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In The News
The Daily Alaskan.
Skagway, Alaska.
Thursday Morning, December 21, 1899.
Vol. II, No. 347.
Page 1.
TELLS HER SIDE.
Mrs. Dr. Harding at Last Gives Her Story.
ARRAIGNS THE DOCTOR.
Says She Was Compelled to Earn an Ill-gotten Livelihood for the Whole Family.
Alonzo Chappell, the self-alleged Klondike potentate and paramour of Mrs. E. H.
Harding, sought by the authorities on charges of adultery, preferred by the
medico, has not been apprehended.
But the woman in the case has been found and she has a very different story to
tell from that given by the doctor. She is working in the Clancy variety
theater. She says Harding is a blackmailer, that she doubts if she has ever been
his wife, that she has been compelled to support the doctor and the family in a
way not fit to mention in polite society, that they were all in destitute
circumstances in Seattle, Portland and Spokane and that the Salvation Army took
care of them for a time.
The doctor emphatically contradicts the statements of the woman, and says
positively and unequivocally that she is a liar as well as the legitimate mother
of his babies and author of numerous dire domestic woes that must be chronicles
as a part of his unhappy experience on earth.
Without the least hesitancy the doctor proclaims his policy, saying he will make
it warm for Chapelle and will bring him to justice if he has to follow to
icebound Klondike or any other mundane extremity.
"All I wish," says the doctor, "if we cannot arrest Chappelle, is to meet him
face to face. Would I use violence? Well, I should say, I'm not to be trifled
with. I understand Chappelle has threatened my life. If it will be bloody, let
it be bloody. I mean to get even. Wouldn't you?"
"I'll not make it bloody," says the woman, "but before I get through with the
case I will make it muddy. There's plenty of med at the bottom."
As Mrs. Harding spoke she sat in a box at the Clancy theater, the effusion of
the electric light falling through the curtains upon her flaxen hair and
glistening in her gold-filled teeth as she smiled, and she gave a coquettish
toss of the head.
A friend of Chappelle, who came north on the City of Topeka with him and the
woman and others of the party, had lead the way to the theater and made the
introduction to the woman.
"Mrs. Harding," said he in the form of introduction.
"No sir," said she, interrupting. "Not Mrs. Harding, but, if you please sir,
Miss Ferguson."
"Ferguson," she continued, "was my maiden name."
Scarcely had she begun to explain her case when a messenger was announced. The
woman left the room and after a time returned. She wore the same careless air,
and flinging herself in the chair, said she had at least gotten a drink out of
the visitor and secured her first check for the evening, which she displayed.
Passing this point hastily, she produced a letter written only a few minutes
before by Dr. Harding, and offering to compromise the case. It read as follows:
"If you will sign an affidavit agreeing never to see Chappelle or have any
communication with him I will drop everything and proceed no further in this
matter. Let me know at once. This paper must remain in my possession."
"No, sir, I'll not sign it," she said. "Mr. Chappelle has treated me as a lady.
He not only treated me as a lady but has also supported me. He has not only
supported me, but has also supported r. Harding and the two children.
"Harding and I and the children arrived in Seattle from Portland on tickets
bought by the Salvation Army of the Oregon metropolis. We put up at first at the
New Western hotel. We had been destitute in Portland, and were thrown on the
mercy of the army. After being for a time in Seattle I met a former Skagway
married woman who agreed to get up a party of married women the next evening and
take in amusement places with a party of men. The plan was carried out, and I
there, for the first time, met Chappelle. After that we became quite friendly,
and Chappelle extended his friendship to the entire family. He even took us from
the low rate New Western hotel to the Rainier Grand, and bore our expenses.
Every week I got $20 from him to pay our room rent.
"Harding had not treated me right. He had not supported the family, and I,
through a means I care not to speak of in plain English, gave myself up to gain
our livelihood. Chappelle treated me well, and I left with him for the north.
Before going I lied to Chappelle to get $50 that I might have a part of it to
leave with Harding. I gave him $15 and he played at the gaming tables, I
understand, and won $1600 making his lucky run, according the story, by watching
the methods of a man who had a streak of fortune and carried off $20,000 from a
house of chance in one month.
"I was not married to Chappelle, nor have I been. I came to Alaska with him it
is true.
"Harding followed us, and arriving here demanded $1000 for settlement of the
case. The demand was refused, and he asked for $500. Finally Chappelle did give
him $100, and with that sum he went back to Seattle.
"As for the little children, I am willing to pay for their support and education
if Harding will place them in a good school. They are good children, and the
little one loves his father much. The older one is very bright.
"I have been held up as the bad one and the doctor as the angel of the family.
The truth shall be known. I'll leave no guilt, shall disclose matters as they
are.
"I was married when only 14 years old, and Harding swore at the time that I was
15. For that reason I do not know whether I am his wife or not.
"I first met Harding when nine years old. He vaccinated me in San Francisco. He
was then attached to the San Francisco health office, and I was going to school,
and had to be vaccinated. Harding came to my father's house to see how my arm
was, and asked me to go riding with him. Having become acquainted he asked my
father to let him take me under adoption. My father was a hard drinker, and
being glad to be free let me be adopted by Harding. From that [time] on I was
raised by Harding, and eventually married him.
"The claim made by the doctor that he was a surgeon in the Northern Pacific
hospital at Missoula, under Dr. Buckley, is a lie. He was not there. Dr. Sipple
was the assistant to Dr. Buckley. Harding and I were at Hope, Idaho, not
Missoula. Harding has failed to provide for us not only in Portland and Seattle
but also in Spokane. Anyone who cares may write to Adj. Dodd of the Salvation
Army, in Spokane, and learn that we there received financial aid. We got aid
from the county commissioners to go to Billings. What I have told is not all,
and I shall have more to tell, but not tonight. But here is a statement Harding
sent me today."
The statement is as follows:
"I don't want you back. I am after Chappelle and I will land him inn the state
prison, if possible, and I will brook no interference from you, as, if you
interfere in this matter, I will be compelled to put you where I do Chappelle.
Understand, Mrs. Laura, that you had better keep out of this. You can see my
attorney here if you wish. I shall get a divorce as soon as possible. You shall
never see the children. Dr. E. H. Harding."
"That's all right," said Mrs. Harding, "but if the doctor don't drop this case
I'll put him behind the bars. I can furnish the information. I am 24 years old.
Harding says he is 43 and I am 19 years younger than he. The truth is Harding is
48."
Harding stated day before yesterday he was 43; that his wife was 19 years
younger, and that their eldest child is 9 years old. Last night he declared they
were married when Mrs. Harding was 16 years old, and that her statement that
they were married when she was 14 and that he swore she was 15 was a lie.
"They are all lies," said Dr. Harding when told of the statements made by his
wife reflecting against him. Did not I Predict she would speak that way? We have
not been destitute. I have not mistreated the woman, but, on the contrary, we
have had plenty and have traveled on passes I held. While in Montana I drew from
$130 to $200 a month from the Chestnut Coal Company, for which I was surgeon,
and had an income from outside practice, and, furthermore, had a store account
with the coal company, and yet all the money above our ordinary living expenses
went to the woman. Every pay day she had to rush off to Bozeman to the show, and
every cent would go before she would return.
"She's a bad woman. And yet I cannot see why, unless it be that sickens has made
her crazy. Seven years ago she had a fever and gave birth to a child during the
time. When she came out of travail she could remember nothing for two years that
had occurred previous to her illness. It may be that she still forgets the true
circumstances of her early life and sees vagaries as she did on her sick bed.
But I cannot love her again. I do not want her back. The first time I cam here I
wanted her back, but no I see it would be folly to talk her back. I should never
feel at ease with her. I cold not trust her. Emotional insanity may be the cause
of her troubles. I am sorry and scarcely know what to do, but I shall see this
matter to a finish. It will be sifted. The case with Chappelle must be settled
if I have to follow him to the end of the earth. My home has been destroyed. I
shall go back to Montana. The boys must be placed in school and well cared for.
The end is not yet, and if Chappelle has gone toward Dawson I shall get the
Canadian authorities after him."
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FALLS TO HIS DEATH.
Horrible Accident Near Sheep Creek Mine.
A terrible accident, whereby August Wiltschko, a native of Bohemia, about 35
years of age, lost his life, says the Juneau Miner, occurred at Sheep Creek
yesterday morning.
Mr. Wiltschko for some days has been suffering from toothache and, accompanied
by his friend, Thomas McDevitt, started to come to Juneau to consult a dentist.
Between the Queen and the Glacier mines there is a great draw where a large body
of snow lodged. Soft weather, followed by a hard frost, forms an ice crust on
the snow which makes traveling over it at such a time particularly dangerous.
Yesterday morning the light fall of snow had covered the ice, and Mr. Wiltschko,
not knowing of the ice beneath, slipped and was precipitated to the bottom of
the mountain, a distance of 1000 feet.
Mr. McDevitt immediately descended to where the unconscious body of his
companion lay. He discovered that the unfortunate man had, during his fall,
broken his legs and one arm, besides being horribly bruised about the head and
face.
Word was immediately sent to superintendent George at the mine, for assistance.
Mr. George promptly responded by sending four men who carried the unfortunate
man on a stretcher to the ferry, whence he was conveyed to St. Ann's hospital in
this city, at which place he died about 1 o'clock today.
The deceased man came to Juneau from Sunrise on the 6th of November inst. He had
been working in the Cook Inlet country for about four years and owned claims on
Canyon creek, Turnagain Arm district his partners being Messrs. Eckley and
Haddock.
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HOTEL ARRIVALS.
Occidental - J. M. Kelly.
Spokane - H. Bughage.
Pacific - G. F. Messigner, T. J. McCollan.
Golden North - A. S. Dautrick.
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Page 5.
SEATTLE SAILS SOUTH.
The Steamer City of Seattle Sailed at 7:30 Yesterday.
For Seattle - W. F. Lokowitz, Mrs. F. W. Shaw, J. R. Lonsdale, Mrs. Lonsdale, C.
Z. Diers, J. J. Devault, C. J. Baker, C. M. Walker, J. Haslett, Mr. and Mrs. P.
D. Whitehead, F. P. Matteson, R. N. McFadden, J. A. Groutte; J. G. Morgan, T. C.
McNamer, C. McNamer, H. A. Baker, J. L. Mider, G. W. Clark, C. L. Heuson, John
Bell, T. Sparks, J. Carlson, F. Neher.
For Victoria - E. B. Scroggle, H. LaDuke.
For Vancouver - J. O'Donnell.
For Tacoma - R. E. Jones, J. W. Manley, Mrs. M. E. Weix, W. H. Henderson, C. E.
Boynson, C. E. Taylor, Ruby Miller, Curtis Miller, J. H. Patton.
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Page 6.
C. E. Taylor, long connected with the Klondike Trading Company, was a passenger
south yesterday on the City of Seattle.
Auditor Berdoe of the White Pass road left on the City of Seattle for Seattle.
He will return January 10.
E. E. Gilkison is purser of the steamer Tees in lieu of T. Munroe the popular
purser, who is taking a vacation which will probably last during two or three
trips of the ship between this port and Victoria.
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