I AND ' COLD, C0AL
: DF TOE i A ST ! i 1 C0PPER •
FRONTIER , - and 1 AN°™H 11
- THE ALASKA EVENING POST ___
V I vt : ,,, SEWARD, ALASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1917 Ten Cents the Copy
Volume \1. Number 111_'_
Alaska Purchased by Seward Fifty Years Ago Tonight at a Card Table
The real story of the purchase of Alaska, or
rather,.the final move after a long series of confer
ences, is contained in a fragment ot Frederick W.
Seward’s story of his father’s purchase ot Alaska from
Russia for the United States in 1867 as told in Re
miniscences of a \\ artime Statesman and Diplomat.
On the evening of Friday, March 29, Seward was
playing whist in his parlor with some ot his tamilj,
when the Russian minister was announced.
•i have a dispatch. Mr. Seward, from my govern
ment by cable. The emperor gives his consent to the
cession. Tomorrow, if you like, 1 will come to the de
partment and we can enter upon the treaty.” » j
Seward with a smile of satisfaction, pushed away
the whist table, saying:
“Why wait until tomorrow, Mr. Stoeckl? Let us
make the treaty tonight-”
“But your department is closed. You have no |
clerks, and my secretaries are scattered about the
town.” i
“Never mind that,” responded Seward. “If you
can muster your legation together before midnight
_—___—————■——■—■
V
you will find me awaiting you at the department,
which will be open and ready for business.”
In less than two hours afterward light was
streamfcig out of the windows of the state department,
and apparently business was going on as at midday.
By 4 o’clock Saturday morning the treaty was signed,
sealed and ready for transmission by the president to
the senate.
There was need of this haste in order to have it
acted upon before the end of the session, then near at
hand.
Hollweg Weakening
in Face of the Cry for j
Freedom is Report
(By United States ('able)
LONDON, Thursday, March 29. — Information re
ceived direct from Germany by wireless today assures;
those interested tha» G'jand Chancellor Bethmann Holl
weg in his coming speech to the reichstag, will not only
offer a large measure of electoral reform but also a pos
sible modification of the submarine campaign in an
eleventh hour attempt to stave off : war with the United
States.
Vital reasons for the proposed liberality in elections
is seen in the action of the appeal from the workingmen
of Russia to the people of Germany, asking them to rise
against imperial laile for freedom and the end of the war. |
RUSSIANS ENCOURAGE TEUTONS TO REVOLT
PETROGRAD, Thursday, March 29—Mass meetings
of working men, soldiers and deputies fiom the duma, is
sued an appeal today to the workmen of Germany and
Austria, to rise in revolt against imperial rule and estab
lish freedom._I
GQMPERS BEGINS PREPARATION TO
MOBILIZE LABOR IN CASE OF WAR
(By United State* Cable)
WASHINGTON, Thursday, March 29.—Gompers and
Secretary Wilson, of the department of labor, are in con
ference today, perfecting plans for the mobilization of
organized labor throughout the country in event of war.
Plans are Icing perfected to throw the organized forces
of skilled labor into work on munitions of war in event of
conflict.
WASHINGTON GUARD IN CAMP SATURDAY
SEATTLE, Thursday, March 29. — All units of the
Washington infantry of the national guard have been or
dered to assemble at American lake Saturday. !
CHAMBERLAIN FOR UNIVERSAL TRAINING
WASHINGTON, March 29.—Senator Chamberlain in
a written address to congress has asked the president to
indorse a system of universal military training.
HI GILL THREATENS TO SUE TIMES
• (By United MUtes Cable)
SEATTLE, Thursday, March 29. — Mayor Gill an-1
nounced today that he will sue the Seattle Times for $50,-!
000 because the paper intimated in its issue of yesterday I
that Furth paid him $5,000. Indications today are that
the case will notf reach the jury until tomorrow.
RUSH 1250 TONS OF POWOEH FOR R1 j
SEATTLE, Thursday, March 29.—Bids were opened;
today by the Alaskan Engineering Commission for 2,500,
000 pounds of black powder and dynamite for con
struction purposes on the Anchorage division of the gov
ernment railroad. This powder is to be shipped north j
at an early date.
FIRST SAILING
OF SEASON FOR
ANCHORAGE
Barges and Tug Expected
to Reach Head of
Inlet Today
The S. S. Alameda, Captain Clinger,
left here with nearly 200 passengers
and 500 tons of freight on the initial,
trip of the year to Anchorage, but
there is some doubt as to her being |
able to discharge there, this being a
month in advance of the usual opening
of navigation on the inlet.
Advices received early Uy*.^yyfrem
government officials at Anchorage
stated that the tug Annie W., with
barges on which to discharge freight
had not yet arrived.
Captain Petersen, of the tug L. j
Roscoe left on the Admiral Watson
with instructions to get the tug and
barges through to head of the inlet
Conflicting reports have been re
ceived as to ice conditions in the low
er inlet. A north wind following the
recent high tide which floated the ice
off the flats cleared Knik Arm, for
cing the floes into Turnagain Arm and
down to Forelands.
It is the intention of Captain
Clinger to go through to Anchorage
if possible and discharge his passen
gers there at any event. In case some
mishap has delayed the barges the
freight will be discharged either at
Seldovia or Port Graham or in case
conditions make this impractical it
will be brought back here.
Both railroad officials and steam
boat mea are exceedingly anxious that
the cargo be landed at Anchorage, as
it is needed to enable early activities^
If the ice is sufficiently broken up to
enable discharging of cargoes from
freighters now on the way, work on
Turnagain Arm section will be con
siderably advanced.
The steamer brought the following
passengers for Seward: W. L. Haker,;
N. P. Hansen, Mrs. Harriet Stevens,;
Mrs. 1. M. Anderson and baby, T. M. I
West and forty-fi 'e steerage.
ADMIRAL WATSON
SAILS WESTWARD i
The Admiral Watson arrived from I
Seattle this morning at an early hour,
after making several extra stops for
passengers and freight. The follow
ing were the first-cabin passengers for
this port: Gaston Hardy, Paul Lyons,
F. N. Lyons, Sidney Gaylord, J. H.
Barthoff, C. A. Johnson, Mrs. C. E.
Smith, Tom Murphy, J. S. Prichard,
W. R. Walker, W. J. O'Brien, M. B.
Summers, John Edwards, Jacob
Doshon, C. W. Morris, C. E. Lind
quist, Miss Theda Reed, and twenty
four third-cabin passengers. The
Watson sailed west to discharge
freight at Port Graham and Seldovia,
SEWARD DAY TO
DE CELEBRATED
! FOR FIRST TIME
Anniversary of Purchase
From Russia Will be
Observed
-
Seward will join in the initial
celebration of Seward Day to
morrow. Both banks will clone
and there will be no issue of
the Seward Gateway.
<♦-:-■- ■ -
(Bf United State* Cable)
JUNEAU, Thursday, March 20.—
“Seward Day,” marking the anniver
sary of the purchase of Alaska from
Russia, will be observed tomorrow for
the first time, it having today been
declared a legal holiday by the legis
lature.
Governor Strong will sign the bill
at the Grand Igloo dance of the
Pioneers tonight.
The legislature also established
Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, as a
legal holiday in the territory.
FRANK COTTER
CANDIDATE FOR
CITY COUNCIL
Frank Cotter is a candidate for the
council, his petition being filed this
afternoon. The petition was circulated
by Cotter’s friends yesterday, he be
ing at Anchorage. lie was called by
phone this morning and agreed to its
being filed.
BOATS AMD TRAINS
The Admiral Watson arrived at 2
o’clock this morning and left at 5
o’clock for Seldovia, and is due here
at noon tomorrow.
The Alameda sailed for Anchorage
at 11:30 this morning.
The Alaska will sail from Seattle
I
tomorrow for Seward a?id way ports.
Train will leave Monday morning
at 9 o’clock for Mile 40.
TRAILS
Trails fair, with a temperature of
-10 at Mile 71; -8 at 52, and -12 at
Mile 34.
THE WEATHER V
Yesterday.
Maximum . 35
Minimum . 10
Current .. 35 *
W’ind ... North
Weather . Clear
♦
m
W EATHER TOMORROW’
Increasing winds and warmer..
I
German Cruiser Now in
I Southern Waters After
Its Raid in Indian Ocean
(Hjr United State* ( able)
VANCOUVER, B. C., Thursday, March 29.—Show
! :ng unexpected strength of guns and power of offense, a
! German commerce raider operating in the South Pacific,
! sunk a Japanese causer, according to advices received
' here today from Tokyo, by cable to the Canadian News.
The name or class of the cruiser was not allowed to
pass the censor, but the engagement is understood to have
; occurred somewhere near the steamer lanes between here
and Australia.
_ a>
RAIDERS SEEN IN INDIAN OCEAN
»B* United State* Cable)
TOKYO, Thursday, March 29.—Japanese and British
warships are tracing the course of a converted German
cruiser sighted in the Indian ocean two weeks ago. Prior
to the last time she was reported the raider had sunk one
Japanese freight steamer.
At the same time an armed merchantman operating
in company with the raider destroyed two British steam
ers off Colombo, Ceylon.
FRENCH CHECKED IN
CHAMPAGN i SECTOR
(Bj United Siatea Cable)
BERLIN, Thursday, March 29.—French troops fad
ed in a furious effort to regain positions recently taken
from them in the Champagne district, according to army
headquarters reports received today.
.—
ALLIED VICTORY IN PALESTINE
(By United Slates Cable)
LONDON, Thursday, March 27.—The British army
in Palestine has defeated a Turkish force of 20,000 men,
capturing 900, including the entire divisional staff of the
third Turkish division.
McDonald out i
FOR MAYOR; HENRY
fPOR THE COUNCIL
0
Sam McDonald, proprietor of the
Seward Drug store, and William
Henry, realty dealer, announced their
candidacy yesterday afternoon, the
former for mayor and the latter for
council. The entry of McDonald and
Henry into the race, according to Me-;
Donald, came about from a mutual
agreement following overtures by
their supporters. “Henry agreed to
be a canidate if I would come out for
mayor and so our friends are circulat-,
ting the petitions,” said McDonald in
an interview.
Speaking for himself, Henry’ stated
that' he was a candidate. Petitions
placing Henry’ and McDonald in
nomination were filed this morning.
LEON URBACH
ENTERS RACE FOR
MAYOR OF CITY
Leon Urbach, proprietor of the
store bearing his name, announced his
candidacy for mayor yesterday after
noon. He stated that while he knew
it to be the duty of every man in the
community to do his part, he would
rather that some other of those who
hold the same belief as himself be a
candidate, but after repeated request*
and the final refusal of others he w’as
asked to make the race, he agreed to
do his part.
Urbach's petition wras circulated
yesterday afternoon and will be filed
today.
Sam Jensen arrived on the train
last night from Lynx creek.