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In The News
The Daily Alaskan.
Skagway, Alaska.
New Year's Edition, 1900.
Vol. III.
Page 13.
SKAGWAY'S TROOPS.
Thee 24th Infantry was organized in 1869 by the consolidation of the 38th and
41st regiments of infantry and was first commanded by Colonel Ronald S.
Mackenzie, who was succeeded by General Abner Doubleday, late a Major General of
volunteers, who had served in the late war of the Rebellion. He was followed by
Brevet Brigadier General Joseph H. Potter, ultimately Brigadier General of the
regular army; then came Zenus R. Bliss, now a retired Major General of the
regular army, who was succeeded by J. Ford Kent who retired as a Brigadier
General of the regular army, and by Henry B. Freeman who now commands the
regiment.
The 24th Infantry served for eleven years in the State of Texas, during which
time it was engaged to the Victorio Campaign ad in chasing various bands of
Indians who pestered the staked plains by their presence. The duties which fell
upon this regiment during the eleven years were many and various, and called for
a high order of discipline and the perfection of endurance and patience, since
it was required to aid in restoring order to that distracted state under
conditions calling for patience and perseverance of the highest types.
In 1880 the regiment was ordered to Indian Territory, where it served until
1888. During this time it held in control many tribes of Indians, and the duties
that it performed were of a character which brings neither honor nor glory, only
arduous and thankless service, the results of which are seen in the peaceful
solution of the Indian troubles for which others claim and receive the credit.
In 1888 the regiment was ordered to New Mexico and Arizona, and took part in all
the various difficulties there, ending in the settlement of the Apache troubles,
the details of which it would take too long to write. In 1896 the regiment was
ordered to Ft. Douglas, Utah, near Salt Lake City, where it served till the
outbreak of the Spanish-American war. During the time of its service in New
Mexico and Arizona, it was called upon to perform many duties of many kinds,
from chasing horse thieves to protecting railroads, and all of these were
performed in a manner which reflected credit upon the organization.
Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American war the regiment was ordered to Tampa,
Florida, became part of the Fifth Corps, and participated in the battles about
Santiago, Cuba, during which it lost nearly forty per cent of its officers and
about thirty-eight per cent of its men in the first two days of the fight.
Afterwards it was ordered to Siboney to guard the yellow fever hospital, but
upon arriving there it was found necessary to nurse the sick instead of guarding
them, and for forty days the regiment was cut off from all communication with
the outside world. During this time the various nurses from the ranks were
stricken with yellow fever, until a large part of the men were suffering from
the disease, and the result was that at the end of the Spanish-American war, of
the five hundred stalwart, well disciplined, fine specimens of humanity who went
to Cuba, less than two hundred and fifty were left in the regiment, the rest
having succumbed to death or disability. No pen can depict the sufferings
endured by the officers and men in this regiment during the time it was in Cuba,
and those who endured the agony of that ordeal decline to speak of it except in
confidence.
Under the Act of April 26th, 1898, by which a Third Battalion was organized in
each regiment, four new companies were added, I and K being already active only
in name, and L and M were added to the organization. Owing to the war conditions
it was impossible to organize these new companies until the return of the
regiment from the Cuban campaign. The present Company I, therefore, now
stationed in Skagway, is a new company, having with it twelve men who were with
the regiment prior to the Spanish-American war. This company was organized at
Ft. Douglas, Utah in March 1899; was sent from there to Presidio, San Francisco,
thence to Vancouver Barracks, and from there to the D. K. T. dock near Dyea,
where it remained until turned out on the 28th of July inst. The company is
commanded by Captain Henry W. Hovey who has been an officer of the regiment
since 1880.
The First Lieutenant is Isaac C. Jenks who has been with the regiment since
1892. It has, as an organization, participated in none of the victories of the
regiment, nor is it entitled in any way to any glory, beyond that which is
reflected by being connected with a regiment whose record is second to none in
the U. S. Army.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 15.
First Book of the Chronicles of Skagway.
None of the readers of the Daily Alaskan will fail to appreciate the time and
trouble necessary to get up this first chronological table of Skagway history.
Next year it will be easier. There will be more important events to note and to
look back on with interest.
JANUARY
1. Most destructive fire in the history of Skagway on New Year's Eve; theatre
Royal entirely burned down in thirty-five minutes. The splendid work of the fire
companies and citizens prevent the great fire spreading. - The lowest
temperature of the winter, up to this date, was six degrees above zero. - Joseph
Sinclair drowned in Lake Atlin.
2. George Johnson shot at White Pass by half-breed woman named Jessie. - New
City Council installed in office; Messrs. Hislop (president), Guthrie, Kellar,
O'Brien, Daumeister and Stanley.
3. George Johnson dies; Patrick Murphy and Jessie arrested for murder. - Travel
brisk on the trail.
4. Small fire in second store of Post office.
5. C. C. Figgins succeeds H. M. McCartney ass general passenger and freight
agent of the White Pass & Yukon Railway.
6. Peterson & Co. open their Sixth Avenue store.
8. James Eagle arrives from Dawson, having made the trip without dogs, tent,
blankets, provisions or money, in thirty-three days.
9. F. H. Clayson brings from Dawson news of the finding of James Hill, of
Skagway, dying in a lonely cabin. - Council discusses the advisability of making
Skagway a free port of entry. - Jessie Rounds held for trial for the murder of
George Johnson.
10. Daily Alaskan begins the agitation for stationary lights at dangerous points
between this port and Juneau. - The Elite club's great ball.
11. Druggist Kelly returns from Dawson. - Public protest against high price of
electric lights. - Proposition to start a new electric light company. - Heavy
snow storm; mercury three below. - Annual meeting Y.M.C.A.
12. Tom Neely narrowly escapes death from exposure on the trail between Log
Cabin and the Summit.
13. United States District Court holds its first sitting in Skagway.
15. City of Seattle brings 312 passengers and 108 dogs. - Railroad fires a
monster blast of 2700 pounds of dynamite. - Public excursion on the first
passenger train run over the track.
16. Elks' grand ball in aid of Hose Company No. 1.
17. Brothers J. A. and W. Howey arrive from Dawson with $28,800 in a flour sack.
18. Butler's suit against wagon road decided in favor of the latter. - Agitation
for fire insurance started.
19. Rich strikes reported in the Porcupine district. - Windienow Club's dance in
honor of A. D. Elliott, clerk of the H. S. District Court.
20. M. A. Mahoney makes the trip from Dawson in fourteen days.
22. Agitation against the passage of the Atlin alien law begins; trial of Gus
Davidson, packer, for breaking down toll gate on wagon road; charge dismissed on
a technicality.
24. Y. M. C. A. Red and Blue banquet. - Property holders appoint a committee to
raise money for opposition to the claims of Captain Moore on the townsite.
25. News reaches here of the passage of the odious Atlin Exclusion Act. - Seven
steamers arrive in one day. - City of Seattle makes the trip from Seattle in 66
hours.
26. Needful legislation for Alaska agitated.
27. Wagon road and packer fight renewed; Al Brackett arrested for obstructing a
public highway.
28. Citizens appeal to President McKinley to intervene for the repeal of the
Atlin Exclusion Act.
29. The Daily Alaskan becomes a morning, instead of an evening, newspaper. -
John Burke, steward of the Al-Ki, dies on the way between here and Juneau, of
heart disease.
31. - Seattle Chamber of Commerce takes up the Daily Alaskan's agitation for
lights in Lynn Canal, and memorializes Congress for a new lighthouse district
for Alaska waters. - Dick Fleming elected fire chief. - William Bell lost on the
Skagway trail. - Herman Oagland is engaged to Miss Aida Everest. - Mean
temperature for month, 10.8 degrees above zero.
FEBRUARY
1. Two United States envoys arrested at Log Cabin by British Columbia officials
on the ground that they could not pass the boundary line. - Wolves on the trail
near Dawson; one of them killed.
2. J. D. Stewart, whose robbery of a sack of gold dust led to the killing of
"Soapy" Smith, presents a gold badge to Marshal Turner. - Deputy Collector
Andrews holds all bonded liquors in Skagway and refuses to allow them to proceed
under convoys, are permitted to go to Bennett.
3. Wagon road riot; revolver and axes used. - Moore's wharf made the terminus of
the railroad. - Fan Tail trail abandoned in favor of Too-Chi trail. - Annual
meeting Y.M.C.A.
4. Canadian Customs grant convoy privilege.
5. Wagon road toll gate again destroyed. - Coal discovered near Dawson. - George
Winters, local agent of the Standard Oil Co., disappears. - Lodge of Elks
organized.
6. Charge against Al Brackett for obstructing a public highway by placing a
toll-gate on wagon road dismissed. - Big strike reported on McDonald Creek, near
Bennett. - Eight packers held for trial for destroying toll gate. - First
Company of the National Guards of Alaska organized in Skagway.
9. Fire in Herman Meyer's store, next to the Burkhart. - The fire bell placed in
the tower of the hose house. - H. A. Beckwith brings his snow plough, but leaves
it on the water front to rust as the only experiment of its usefulness.
10. Railroad lowers its rates to Summit to 2-1/2 cents. - Pay gravel reported on
Connelly Creek, Skagway River.
11. S. W. Mix describes at length the Porcupine discoveries. - Fifth Avenue
Hotel opens.
12. Bar Association of Skagway send a memorial to Washington, D. C., to secure a
term of the United States Court held in Skagway. - Railroad stops Sunday work in
its offices. - Harry Hudson killed on the railroad by a blast. - The toll gate
again demolished.
13. Death of Robin Bryden Jack, civil engineer, from paralysis.
14. Attorney John G. Price married to Miss Mabelle Clare Dent. - Hose Co. No. 2
gives a masquerade ball. - Discovery of gold on Tahkin River.
15. Bar Association makes a presentation to Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Price. - First
carload of freight carried to the Summit. - Daily Alaskan increased from six to
seven columns on each page.
16. Atlin miners threaten to riot. - Engineer R. B. Jack memorial services.
17. Andrew Bronk dies of apoplexy.
18. The Daily Alaskan reaches a regular circulation of over one thousand copies
daily.
19. Railroad telegraph line opened to Glacier station.
20. SKAGWAY'S PROUDEST DAY. - The railroad reaches the Summit, and a great
banquet is given there to commemorate the event. - Glorious sunshine with the
mercury 22 below. - Mean temperature at Skagway six above zero.
21. Skagway's militia company petitions to be sent to fight the Filipinos.
22. Newsboys have a Washington's Birthday banquet at the German Bakery. - Rev.
Dr. Campbell, Episcopalian minister, drops dead in his cabin.
23. United States troops moved from Dyea to occupy the Dyea-Klondike wharf and
hotel as barracks.
24. Captain Gus Knach dies at Haines of pneumonia.
25. Geo. A. Brackett enjoined against collecting tolls on wagon road.
26. Special illustrated Sunday issue of the Daily Alaskan, sixteen pages.
28. Railroad Contractor Hugh Foy dies at White Pass of pneumonia.
MARCH.
1. Dyea's big fire, Palace and Northern hotels, Chilcoot tram stables, Senate
saloon and the Court House all totally destroyed in an hour; losses over
$12,000. - Steamers shipped over the railroad to Bennett. - Hugh Foy's funeral.
- Strike declared on the railroad.
2. Trial of wagon road rioters begins. - Railroad strikers come to the city; one
thousand men said to have joined the strikers; assigned reason a cut in wages
from 35c to 30c per hour.
3. Haines made a port of entry. - Bernard J. Farley, one of the alleged wagon
road rioters, charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, held for trial.
4. Wagon road rioters all discharged on a technicality, except Farley. - Editor
George T. Ulmer dies at Juneau of pneumonia.
5. John Wise, steward of the railroad hospital, hurriedly leaves town, taking
the company's cash with him. - Strikers go to church.
6. News of Dawson's great fire on Feb. 15 reaches here. - Inauguration of the
Arctic Brotherhood. - Indignant public protest against a circular issued by the
strikers in an attempt to injure Skagway's commercial interests. - Erysipeias
epidemic.
8. Public meeting of strikers in which they fail to substantiate their charges.
- Tom Dugan shoots and dangerously wounds William Ray and shoots himself dead.
9. William Ray, shot by Dugan, dies. - John B. Wesley given an Odd Fellow's
funeral.
10. Steamer Dirigo wrecked on Midway Island; no lives lost.
11. Mountain goat shot within half a mile of town, by Fred Weber.
12. Mob of strikers go to Camp 1 and intimidate the workers.
13. Strikers attack railroad shops at night; one of them, J. Robert White, is
struck down by Dr. Whiting and put in jail.
14. The troops from Dyea are sent for and arrive. - Striker White tried and
sentenced to Sitka for six months. - General Turner opens a law office.
15. End of railroad strike. - Dominion government orders a telegraph line to be
built from Bennett to Dawson.
16. New waterworks franchise applied for.
17. Big St. Patrick's Day parade; a green banquet at Clancy's and a hot
masquerade ball by the ire laddies.
18. Strong protest from Atlin against alien law.
20. Twenty-stamp quartz mill taken to Dawson by A. B.. Williams. - Fred Crewe
starts to return to Dawson on a bicycle.
21. Order from Ottawa that all lake and river steamers must have British
officers. - Four steamers landing freight. - Beautiful sunshine and warm weather
or the past ten days. - Steamer Dirigo libeled for salvage. - John A. Beckman
given a Knights of Pythias funeral.
22. Canadian customs officials again stop American convoys, this time at the
Summit. - Arrival of Rev. J. J. Walter, found of McCabe college.
23. Deputy Collector Andrews again stops the shipment of liquor in bond.
24. Commissioner Sehlbrede takes a hand in sanitary matters. - C. D. Beebe dies.
- W. J. Ferry makes the trip from Dawson on a bicycle in eight and a half days.
- Isaac S. Mollatt dies.
25. Clams planted in Skagway Bay. - Beach warrants issued for the arrest of
packers for contempt of court in regard to wagon road.
26. Firemen give a big funeral to C. D. Beebe.
27. Chamber of Commerce organized.
28. City Council declares the city free of debt.
29. Wagon road rioters heavily fined; J. H.. Brook, $500; John Mahoney, $250.
30. Telegraph party arrives to put up the line from Bennett to Dawson.
31. Steamer City of Topeka on the rocks near Wrangel Narrows. - H. L. Lombard
drops dead in the Pak Train saloon from heart disease. - Fit sittings of the U.
S. District Court held in Skagway. - Case to decided the managership of Moore's
wharf heard.
APRIL.
1. Ernie and Gus Miller, of the Occidental, show the only serpent in Alaska. -
Lakes begin to break up.
2. Easter observed in all the churches. - Anniversary of the great snow slide on
the Chilkoot Pass, Dyea; 53 bodies found. - Topeka still on the rocks. -
Excursion to Haines to see the "boom" there.
3. Court denies restraining order as to the management of Moore's wharf asked by
the Moores. - Burton W. Johnson, wagon road rioter, fined $500.
4. Trustees appointed for the proposed McCabe college. - Juneau Elks come to
assist in organizing a lodge in Skagway.
5. Governor Brady and his family visit Skagway. - Chamber of Commerce duly
organized.
6. Y. M. C. A. moves to Victoria Hall, its present quarters.
7. Skagway post office made a third instead of a fourth-class office.
8. Two men start for Dawson on a tandem bicycle.
9. Steamer City of Seattle breaks her crank near Juneau. - First regular meeting
of the Elks lodge. - Funeral of Rev. A. J. Campbell, who died February 27.
10. City Council grants a franchise to the Automatic Telephone Company. - Fool
trip to Dawson on a tandem bicycle abandoned.
11. Baptist Home Mission Society donates $1000 to help erect a church here. -
Presbyterian Church organized with Rev. J. A. Sinclair as pastor.
12. B. B. Denton found guilty of lot jumping at Haines, Judge Ripinsky being the
plaintiff. - Railroad earnings nearly $25,000 per day, with only 21-1/2 miles of
track. - Miners rushing to Ketchikan. - Joseph E. Floyd, ex-deputy collector,
dies at Atlin.
13. Edward Hensel commits suicide at Atlin by blowing the top of his head off
with a rifle. - Roderick Ryan dies of pneumonia. - Clarence Miller robs the Mug
restaurant of $600.
14. Strike reported in Warm Pass, twenty miles from town. - Steamer Dirigo
damages assessed at $20,000.
15. Cold snap makes Bennett trail good for traveling.
16. Railroad located to Bennett.
17. British sloop Dorothy seized for failing to report at Mary Island. - Arthur
Copeland resigns the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce. - Hose Co. No. 2
elects directors.
18. Steamer Humboldt reported to have struck Vanderbilt reef. - Fred. Ronkendorf
opens his new cafe, corner of Sixth Avenue.
19. Funeral of Ex-Deputy Collector Joseph E. Floyd, attended by sixty
representatives of A. O. U. W., K. of P., Off Fellows and Workmen of the World,
and many friends. - Arrangements made to ship the Klondike clean-up out this
way. - Chamber of Commerce memorializes Postmaster General on our wretched
postal facilities. - George Ryan sent to Sitka for highway robbery.
20. Vitto Bertone found dead at Log Cabin with $453 in his pocket.
21. Mrs. J. W. Power leaps from steamer Farallon on her way to this port. -
Trails in bad condition; five pack horses lost in the canyon. - Rev. W. H. G.
Temple of Seattle preaches in Union Church. - Alien miners of Atlin institute
damage suits against the British Columbia government for claims aggregating
$15,000,000. - Arctic Brotherhood camp organized at Bennett.
22. Indians at Chilkat, armed, stop white men making the trail from Haines. -
Junior Christian Endeavor Society organized.
23. American customs convoys again permitted to go through to Log Cabin.
24. First stock subscribed for McCabe college. - Knights of Pythias organize a
relief club. - Steamer rates advance $2.50 for second class freight, to go into
effect May 1. - Jerry Perry dies of erysipelas.
25. Chilkat Indian outbreak squelched; two chiefs and several bucks arrested. -
Married, F. E. Twichell and Miss Ethel Mary Reyburn.
26. Dr. L. S. Keller elected president of the Chamber of Commerce. - Eight of
the Chilkat Indians found guilty and sentenced to Skagway jail for thirty days.
27. Trail over Summit Lake declared impassable for heavy teams.
28. Chamber of Commerce addresses Postmaster General on the need of better
postal facilities.
MAY.
1. James Larkin appointed fire warden and city sanitary inspector. - Great rush
to Burro Creek across the bay. - Very successful May Pole festival in the
Presbyterian Church. - J. A. Whitson dies at Log Cabin of pneumonia.
2. Steamer Orizaba of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company makes her first trip
to Skagway.
3. Greatest fire ever in Skagway; seven buildings consumed in an hour, including
the Brown shoe store; a total loss of nearly $17,000. - Chamber of Commerce
appoints a committee on government school sites and public buildings.
4. James Freeman commits suicide in Atlin. - Opening of Atlin mining season
postponed to July 1.
5. Six large steamers building at Bennett. - Division Engineer F. B. Flood
married Miss Leila Ada Miller.
8. Frank Berns leaves the Alaska Steamship Co. to manage the White Horse tram.
9. Movement to form a Masonic Lodge.
10. Eighty turkeys start to walk over the trail to Bennett, there to be shipped
to Dawson.
11. Poles for the Automatic Telephone Company going up.
12. Contract awarded for new Baptist Church. - Stage line started from the
Summit too Bennett.
13. Captain N. W. Robinson comes to Skagway to look out a site for an army post.
15. College building committee decide that the edifice shall be of native
granite. - First definite information as to the Cape Nome discoveries.
16. Dawson had another tremendous fire on April 21st, destroying the entire
business portion, the losses aggregating $1,000,000. - All traffic over the
lakes stopped by the mounted police.
17. Trails bad to Atlin and lakes almost open. - First large party of tourists
arrives. - Chamber of Commerce invites Editors' Association to visit Skagway.
18. Captain Irving presents the Arctic Brotherhood with 45,000 feet of lumber to
build its new camp. - A vandal chops down Captain Moore's big tree.
19. Telegraph line reaches Caribou.
20. President Farrell of the Pacific Coast Steamship Co. brings a large party to
visit Skagway. - Reply from Senator Fairbanks of the Joint High Commission.
Accepting the invitation of the Chamber of Commerce to come and look over the
boundary question on the boundary itself. - Chamber of Commerce decides to
advertise Skagway.
21. Traffic on Lake Lindeman stopped by mounted police.
22. Steamer Farallon is chartered by the Washington & Alaska Steamship Co. and
arrives on her first trip for that company. - Dance and social for a woman's
ward in Bishop Rowe hospital nets $270.
23. A. Harman drowned in Otter Lake on the 16th, the ice breaking under him.
24. Y. M. C. A. entertains Professor T. S. Lippy, the Klondike millionaire.
25. Efforts to combine all the lake and river steamboats made.
26. Rich ore said to be found on Skagway hillsides; the "John Wesley,: "Charles
Wesley" and "Susanna Wesley" claims staked; great rejoicing among the
Methodists. - Alexander Grey dies suddenly of apoplexy. - Steamer Danube ashore
in the Gulf of Georgia.
27. Bennett steamboat men fail to combine. - A cut rate to Dawson of $50. -
Lighthouse tender Manzanite in port.
29. Canadian Development Co. announces a $10 rate to Dawson.
30. First Bank of Skagway fails. - Water very low in Lake Bennett.
31. Chamber of Commerce raises a subscription of $455 per month for advertising
Skagway. - Millionaire Professor Lippy leaves for Dawson and gives a check for
$50 to the Y. M. C. A.
JUNE.
1. Lake Bennett open for nine miles; Marsh Lake still unbroken.
2. Rev. S. Hale Young, founder of the First Protestant Church in Alaska, 21
years ago, visits Skagway. - Public school closes for summer vacation.
3. Knights of Maccabees organize a social club. - Ore from "Wesley" claims on
the hillside proves to have been "salted;" - Methodists study the Book of Job.
4. Louis Urick killed on the Summit; buried under tons of snow. - Charles Mortz
and Frank Kane drowned in Lake Lindeman.
5. Bennett still too low for navigation; steamer Gleaner grounded at Caribou.
6. Rates in Dawson from Bennett rise to $100. - Rev. L. J. H. Worden,
Episcopalian minister, is asked by Bishop Rowe to tender his resignation. -
Arctic Brotherhood elects officers; Joseph T. Haynes elected Arctic Chief.
7. Lakes reported upon but Bennett still low. - Railroad company break up Summit
Lake with explosives.
8. "Skagway Day"; all good citizens turn out and clean up the streets and
alleys; leading merchants handle rakes and brooms. - Steamer S. S. Bailey leaves
Bonnett for White Horse. - Three steamers reach White Horse. - Three steamers
reach White Horse, two from Dawson, the other from Selkirk; they left Dawson May
25th and had to cut their way through new ice.
9. Chamber of Commerce sends 1000 copies of the Daily Alaskan to Dawson, to
advertise Skagway.
10. Lakes still too low; scows and boats blocked with ice in Marsh Lake. -
Bishop Rowe entertained. - Steamer Columbia leaves White Horse for Dawson.
11. First passengers from Dawson arrive; they bring over a million dollars of
gold dust and nuggets. - News of the wreck of steamer Columbia near Five
Fingers, on her way back to Dawson. - Business houses keep open all night.
13. U. S. District Court sits in Skagway. - Jessie Rounds acquitted on charge of
murdering Johnson at White Pass.
14. Local option voted on; 463 vote for saloons and 68 against. - Lakes steadily
rising; large steamers anticipate no further delays.
15. Large Cook excursion party goes to the Summit.
16. Chamber of Commerce gives a successful concern in the new reception
pavilion. - News of George Sanger being killed at Porcupine. - Haines' brickyard
started. - Seventy-five Klondikers bring out $200,000.
17. Sol Ripinsky gets an adverse verdict in Haines lot jumping case. - One
hundred more Klondikers arrive with heavy sacks.
18. Multi-millionaire J. D. Rockefeller, Congressman E. J. Hill, Bishop Rowe and
other distinguished visitors arrive.
19. City Council says "curfew" shall ring every night at 9 o'clock, and that
children on the streets after than hour will be arrested.
20. Jessie Rounds acquitted of murder a few days ago, fined $50 for drunkenness.
21. Northwest Mounted Police refuse to permit people to pass to the interior
without two months' assorted provisions, and at least $500 in cash, or six
months' assorted provisions and not less than $200 in cash over and above the
money required to pay expenses from the border to Dawson.
22. Contracts signed for the lowering of the water mains.
23. Eight Klondikers bring out 119 pounds of gold dust earned by day labor. -
News of Joe Juneau's death in Dawson.
24. News of wreck of the British steamer Danube on hidden reef off Denman
Island; no lives lost.
25. News of the finding of three dead men in a cabin near Moose Lake, Big
Salmon.
26. City Council grants a franchise to the new electric light company.
27. Another great day for Skagway. - Revenue cutter McCulloch, that fired the
first shot in the Spanish war, arrives with Senator Charles W. and Mrs.
Fairbanks, Senator and Mrs. Addison Foster, E. O. Graves, president of Seattle
Chamber of Commerce, Governor Brady, ex-Senator Swineford and others. - Musicals
in the afternoon in Fireman's Hall, monster reception in evening in Chamber of
Commerce pavilion.
28. Senatorial party escorted to the Summit by Chamber of Commerce and leading
citizens. - Views of leading citizens of Alaska laid before senators in able
speeches of a meeting of Chamber of Commerce in the evening. - N. Haywood ad J.
H. Kanyon arrived from Dawson with 50 pounds of gold. - Moore's wharf case
decided; C. E. Wynn-Johnson the general manager.
29. Senatorial party receive on revenue cutter McCulloch. - George Carmack,
discoverer of the Klondike, arrives with 1000 ounces of dust for cigar money.
30. First scow load of brick from Haines' brickyard. - Edward G. Ward
accidentally shot by Mrs. C. E. Turner. - Fifty goldbearers from Dawson get in.
JULY.
1. License law goes into effect; many saloons closed.
2. Kaufman Bros. send four men to fix a large American flag on Dewey peak.
3. Edward G. Ward dies.
4. Daily Alaskan printed in the National colors. - Chamber of Commerce, City
Council and other bodies combine for a glorious Fourth. - Parade, speeches,
sports, grand hall, fireworks. - Chamber of Commerce entertains eight visiting
Congressmen and other distinguished guests at dinner. - J. M. Goodwin, the
celebrated editor of the Salt Lake Tribune here.
5. Cape Nome diggings declared by the Juneau "Miner" to be another Copper River
fraud. - Many fires on the hillsides.
6. Railroad completed to Bennett; golden spike driven by Mrs. E. C. Hswkins;
large excursion of citizens and distinguished guests. - Two thousand pounds of
gold on the evening train.
7. Verdict of the inquest on the shooting of Ward - accidental.
8. Eagles elected officers - president, Dr. L. S. Keller.
9. Many tourists in town.
10. Clyde McDougal found starving in Laumeister's old ice house on the eat
bench.
12. Welcome tendered Rev. and Mrs. Harrison, the now pastor of the Presbyterian
Church.
13. Adlien's corrugated iron warehouse destroyed by fire. - Elks give a ladies'
social.
14. Alaska General Electric Company organized.
15. New bell placed in the tower o the Presbyterian Church.
17. Skagway's militia company gives a smoking concern.
18. Suicide of A. J. Hill, manager for the Alien Bros. - Edward Tonkin absconds.
19. N. M. Bobsford, manager of the Atlin branch of the Bank of Halifax, brings
in $176,000 in dust. - Senator Perkins of California here.
20. Colonel Thomas Fitch, "the silver-tongued orator of the Sierras," pays us a
visit.
21. Judge Johnson and the officials of the District Court leave to hold courts
in Northern and Northeastern Alaska. - Lieut. Governor McInnes of British
Columbia here.
22. George Peck badly injured in jumping from a moving train.
23. Kindergarten picnic at Reid's Falls.
24. W. T. Iliff leases the saw mill. - Deutscher Verein organized.
25. $400,000 of gold dust comes to on evening train.
26. Quartz discoveries on Big Horn and Windy Pass reported.
27. Steamer Anglian sinks at a wood landing near Little Salmon.
28. Military ball by the Skagway militia company. - Forest fires sweep away the
D. K. T. wharf at Dyea, used as barracks for U. S. troops.
29. U. S. troops moved from Dyea to the Moore Park in this city. - First meeting
of the Arctic Brotherhood in its new clubhouse.
30. S. H. Graves, president of the White Pass & Yukon Railway, and W. Close, its
financial agent, here.
31. Cy. Warman, the celebrated magazine writer, paid a visit to Skagway.
AUGUST.
1. Chamber of Commerce reports a total monthly subscription of $447, to
advertise Skagway, and $155 received from out-of-town merchants.
2. Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 give a dramatic entertainment at the Armory.
6. Bishop Ridley of the Church of England preaches to a large congregation in
Union Church.
7. Presbyterian Synod, 300 strong, visits Skagway.
8. M. J. Cohen, merchant and pioneer of Juneau, dies. - Discovery of the
Engineers' group, near Taku Arm, surface are assaying $12,000 to the ton.
9. Chamber of Commerce appoints a committee to go to Juneau to confer with the
Juneau Chamber as to calling a convention of citizens to formulate legislation
for Alaska.
10. Congressman F. W. Cushman of Tacoma is here.
11. Railroad begins grading at Caribou.
12. Chamber of Commerce reception to Congressman Cushman, in the pavilion.
14. First large gathering of the German Verein; picnic, schutzenfet and ball in
Camp 1 Park.
15. Rev. J. A. Sinclair leaves for a vacation. - Strike of longshoremen on
Moore's wharf.
16. Convention of Alaska citizens fixed for October 9th, at Juneau.
17. New Baptist Church opened with a concert.
18. City Council gives an excursion to Bennett to raise a fund for public
purposes; result $469. - S. E. Morse, Consul-General at Paris during Cleveland's
first term, visits Skagway.
19. Extraordinary high tide.
20. Ruins of Theater Royal removed.
21. Railroad pay day; amount for month $75,000.
22. Seattle Business Men's Excursion to Skagway; a party of nearly two hundred;
Chamber of Commerce escorts party to Bennett, where they were entertained at
luncheon by the Pacific Contract Co.; meeting of welcome in the Chamber of
Commerce pavilion and many complimentary speeches by the visitors.
23. Cornerstone of the McCabe college laid.
25. Rev. L. J. H. Wooden and family leave for Port Yukon, where Mr. Wooden is
sent as missionary to the Indians. - Steamer Willie Irving breaks down in Rink
Rapids.
26. Rev. Dr. Moorehouse, secretary of the Baptist Board of Education, of New
York City, entertained at the Baptist Church.
27. Wrecked Danube again on the run, thoroughly repaired and refitted; she
brings 700 tons of freight.
28. Judge E. D. Stratford here, to locate sites for government buildings.
29. Thos. Whitton measures Mount Dewey, and finds it 5240 feet high.
30. W. J. Walker takes in $30,000 worth of machinery in Dawson.
SEPTEMBER.
1. S. M. Irvin becomes traffic manager of the W. P. & y. Ry., vice L. H. Gray.
2. Contractor Heney gives a banquet to Hon. D. C. Frazer, M. P.
3. Earthquake shock; no damage done except to weak nerves.
4. Four men from Switzerland arrested on a charge of attempting to smuggle
diamonds and watch movements.
5. "Sailor Bill" Partridge reports the Florman quartz claims at Atlin sold in
London for $5000,000. - 2500 pounds of gold from Dawson shipped on the steamer
City of Seattle.
6. Judge Day offers a resolution at the Chamber of Commerce meeting proposing a
reciprocity treaty to take effect north of Prince of Wales Island.
7. Chas. Sengfelder returns from Nome and says the whole district is marvelously
rich.
8. Frank Slavin and Peter Jackson have a boxing match at the Armory.
9. "Kid" Gallagher found guilty of assault on Boss Baker Bauer.
10. Earthquake shocks at Haines.
11. Public school opens, with Professor Gwin as principal. - Concert and dress
soiree for the benefit of Bishop Rowe hospital.
12. Charles Eckerman shot dead by James Carroll at Dyea.
13. Call issued for an election of ten delegates to the convention at Juneau. -
Railroad hospital moved to thirteenth Avenue.
14. Louis Bunson dies from heart failure. - Body of George Sauger, drowned in
McKinley Creek in June, is discovered. - Dr. Lamont Gordon, president of McCabe
college, arrives.
15. Another slight earthquake shock.
16. Lowering of the water mains completed.
18. Mass meeting appoints a board of electors to select the delegates to the
convention at Juneau. - Senator Shoup of Idaho delivers and address to the
Chamber of Commerce.
19. Opening of McCabe college in rooms on Main and Eighth; 30 pupils. - Walter
Church leaves for Nome.
20. $400,000 in dust from Dawson,, consigned to the Bank of British North
America, comes in on evening train. - A third teacher engaged for the public
school.
21. Dyea elects delegates to the convention.
22. Skagway elects as delegates to the convention: R. C. Smith, Thos. Whitten,
C. A. Sehlbrede, U. S. Commissioners, A. S. Dautrick, J. T. Hayne, Gen. C. W.
Turner, Rev. J. J. Walter, I. Kaufman, Dr. L. S. Keller. - Blockade of freight
at Bennett and Dawson.
23. Captain Moore says Cape Nome can be reached a month earlier by this route.
24. Skagway delegates organize with J. G. Price as chairman, J. T. Hayne
secretary.
25. Several Skagway people leave for Nome. No one doubts the richness of the
district now.
26. Strike at White Horse, which began on the 25th, won by the workmen.
27. S. M. Irwin, the new traffic manager of the railroad, arrives.
28. Landslide north of Rocky Point blocks the railroad for a day.
29. Public meeting decides to devote Union Church to public school purposes. -
Tent of Maccabees instituted.
30. Daily Alaskan receives its first news by wire from Dawson. - U. S. troops
moved into Astoria hotel, which is made the barracks.
OCTOBER.
1. High winds and bad weather at Bennett. - The town booming.
2. $750,000 of dust sent from Dawson to Canadian Bank of Commerce.
3. Arthur Goddard, who killed his partner, James Prater, in Dawson, brought here
for shipment to an asylum.
4. Daily Alaskan exchanges greetings by wire with Atlin "Globe." - Captain Hall
tows icebergs into port and sell the ice. - John Kalem starts for Dawson.
5. Seven barges lost in Bennett. - Dawson reports by wire fine weather and brisk
business. - Sack of gold dust lost from Occidental hotel.
6. First snow reported; several inches on the Summit and at Bennett; none here.
- Another shipment to Canadian Bank of Commerce of $250,000 in dust.
9. Alaska convention at Juneau opens with 47 delegates. - Mass meeting called by
Chamber of Commerce; passes resolutions protesting against the ceding of any
part of Alaska territory. - Mrs. Pippen dies suddenly of heart failure.
10. Railroad has 20 miles of roadbed made below Caribou. - Arctic Brotherhood
clubhouse completed.
11. Canadian Bank of Commerce ships on the Dirigo 400 pounds of Dawson gold
dust, and the Bank of British North America $300,000. - Ex-Gov.. Swineford
elected president of the Alaska convention.
12. Reported that one-third of Dawson's people have left for Nome. - No ice yet
reported on the Yukon. - Forty scows leave Bennett in one day.
13. Storms raging all days at Bennett and steamers wind bound.
14. 400 feet of snow sheds completed. - Weather in Dawson clear and cold.
15. Weather in Atlin open and mining continuing.
16. Daily Alaskan's special correspondent wires that Dawson had its first snow
two weeks ago, but the ten inches of preceding night the only fall of
consequence up to this date.
17. British American Corporation purchase large copper properties at White Horse
from Porer & Co. - J. G. Price elected the delegate to Washington, D. C.
18. Steamer Lindeman wrecked in Squaw Rapids. - Weather in Dawson 20 below; in
Skagway 34 above. - Public school employs a fourth teacher.
19. Quartz claims located on the east shore, near the harbor.
20. Skating on Lake Dewey. - Dawson weather 10 above.
21. Terminal town on the Caribou extension, platted and named Closeleigh. -
Close of navigation near. - Much floating ice in the Yukon.
22. Navigation closed above Dawson. - Lake Bennett freezes.
23. O'Brien and Stanley resign from Council.
24. Steamers Stratton and Olive May sink; Augilean in danger; many scows frozen
in.
25. Organization of the White Pass Mining & Development Co. - $73,950 of dust
sent from Atlin.
26. "Everybody's Birthday" at the Episcopal Church social.
27. F. H. Whiting, superintendent of the railroad, resigns.
28. Ice moving out of the river from Selkirk to Dawson; steamer to be sent to
bring the mail from Dawson. - Atlin creeks frozen and mining suspended.
29. Hydrants and supplies arrive.
30. A. S. Dautrick and J. E. Lilly elected members of the City Council.
31. Firemen celebrate Halloween with a masquerade ball. - Canadian Bank of
Commerce moves to new quarters.
NOVEMBER.
1. J. P. Robers becomes division superintendent of railroad. - Chamber of
Commerce petitions the Lighthouse Board for lights in Alaska waters.
2. Captain Moore lays the foundations for his mansion. - New winter trail to
Dawson completed; said to save 120 miles.
4. Work begun on the Chilkoot tunnel.
5. News by wire from Dawson that river there has been closed since Oct. 24.
6. Railroad begins laying track beyond Caribou. - The Eagles have a grand
social.
7. Passengers of Anglian reached Skagway, having walked from Selwyn, where the
vessel was blocked in by ice, Oct. 24. - District Court convenes at Juneau.
8. New winter trail reported in fine condition.
9. Three young men leave Skagway for Nome, crossing Bennett in a boat.
10. Reported drowning of David Bixley and Abner Bowen in Chilkoot Inlet, which
proved unfounded.
12. Discovery of rich copper ores on Atlin Lake. - J. Smith and A. Beatty
drowned in White Horse Rapids.
13. Captain Hovey offers to City Council, to use his troops in case of fire.
14. Report of loss of Dumbolten party, three men and two women, on the 11th, in
the upper Yukon.
15. Special Treasury Agent Sharizer returns from Nome and corroborates the
stories of its richness.
11. E. F. Miller, charged with embezzlement in connection with the loss of a
sack of gold in his Hotel Occidental, is tried at Juneau and acquitted.
17. The Anglian's mail from Dawson arrives at Skagway.
18. Railroad begins to build its own cars.
19. Canadian officials report number of vessels, boats and scows to Dawson
during open season at 900; number of people going in 5434; coming out 4683.
20. Rich free milling ledge discovered on bed of Pine Creek, near Nugget Point,
reported.
21. Steamer Gleaner is the last large steamer to lay up.
22. Chamber of Commerce receives reply from Lighthouse Board that the Board will
ask for an appreciation of $300,000 for lights for Alaska waters.
23. Mass meeting requests present City Council to remain in office until the
city obtains municipal government.
24. Arctic Brotherhood gives a housewarming.
25. Post office moved to its new and convenient quarters.
26. Skagway Eagles give a big social.
27. First me to walk out all the way from Dawson arrive. - Marion D. Landis and
B. Hawkins.
28. Two parties start for Nome. - Dogs scarce in town.
29. Methodist Mission Board donates $1000 to McCabe college. - Thanksgiving
celebrated; dinner to newsboys given by Kaufman Bros.
30. Weather at Dawson 1 above; Selwyn 5 below; Bennett 20 above; Skagway 35
above.
DECEMBER.
1. Canadian shipments to Bennett, nine months, amount to $3,000,000. - Captain
Rant resigns.
2. Skating on Lake Dewey begins.
3. Elks hold Lodge of Sorrow.
4. Edward James Gray accidently killed in the Partridge sawmill, Lake Bennett. -
Small fire in Clancy's theater.
5. Blackett-Patten lot jumping case settled by compromise. President McKinley,
in his message, devotes much kindly thought to Alaska.
6. Chamber of Commerce decides to publish a circular showing advantages of
Skagway route to Nome.
7. Taku Arm in fine condition for travel.
8. Extensive improvements begun at Moore's wharf to meet requirements Nome
travel.
9. W. F. Foster, lieutenant of "Soapy Smith," pardoned by the president, after
serving one year of his term.
10. 200 men on the Dawson trail mushing for Nome.
11. Steamer Alpha laid up, the last of the Bennett fleet out.
12. Heavy fall in temperature along the Yukon basin, 42 below at Ogilvie.
13. Captain Hogan rescues Harry Morse, who was drowning in the bay. - Catholic
bazaar closes, after two evenings, which netted $765.
14. LaBarge frozen over; about six miles of Lake Bennett frozen.
18. First snow storm of the season.
19. Snow storm continues and breaks the record. Two feet deep in the city, with
heavy winds.
20. Trains still at a standstill, blockaded by snow. Wires to Dawson down.
22. Chamber of Commerce first annual dinner.
23. First term of McCabe college ends, with averages surprisingly high.
25. Christmas celebrated as never before in Skagway. Horse sleights and dog
teams crowd the streets, and champagne punch and roast turkey goes a-begging.
26. Eagle City Chamber of Commerce decides to cooperate with Dominion.
27. Government to send the telegraph from Dawson to Eagle.
28. Chilkat river frozen, freighting to Porcupine begun. Bennett not yet fit for
teaming.
29. Steamer Mocking Bird wrecked on Dyea Point, owing to floating ice. - Action
taken to form a Skagway shipping association.
30. Trains again blockaded; rotary engine breaks down.
31. Bennett solid, horse teams begin travel.
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