. Swanson, Prop.
Dining Room Now Open
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
EJ8 8 R PIONEER DRUG STORE
WJ I* %# %t09 %3r FLAT CITY, ALASKA
CHISANA DISCOVERER
SUED BY GRUBSTAKER
Dawson, Sept.. 25.—Alleging that they are
entitled to an interest in the rich claims lo
cated in the Chisana by Billy James and
his associates, Hugh Bradley and Henry
Dubois, local hotel men, have started suit
against William James, Matilda Wales and
William Johnson. The two plaintiffs claim
that they were partners with Johnson in
the grubstake agreement which he entered
into with James four years ago, but that
they have failed to receive their interests
in the property and gold secured by James
and Nelson. They state further that John
son is the only one of the three grubstakers
who has received a share of the property;
that the discovery was made a year ago,
and that neither of them was told of it
until others were given tips and were thus
enabled to secure claims adjoining and near
the original discovery.
The plaintiffs allege that there are 14
claims in which they are entitled to an in
terest.
An injunction has been granted restrain
ing James and his associates from dispos
ing of any of the ground until Tuesday,
when the formal application to make the
injunction permanent will be heard.
A similar action also has been started in
the Valdez court. Fred T. Congdon, former
member of parliament from Yukon, has
been retained as counsel by the plaintiffs.
Fletcher T. Hamshaw, who arrived here
a few days ago from the new diggings,
claims to hold an option on all of the
ground owned by James and his associates.
The price which he has agreed to pay for
the ground is $500,000, but the amount
covers considerable property which is not
involved in the action.
TO QUESTION PRESIDENT’S RIGHT ,
TO WITHDRAW LAND FROM ENTRY
Denver, Colo., Sept. 30.—Judge William
C. Hook of the Eighth circuit court of ap
peals has announced that he will a=k the
federal supreme court for a ruling on the
right of the President to withdraw lands
from entry, as in the case of the Middle
West Oil Company vs. State of Wyoming, |
in which the plaintiff contests the right of
state ownership.
- j
Good dog feed, 10c lb.
Iditarod Meat Co.
N. C. CO. ACQUIRES
BUSINESS OF E. W. GRIFFIN
Announcement was made Saturday that
a deal was consummated whereby the
Northern Commercial Company is to take
over the business and stock of E. W. Grif
fin, the wholesale and retail merchant at
Chena. The deal has been pending for
some time, but was not put through until
Saturday.
Messrs. Max Smith, Jack Donald and S.
L. Magnussen of the N. C. Co .went down
to Chena yesterday to invoice the Griffin
stock, and for a few days the Griffin store
will be closed. When it is reopened Jack
Donald will have charge of the new N. C.
branch.
With the purchase of the store and ware
houses at Chena, the N. C. Co. will have
room to store their wares at the head of
navigation during the low water season,
while shipments to the creek points can
be made just as easily from there, saving
hauling expenses from Chena to Fairbanks.
Alaska Citizen, September 29.
BOER WAR VETERAN
TO GO TO CANADA
London, Sept. 25.—It is stated authori
tatively this afternoon that Lord Methuen,
who has held the position of governor of
Natal, has been offered the governor gen
eralship of Canada. The offer of the post
to Lord Methuen comes as a surprise, as it
was supposed that the office had already
been disposed of to a member of the royal
family.
INFLUENTIAL FRIENDS
FAIL TO SECURE PARDON
Washington, Sept. 30.—Although the ap
peal for their pardon was made by Senator
Jones and Representatives Humphreys and
Johnson of Washington and Representatives
Know-land and Curry of California, Presi
dent Wilson again today refused to pardon
Messrs. Houston and Bullock, convicted of
coal frauds at Nome.
HOUSE IN WRONG SHANTY
Seattle, Sept. 29.—Henry House, a for
mer Nome miner, and for some time a
resident of Valdez, was arrested this morn
ing. charged with stealing mail from office
buildings in this city.
MARINE DISASTERS IN ALASKA WATERS
Railway and Marine News, a Seattle publication, publishes the
following list of vessels that have found a grave in the waters of
Aiasa during a period of 35 years. This does not include the hun
dreds of ships that have been damaged and afterwards repaired at an
expense sometimes amounting to more than their value. Neither does
it include a mention of the precious lives that have been sacrificed
when the ships went down:
Year
Rig and Name of Vessel. Lost.
Sch. St. George. 1878
Sch. Kodiak . 18/8
Bk. Win. Wallaston . 1879
Bk. Vigilant . 1879
Sch. Henrietta . 1881
Sch. Sapho . 1882
Bk. Amethyst . 188.5
Bk. Montana . 1885
Bk. Gazelle . 1S85
Bk. Rainier . 1885
Bk. George and Susan . 1885
Bk. Mabei . 1S85
Bk. Napoleon . 1885
Sch. Clara Light . 1S86
Bk. John Carver. 1886
-h. Western Shore . 1886
Bk. Young Phoenix . 188S
Bk. Julia Ford . 1888
Bk. Ohio . 1888
S. S. Lucretia. 1889
Sch. Jas. A. Hamilton. 1889
S. S. Ancon . 1S89
Sch. Silver Wave . 1890
Bk. Thomas Pope . 1890
Bktn. Korea . 1890
Bktn. Lizzie Williams . 1890
S. S. Orizaba . 1890
Bktn. Oneida. 1890
S. S. Wnu Lewis. 1891
Bk. Abraham Barker. 1892
Bk. Ohio . 1893
Bk. Jacob Howland . 1895
Sh. Raphael . 1895
Bk. Jas. A. Boreland . 1896
Brig Hidalgo . 1896
S. S. Mexico. 1897
Bktn. Jessie Freeman . 1897
S. S. Orca . 1897
Sch. Rosario . 1897
S. S. Navarch . 1897
Sh. Sterling . 1898
S. S. Clara Nevada. 1898
S. S. Brixam . 1898
S. S. Laurada . 1899
Bk. Wildwood . 1899
Sh. Mermen . 1900
Brig Colorado . 1900
Bk. Hunter . 1900
Bktn. Catherine Sudden . 1900
Bk. Alaska . 1900
S. S. Baiaena . 1902
S. S. Chas. D. Lane. 1902
S. S. Discovery . 1902
S. S. Islander. 1902
S. S. Cleveland . 1903
S. S. Sadie . 1903
Sh. Star of Russia. 1905
ocn. r>aictuiua. xuv*
Sh. Servia . 1°05
Bk. Nicholas Thayer . 1906
S. S. Oregjn . loud
S. S. Mariechen. 1906
S. S. Themis . 1906
Sh. John Currier . 1907
Sch. St. Paul . 1907
Bk. ffm Bayless . 1907
Sh. Lucille . 1908
Sh. Star of Bengal . 1908
S. S. Saratoga . 1908
Sh. Columbia . 1909
S. S. Ohio . 1909
Brig Quatsino . 1909
Brig Charger . 1909
S. S. Farallon . 1910
S. S. Portland . 1910
S. S. Olympia. 1910
S. S. Cottage City. 1911
S. S. Ramona . 1911
Sh. Jabez Howes. 1911
Bk. Hayden Brown . 1912
S. S. Yukon . 1913
S. S. State of California. 1913
S. S. Curacao . 1913
Value of Hull
Where Lost. and Cargo.
Kodiak I.-land . $ 25.000
Geese Island . 25.000
Arctic . 100,000
Arctic . 100.000
St. Lawrence island. 25,000
Arctic . 25.000
Arctic . 50,000
Bristol Bay . 50,000
Arctic . 50.000
Arctic . 50.000
Arctic . 50.000
Arctic . 50.000
Bering sea . 50.000
Arctic . 10.000
Arctic . 50,000
Bristol Bay . 100.000
Point Barrow. 50,000
Karluk . 100,000
Point Hope . 25,000
Hercld island . 50.000
Bering sea . 50,000
Luring . 100,000
Point Barrow. 10,000
Point Hope . 50,000
Kalgin island . 75,000
Tugidak island . 100,000
St. Michael. 100,000
Alaska gulf . 75,000
Point Barrow. 150,000
Arctic . 50,000
Nunivak island. 25,000
Strong island . 50,000
Karluk . 40,000
Tugudak island . 100,000
Arctic . 30,000
Dixon’s entrance . 100,000
Point Barrow . 50,000
Point Barrow . 100,000
Point Barrow . 40,000
Arctic . 100,000
Bristol Bay . 100,000
Lynn canal. 50,000
Clarence strait . 100,000
Bering sea . 150,000
Bristol Bay . 100,000
Karluk . 40,000
Wrangell narrows . 50,000
Bering sea . 50,000
Bering sea . 50,000
P^rnir sea . 25,000 ;
Bering sea . 100,000
inland . 100,000 '
Yakutat . 50,000 !
Gastineau channel . 225,000
Bering sea . 75.000
Bering sea . 50,000
Chichagof island . 150,000
Geese island . 4o.000
Kodiak island . 100,000
Kodiak island . 20,000
Cape Hinchinbrook. 200.000
Chatham strait . 300.000
Hardigan reef . 120,000
Bristol bjty . 190.000
Sukhlish island . 25,000
Arctic . 50,000
Ugashik . 250,000
Coronation island . 250,000
Bushby island . 175,000
Unimak pass . 100,000
Heikish narrows . 300,000
Dixon entrance . 30,000
Karta bay . 25,000
Iliamna bay . 80,000
Katalla . 55,000
Bligh island . 150,000
Seymour narrows . 100,000
Cape Decision . 150,000
Chignik bay . 100,000
Montague island . 10,000
Sanak island . 170,000
Gambier bay . 225,000
Warm Chuck. 225,000
Total losses . $7,310,000
9
Ball Band Rubber Boots and Pacs
N. C. Co. Sole Agents for Alaska
BIG
REDUCTIONS
IN
Prices
Petaluma Eggs
NEW POTATOES, ETC.,
Other Prices Cut Proportionately
, be
70
w—i
a>
w*»
a
1
o
X
Ball Band Rubber Boots and Paca
N. C. Co. Sole Agents for Alaska
FAIRBANKS
After having been working for the past
three seasons on the Sierra group, at the
mouth of Vault creek, Oscar Reynolds and
George Stone have sold their lay interests
to John Letender, the upper Dome creek
mining man. Messrs. Reynolds and Stone,
with their wives, left for the Outside on
:he Selkirk. It is probable that Mr. Le
tender will take out a dump on the prop
erty this winter. However, that has not
as yet been definitely decided.
* * *
Miss Lenore G. Hyde, who for the past
three years has been acting as secretary
to the district attorney, has resigned her
position and gone Outside.
That very little work was done during
the past summer on the quart property
of the Silver King Mining Company, in the
Koyokuk country, is the report of E. R.
>Valker, president of the company, who
arrived in Fairbanks recently from a trip
to the property. He took a party of seven
men with him to the ground this summer
n a little side-wheel steamer, but the boat
was not able to get very high up the
iver on account of the low water. It was
therefore impossible to get the outfit to the
ground. The boat was left at Nulato in or
er that supj lies may be taken to the
property in the early spring. The Silver
King Mining Company is the owner of 11
ledges of varying width in the Koyokuk
country, which carry more silver than gold.
1 hey also carry a good percentage of cop
per and lead. Mr. Walker stated that he
now has two men working on one of the
ledges, who have a contract to dig a 100
foot tunnel. He himself expects to re
turn to the property over the ice.
* * *
In the district court on September 29
Judge Fuller allowed the bill of exception
submitted by Attorney Morton E. Stevens
in the case of hte United States vs. Joseph
Campbell, who was convicted of murder in
the first degree at Iditarod in 1912, and the
case will now go to the circuit court of
appeals in San Francisco. The defendant
is now serving a life sentence at McNeil
Island. The crime of which Campbell was
convicted was committed on the Kusko
kwim river in 1911. It is alleged that he
was the murderer of he Nelson brothers,
whose bodies were found buried maany miles
from civilization, the convicting evidence
being nearly entirely circumstantial. The
attorney for the defense therefore hopes
to be able to have the decision of the dis
trict court reversed.
After some argument in the district court
Judge Fuller handed down the decision that
hereafter the official court reporter will
not be obliged to transcribe his notes for
the use of attorneys unless paid to do so.
This is a decision of importance to local
attorneys, as the matter has been the cause
of some debate in the past.
* # *
G. A. Prescott and wife, who are con
fined in the federal jail to await the action
of the grand jury on the charge of larceny,
were before Judge Fuller recently asking for
a reduction of their bonds from $3,500 to
?2,500 each, and the same was granted.
They are still in jail, but hope to be able
to gain their freedom in the nea" future
under the lowered bond.
GOING OUTSIDE BY WAY OF SEWARD
Captain Cy Atwell, skipper of the Little
Delta, and A] Winched started for the Out
side over the Seward trail last Sunday.
They intend to take things easy along the
trail and make the trip in 20 days.
Bob Griffis, the mail contractor, arrived
at 6 o'clock last Saturday evening, accom
panied by three natives, with about 100
pounds of mail. The party made the
‘ mush” from Shagluk in four days, which
is considered splendid time.
Harry Ashland, formerly of this city, was
a late passenger for the Outsdie from Fair
banks.
Bill Acheson and Roy Baker left on
Wednesday morning with a large sled to
bring up a load of meats from the cold
storage barge Trinder for the Iditarod Meat
f Company. The barge is in winter quarters
at Bruhn’s roadhouse, half way between
this city and Dikeman, in charge of Charley
Denton. They returned Thursday evening.
Laac Nyholm has opened a wagon and
| .-led repair shop on Willow street, this city,
1 in the building formerly occupied by Hurst
Bros.’ cigar store.
—
The town council held a meeting the
' early part of the week—the first for about
i two months—and transacted the accumu
lated business of the municipality.
A resolution was offered and adopted
which stated that, owing to the good finan
cial condition in which the town finds
itself at this time, there would be no tax
levy made for municipal purposes in 1913.
D. A. McDonald was hired as night
watchman for the coming winter at $200
per month. His duties include the super
vision of the town's fire equipment—to see
that the apparatus is always ready for
emergencise.
The clerk was instructed to advertise for
50 cords cf wood for the town .
ACTION ON RALWAY BILL
POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY
Washington, Sept. 29.—The Alaska rail
way bill was late Saturday afternoon re
ported from the house committee on terri
tories to the house judiciary committee for
hnal consideration in committee. Speaking
of the bill, Chairman Houston of the house
committee on territories said:
“No attempt will be made to pass the
bill at this session of congress. Under our
agreement we will not even report the bill
to the house until just before the present
session of congress ends, and no move of
any kind will be made to put. the bill
through until next session. I believe it can
be passed by the house at the next session
without difficulty."
The new bill does not differ materially
from the Jones Chamberlain bill in the sen
ate. It authorizes the issue of $35,000,000 of
3 per cents to provide for the construction
of railroads more than 700 miles in length,
from one of the Alaska seaports to the in
terior. No routes are named, no starting
points or terminals, and the mileage is left
unlimited. It gives the interstate commerce
commission “full authority and poiver over
all matters connected with said railroad.
Representative Johnson of Washington, a
member of the house committee on terri
tories, said regarding the bill:
“The Alaska railroad bill will be report
ed in the house in February next, and not
j until then. The day of its construction and
j matters pertaining to the determination of
i ihe route and other details will be left en
tirely in the hands of the president.”
INSPECTOR WAVLAND DEAD.
Seattle, Sept. 29.—C. L. Wayland, post'
office inspector, well known throughout
Alaska, where he has inspected postoffices
| for years, died in this city last night of
natural causes.
Assessment Work Blanks at Pioucc-.
TENDERS WANTED
Bids will be received by the town cf
Iditarod, Alaska, for fifty cords of dry wood
of four foot length, to be delivered to the
fire plant, at the foot of Bonanza street.
Deliveries to be made as follows: Five
cords immediately; ten cords on or before
November 1 ; ten cords on or before De
cember 1; ten cords on or before January’
1; ten cords on or before February 1. and
five cords on or before March 1. 1914
Present bids at earliest moment to fire
committee, town of Iditarod. Alaska.
WM. ACHESON,
DAVID MUTCHLER,
Committee.
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THE
Stanley Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Day and Night
REGINA
Large Lobbjc Reading Room
Single Rooms, Sl.00
Bunks, 50c.
Special Rates by the Week
Sunshine Lamp FilFF
300Candle Power rilC.Bg.
To Try in Tour wwn nome
Turns night Into day. Gives better light
than gas, electricity or 18 ordinary
lamps at one tenth the cost. For Homes,
Stores, Halls, Churches. A child can
carry It. Makes Its own light from
common gasoline. Absolutely SAFE.
COSTS 1 CENT A NI6HT
Will pay for itself in ninety days.
Best reading lamp in the world.
No wick, no chimney, no mantle
trouble, no dirt, no odor, no smoke.
Guaranteed 5 years. Fob Sale By
J. II. ROGERS. IDITAROD
MERCHANTS CAFE ■
Paters to Large and Small Parties I
PRIVATE DINING ROOMS
Popular Prices Everything First Class
CHAS. E. MILLER, PROP.
DISKAKETand J
OPHIR city;
Stampeders to the New Strike can rely on getting Nice Fre'.h Good9;
at Very Reasonable Prices
Big Stocks, Standard Goods_
We Carry a OAQRI INE $7‘00
LARGE STOCK (jHOULI 11L Per Case
lubricating:
OIL
NICELY FURNISHED ROOMS BY DAY OK WfcfcK.
Warm, Clean Well Ventilated
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
THF PDHODV Massage and
12; UnUODi Bath Parlors
MEDICATED, MINERAL VAPOR, STEAM, mm
TUB, SALT AND FRESH WATER D£LL|1S
Caribou St., Bet. Black and Willow Sts., on Waterfront
Electric and Faradic Massage Treatments by Expert Attendants
Lighted by Gas Heated by Steam