VOL. II.
RAMPART, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1906.
No. 38
ALASKA POLITICS
WAKING UP.
Fairbanks Convention To
Be Held May 25.
Fairbanks, May 14.—The
miners will hold a conven
tion here May 25 to decide
on a candidate for long-term
delegate from the interior.
They are assured of the
support of Rampart, Douglas,
Valdez and Copper Center.
A miner will be named as
the candidate. The commer
cial interests claim at the
present time that they will
support a miner for delegate,
which will insure the election
of a Tanana man.
A great deal of interest has
developed in politics.
Seattle, May 14.—Alaskans
here are working hard in the
interest of Dick Ryan, of
Nome, for delegate. They
believe that there will be a
split in the Tanana and that
part of the forces will throw
their support to Ryan.
Rockefeller’s Daddy
May Be Dead
Freeport, 111., May 14.—Dr.
William Livingstone, who has
just died here, is believed to
have been the father of John
D. Rockefeller.
Gold Dredge Man
After the Tanana
Fairbanks, May 14.—C. H.
Munro, a noted gold-dredger
expert, is here taking options
on ground for Portland capi
talists.
High Water in Big Minook.
John Palm, with McHugh & Smith’s
team, started to Little Minook today to
place some logs for Lewis Shequin; but
the high water rendered Big Minook im
passable, and the trip had to be aban
doned.
THE BREAKUP THIS YEAR
WAS EXCEEDINGLY TAME
Sunday, May 13, 9:15 a. m., the Flags Passed from the
50-foot Space and the Suspense Was Over.
That particular annual occurrence of
paramount interest, the breaking up of
the ice on the Yukon, is again numbered
with the things that were.
If any were looking forward to sensa
tional features in connection with the
; event they were doomed to disappoint
ment.
Early risers on the morning of Satur
i
day, the 12th, saw an irregular strip of
open water extending from the mouth
of Big Mi nook creek, half a mile above
town, to the mouth of Squaw creek, on
the opposite shore, with a border of
tumbled ice blocks marking the lower
side of the opening. The floods from
the two creeks had literally cut the solid
ice in two. From that time on it was
only a question of hours. *
All during Saturday and Saturday
night pressure was augmented by heavy
blocks constantly breaking away from
the upper barrier and adding their
weight to the one which was steadily
forcing itself further down stream; but
Sunday morning the flags in front of
Young’s store were still in position.
A drizzling rain had continued for
several hours Saturday night—and that
inspired hope in those whose wagers
depended on the flags going quickly.
But there was no rapid rise in the
water—which looked good to those who
wanted it to hold on at least till after
noon.
Finally, however, there was an on
ward movement, and at 9:15 a. m.
Sunday, the 13th, the flags passed be
low the allotted 50 feet and the date of
the breakup was settled.
Many Small Bets.
There was a quick settling of numer
ous small wagers and plenty of convivi
ality by invitation of the lucky.
The Pool.
A pool had been formed, containing
fifty-six guesses, closest guess to take
all. J. W. Young won; time 11:15 a. m.
S. P. Robins was next closest man, at
1:13 p. m. Deputy Marshal John F.
Drake had the earliest guess in the pool,
5 a. m. the 13th. From Saturday morn
ing to a few hours before the flags moved
he considered himself almost a sure
winner.
Mr. Young was in Rampart at the
breakup in 1901 and split the big pool
that year with Dr. Tweedie, the armv
I 4 *
j surgeon. He guessed within one min
I ute of the exact time. Twenty-five feet
of open water showed up clt^ar across
the river, and Joe Anicicli thought he
was a sure winner; but the big crack
remained stationary for two or three
hours, and there was great excitement
as Joe grew anxious, then alarmed, and
finally realized that his chances were
irretrievably lost.
See Breakup First Time.
Several ladies saw the breakup this
year for the first time. Among them
were Mrs. Clemens, Mrs. Nichols, Mrs.
Strickland and Miss Peck. They proba
j bly saw the tamest breakup that has
ever been witnessed here by white
' people.
Heeter’s Horse “Steamboat.”
S. E. fleeter was the owner of a scow
to which a stern wheel had been at
tached and geared to be driven by horse
power. The craft was utilized as a hay
carrier from the meadows near Hamlin,
and has been a mark for all classes of
critics since before it started on its
maiden trip last summer. This horse
“steamboat” was frozen tight to the
bar, and the ice was forced out over it
and reduced it to a mass of splinters
Saturday afternoon.
The River Today.
The ice lodged in the bend below town
and the upper river was sparing with its
winter store all day Sunday. Some
time Sunday night an accumulation
from some upper jam descended and
piled the two shores high with massive
blocks; but Monday morning revealed
an unobstructed channel, with no crowd
ing in the discharge of oncoming floes.
Up to noon today the ice has kept
coming, the run being more solid at the
present hour than at any former time,
•wing, probably, to the large quantiteis
of ice released from the bars by the
rapidly rising water.
Dates of Breakup.
Since a record has been kept the dates
of the breakup are: 1898, May 22;
1899, May 19; 1900, May 15; 1901, May
24; 1902, May 21; 1903, May 19; 1904,
May 11; 1905, May 16; 1906, May 13.
According to the records there has
been but one earlier breakup—1904 on
May 11.
SENATOR’S WARM
RETORT.
Massachusetts Hushes Up
South Carolinian.
Washington, May 14.—In
discussing the railroad rate
bill, Senator Tillman, of
South Carolina, said Presi
dent Roosevelt had broken
faith with several senators.
Senator Lodge, of Massa
chusetts, in reply, said it was
a lie, which caused a sensa
tion. It made Tillman keep
quiet.
Take Ten Years
To Rebuild Frisco
San Francisco, May 14.—
The city treasury vault has
been opened and the five
million dollars which it con
tained found intact.
It will take ten years to
rebuild the city. It is claim
ed that not all the details of
| the horror have been told, as
the newspapers combined to
keep the worst from the
public.
Greek Children
Held in Slavery
Chicago, May 14.—Investi
gation by the government
i shows that 3,000 Greek boys
| and girls are being kept in a
state of slavery here by their
Greek masters. Many of the
children are required to work
nineteen hours a day.
Fairbanks Trail
Take All Summer
Washington, May 14.—
Major Richardson, of the
Alaska road commission, says
he will put in the summer
repairing the trail between
Valdez and Fairbanks.