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In The News
The Nome News
Nome, Alaska
Saturday, March 31, 1900
Vol. 1, No. 26
Page 1.
NEWS NOTES.
E. O. Lindblom and a party of three men are now on their way to Nome via Katmai.
W. F. P. Ellis, Deputy recorder for Golden gate District, came in this week. He
says that good prospects have been found on Grand Central Creek, which centers
Lake Minerva. The Creek is about 12 miles long and it has been completely
staked. There are good many men in the district and considerable prospecting is
being done. John Kill has a number of men in that section prospecting for
quartz.
Thomas Dwyer, ex-mayor of Everett, Washington, R. Coulter and J. C. Frawley
arrived this week from Dawson.
W. H. Emerson better known as "Billy," a well-known business and mining man of
the coast and the Klondike, arrived in Nome Monday, having left Dawson on
February 10, making the trip in 31 traveling days. He passed 150 people on their
way to Nome, and he says there are between 300 and 500 scattered along the
route. Near the mouth of the Yukon traveling was bad owing to the overflow and
the portage from Kaltag is becoming bare.
Oscar Hansen, left Dawson February 12 reaching here March 12, having made the
trip alone. A. B. Taylor, who also arrived this week met Kimball company's
express on February 18 between Yukon and circle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINING NOTES.
Mountain mining district, back of Granite district, has been organized with J.
Lindner as recorder and James McCoskrie Deputy. It is claimed that paydirt
averaging eight cents to the pan was found 3 feet down and pieces of course gold
averaging five cents were also found in the gravel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 3.
NEWS NOTES.
The horseshoe has undergone alterations and renovation, and is now one of the
cozy's resorts in town.
Judge Moore and F. J. Lackie visited Port Safety this week. They encountered
terrific whether the other side of Cape Nome, and the judge says that the wind
was strong enough at Solomon River to blow dogs 300 yards out to sea.
John C. Moran has dug a well 21 feet deep opposite the N. A. T. & T. Co. the
well is cased and lined with oakum, and Mr. Moran claims the water will be
absolutely free from service impurities.
H. E. Shields has opened a neat and comfortable law office in the Kimball Bank
building. Col. Shields was formally registered at the US land office at Seattle,
and has been a leading attorney in Washington for many years.
A number of Nome men visited Port Safety Thursday to participate in the town
election at that place. M. J. Burns was re-elected mayor and Eugene McElwaine
recorder. The town commissioners are Messrs. McDonald, Sinclair, Scottness, Silk
and Tatton. Among the Nome men present were P. H. Watt, Charles C. Suter, C. W.
Garside, Harry Ball, A. H. Allardyce, John Bennett, H. O. Nordwig, Z. E. Foster,
J. Adam, town marshal E. Ericckson.
Miss M. Gates, the second lady to make the long trip from Dawson, arrived last
week. She was accompanied by Charlie Bennett and W. A. Langille. Miss Gates, who
is a sister of Humboldt Gates, the well-known Klondike mining man, stood the
journey finely and suffered but little hardship.
N. P. Hatch writes S. C. Herron that Judge Johnson will be associated with
Jackson & Hatch in the practice of law at Nome.
Mr. and Mrs. Z. E. Foster arrived from Golovin last week.
The Grill has been sold to Mrs. Humphreys. Mr. and Mrs. Lauritzen have taken
rooms at Hotel Casco.
Rev. J. C. Prevost, of Circle, is en route to Nome.
Henry C. Ash, formally an attorney of Skagway, arrived in Nome Friday from
Dawson.
The fire boys are always all right. A number who were employed by the Chamber of
Commerce cleaning up the beach, insisted on deducting the amount of their poll
taxes, five dollars each, as also did a number of other firemen who were exempt
on account of age.
A. G. Shoemaker is acting chief of the fire department during the absence of
chief Allen.
Dr. Call, who is known as a devote T of the great American game of baseball, but
who would never be taken for a rancher, has, however, a fine team of young
colts, who will play the Miners team on Sunday afternoon.
E. R. Beeman returned Wednesday from a trip to Golovin city, looking bronzed but
hearty. He says that Jake Sweet has issued a challenge to wrestle any man in
Alaska for $1000 aside, best two out of three falls. The Golovin boys celebrated
St. Patrick's Day by a grand prize a dance, in which princes Stella took first
money.
The Elk is being refitted and re-furnished, and will shortly be opened by W. H.
Emerson & company.
C. S. Moody and Billy Donnelly shot a fine black fox the other side of Port
Safety a few days ago. Mr. Moody fired a shot at Reynard and he made for the
ice. Then the dogs were turned loose, and with the aid of more bullets the fox
was secured. Mr. Moody is having his prize mounted.
Rev. Dr. Koonce, of Rampart, writes Rev. Dr. Young that there will not be a
dozen people left in that town as soon as navigation opens. The Presbytery will
meet in Nome this summer.
Attorney C. S. Rosener, who left Nome last fall for San Francisco, has a most
vivid imagination judging by an interview published in the San Francisco
Examiner of November for. He names 15 or 20 prominent citizens, none of whom is
quoted as having made less than $50,000.
Mrs. E. S. Ingraham gave a delightful progressive whist party on Thursday
afternoon. A dainty lunch was served at the close of the game. The ladies
present were: Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Parrigo, Mrs. Miles, Mrs. Brown,
Mrs. Shields and Mrs. Strong.
Skiff Mitchell, a well-known Klondiker, was recently married in Nova Scotia to
Miss Lind.
The Chamber of Commerce has held several meetings during the week. Bylaws have
been adopted and several new members have joined the chamber. Major E. T.
Baldwin was elected vice president.
William Coombs, formally of Guilford Maine died of typhoid fever last night at
his home near the Bow Mercantile company. Deceased was unmarried and about 31
years of age. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.
The Grotto is being adorned with a handsome new front, manufactured in Nome.
James Murphy, brother of George Murphy, of the northern, who is down with
typhoid fever at his rooms in the Lindeberg-Roth building, is better today and
it is believed he will now recover under skillful medical treatment and the
efficient care of his nurse Mrs. Reid.
John Mullen, J. Estalman, C. C. Carbondale and Robert Steifer paid fines this
morning for violating health ordinance number 15.
A supply of school books for the public school has been received from Golovin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Advertised Letters.
There are letters at the News office for the following: John S. Burghart, Homer
Shepard, Joe Whalen, John McDermitt, Leon Manze, George W. Blake, Sam Currier,
John Nesbitt, William Keane, George Berks, H. B. Ciemans, C. E. Brown, Edward A.
Born, Ed Harrison, P. W. Green, John Cooper, J. S. Pitcher, Capt. R. N. Allaback,
William Dryden, Capt. George Tyler, George W. Sanders, Dan Bagley.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 4.
LOOKS LIKE MURDER.
Body of Oscar Becker Found on Yukon.
His Sister and Brother-in-law Missing -- A Greek Who was with Them Went to the
States.
US Deputy Marshall Lee returned Wednesday night from an official trip along the
coast as far as Saint Michael. His visit to Saint Michael had for its primary
object the investigation of the finding of the dead body of a man named Oscar
Becker near the mouth of the Yukon. The finding of the body was reported last
fall to Lieut. Cochran commanding the US post at Saint Michael, by a squaw who
also turned over to Lieut. Cochran a quantity of gold dust, a gold watch and a
number of silver dollars.
Becker was one of a party of four composed of his brother-in-law named Kuhner,
his wife, a sister of Becker, and a Greek. They were coming down the Yukon in
the steam launch with a scow in tow and it was reported last October that the
party had been drowned. The Greek however, is known to have gone outside. The
bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Kuhner have not been found and it is suspected that they
may have been murdered. The water is shallow where the launch and barge were
found and it is pointed out that it would be practically impossible for the
entire party to have been drowned. Near the launch a piece of woman stress and a
hood were found. The vessels are frozen in the ice and Lieut. Cochran will have
a thorough investigation made with the hope of discovering the bodies of Mr. and
Mrs. Kuhner. Becker and the Kuhners were from New York.
Marshall Lee also reports that three men who were crossing Norton Bay on March
21 were blown out to sea on the ice. A sudden and fierce Gail sprang up and the
ice broke loose from the shore so quickly that he and Al Deschamps, who was with
him, narrowly missed reaching land. The three men were evidently on their way
from Dawson and Marshall Lee thinks they may have reached sure in safety, as the
next day the wind changed and the ice moved back.
Gus Rifenstein was brought up from Bonanza Creek, Cape Denbigh district, charged
with an assault with a deadly weapon upon J. Laying. Rifenstein was examined
Friday before US Commissioner Rawson and bound over to the District Court. The
dispute between Rifenstahl and Lane originated over a mining claim.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WAS IT A MURDER?
The Body of C. Nelson Found Near Topkok.
The dead body of a man who has been identified as C. Nelson, formerly of Nome,
was found Monday evening near the Indian village of Optolikk, about 6 miles this
side of Topkok, by T. A. Daly, a Dawson man.
The body was found in a sort of hot, which was in reality a woodpile. The arms
were straight along each side, the hands clenched and the mouth closed. A
circular hole over the right temple leads to the belief that a murder has been
committed. When the body was found it was covered with a rubber blanket, but
nothing was under it. The feet were bare, but nearby was a pair of woolen socks.
The body was poorly dressed and the shirt front was open. From the looks of the
wound over the right eye, it would seem as though Nelson had been shot from
behind. The body was brought to Nome yesterday by Deputy Marshall Chamberlain.
In a frozen condition and examination of the body could not be made. The face
was much discolored and blackened, as if from Bruce's.
T. J. Nestor, of the city of Chicago hotel, recognized the man as C. Nelson, who
was a lodger at the Manhattan last September. Will Allen says that last fall he
had considerable money, but lost most of it in gambling. Nelson was also
interested in mining claims in the Golovin country. Mr. Ness store says that he
was also subject to fits. The theory is advanced that Nelson may have been
murdered by natives, who placed the body where it was found after killing him.
An inquest will be held this afternoon, with the following jury: George A. Shea,
M. Swanton, Capt. Siem, J. H. Wright, M. R.. Button, F. B. Porter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 2.
GREAT DEAL OF TALK.
Mayor and Council Waste Much Time.
Mayor "Chews the Rag" and the Councilmen Prove Stubborn -- Some Business
Transacted
The mayor and the municipal council wrangled for three quarters of an hour on
Tuesday night over the payment of a fine of a dollar each by Pennington and Lowe
because they were three minutes late. The mayor was inclined to be dictatorial
in the matter and Lowe was firm. He claimed that his tardiness was due solely to
a difference of time; so did Pennington, but the latter paid his fine while
Lowe's case went out over for future consideration and the delayed business was
taken up. The committee to home was referred the matter of the transfer of the
old town side records to the city recorder's office reported that nothing had
been accomplished. Pennington said in a short time the municipal recorder would
not need the old townsite records. The committee appointed to interview Judge
Rawson and chief of police Eddy regarding their reported prices nations were
given another week in which to report. The chief of police presented a report up
to March 20. The report shows that there were 31 arrests made for various
causes, 16 convictions secured, 12 dismissals and three cases held for trial in
the US court; police court fines collected $100; collected from gamblers, etc.
$320. The clerk was instructed to report the indebtedness of the US government
to the city, on account of meals furnished by the latter to US prisoners.
Secretary Button of the Chamber of Commerce asked that the city authorized the
deduction of poll taxes from all persons who had been working under the
direction of the chamber. The mayor pointed out this matter had been attended
to. A discussion ensued over some of the accounts of the late treasurer and the
matter was referred to the finance committee. A resolution of the Chamber of
Commerce was red relative to the appointment of two disinterested citizens to
act with the Council in the adjustment of the tax levy on city property on which
taxes have not been paid; also asking the council to fill up or fence all
excavations in the city and to remove obstructions from the streets. Referred to
a special meeting on Wednesday night.
A petition was presented from the property owners for a 60 foot street from A.
and B.. Streets between second and third. Attorney A. J. Green appeared for the
petitioners and after it clear presentation of the petitioners' request the city
surveyor was instructed to make a survey of the proposed Street at the cost of
the property owners. City scavenger Rosenkranz presented his resignation which
was accepted. W. E. Geiger asked that the license fees be fixed for bridge
across snake River, which he proposed to build, also that fees be fixed for
ferries, etc. the petition was referred to the license committee.
Ordinance number 38 defining the "line of beach in the municipal limits" was
red; also an amendment to ordinance number 33 relating to sanitation; also an
ordinance licensing the following businesses: transportation, trays and express,
variety shows, dance halls, glove contests, lunch wagons and stands, street
stands and peddlers.
The Council met in special session on Wednesday evening for the purpose of
considering the resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce referred to above. After
much talking it was deemed inadvisable to appoint two men to act with the city
treasurer in the adjustments of the tax levy as suggested by the Chamber of
Commerce, in view of the fact that another levy would be made after May 1. The
mayor said that no effort had been made to collect delinquent taxes, and
treasurer Bean said he had collected quite an amount chiefly, he thought,
because the chief of police had been after the delinquents. Not more than 20% of
property in the municipality had been assessed by the late treasurer. He would
undertake to say that if the if the city would set the corner stakes on blocks
and give him help to complete the assessment enough money could be raised to run
the city until next August.
The mayor and Wright scrapped probably more than usual during the discussion. It
was finally agreed that the Chamber of Commerce should be notified of the action
of the Council, and that a committee should of weight upon that body. An
adjournment was made until Thursday evening.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAWS FOR ALASKA.
Beach Claims at Nome Fixed at 20x160 Feet.
Bill Introduced in Congress to Prevent the Location of Claims by Power of
Attorney.
Washington, D. C., January 29--Sen. Nelson, of Minnesota, introduced a bill
today authorizing the secretary of war to issue permits to mine inland
underneath the navigable waters of Alaska, including bays and rivers, and on the
ocean below high water mark. Each claim for mining purposes on the beach at Nome
is fixed at 20 x 160 feet. Lacey of Iowa has introduced a bill extending the
placer mining laws of the United States to Alaska. It contains provisions making
these laws applicable to the tidelands, and prevents the location of any and all
claims by power of attorney, compelling individuals or agents of incorporated
companies to make personal stakings.
Washington, D. C., January 30.--Sen. Perkins of California, introduced three
bills today affecting Alaska, which provide amendments to the existing license
system, federal control and regulation of the salmon fisheries and stringent
laws for the protection of big game. The license measure readjusts the schedule
to fit the new conditions brought about by the influx of gold seekers. All
monies derived from the licenses are to be set apart for the maintenance of the
public schools in the district of Alaska.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINING NOTES.
$20 a day to the man is being taken from the beach at the mouth of Sonora Creek
between Cripple River and Sinrock, so it is said.
George A. Shea is exhibiting a $16 nugget found in Bonanza District recently.
W. H. Tate and others have bonded a group of seven tundra claims for $60,000.
O. Nelson left this week for Cape York where he will prospect on mint and Yankee
creeks.
T. J. Lane who returned this week from Port Clarence does not think much of the
reported court strike in that district.
Otto Rapp returned this week from Cape Denbigh, where he spent several weeks
prospecting claims. Mr. Rapp does not think much of the creeks on the left limit
of the Waktolik, the formation being volcanic. On the right limit, however, good
prospects have been found on Kino, Philadelphia, and Bonanza creeks. Mr. Rapp
says there were fully 600 people at Denbigh city that when he left.
$18 to the shovelful has been reported from Snow Gulch on the claim being
operated by beach brothers & Eddy, and owned by the Pioneer mining company.
Tons of supplies of various kinds are being taken out to the creeks in the
vicinity of Nome, and it looks as if scores of claims will be thoroughly
prospected this season.
On a tundra claim owned by Maj. Lippincott, Charles Matson recently rocked out
$11 in three hours. The whole is down about 15 feet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Real Estate Transfers.
W. J. Murtaugh has sold the lot on which word the beach lodging house and Royal
Café to Hugh Madden for $5500. Mr. Madden is erecting a new building on the lot
which will be used for saloon purposes.
Nestor & Gardner have sold the Manhattan lodging house to W. Mizner, the
consideration being $5000.
T. J. Nestor has bought a lot on front Street opposite the Delmonico from M. R.
Button. Mr. Nestor will erect a four-story building on the premises which will
be used as a hotel and restaurant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 4.
CLEANING THE CITY.
Fine Work Done on the Water Front.
A Metamorphosis Effected by Removing Accumulations of Filth -- The Draining of
the Town.
The work accomplished by the Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the
municipal council in cleaning up the city has been most marked. The change along
the waterfront is striking. Debris and detrital matter of all kinds have been
removed, and now the beach presents a clean front to the beholder. Garbage an
offal have been removed out on the ice beyond the flag line. The first two days
of this week nearly 100 men were employed on the waterfront. They were paid one
dollar an hour for their labor, and the amount of their taxes was deducted by
mutual consent, the city does getting the benefit of the work, and many men
willing but unable to pay their taxes, were given an opportunity to thus
liquidate their indebtedness to the city. The work was looked after by A. J.
Lowe and "Scotty" Stewart, while president Ferguson and secretary button, of the
chamber, were indefatigable, as were also individual members of the chamber. The
example set in cleaning the waterfront has been contagious. Maj. Lippincott has
been clearing the street in front of the Hunter of accumulations of ice and snow
and his good example has been followed by others.
The sewer and sanitation fund has continued to grow and is approaching $9000.
Treasurer Pope has shown himself to be the right man in the right place. Among
the big subscriptions received this week was one from the N. A. T. & T. Co. work
on the ditches will be commenced as soon as the survey can be completed.
Surveyor Glenn, whose offer of gratuitous services has been accepted by the city
said yesterday that the number of ditches cannot be determined until the line of
levels is run. This will take some time because of the huge drifts of snow.
Points will have to be uncovered every 100 feet in order to get an idea of the
topography. There will be Maine ditches East and West along front, second and
third streets. It will probably be found advisable to run the ditches along the
north limits of the streets that fewer culverts may be required. For ditches
tapping the others will probably be required to drain the tundra, emptying into
the sea, and one probably emptying into Dry Creek. These will embrace the
section between the N.. A. T. & T. Co. and snake River. The depth will depend on
the levels, but Mr. Glenn thinks there is fall enough to make the ditches
shallow; the drop from the tundra to the beach will average 8 feet in 100. Mr.
Glenn has as yet made no estimate of the time or cost of the undertaking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JUNEAU THE CAPITAL.
Many Applicants for Judge Johnson's Place.
Washington, D. C., February 7.--Via Skagway February 17.--There is now no longer
any doubt but what Juneau will be made the capital of Alaska and transferred
from Sitka. There is graved out, however, on account of the many internal
"knockers," when the much-needed legislation is going to pass.
Candidates for the position made vacant by the resignation of Judge Johnson are
springing up like mushrooms, and among the number are Judge Hunt of or a gun,
Mayor Humes of Seattle, Wickersham of Tacoma and Hyde of Spokane. The coast
senators who have the naming of the candidates for that position, express their
belief that an Eastern man will get the berth.
Alaska will not be allowed to delegate at this session of Congress and it looks
now as if no provision would be made for municipal government of Alaska.
Skagway and Juneau have both been holding mass meetings to urge Congress to turn
Gov. Brady down on whatever he may be lobbying for.
The government has ordered 12 lights to be erected in the Alaskan waters from
Lynn Canal down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arrivals From Dawson.
Among those who arrived this week from Dawson are the following: Charles
Spaulding who left January 29 with the Dawson news express, William Walker and
H. A. Reasoner who left Dawson February 7, Alex J. Lindsay, formerly with the N.
A. T. & T. Co., A. B. Taylor and W. H. Emerson.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Eagle By Bicycle.
E. R. Jesson arrived Thursday afternoon from Eagle, from which place he made the
journey on a bicycle, having left Eagle March 1. Both he and his silent steed
were in excellent condition when they arrived. Mr. Jessen brought late copies of
Dawson and outside papers for the news, and the news is thus enabled this week
to publish a batch of the freshest and most interesting news from the outside
that has been published in Nome. It is not necessary to add that the News news
service is unexcelled for this section, a fact that is appreciated by its
patrons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WIRE TO CAPE NOME.
A Half Million Dollars Has Been Appropriated.
Work Will Be Commenced as Soon as the Weather Permits -- No Provision for
Municipal Government.
Washington, D. C., February 14--via Skagway February 19.--The house committee on
military affairs has agreed on an amended appropriation of $500,000 for the
construction of military telegraph and cable lines to Alaska, to connect with
the headquarters department of Alaska and thence to the Yukon, Eagle city, Fort
Egbert, Saint Michael, Cape Nome and all important military posts in the
district.
Commercial business may be done on these lines under certain regulation rates to
be established by the secretary of war.
The appropriation of $500,000, has been made immediately available and work will
commence as soon as the weather permits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He's All Right.
Under date of December 8 Dr. H. C. Wilkinson writes Maj. Lippincott that he had
sold to lots back of the hunter on second street to L'Abbe, Considine and Malloy
of Seattle, who will erect a variety theater, saloon and gambling house on the
premises. The Hunter building will be extended 40 feet to second street, and the
alley between the hunter and the Dexter is to be kept open. In his letter among
many other interesting things Dr. Wilkinson says:
"Christmas will soon be here and I shall think of you and my many friends in
Nome, and drink a few small bottles to your health and prosperity for the new
year. You know all my friends and when you receive this letter get them all
together, have a good time and charge the expense to my personal account. Do it
in good shape and make at least one evening happy in a long and lonesome
winter."
The doctor is now in Seattle and will be in Nome as soon as he can get here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Military Headquarters.
Washington, February 7, via Skagway. February 17.--The war department has
designated Saint Michael as the headquarters of the military Department of
Alaska, with Col. Randall in charge, who will be given a wide scope of
authority. Capt. W. P. Richardson has been appointed Assistant adjutant general
of the same department.
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