Seward weekly gateway., January 19, 1907, Image 1

About Seward weekly gateway. (Seward, Alaska) 1905-1914

Image provided by: Alaska State Library Historical Collections

                
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— " SEWARD. ALASKA. SATURDAY. JANUARY 19. 1907.
YUIj. ill* iNU. -*«» _ ——— ' ' .—
CITY OF KINGSTON
SINKING INTO SEA
Holes 100 feet Deep Appear in Ground, Shocks
Continue and Adjacent Towns Wrecked by
Tremors and Washed By Tidal Wave.
Bcatb toss Runs Into Thousands, Corpses litter Streets and
Pestilence Breaks Out, While Ships in Harbor Are Crowded
with Injured—Extlnct Volcano In Anotta Bay Erupts for
First Time In Modern History of Jamaica.
sy Cabl« to The »aU» Oatowar.
St. Augustine, Fla., Jan. lS-^A wire
less message received on Anastasia
island states that Kingston is sinking
into the sea. Holes 100 feet deep have
appeared in the city and the ground
is breaking iu all directions, showing
violent subterranean disturbances.
Residents are fleeing as far as possi
ble from the city and famine prevails
on the whole island. Pestilence has
broken out and the air is tilled with
putrid odors. Might Americans art*
known to l»e dead.
”*Wy light houses off shore disappeared
into the sea this morning. The streets
are tilled with corpses and hundreds
have been taken from the debris of
wrecKed buildings, it is believed that
thousands have perished. lhe ships
m the harbor are crowded with injur
ed. The United States battleships
Missouri and Indiana reached Kingston
harbor this morning.
City Still Shaking
Kingston, Jan. IS-Repeated earth
quake shocks yesterday, and today j
moving up and down hbve caused
many more buildings to collapse and j
the falling walls have killed large J
uumbers. Most of the dead have lost
their lives from that cause. A large j
number of Americans were killed by)
the collapse of the Hotel Tttclifield.
A tidal wave mis morning inundated
Anotta, washing many houses into the
•ua. The city of Richmond was de
molished by an earthquake this morn
ing and tire licked up the ruins. The
crater of an extinct volcano in Anotia
bay is emitting flames aud smoke to- j
day. It was never known before to be
active in the history of Jamaica.
The Chinese merchants today raised
the price of their goods 1000 per cent.
They have suffered less than other
merchants so far from the earthquake
and tire and have large stocks left.
Many people have lost everything and
are raiding the banana fields for food.
--
City Half Under Water
Kingston, Jan. 10 - Half the city is
now sunk under the waters of the bay j
hut the slipping and subsidence of the j
shore has ceased and it is hoped that
the earthquake disturbances are end
ed. Several thousand bodies have j
been recovered but a large number are
still in the ruins. The death loss can
not be computed accurately for severa,
days.
Advices received here report that
relief has been thoroughly organized
in the United States, Great Britain,
France aud Germany. Several ship
loads of supplies are already on the
way. ___
Shook Whole City
St. Thomas, W. I., Jan. 16—King
ston, Jamaica, was devastated by an
earthquake at 3 o’clock last Monday
afternoon. It was at first reported to
have been almost totally destroyed but
later news states that only about 100
lives were lost and that a large part of
the city is safely standing.
The hospitals are filled with injured
persons Much fear is felt here for
the safety of the numerous Americans
in the city and for Sir Alfred Jones, a
British statesman who was visiting
there. No messages have been re
ceived here from or concerning any of
; them.
The debris of wrecked buildings was
set on file and burned fiercely until the
next day but the flames are believed to j
be under control now.
Myrtle Almost Destroyed
Myrtle, Jamaica, Jan. 16 The Bank
hotel, where most foreign visitors
stayed, was totally destroyed by the
earthquake Monday. Sir James Fer
t guson was killed and several persons
I
j were injured. The best residence pop
: tion of the town was licked up by the
i flames which started in the debris,
j Wires are still down all over the isl
; and and it is feared that other Jamai
can towns have been obliterated.
List of Dead Growing
St. Thomas, W. I., Jan. 17—Latest
reports state that 1000 persons were
killed in the Kingston earthquake and
90,000 were left homeless. The prop
erty damage in the city alone is $10,
000,000. Most of the residents have
been moved out and people warned to
keep away from the city because of the
danger of an epidemic from putrefying
bodies. The dead are being buried as
rapidly as possible in the smoldering
ruins of the tire. Fifty negros have
been shot by citizens for looting. The
horror of the situation is said to be in
describable.
An extinct volcano in the province
of Portland has renewed activity. It
will not be possible to obtain news
from other parts of Jamaica for several
days as all wires are down and commu
nication is slow and difficult.
America Sends Aid
Washington, D. C'., Jan. 18—Both
house and senate passed an emergency
appropriation bill under suspension of
the rules late yesterday afternoon,
authorizing the president to rush sup
plies to Jamaica on warships.
TYPHOON KILLS
100 ON LEYTE
Several Islands in Philippine Arch
ipelago Swept by De
structive Storm.
Manila, Jan. 16—A typhoon swept
the island of Leyte January 10 and 100
lives were lost, lho barracks of the
American soldiers on the east side of
Samar were destroyed by the same
storm.
Both Leyte and Samar have now ;
been cut off from telegraphic commu-!
nication for six days aud only meager
details have been received, coming by
boats. The extent of the property
damage can only be guessed at but it
is said to be very large.
Retined copper was quoted at i24(tf
124.25 on January 4.
RECOMMENDS TRAIL FROM
FAIRBANKS TO COUNCIL
By Cabl« to Tb» Dally Gateway.
Washington, I). C., 16—Major Rich
ardson transmitted to the war depart
ment today Engineer McPherson’s re
port of his survey, recommending the
construction of a government mail
and pack trail from Fairbanks to
Council, on Seward peninsula. The
route indicated is from Fairbanks to
Glen, thence to the Yukon at Ram
part, thence down the Yukon to
Koyukuk, thence around Norton sound
! to Seward peninsula.
The Ketchikan Miner comes through
this time as a daily, beginning with
, the date of the cable connection. It
was formerly the weekly Mining
' Journal.
Judge Gunnison has created a com
missioner’s precinct of the west coast
' of Prince of Wales island, and ap
pointed Charles A. Sulzer to the job.
The province of Manitoba, Carada,
has voted in favor of provincial owner
ship of its long distance telephone
1 lines.
HOUSE DEBATES
COAL LAND BILLS
Proposition for Leasing Deposits
on Public Domain Most
in Favor.
LIKELY TO PASS THIS WINTER
General Disposition to Adopt Settled
Policy Regarding fuel Area
Owned by Government.
ay CabU to Tba Sally Gateway.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 19—The
house took up the three hills reported
by Ijacy from the committee on public
lands for the disposition of coal lands
on the public domain in the United
States and Alaska, yesterday after
noon. The debate revealed the fact
that long time leasos of the coal lands
is the project most favored.
The discussion will he continued
next week and belief is general that
some bill will be passed at the present
session of congress. The president is
anxious to have the government adopt
a settled policy concerning ihe coal
lands remaining on the public domain
and will urge definite action by con
gress. __
EXISTING COAL
ENTRIES STAND
President Directs Hitchcock to
Modify Order Withdrawing
Lands From Sale.
By Cable to The Dally Gateway.
Washington, 1). t’., Jan. 17—By di
rection of the president Secretary
Hitchcock today amended the order
directing the withdrawal of coal land j
in Alaska from public entry and sal*
so as to permit all applicants who had
located and died in good faith prior to
the issuance of the order to complete
their purchases and obtain title.
This supplementary order is merely
declaratory of the law on the subject,
but is made to prevent uncertainty
and to avoid embarrassment to locators
who had made applications in good
faith before the withdrawal order was
issued.
ASKS EXECUTIVE AID FOR
PACIFIC COAST LUMBERMEN
Secretary of Association Tells Roose
velt They Must have Recipro
cal Demurrage.
By Cable to Tb« Dally Gateway.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 17—Victor
H. Beckman of Seattle, secretary of
the Puget Sound lumbermen’s associa
tion, was presented to the president
today to argue the case of the lumber
manufacturers of the Pacttc northwest.
Mr. Beckman asked the president to
send a special message to congress urg
ing an amendment of the interstate
commerce law to compel a national
reciprocal demurrage system in car
operation.
Beckman told the president that
Paciticcoast lumbermen are facing min
because of the car shortage and that
there is no means of compelling the
railroads to meet reasonable demands
for cars under the present laws al
though they impose excessive demur
rage charges for the detention of cars
by shippers, and play favorites both
ways. Another conference will be
held today.
HOLD MASS MEETING TO
DISCUSS COAL SHORTAGE
By Cable to Tbe Dally Gateway.
Seattle, Jan. 14—A mass meeting is
in progress this afternoon, called by
the chamber of commerce, to discuss
the coal shortage, which shows no
signs of abatement. The thermometer
was only 10 degrees above zero this
morning and hundreds of families are
suffering because of lack of fuel.
Dora Sails Westward
Steamer Dora arrived Wednesday
morning at 10 o’clock and sailed at
1:30 p. m. for Unalaska and way ports.
Deputy Marshal Harmon of Unalaska
was a passenger from Seward.
COMMISSION IN
Unit ESTEEM
Gov. Hoggatt’s Alaska Pr^:ct
Gets No Support Among
House Members.
TALKS TO SPEAKER CANNON
Congressional Leaders Intimate That
It Does Not Look Good and It
Will Be Dropped.
: . i ' |
By Cable to Tbe Sally Oatoway.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 18—Gov.
Hoggatt held a conference today with
Speaker Cannon and other leading
members of the house concerning his
plan for the appointment of a commis
sion to revise the Alaska code after
making personal investigations of
every part of the territory. All were
unfavorable to the project, and it will
undoubtedly be dropped for the pres
ent congress at least.
The general opinion of the members
consulted is that commissions in the
past, have not proven a success and
that unless some special adv; ntage is
plausibly urged no such experiment
will be tried in Alaska.
i RAILROAD WORK
TO BEGIN SOON
Forces Will Be Put on the Line
Next Month and Number
Steadily Increased.
—
Private advices from the outside
Mute that railroad work will begin
next month. The mild winter and
light fall of snow will make early work
possible unless heavy snow should
come later, which seems improbablo (
according to all weather rules. It 19
expected that a considerable force of
men will be at work before the end of
February.
The bridge gang of Watson & Snow
will probably be in Seward before the
middle of next month. Bridge timber
is coming on nearly every boat, besides
structural iron for the Howe trusses,
of which four are to be put in on the
next three miles of track. The lack
of this material curtailed tracklaying
last fall.
It is promised that wages will be
raised to figures which will enable the
company to secure a large number of
graders and station men in spite of the
strong demand for labor in the north
western states by reason of railroad
construction there and that a large
number of men will be at work by
April l.
WANTS NEW TESTIMONY
IN BROWNSVILLE ROW
Foraker Introduces Resolution to
Have Committee Take State
ments and Publish.
By Cable to Tbe Dally Gateway.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 17—In order
to end the discussion over the presi
dent’s dismissal of the Twenty-fifth in
fantry because of the Brownsville riot
Foraker introduced a resolution in the
senate yesterday afternoon directing
the committee on military affairs to
take testimony and have it printed for
general distribution.
Carmack of Tennessee charged that
the agitation against the president’s
action in the Brownsville matter by cer
tain republicans was an attempt to
dethrone Roosevelt from the leader
ship of his party.
TO ADMIT ESKIMOS
TO INDIAN SCHOOLS
By Cablo to Tb« Dally Gateway.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 14—Dele
gate Waskey offered an amendment to
the Indian appropriation bill today
providing for the admission of Eskimos
to Carlisle and other Indian schools of
the United States.
The raining camps of Coppermount,
Bruce, Sulzer, Karta Bay, Mt. An
drew and Kusaan, assisted by other
camps, will make an effort to inaugur
ate a telephone system to connect with
the cable at Hadley.
WICKERSHAM IN
THE RACE STILL
Roosevelt Again Has His Name
Under Consideration for
Reappointment.
HARRY BALLINGER OUT OF IT
* j t . * i ..» ' # , ♦
Attorney-General Asked to Submit
Statement As to Differences
In Reports on Case.
, • . / t >
By CabU to Tb« Dally Oatavay.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 14—New
conditions have arisen in the Wicker
sham controversy since Saturday and
it is said that the president is again
considering the renomination of the
Alaska judge. The department of the
attorney-general refuses to give any
particulars.
It is said today that Harry Ballinger
has been eliminated from considera
tion in connection with the Third Alas
ka district judgeship. The attorney
general has been asked to submit a
statement showing the differences be
tween District Attorney Hoyt’s report
and tliut of Judge Day and others.
Senator Nelson calied on the presi
dent this morning for a conference on
the Alaska judgeship. It is said their
interview was not satisfactory and that
no agreement was reached.
Talk of Wickersham
Washington, I). C\, Jan. 18 Falcon
Joslin, A. 10. Murphy and Judge Kel
lum of Fairbanks called on President
Roosevelt this morning for a confer-,
once regarding Judge Wickersham.
When the president was informed that
his callers were friends of Wicker
sham he said he was glad. Hh told
them he was greatly troubled over the
Third district judgeship and was
anxious to sustain Judge Wisckersham
if possible.
After the conference with the presi
dent the same party, accompanied by
Mr. Washburn of the Northern Com
mercial Company, called on Attorney
General Bonaparte. All urged the re
tention of Judge Wickersham on the
bench of the Third district.
TO WORK VALDEZ CREEK
WITH BIG STEAM PUMP
The men who are interested in the
Susitna district are going about its
development in a manner which will
get results, be they good or bad. On
the Pennsylvania will be received an
eight-horse power steam boiler and a
No. 2 Cameron pump which will be
freighted into the district to be used
in prospecting the ground. Dan Rose,
Clark DutT and R. Smith are the ones
who are taking the boiler in. It has
been impossible to sink to bedrock,
where it is confidently believed a rich
pay streak exists on many of th
claims on Valdez creek, owing to the
water. The ground is about seventy
feet deep and it is intended to use the
boiler and pump in keeping the water
out until bedrock is reached and thus
determine the value of the claims.—
Valdez News.
Steamer Pennsylvania Sails
Steamer Pennsylvania arrived in
port Tuesday evening at 6 o’clock and
sailed for Seattle at (i p. m. Wednes
day. She brought 207 tons to {Seward,
which includes 54,000 feet of bridge
timber and fifty tons of coal. Seven
teen tons of baled hay came tor the
railroad, which was thankfully re
ceived by the horses as horse feed was
getting shy.
Nome Miners Coming
A Nome acquaintance of L. F. Shaw
writes from Seattle that he and sev
eral others are coming up in the latter
part of this month to go into the
Yentna district with Herndon and
Jacobs of Nugget gulch fame. He adds
that a large number of Nome miners
will try the new district this summer,
as Nome no longer offers much chance
to men with little money.
Nome Creeks Shy on Water
Lack of snow is causing the water
question on the creeks to be a most
serious one. So many boilers working
on every creek, which at best have
but little water, has made the shortage
greater than ever before. In many
places water is carried for as much as
two blocks by hand, while the larger
camps are hiring teams to supply
them.—Nome News.
MANY MINERS
ON THE TRAIL
Nearly 200 Now Mushing to
Creeks of Susitna and Yent
na Districts.
ROADS NOW IN GOOD CONDITION
Three Men In from Tokositna Re
port Promising Strikes on Trib
utaries of That River.
• * * * i
Nearly 200 men are now mushing to
the gold creeks of the Yentna and
Susitna districts, all the way from Se
ward to the other side of Susitna sta
tion. They started as soon as the
trails became tit to travel, from the
station, from Knik, from the camps on
Turnagain arm, from Seward. Most of
them are well-out fitted and a majority
are men who were inside last year.
This report was brought in Tues
day by Chris P. Smith, C. Gillhaus
ser and James Densmore, who arrived
directly from the Tokositna river.
They left Knik about a week ago and
between that place and Gird wood met
about twenty mushers with sleds go
iug inside. The men going in were in
small parties and were met at different
places on the trail. All were getting
along well and no mishaps were re
ported.
The trail to Knik is now in good
condition, better than this time last
year, and traveling over it is not dif
ficult. Even Crow creek pass is not
bad. It has about the requisite depth
of snow for hauling sleds up its slopes
with the minimum of labor for that
kind of a climb. The weather in the
interior is cold hut not excessively so.
Smith, Gillhausser and Densmore
have been inside since last February.
They spent the summer prosnecti>|g
various creeks of the Susitna hut found
nothing to their liking until they
struck the Tokositna. They made lo
cations on the upper creeks of that
river a short distance over the divide
from the discoveries on Peters, Cache
and other creeks on the east watershed
of the Kahiltna. The divide between
the Tokositna and the Kahiltna is low
and narrow. The discoveries are
claimed by the locators to be very
rich and they make sanguine predic
tions of the output from that locality.
The men state that Susitna station
is almost out of supplies hut that there
are good stocks at Knik except rubber
goods and mining tools.
GOLD MINING
AT UNALASKA
—
Developments on Ruby Indicate
That Deposits May Prove
a Bonanza.
Unalaska island expects to have at
least one rich gold mine before long,
according to Deputy U. S. Marshal C.
C. Harmon of Unalaska, lately in Se
ward. This is the Ruby, about two
miles from the town of Unalaska.
which has been developed to an extent
which shows that its deposits are large
and valauble. A shaft has been sunk,
from which drifts have been run.
Superintendent Brown of the old
Apollo mine at Unga in in charge of
the work. The property is chiefly
owned by San Francisco men, who
were given a majority of the stock to
furnish the money for its developmont.
Work has been in active progress
since last spring. The 5-stamp mill
from the Apollo mine has been moved
to Unalaska and five additional stamps
will soon be installed. The ore is not
high grade, about $24 being the best
assay, but the owners hope to find the
paystreak extensive enough to make
another Treadwell.
Many cabins of wood cutters and
lumbermen above Selkirk on the Yu
kon were carried away by high water
in November. The flood was caused
by the formation of an ice jam at Sel
kirk. Several men made narrow
escapes.
The steamer Santa Ana has been
converted into a steam schooner for
the coast lumber trade.