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, SIOW A Kl). ALASKA, TIMOSHA V 10 V ION 1 N< I, OCTOBER 24, 1905_NO- (is
WELCH EXONERATED
BY CORONER’S JURY
Contractor Martin Welch, was ac
quitted of criminal responsibility for
the death of Andrew Johnson, who
collapsed and died a few minutes after
Welch struck him at the camp on
Rainbow creek on the north side
of Turnayain Arm last Thursday.
A jury was impaneled at Sunrise by
Commissioner Goodell, who held an in
quest there over Johnson's body, and
the jurors returned a verdict that
Johnson s death was the result of heart
disease.
James Wallace of Sunrise,one ot the
coroner s jury, came to Seward last
night. He states that there were no
marks of violence on the body of the
dead man, which disposes of the story
that Johnson was kicked.
Dr. Grieve testified that the con
dition of the body when he saw it ’a
few minutes after death showed every
symptom of death by heart disease.
The jury viewed the body twenty-four
hours after death, and could detect no
marks on either Innly or head.
Mr. Welch admitted that he slapped
Johnson twice. His evidence and that
of two other eye witnesses agree that
the men refused to work as laborers
because they wanted to do station work.
Mr. Welch told them they could not
make anything that way because no
arrangements could he made for station
wo»'k this fall. As he had paid their
way from Seattle he insisted that they
u*o to work. Thev still refused and
when he slapped Johnson the man sank
upon a seat and began to gasp. Welch
threw water in his face, but he seemed
unable to recover. Welch sent a man
for Dr. Grieve, and then went himself.
The doctor arrived twenty minutes
after the affray and found Johnson dead.
Welch, Dr. Grieve and several other
other men went to Sunrise, where
Welch gave him>elf up to( Commissioner
Goodell. The commissioner as ex-officio
coroner called a jury of six men and
took testimony, then adjourned to
Ha in how creek, where the body was
viewed. The jury returned a verdict
that the man died of heart disease, re
sulting from excitement. Mr. W allace
said today:
‘•l went on the jury with a prejudice
against Mr. Welch because he struck
the man, and l still think he did wrong
in that. I never strucka man working
for me in my life. There is no doubt
in my mind but the scrap with Mr.
Welch caused the man's death, but it
was clearly because of the excitement,
and not any violence, for there was not
a mark on tht body.'
No eye witnesses of the affray have
arrived in Seward, but several men
have come in who relate the accounts
given them by men in the camp. By
some it is claimed that nearly every
man in Welch’s employ has quit.
Others say that twelve men quit.
According to the accounts brought
in bv men from t he Welch camp or
from Sunrise, Johnson and his partner
went to the Arm last week from Seat-1
tie to take a station. Arrangements
had not been made to handle station
work and Thursday morning the fore
man of the camp ordered them to go
out with the other laborers. They re
fused. saying they had not gone there l
for that purpose. The foreman re-1
ported to Welch and the latter went
into the tent where the men were and
asked:
“Ain’t you men going out to work?”
•*We did not come up here as labor
ers. we are station men,” was the j
answer.
“Well I'm not running a free board
inghouse," said Welch, ’ * ^ ou cant
eat my grub and do nothing."
“We have money to pay our board
until we get our station, replied John
son's partner.
It is said that Welch then struck at
the man, who ducked and avoided the
blow. He then turned on Johnson and
knocked him down with right and left
swings to the head, and kicked him
over the heart when he fell. This,
Mr. Welch says, is certainly a mistake,
as the body showed no bruise, abrasion
or discoloration.
After the inquest Johnson's body
was taken to Sunrise and buried. He
was a Swede and about 40 years of age.
In his pockets $180 was found, which
was taken in charge by Commissioner
Goodell.
W. 0. Atwood Begins To Biild
\\\ G. Atwood, assistant engineer of
construction of the Alaska Gentral, has
be#un dift'intf for the foundation for* a
resident on Third avenue, opposite the
new residence of »). IT. Gameron. Gart
of the lumber is on the ground and the
house will be rushed to completion be
fore cold weather.
Thomas J. White Buried
The funeral of the late Thomas .).
White was held this afternoon at 1:30
o’clock from the Met hodist tent, under
the auspices of the local Odd Fellows.
Rev. L. H. Pedersen conducted the
services. The remains were tempo
rarily buried north of town.
For the best and cheapest recreation
in Seward, subscribe to Richards' up
to-date library. Only 50c per month
to read as many books as you wish.
New books arrive on every boat.
The Seward Fuel Company has a
full line of Franklin coal which arrived
Steamer Bertha. They will have 100
tons tine house coal on the Portland. *
Don’t overlook the Troy Laundry
for up-to-date and first class work,
ladies’ and gents’ work a specialty.
Temperature at 3 p. in. today—41.
DROPS TO DEATH
%
IN GLACIAL ICE
Man Went Hunting from Railroad
Camp Weeks Ago and Body
found in Deep Crevice.
At the bottom of a crevice in a glac
ier near mile 47 men found the body of
Gust Kostki, who disappeared from
camp September 10 with a gun to go
bear hunting and was never seen aft er
ward alive.
Tne holy is so deep from th * top of
tlie ice that it can only he recovered
with a hook and a long rope, but the
men who saw it say that it is undoubt
edly the corpse of Kostki, wii >m they
knew. On account of the c >ld tin* re
mains are well preserved.
Kostki had recently bright a gin
ween he went out one bright Sunday
morning from the camp which was
headquarters of the men wh) were
building a road»viy to t le tunnel site.
He wore no coat, a id wnen he failed
to return it was not didicalt to gue^s
his fate. Search had been made for
the remains but the body was found by
accident. Fred (4. Hunt, of a survey
ing party near there, brought in tlie
news.
Kostkl was a young Italian. He
came up here early in the spring and
was well liked. He took an active
part in the athletic contests in So ward
the Fourth of duly. He was about 2d
or 24 years old.
DENIES THAT HE IS DEAD
Jos. MacDonald Resurrects Him
self from Obituary Notice.
Some people don’t know when they
are well off. Here is Joseph Mac
Donald, former superintendent of the
Treadwell mine, who was reported to
have perished in a Hood in Old Mexico,
and denies that he has ever been dead
since he was old enough to remember.
He also rejects the efforts of several
well-meaning persons, given publicity
through the Gateway, to endow him
with another brother, even though a
dead one, who could do him no harm.
Mr. MacDonald writes the Gateway
the following unreasonable letter from
Chicago:
“My attention has been called to
several references in regard to my
death during a Hood at Guanama,
Mexico, and also to the death of my
brother, Patrick MacDonald, near Sew
ard. Inasmuch as I never had a brother
by the name of Patrick MacDonald and
do not know anyone of that name in
Alaska that is related to me in any
way, you will doubtless be glad to cor
rect the statement that has gone out
to that effect, and in regard to my own
death and burial, I am happy to say I
am still alive, well and happy and now
in Mr. E. A. Shedd’s office, with whom
I have been acquainted for many years.
WORK BEGINS
ON TERMINALS
j Railroad Company Planning to Build
Switches, Wye and Roundhouse
Near the Sawmill.
i
l -*
.
Grading work begun this morning
for a long switch near the railroad
sawmill. Beyond that a w
put in later, and it is understood that
! the roadhouse and shops of the.com
pany, as well as additional sidings may
also be built close by.
The plans for the railroad terminals
j are not fully determined and the
engineers are reticent. J. B. Cameron
j engineer of construction, said two
1 weeks ago that wrobably most of the
terminals would be located near the
sawmill site, although the temporary
car shops may he placed near the com
missary for tiiis winter's use. His
assistant, W. G. Atwood, said this
afternoon that nothing was settled
fully except that some sidings for cars
to stand on will he built at the sawmill.
Complete plans for the roundhouse and
and sh >ps will not be settled until after
Mr. Poland returns. He is expected
totninorw.
Another aallroaJ Office Moves
H. A. Glover, secretary of General
Manager Poland, of the Alaska Central,
has moved into the new office building.
He lias the entire second door to him
self. but it isn’t furnished as it will be
later. There isn’t even a railing
around the stairway, but as Mr. Glover
is always sober that does not cut any
figure with him. Mr. Poland is ex
pected tomorrow an l the general
manager’s rooms will be a ‘ranged soon
O
afterward.
Opens Up With a fjil dojse
h\ V. Thomas had a full house at his
grand opening in honor of ttie exten
sion of his saloon building Saturday
evening. T110 big room was crowded
until nearly morning, and the Hour
was constantly full of dancers who
were kept going by a clever piano
player.
ND CABLE NEWS TODAY
The cable is still disconnected below
Sitka, and nothing was transmitted
over the Seattle end from that point
today. All messages are still taken
here subject to delay. The only way
to reach Seattle is from Valdez to
Kagle, from there to Dawson, then
down over the Canadian line.
A meeting will be held in the
Methodist tent tonight to organize a
literary and debating society.
FOR RENT—Pleasant rooms in
plastered building; furnished or for
office use. Carstens block. *