Iditaroc Pioneer
one dollar ter month" 1D1TAROIX ALASKA, SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL 22. 1916_ centst™oot
DEATH OF VILLA
IS REPORTED
EL PASO, Texas, April 1 7.—The dead body of
Pancho Villa, the bandit for whose capture the pres
ent United States military expedition into Mexico was
undertaken, was yesterday disinterred to establish
its identity. It is now' in the possession of the Car
ranza troops, according to a series of telegrams to
Mexcan officials at Juarez.
A condemned member of the bandit gang led the
Carranza forces to the grave.
Troops to Be Withdrawn
WASHINGTON. April 1 7.—The American troops
will be withdrawn from Mexico immediately if Villa
be dead, as has been reported. There must, how
ever, be positive identification before this step is
taken.
The Mexican embassy has received word from
Consul Garcia, at El Paso, that Villa’s dead body will
be taken to Chihuahua.
Secretary of State Lansing has announced that he
is prepared to treat with Carranza upon the proposal
to withdraw the trocps. No immediate action is con
templated, how'ever.
President Wilson and Secretary of vvar Baker held
a conference last Saturday which lasted until mid
night. No official information with reference to the
attack on the American troops at Parral had been re
ceived at that time. Unofficial reports stated that the
troops attacked were unarmed, and were entering
the town to buy supplies. Forty Mexicans were
killed.
The first official news of the attack on the Ameri
cans at Parral was received by the war department
tonight from General Pershing. He says that the
Carranza soldiers joined in the unprovoked assault.
Two United States soldiers were killed and six were
wounded.
TORREON, April 21.—Colonel Brown has re
ported here. He is arranging for the use of the rail
roads to facilitate the withdrawal of troops.
Pershing on the Defensive
SAN ANTONIO. April 21.—Pending General
Scott’s report, General Pershing has assumed a posi
tion on the defensive.
To Gain Accurate Information
WASHINGTON, April 19.—General Scott, chief
of the general staff of the army, has gone to San
Antonio to get accurate information as to the situ
ation in Mexico.
Carranza Wants Expedition Limited
MEXICO CITY, April 1 5.—The government will
insist upon the withdrawal of the American expedi
tion, or that its numbers be limited to a thousand
cavalrymen. It is asserted that a large, slowly-mov
ng column has proved to be a failure.
Bandits Continue Active
SAN ANTONIO, April 19.—General Funston is
sending two thousand more men to General Per
shing. The latter reports that a motor truck train
carrying aeroplanes was attacked by bandits last
Friday night.
Villa Leader Quits
COLUMBUS, April 19.—Truckmen returning
from the front report that quiet prevails along the
American line. Juilo Agosta, Villa s leader near
Guerrero, has declared that he will no longer fight
the Americans. He has been considered one of the
most steadfast supporters of Herrera. He held a
conference with General Pershing a few days ago.
-»
LOSS OF TREBIZOND SERIOUS BLOW TO TURKS
PETROGRAD, April 19.—The Turks have lost
Trebizond, the most strategic point on the Black sea,
the route to Persia and Mesopotamia being thus sev
ered. .
Rumors of Peace for Turkey
PETROGRAD, April 21.—The fall of Trebizond
gives rise to reports that Turkey is approaching
Russia with peace overtures.
SENATE PASSES ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL
WASHINGTON, April 19.—The senate yesterday
passed the army reorganization bill. Under its terms
the regular army, with the reserve military forces,
Wo"'d consist of an aggregate of one million men.
The measure is a substitute for the bill of Congress
man Hay, which was passed by the house. The dif
ferences between the two houses will be worked out
.in conference.
The conference comlttee of the senate and house
Jias been unable to agree upon the sugar bill.
FOOLHARDY STOWAWAY
HELD GUILTY OF PIRACY
WASHINGTON, April 10. Ernest Schil
. ler today pleaded guilty to piracy and was
I sentenced to life imprisonment. Schiller is
| the man who stowed away aboard the
: British steamship Matoppo, cn route from
; New York to Vladivostock with a cargo of
i war material for the Russians. Shortly
j after the vessel passed Sandy Hook he held
, up the captain and crew, destroyed the
j wireless apparatus, and forced the captain
| to change the course of the vessel. He
then locked the captain up in his room,
! and searched the ship’s papers and the safe.
The Matoppo put into Delaware Breakwater
and signaled for assistance, and later landed
Schiller.
—♦—
DYESTUFFS TO BE IMPORTED
BY CONSENT OF GERMANY
WASHINGTON, April 21. Germany
has agreed to permit the exportation to the
United States of fifteen thousand tons of
dyestuffs, the lack of which has seriously
affected the American textile manufac
turers.
--♦—
ONE OFFICER AT LEAST
WHO DOESN’T KNOCK NAVY
WASHINGTON, March 3. Before the
naval committee of the senate. Admiral
Fletcher today declared that the United
States dreadnaughts lead the world in com
plete efficiency. Nothing built equaled the
practical efficiency of the United States
type of later superdreadnaught in the esti
mation of the admiral.
NO CANDIDATE
FOR DELEGATE
Shackleford and Gilmore Will Rep
resent Party at National Con
vention at Chicago
SEWARD, April 21—The Republican
territorial convention, which met here on
Wednesday last, adjourned without effect
ing one of the obtects for which it was
called--the nomination of a candidate for
delegate to congress. Delegate Wickersham.
who had been quite widely credited with a
desire to secure the nomination by the Re
publicans, failed to wire that he was a
Republican and that he would abide by the
platform to be adopted by the convention.
L. P. Shackleford of Juneau and W. A.
Gilmore of Nome were elected delegates to
the national Republican convention, to be
held at Chicago in June.
Schofield was nominated for territorial
attorney general.
Murane was elected national committee
man.
The Third division delegates fought vali
antly a losing tight against the action of
the convention, especially on the question
of adjournment without nominating a con
gressional delegate, and also in the matter
of the selection of the national committee
man.
Result of the Convention
The above dispatch indicates that Dele
gate Wickersham, as in former campaigns,
will make a non-partisan campaign for the
delegateship. There has been much doubt
as to Judge Wickersham’s position recently,
and the Cordova Times of March 11 con
tains the following, which probably was the
first authoritative expression on the sub
ject by the delegate:
“Harry Thisted, who is one of Wicker
sham’s closest friends, recently sent him the
following cablegram: ‘Reported you have
| made combination with Shackleford. Local
Republicans want to know. Such a combi
! nation is objectionable to your local sup
| porters and Republicans.’
I “An emphatic denial was received by Mr.
Thisted from Delegate Wickersham, as fol
lows: ‘I have not and will not make any
combination, politically or otherwise, with
Shackleford or anyone else.' "
COAST SEAMEN’S UNION
WANTS SHARE IN PROSPERITY
SEATTLE, April 19.- A demand for an
increase in wages of $5 per month for all
members of the crews of Alaska and coast
wise vessels has been made on the steamship
companies by the unions. They demand
that an answer be given bv May 1.
♦
STARTLING INCREASE NOTED
IN ALASKA COPPER OUTPUT
WASHINGTON. April IE.- The copper
output of Alaska for last year was four
times greater than that of the previous,
year.
TO ARREST “HIGHER-UPS”
NEW YORK, April 15. Federal officials
here are expecting the arrest of “higher
ups" in the fire and bomb plot cases.
The exodus to the Tolstoi region has continued during the past week, and many outfits have been
transported over the rough trails by dog teams and horses. The fall in tne lempeiature has helped mat
ters considerably, for while there is practically no snow, loads can be dragged over the frozen ground
with some degree of success. There is at present no attempt to transport extensive supplies, tne main
object being to have on the ground sufficient to last until the opening of navigation.
Should the present weather continue there is no doubt that numerous shafts will be bedrocked be
fore the break-up occurs, and should the results be as are confidently anticipated, noltnng can prevent a
stampede of great proportions when the steamboats begin to operate. The various creeks are all staked
now, and there is very little reason for a continuation of the rush to the new discoveries. Nevertheless
many from distant parts have arrived on the scene, according to recent arrivals.
Many Rumors but Little in the Way of New Developments
Because of the fact that practically all of the men who staked ground in the new district were com
pelled to return to Iditarod, Ophir, Cripple and elsewhere for supplies with which to prosecute work,
there has been little to report in the way of new developments. All evinced a desire to rush supplies to
the scene prior to the break-up. Therefore there has been little new work as yet. From now on it may
be expected that work will progress in all parts of the district. Rumors have been rife, as is usually the
case in such instances, and lurid tales of new pay, pay on new creeks, etc., have been poured into the ears
of willing listeners. Sifted down, however, these seem to have been largely the result of imaginative
minds working overtime.
It is frequently remarked by old-timers that as yet there is no excuse for excitement. So far the
district has shown up well, but not sufficient work has been done to say authoritatively that a pay streak
will be lined up. The indications are excellent; in fact it is universally agreed that no mining district
discovered in recent years, not even the famous Fairbanks district, has shown up so well for the amount of
work done. But it might be w’ell to warn the public, and especially those expecting to come from the
Outside, that the future of the new camp is by no means assured. Extensive plans should not be entered
into until work now being undertaken has progressed sufficiently to give an idea of the extent of the pay.
The Townsite of Cooper
Possibly a wrong mpression may have
been conveyed by the report that W A.
Vinal had staked a townsite at the junction
of the Mastodon and the Tolstoi. It ap
pears that Mr. Vinal, in company with some
half dozen other men, was on the lookout
for a likely place to locate a business center
for the prospective mining district. By
common consent it was decided that the
point at the intersection of the two streams
was the most logical site for a town. It
was then agreed that the lots should be
measured off, streets and alleys allowed
for, and the possession of the various plots
should be determined by lot. This was ac
cordingly done, apparently to the satisfac
tion of all concerned.
It is said that the new townsite is an
ideal one. The ground is gravelly, and
:es on a gradual slooe from the river bank
o the base of some high hills to the north.
The location was determined by its situa
tion with reference to a wholesome water
supply, and also for its natural drainage,
end because of the fact that it will be
within a short distance of the Ditna, which
is navigable to fairly large steamboats. A
road of some three or four miles would
connect it with that stream.
It is known that townsites cannot
be acquired except by actual residents or
occnnsnts. The difficulties encountered by
the first residents of Iditarod in their ef
forts to secure title to lots will in all prob
ability be avoided at the new town of
Cooper, provided there should prove to be
warrant for its existence, because of the
fact that people are now more familiar with
the law on the subject.
The town of Cooper is named after the
owner of Cooper’s roadhouse, which is lo
cated a short distance from the site.
How Pay Was Discovered on Boob Creek
The story of how Jim Pitcher, the owner
of discovery claim on Boob creek, staked
his faith on the riches of that region, how
he was unable to interest others in what
he believed would bring handsome returns,
and how finally he was enabled to carry
on prospecting work there through the in
tuitive belief in his judgment of a well
known lady of Ophir, makes a rather in
teresting recital, as told by returned stam
peders from the Tolstoi district.
It appears that some three years ago
a Finn and his partner, whose names are
not now recalled, had sunk a shaft on the
upper part of Boob creek, just above where
the Ophir-Dishkaket trail crosses. They had
reported finding colors, but became discour
aged and abandoned the claim. Jim Pitcher
often passed this prospect, and became in
quisitive as to what had been disclosed in j
the shaft. So one day he cut down a tree
and made a rude ladder, with which he
entered the shaft. The result of his investi
gations showed several cents to the pan, and
as the gold was found to be quite well dis
tributed on bedrock, Mr. Pitcher became |
interested. He reported the result of his
investigations at Ophir and endeavored to
interest someone to the extent of forming
a partnership with him for further pros
pecting, as extensive work in that region
would entail considerable expense. For a
long time he was unsuccessful, but his en
thusiasm finally impressed Mrs. W. A. Vinal.
wife of the United States commissioner at
Ophir, and a partnership was formed. Mr.
Pitcher was enabled to take in an extensive
outfit, and the result of work done on
claims located farther down the creek than
the original shaft of the Finn and his part
ner was the uncovering of values which
have been recited hereto'ore in these col
umns.
Mr. Pitcher’s work had been the object
of much interest to the people of Ophir,
and when he returned to camp he was
closely questioned. He gave evasive an
swers to all except those who were inter
1 ested with him, the intention being to keep
, the find quiet until after the first of April,
when additional claims could be located by
them.
In the meantime Andy Swartzdahi and
partner, who had been sinking a shaft 01
Mastodon creek, also had found pay, and
they likewise desired to keep the matter a
secret until after the first of the month, and
for the same reason, owarizaam, who is
I said to be a eheechako, was in Ophir for
the purpose of purchasing supplies on March
29, and the residents of the Innoko camp
endeavored in every way to learn the re
sult of his work on Mastodon. He w'as
| extremely reticent until one of his ejues
j tioners hazarded the statement that Jim
j Pitcher had found pay running several dol
lars to the foot on Boob creek. The ran
dom shot had the desired effect. Swartz
dahl dug out of his pocket a small vial
containing coarse gold, and exclaimed:
“Well, 1 guess Jim Pitcher isn’t the only
one who’s struck it; we’ve got pay, too.”
And then the story came out as related in
The Pioneer of April 8. When he men
tioned the fact that single pans had run
as high as from 10 cents to 50 cents, the
stampede germs had been planted. Quick
as a flash the building was deserted, and in
an incredibly short time outfits were hur
riedly gotten together, dogs were hooked
up, and the stampede was on. Before mid
night almost every male inhabitant of
Ophir, ami every dog team available, were
on the way to the new Eldorado. Mushers
over the Seward trail arriving at that city
■ m the morning of March 30 and for a few
days thereafter were treated to the unique
spectacle of a prosperous Interior Alaska
mining town inhabited almost exclusively
by women for the time being.
The sequel to the story is one that em
phasizes the uncertainties of the mining
-reme. The Finn who had sunk the origi
nal shaft on Boob creek which was the re
mote cause of the great rush to the Tol
stoi region and the staking of hundreds of
claims on that and adjoining creeks, had
been Outside. Tiring of Cheechako-land,
he had determined to return to Alaska and
prosecute further work on his claims on
Boob creek. He walked in from Seward,
and arrived at Boob creek after his 500
mile walk the day after the stampeders
from Ophir arrived, only to find that his
Haims, which 'of course were open to re
location, had been staked by the stampeders.
Had he been a day earlier he would have
regained his claims.
News Notes from the New District
Tom Muckle, a well-known old-timer of
the Innoko district, is preparing to do ex
tensive work on Madison creek, which also
is a tributary of the Tolstoi' and where
good prospects have been known to exist
for several years. He will take in a boiler
from Cripple Mr. Muckle will erect a home
for his family at the new town of Cooper,
and will have it in readiness for occupany
when they arrive from the Outside soon.
Jim Pitcher, the owner of discovery, on
Boob, has sold his restaurant outnt at Upbir
to Bulger & Griger, who have moved it
to Cooper and will start a restaurant there.
Jim Pitcher already has moved his fam
ily to Cooper.
Carl Carlson and John Vogtor have com
menced to sink a shaft on the first tier
bench off the Emmet Fraction, upon which
good pay was found.
Teddy Cassidy and Arthur Eaton have a
lay on No. 5 beolw, on Boob. They are
taking in a big outfit.
Iditarod people have been taking advan
tage of the cool nights to move consider
able freight to the new district. J. E.
Beattie and 'W. E. Duffy left on Tuesday
last with a big string of dogs and nearly a
thousand pounds.
There are in the neighborhood of a dozen
prospecting boilers already at the scene of
operations on Boob and Mastodon creeks,
or on the way. Jack Lovett left with a
big outfit on Tuesday night, including a
boiler. He had four borsos,
WASHINGTON, April 19.—President Wilson to
day sent a note to Berlin and then appeared before
congress, assembled in joint session, and delivered
an address. The President asked no action of con
gress, but simply told of the gravity of the situation.
The President spent the entire day yesterday in pre
paring the note for transmission to Germany, com
pleting the cases set forth by the United States. The
documents sum up all the charges alleging illegal
attacks on merchant vessels, and is an emphatic dec
laration of the position of the United States. The
note is considered to be the last word in the contro
versy.
It had been reported that the President and his
abinet had reaffirmed the intention of bringing the
situation with Germany to an issue, and that the
note would give notice of the severance of diplo
matic relations.
It has been rumored for several days that the rela
tions between Germany and the United States were
almost at the breaking point, and the ultimate sever
ance of diplomatic relations is expected by most of
the members of congress.
Bernstorff Working for Peace
WASHINGTON, April 21.—German Ambassador
Bernstorff is working for a modification of the Ger
man submarine policy. He has suggested to Berlin
that it issue a new declaration applying to all sub
mraine operations.
Mexicans Are Interested
MEXICO CITY. April 21.—Herr Von Eckhardt,
the German minister here, held two long conferences
today with General Carranza, head of the de facto
government. The Mexicans are keeping in close
touch with the German-American situation.
Reply from French and British
LONDON, April 19.—Tire reply of the British and
French governments to the American note concern
ing interference with maritime commerce by the
entente allies has been cabled to Washington.
Claim to Have Complied in Substance
WASHINGTON, April 21.—The joint note of
Great Britain and France in reply to the American
protest against interference with neutral trade does
not attempt to dispute the principles contended for.
but insists that the allies have complied in substance
with international law.
Swiss Newspapers as Prophets
GENEVA, April 21 .—The opinion of the Swiss
newspapers is that there will be no rupture between
Germany and the United States. Germany is ex
pected to yield the points in controversy.
English Comment Withheld
LONDON, April 2 1.—The American note on the
submarine controversy was handed to the foreign
office at Berlin last nght. It will be made public
today. Coment is being withheld.
-♦
HOSTILITIES HAVE BEEN RESUMED AT VERDUN
BERLIN, April 19.-—A new drive for Verdun has
been begun, after a six days’ rest. The French ad
mit the loss of a small salient west of Douamont.
The war office denies that the French have made
gains at Verdun.
PARIS, April 16.—The French have assumed the
offensive east of the Meuse, and claim the capture
of trenches south of Douamont.
LONDON, April 21.—The Germans are withdraw
ing large forces from their Russian and Serbian
fronts to reinforce the attack on Verdun.
LONDON, April 15.—The defeat of the Turkish
troops in Mesopotamia has been officially announced.
It is thought that the relief of the beleaguered Brit
ish force is nearer now than for months.
BERLIN, April 16.—The Turkish government ad
mits the sinking of the Russian hospital ship, but as
serts it was being used as a transport.
LONDON, April 19.—The neutrality of Spain is
unstable, and is governed by political considerations
from day to day.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 17.—Hostile aero
planes ascending off the Dardanelles have dropped
bombs over this city.
LONDON, April 1 7.-—One neutral and one British
ship have been sunk. Four mail-carrying steamships
have been taken to Kirkwall, where the mail matter
will be censored.
LONDON, April 21.—Two more British steam
ships have been sunk by submarines.