GOLD ROBBER
CONFESSES
Ringleader of Gang Just Indicted
Arrested Here by Vautier.
Special to the News.
San Francisco, Dec. 29—The men who
stole the $53,000 in gold shipped last
summer from Fairbanks banks to Seat
tle, from the steamship Humboldt, have
been indicted by the grand jury; the
ringleader, E. L. Smith, alias Leahy,
alias Henry, whose real name is OrVille
Cevencs, has confessed.
Mrs. Henry, the girl who passed
as his wife, the Woodson brothers, and
Henry are the ones indicted.
Henry, an old Alaskan gambler, con
fessed lie was in Fairbanks last winter
and spring, leaving with others implica
ted, with the gold. They were joined
at Juneau and Ketchikan by still others
of the gang.
Henry claims he committed the deed
while under the influence of opium. He
says, while his alleged wife—Margaret
Henry, an old dance hall girl of the
north—flirted with the purser on deck,
he slipped into the purser’s cabin and
substituted lead for the gold.
On the way down the river Cevenes
came near being detained by the deputy
marshal at Tanana, for stealing some
jewelry from a Fairbanks woman named
Williams.
Former Deputy Marshal George Vau
tier remembers distinctly arresting Cev
enes, or Leo Smith as he called himself
then. It was August 25, 1909, and not
last summer.
Mr. Vautier received a wire from Fair
banks directing him to arrest Smith on
his way outside. When caught Smith
VA
The “House of Quality
J >
WISHES YOU
\ a Happ}r and Prosperous
New Year.
The patronage given us is a
tribute to the high quality
of our goods. Though we
have done a big business we
still have a large and com
plete stock.
Outfits
Cut Glass, Jewelry
EVERYTHING
TANANA
COMMERCIAL CO.
confessed to taking the jewelry from
Mabel Williams, a woman of the town,
on the creeks at Fairbanks.
Smith asserted he was drunk; but
when the deputy accused him of being
a dope fiend, he admitted it.
Mr. Yautier says Smith belonged to
the gang which formerly operated on the
boats in Alaska. They were as tough as
the old “Soapy” Smith gang of Skagway.
The prisoner was taken as far as Hot
Springs by the deputy and there turned
over to Deputy Murphy. Smith later
settled with the woman and was re
leased. Mabel Williams is now in the
Iditarod.
MEN FOUND
AT KALTAC
LobosRy and Coulombe Are Safe
and Sound—Beached Launch.
Michael Loboske and Peter Coulombe,
the men who it was feared were drown
ed in the Yukon just before the freeze
up, are safe at Kaltag.
Word to this effect was wired this
week to the News by James Aitcheson,
of Lawrence & Aitcheson.
Mr. Aitcheson says the men arrived at
Kaltag Oct. 10. They were en route up
the Yukon from the Iditarod to Grant
creek. The ice was running so thick
they were forced to pull their launch out
of the river 25 miles below Kaltag.
Capt. Robson, the mail carrier, also
brought word that the men were safe.
The two will have the pleasure of read
ing their own obituaries.
X MAS FETE WAS
A GREAT SUCCESS
(Continued from first page.)
The celebration was carried through
without a hitch. Mrs. J. Robinson de
serves great praise for the excellent work
she did in suggesting and arranging the
details of the fete.
No less praise is also due the other la
dies in Tanana and at the post for their
assistance. Each woman worked faith
fully and unceasingly, and each must
feel great satisfaction at the success of
the event.
Sergeant Major Roy appeared after
the exercises, dressed as Santa Claus,
and when he entered the door young and
old alike clapped their hands in delight.
Old Santa, with the aid of others, then
distributed the gilts, Many remember
ed their friends with presents, but no
one went away without receiving a pres
ent of some kind.
The A. B.’s showed their appreciation
of Frank Smith, who always works heart
and soul for the interests of the brother
hood, by presenting him with a beauti
ful watch charm.
After the distribution of the gifts,
dancing was indulged in, many going
home with their giftsand returning later.
Many of the woodchoppers and min
ers attended, attired in their everyday
costumes, adding a typical democratic
aspect to the scene,
A picturesque feature of the evening
was the presence of a band of natives
from the reindeer station. They sat
quietly in one corner watching the pro
ceedings with stoic but intent interest.
Santa also remembered each of them.
Cloth location notices are the best for
placing out in the open. The News of
has them, printed in proper form.
If it isn’t in town we’ll get it. Let ns know your wants.
YOU WON’T BE SORRY
IF YOU BUY
MISHAWAKA
Rubber and \\ oolen Goods. Boots and Paes our Specialty
NORTHERN COMMERCIAL CO.
Cy Simpson to Return.
Cy Simpson, who went outside to Po
mona, Cal., last fall for medical treat
ment, will return to Tanana over the
ice in February, according to a letter
received by Jimmy Farley, his partner.
Mr. Simpson writes he is fully recov
ered, which will be good news to his
many friends here. He expects to bring
horses in with him.
Steamer Lost.
Victoria, Dec. 29.—Marked wreckage
found near Vancouver Island leaves lit
tle douht the British steamer, St. Denis,
was lost, and the 12 men of the crew
drowned.
THEY GAMBLE
ONJLAT GK.
Ed. Grider Returning From There
Says Place is a Live One.
Flat creek is the liveliest district in
Alaska at present, says Ed. Grider, the
old Tananaite who returned this week
from the Iditarod.
Gambling flourishes there, he says.
Black jack, stud poker and draw poker
are played. There was gambling, too,
in Iditarod City last summer, but it has
since died out, he declares.
Iditarod City is dead; in fact Tanana
is much livelier at present than the new
camp. The place is said to look like a
mining town in its decadence, with many
shacks and places empty—many of the
men having gone over to the Kuskok
vvim.
Grider says gold has been struck on
Ruby creek in the Kuskokwim. Cy No
ble returned from there recently, telling
that he had seen 40, 50 and 60c pans.
On Flat money is plentiful. Team
sters get $50 a day. Bacon, ham, butter
and even beans are short.
Ed. says many old Rampart men are
in on the Flat creek strike—Jimmy Law
rence, John Layne, Frank Stevens and
others.
Geo. Friend of Fairbanks, and Frank
Lawson will take out big money next
spring on Flat. They are moving out
two plants and have 2,500 cords of wood
landed on their ground.
Grider has interests in claims on the
Flat creek rims. He says he saw the
Yukon Valley News all along the line
from Flat to Tanana, and everybody is
pleased with the paper.
He expects lo return to the new camp
after New Year’s.
Though enlarged, the News can still
be mailed first class for 2c. This is of
great advantage, insuring first class de
livery to the outside.
AGAIN JAILED
FOR INSANITY
Robert Mitchell, Declared Sane, Re
arrested on Account Actions.
Robert Mitchell, aged 29, a Scotsman,
the post civilian who escaped from the
hospital recently yelling “fire! murder!”
ami who later escaped from the jail, was
declared sane in Judge Gallaher’s court
last Saturday.
Dr. Harris testified Mitchell had re
covered although he was very weak and
needed care. He added that man}’ of
the man’s peculiarities, taken as signs i f
insanity, were merely racial mannerisms.
Sergt. Ivinzer, Marshal Robinson and
Jailer Shade were the other witnesses.
Mitchell, while in jail, attempted to
drink some lye. lie also wrote seviral
letters to Dr. Harris. In one he said, “I
am with you; long live the United
States!” At this time lie imagined they
suspected him of being a spy.
Since his release the man has again
been acting queerly. lie wanted to liiie
a special dog team to go to Fairbanks.
Wednesday he attempted to send seven
telegrams—one each to Col. Roosevelt,
the pope of Rome, the king of England,
and other noteworthies. In each he ask
ed “What must I do?”
The jurors who decided the case were
Jules Marion, Then. Diederick, John
Kehoe, John Wolf, Thomas Yates and
Ben Fredrickson.
Mitchell has been re-arrested and will
probably be declared insane this time.
WOOD CHOPPERS
to buy
Splitting Mauls and Wedges
(all weights)
50°o Discount.
/ v/
Don’t pay 25c per pound
when you can
BUY FOR 12'ae
from