4P»
VOL. 2
Anrljara$p Hmhj ®mt£0
Zi#.
. NO. 5b’.
AND COOK INLET PIONEER
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1917
PRICE TEN CENTS.
M SIDES OF MAIN BUSINESS
HOUSES, WIPED OUT BY FLAMES
Details of Conflagration Indicate That
It Was of Incendiary Origin and
That Loss Aggregates Three
Hundred Thousand.
VALDEZ, Jan. 2.—(Specal to The Times)—Latest—Fires
of incendiary origin were stared in foui different places in the
main business section of Vs -dez at 4 o ’clock this morning, caus
ing a conflagration that destroyed the Golden North hotel, the
Arcade cafe, the big mercantile establishment of S. Blum &
Co., the Empress theatre, the Pinzon bar and cigar store,
Louie’s Cafe, Max Schmidt’s store, the U. S. postoffice, the Ari
zona house, the Alameda house, the Ellis block, the Haines
Sheet Metal Works and three private residences. The loss is
estimated at $300,000, partially covered by insurance. The
fires wore starred iq tiv Alameda house and in the Ellis hlockf,
both unoccupied, and in the rear of the Pinzon bar and cigar
store and in the rear of the Arcade cafe, on opposite sides of
the street. The postoffice building was found to be on fire, aft
er all danger was believed to have passed. It is thought that
this fire was also of incendiary origin.
i One suspect is being held by the federal authorities, pend
ing an investigation, which is under way. PROSPECTOR.
FIRST FLASH CONCERNING FIRE.
SEWARD, Jn. 2.—The steamer Alameda reports by radio
% Cordova, thence by cable to Seward, that 15 business houses
in the main part of Valdez were consumed by fire at an early
^^.r this morning. The Valdez cable office was endangered
***he flames and it is believed that the cable instruments were
removed in time to save them. It is not known whether the
cable office was burned or not. It is believed that all the build
ings on both sides of the street, beginning on the north side
at the Seattle hotel building and extending to A1 White’s place,
and beginning, on the south side, at Tony Carlson’s saloon and
extending to the Cliff house, have been wiped out.
, SUPPLIES TO BE RUSHED TO SCENE.
r
SEATTLE, Jan. 2.—The business section of Valdez was
wiped out by fire at an early hour this morning, according to
a cablegram received by Samuel Blum, a merchant of Valdez,
who is wintering in Seattle. The message says that the fire
parted at 3 o’clock, a. m., and that a high wind was prevailing.
sailing of the steamer Mariposa was postponed for five
hours this morning, in order to permit Blum and others to rush
shipments of merchandise to the stricken town. Little details
of the fire are obtainable here. Blum’s message said that 15
business houses had been consumed in the main business sec
tion.
SEWARD, Jan. 2.—The homes of John A. Nelson and An
ion Eide were entirely consumed by the flames this morning.
Very few of the house furnishings or personal effects in either
home were saved, due to the rapidity and fierceness of the fires
that destroyed them. Fire started in the Nelson home at 5
jrdeloek a.'m., and spread to the Eide home, several lots to the
apt. Soon both were a flaming mass. A fierce wind from the
'Wrthwest was prevailing and the water mains were frozen or
out of commission in that part of town. Nelson is the manager
of the water system and occupied a rented house. Eide had
the most beautiful home in Seward. He is a superintendent for
flits',Alaska road commission.
IS VICTORIOUS
City 29; Commission 8 tells the
story of the initial game of basketball
played in Anchorage yesterday after
noon at Labor Union hall. While the
score was one-sided the game was full
of interest and hard fought, although
Captain Jimmie Powery’s men had the
best of the game throughout from the
first basket made by the speedy Tif
fany in less than a minute from the
time the ball was put in play. Jack
Sutherland officiated as referee, Z. J.
Loussac umpire, Dolliver and Mansey
scorekeepers and O’Niell and Bedell
timekeepers. Anchorage proved its
sporting blood by a big turn-out and
the government boys were there in
force. The team lined up as follows:
City — Tiffany, right forward;
jVeach, left forward; Powrie, center;
I Knudson, right guard ;and Trachael,
left guard.
Commission—Wilford, right for
ward; Bernard, left forward; Pulver,
center; Werner, right guard; and
! Schott, left guard.
! Captain Joe Ryan won the toss and
! chose the north basket to defend; Ref
eree Sutherland tossed the ball in the
air and the game was on. Speedy
Tiffany who played a great forward
throughout the game, made a basket
in less than one minute after the ball
was put in play and the game was
all the city’s from then on. Trachael
| f ulled and Wilford scored one point
I for the Commission on a free try.
' City scored two more on splendid
team work by 1 iff Trachael to Pow
ery who made the basket. Veach, the
most scientific man on either team,
scored for the city and Wilford scored
again on free try as a result of Knut
son’s foul. On the next play, a throw
lout, the play was too fast for the
j Commission five who allowed a bas
j ket, Powery to Tiff to Veach. Knut
son, playing like a whirlwind and all
around his man, scored next with the
aid of Trachael. Magnus went in for
Werner and Costello for Schott at this
stage of the game but the City team
work was not to be denied and the
next points came by the way of Tiff
to Powery who made a hard basket
from a difficult angle. Several times
the Commission missed easy chances
to score and lacked team work. Cos
tello, Angle and Magnus guarding off
their men well but lacked offensive
work. Nobody could handle Knutson
or Powery who made the next two
points for the City and immediately
repeated in the best play of the game
in two passes Knutson to Powery to
Knutson who made a perfect shot for
the basket, Knutson running half way
the field and receiving Captain Jim
mie’s perfect throw on the run. Pow
ery to Trachael to Tiff to the basket
scored the next points. Leahy re
placed Bernard for the Commission.
The play was rather rough at this
stage and the crowd was thoroughly
enjoying the game. The Commission
calling for a score and for a period
the government team with Magnus,
Pulver and Costello taking the brunt
of the play showed a flash of speed
and team work. The boys missed sev
eral good opportunities to score and
had the ball in their possession on the
i next few plavs. The City recovered
the ball on a throw-out and the com
bination of Powery to Trachael to
Tiff who shot the basket scored again
and this was closely followed by a
basket by Veach who received the ball
from Tiff just before the close of the
first half.
End first half, City 22; Commission
J.
For the City Sheets and Mills re
placed Trachael and Knutson and
Engle went in for Wilford. The sec
ond half started off in a whirlwind
with the Commission showing up bet
ter as the play progressed. Powery
fouled and Engle missed a free try;
Tiff did likewise on Costello’s foul.
Magnus, Engle and Leahy showed
dashes of brilliancy but again missed
easy baskets. Engle scored the first
basket for the Commission on the
next play, Costello to Magnus to
Engle. Veach made a basket on free
try and Engle missed on the next at
tempt as a result of Sheets’ foul. The
play was getting fast and furious and
several interesting and exciting scuf
fles were indulged in to the delight of
the spectators. Leahy made one free
try out of two, Mills and Powery be
ing the offenders. Captain Joe Ryen
went in for Pulver. On the next play
Powery made an easy basket, receiv
ing the ball the length of the field on
Sheets’ perfect throw. Engle scored
one for the Commission on a foul and
Tiff made it back and one more by a
basket from a hard position.
Engle came back with the help of
Magnus and made the second basket J
for the Commission that was not the
result of a foul. The Commission
boys were commencing to show form
and Captain Jimmie ran in Knutson
and Trachael who received a hand
from the spectators. This combina
tion Easily proved the rest had done
them good and the last basket was
scored by Tiff after Trachael and
Knutson had handled the ball.
Final score—City 29; Commission 8.
Baskets from field. Tiffany 4, Veach
4 and 1 from try, Powrie 4, Knudson
1 and Trachael 1. Powrie and Veach
were charged with two personal fouls
and Sheets and Mills with 1 each.
For the Commission Wilford made
-wo baskets from try in the first half
and Leahy two in the second. Engle
made the two field baskets for the
Commission.
The, City was penalized frequently
and appeared a trifle too anxious.
Knutson was easily the star of the
game although closely followed by the
balance of the City team, who showed
good team work for the short time
they have had to practice. Costello,
Magnus and Engle played a splendid
defensive game and guarded their
men like bulldogs, Costello especially
keeping track of the slippery Veach.
There were spots in the game when
the boys thought it was the third
down and three yards to gain, but
this will all pass away when they be
come more familiar with the game.
Taking it all in all, and the short
time in which to get into shape it was
a remarkably well played game and
much closer than the score indicates.
The officials Loussae and Suther
land, gave perfect satisfaction and |
while they probably overlooked sever
al fouls it was understood before the
game that they were not to be too
technical. The City and the 14th In
fantry is the next game on the sched
ule and judging from yesterday’s
crowd and the splendid exhibition of
the two teams yesterday the game of
basketball certainly has won a home
in Anchorage.
MAIL CAUGHT
IN SNOW SLIDE
A serious snow slide occurred be
tween the two tunnels at mile 52 Sun
day and it was only by the presence
of mind of the drivers that they and
| the dogs were saved from being com
j pletely buried in the avalanche of
| snow. The two Dohrmann boys, driv
ing out of Seward with the Anchor
age mail, heard the slide coming and
barely had time to cut the dog traces
and make the tunnel before the small
mountain of snow and ice hit the
trail, carrying the sleds and mail to
the bottom of the slope. As an idea
of what might have been is evidenced
C\
SEATTLE HAS
SS0.000 FIRE
SEATTLE, Jan. 2.—The store of
McCormick Brothers, in the Collins
block, in Seattle, was destroyed by
fire irfbt night. The loss is estimated
at $50,000.
from the fact that it took 16 men
all day to recove rthe mail and sleds
from the bottom of the snow.
The mail was finally recovered and
the boys continued their trip to the
meeting place with Spencer, who left
Anchorage yesterday morning. The
mail should reach Anchorage tonight
or early tomorrow morning. x
\—
BERLIN, Jan. 2.— (By wireless to Sayville)—Tlie Russian
and Roumanian forces are engaging in heavy rear guard ac
tion and the troops are retiring before the advancing Teutonic
forces toward the line in Seretli, in northeastern Wallachia and
southern Moldavia. Today’s German army reports show stea
dy progress for General von Mackensen’s armies along the en
tire front between the Roumanian Carpathians and the Danube
river, despite the heavy resistance tin* armies are meeting at
the hands of the retreating enemy.
There is no question but that the
Alaska Labor Union hal! is built on
rock or some foundation equally as
solid. If there could be a fault found
with this splendid structure it would
be in regard to size and auditorium
and balcony capacity. Saturday
night’s monstrous crowd tested the
strength and safety of the mezzanine
floor and it was not found wanting.
Part of the same 1,400 people who
passed in and out of the swinging
doors more than filled the spacious
auditorium dance floor with gaily be
decked masquerade costumes and a
sprinkling of fancy dress. Perhaps
no place in Alaska could equal the
gay and happy crowd of masquerad
ers that thronged the dance floor and
entered into the carnival spirit that
predominated Saturday night. From
9 until 11 o’clock they bumped into
each other and made the large hall
ring with their merrymaking. The
stranded of the Moose minstrels add
ed to the gayety of the evening and
made fun for the spectators by their
antics.
The dancers formed in line and
marched several times around the
hall while the judges, viz., Mrs. Mar
tin, Judge Leopold David and E. L. I
Bedell went through the trying ordeal
and unpleasant task of arriving at
decisions. Talking about umpires,
judges of baby shows, dancers, cos
tumes etc., George Purvis aptly said
you’re d-d if you do and you’re
d-d if you don’t and further, as
Mike said to Pat, “Thank God we
don't all see alike, for if we did every
man would want to marry Bridget.”
So it is with judges, but their deci
sions met with the approval of the
majority. Mrs. Maud Cattle was
awarded a Parisian Ivory toilet set
for the most beautiful costume; Mrs.
T. A. Campbell a hand-painted china
set for the best-sustained lady char-!
acter; E. M. Huff a combined toilet j
and shaving set for the best-sustained
gentleman character; Mrs. Anderson
a genuine pin-seal hand bag for the |
best comic lady costume and Geo. E.1
Potter a smoking set for the best com
ic costume worn by gentlemen on the
floor.
Mrs. Cattle, representing a shep
herdess, was beautifully gowned in a
white satin regulation shepherdess
dress trimmed with black chiffon.
She wore a Gainsborough hat of white
satin also trimmed with black chiffon
and carried the customary shepherd
ess’ crook.
Mrs. Campbell, as Martha Washing
ton, might have stepped from Gaines’
famous picture and Mr. Huff as a
Russian count was striking. Mrs. An
derson carrying a basket of Matanus
ka eggs was dressed the part of a
Frot’s farmers wife and George Pot
ter was typical as a “Weary Willie.”
The couple characterizing the old
and new years was good and the King
and Queen of Hearts deserve mention.
COMMISSION TO
DUN SCHOOLS
On account of the territorial funds
for the support of schools in unin
corporated towns being completely ex
hausted, it has been necessary for the
Alaskan Engineering commission to
assume management of the Anchor
age public schools. Upon receipt of a
communication from the school board
showing the status of the financial
condition, Andrew Christensen, man
ager of the land and industrial de
partment, immediately took the mat
ter up with Chairman Wm. C. Edes,
who is now in Washington, D. C., on
different matters of business pertain
ing to the government railroad, and
received the following satisfactory re
ply:
“The Alaskan Engineering commis
sion is authorized to maintain the
schools at Anchorage until sufficient
funds are available from other sourc
es. You should take over the man
agement of the schools, passing upon
all expenditures, employment of
teachers, and all other business per
taining thereto.”
Mr. Christensen, in accordance with
the instructions from the chairman,
assumed immediate charge, relieving
the present school board, until such
time as funds are received from other
sources sufficient to maintain the
schools.
Taking the initiative in the matter
Mr. Christensen wisely decided to
postpone the opening of the winter
term until next Monday, January 8, in
order to save additional expense of
light and fuel. This also is a material
benefit to the school children on ac
cout of the present poor light for
studying in the late afternoons. The
school term will accordingly be ad
vanced one week in June so there will
be no time lost from the school year.
The winter term will commence
next Monday in the old building and
Mr. Christensen said this morning
that the change would be made into
the new school building probably
within the next week or ten days.
It fact there were so many good char
acters and costumes it would be im
possible to comment on them except
to say that the people of Anchorage
can do things when they care to.
Mrs. Tom Neely and Mr. Engle won
the prize waltz judged by Miss Byles,
Dan Vucetich and Mr. O’Niell. The
prize couple was forced to give an ex
hibition on the stage, to the extreme
pleasure of the spectators.
After the dancers unmasked the
spectators were allowed the privilege
of the splendid floor and music and
the dance lasted well on into the
morning. It was a distinct success
socially and financially and was a fit
ting climax to a week’s round of
pleasure and entertainment.
District Engineer C. R. Breck came
down from Matanuska yesterday to
attend the Masonic dance iart night
and registered at the Crescent.