® <•
THE ALASKA PROSPECTOR
Vol t
Valdez, Alaska, August 6, 1908.
No.30
Jesse Fifer Kills His Daughter and Mrs. L. Niechul,
Dangerously Wounds His Wife and Mrs. Ethel
Warren and Ends His Own Life.
Seattle, July 31—Crazed becaused
Ida wife and 12 year old daughter,
unable longer to stand his
ill treatment had deserted him,
Johho Fifer, a gripmau employed by
the Seattle Electric Company, this
morning killed the daughter and Mrs.
L. Nieliul, dangerously wounded his
wife and Mrs. Ethel Warren and then
committed suicide. The triple tragedy
took place in a private hospital
whither the wife and child had gone
when the conduct of the husband
and father made it impossible for
them to remain in their own homo.
Fifer's act came at the conclusion
of a conference between himself and
wife and as the result of her Hat re
fusal to return to him. Mrs. Niehul
and Mrs Warren were shot because
at the request of Mrs. Fifer they re
mained in the room during the con
ference. Both of the wounded women
are in such a dangerous condition
that the physicians will permit no
one to question them and the details
of the aifair can only be surmised by
the mute evidence of the rooms where
it took place and by testimony of ac
quaintances of Fifer.
For somo time Fifer had been tell
ing his fellow workmen of his family
troubles and he had more than once
RAY GETS ORDER
TO PROBE RUMOR
Ausistant United Htates Distaic
Attorney L. V. Ray thin afternoon
received from WaHhington orders to
thoroughly investigate tlio rumor that
election frauds are purposed on Aug
ust 11. Tiio order comes directly
from the president.
Mr. Itay is not aware that any one
has sent to Washington word that
frauds are to be attempted in Valdez
and he beliovcs that the order is is
sued hocauso of the appeal made to
the president by the Wiekersham for
ces in Fairbanks. In Mr. Ray's opin
ion the Wiekersham forces have to
the president expressed a fear that
frauds may be contemplated in Cor
dova.
BULL DOG INJURES
NOIED SONGSTRESS
Now York, Aug. 4—MIhb Emily
Gardner the noted prima-donna Is
lying at tho point of death an the re
Hult of Injuries Inflicted last night by
a hull-dog owned hy the singer's*
housekeeper. The animal attacked
M1b9 Gardner at the threshold of hor
apartments and before aHslstance ar
rived hIio was badly mangled despite
her heroic offorts to defend herself.
The dog has always been con
sidered gontle and knew Miss Gard
ner well. It is supposed that, sud
denly awakened, ho mistook Miss
Gardner for an intruder.
MIhb Gardner is ono of the most
famous of grand opora singers. Hhe
was horn in Scotland but spent most
of her girlhood In this country, later
going to Paris where her musical
educr.tion was completed. She han
taken tho leading part in the most
famous of French operas and it was
only a year or so ago that sho camn
to Now York. Her engagement*
ehre have duplicated the wonderful
sucoohbos accorded her efforts abroad.
Frank M. Gohn, until recontly cash
lar In the A. L. I^evy A Go. bank, is
a paasongor on the Hanta Glara. Mr.
Gohn haw severed his connection with
tho company and will locate in port
land, Gre.
hrcatened vengeance to those ho
accused of coming between himself
aiul family and hy their interference
making it impossible for him to in
duco his wife to return to him. From
what can be leurned from the scene
in the hospital it is evident that all
the women were in the room when
Fifer failing in his attempt to induce
his wife to withdraw the action for
divorce she had filed the day before,
drew his revolver and began to shoot.
The body of Mrs. Niehul lay in the
doorway leading to another room in
dicating that she hud been shot while
running. Mrs. Warren had been shot
as she was trying to open the door
leading into the hall and the daugh
ter died as she was crouching behind
a chair in a corner of the room. The
wife was the first victim.
It is evident that Fifer believed he
had killed all those who fell before
his wrath for he re-loaded his revolver
before sending a bullet through his
own brain, the shot being fired just as
neighbors, alarmed at the first fusill
ade, entered the place. It is believed
that if they do rocovor, the wounded
women will owe their lives to the
fact that they were so badly hurt as
to bo unable to move for otherwise
Fifer would' have fulfilled his inten
tions to slay them all.
SLATE GREEK IS
GOOD DISTRICT
Despite Scarcity of Water
Several Operators Will Ob
tain Fair Results
Lack of water in interfering with
mining operations in tlio Hlate crock
district according to reporth brought
to Valdoz by W. VV. Wardell who ar
rived Monday afternoon. Mr. War
deli HtateH that tiione in the diHtrict
believe, however, that the country is
dCHtinod to have a good future and
he Hays that quite a lot of gold will
be brought out. from there this fall.
Jack Miller, wliotte property in iu
Miller Gulch, is tho worst, handicapped
by scarcity of water and has done
very littlo thin season. Jim Hiack is
working eight men and iH doing well
on what is considered a fine property.
During the early part of the houhoii
Mr. Wardell wan in at tho Esterly
proj)orty, in tho Ni/.ina country and
at tho time of his departure opera
tion arrangement*! were nearly per
fected. Hlnco leaving there, Mr.
Wardell has learned that Ksterly lias
taken out a vast amount of dirt and
expocts a big elean-up as tho result, of
hta hydraulic work.
Mr. Wardoll brought in tho mail.
Ho Hays that the trail in in fine con
dition.
BRYAN DECLARES THAT
TAFT IS PLAGIARIST
I Lincoln, Aug. 0—William JenningH
Hryan, presidential nominee of tho
democratic party, today declared that
William Howard Taft^ presidential
nominee of tho republican party, is
guilty of plagiarism. The act of Mr.
Taft that brings forth the donounela
tlon of Mr. Jlryan is the former's de
cision to can a few speeches and,
oven as Mr. Hryan has done, sond
thom broadcast about, tho country
whore they will bo vocalized by pat
riotic phonographs.
Mr. Hryan asserts that It is his nim
ble Intolloct that foresaw tho politi
cal valuo of tho phonograph and while
he has no fear that. Mr. Taft will pla
giarize any of tho Hryan campaign
thunder, he nevertheless malntalnfl
that In following the Hrvan idea ol
1 making thunder public Mr. Taft ha*
committed a grlovotis albeit unpunish
able sin.
KNOCKERS BUSY
AGAINST VALDEZ
Route from Here Into Susit
na Country is Persistently
Discredited
That the Valdez routo to the Val
doz crook district is being porsis
tantly and systematically inveigod
against without reason and for no
other purpose than to divert travel to
the Cook inlet country ho as to afford
the A. C. Company an opportunity
of disposing of merchandise is the
opinion of those familiar with condi
tions. Several times of late the Sew
ard Gateway has published from
persons coming from the Susitna coun
try statements in which the advan
tages of that route are asserted. One
of those interviews denied the story
published in the Prospector to the
effect that the Merritt outfit is
stranded.
The latest effort of this character
comes from Charles Davis who spent
yesterday in Valdez awaiting the de
parture of the Santa Clara on which
he is a passengo en route from Sew
ard to Seattle. While in Valdez, and
also while in Seward Mr. Davis
dwelt upon the advantages of the
Susitna route. He said among other
things that the Merritt outfit is at
Indian creek, which is about 100
miles from Valdez creek, and that a
road house has been established
there. The party will go in to its
destination next winter.
As a matter of fact, while the Mer
ritt party was in Valdez, one of its
members told a representative of the
Prospector t hat the party expected
to bo in the Valdez creek country
early in the summer. That was in
April, and men who know the coun
try say that it will be December bc
fiwu the re«» of the iournev will be
completed.
In contradiction to the assertions
of Davis regarding the trail is the
opinion expressed by Parke Griswold,
the mail carrier between here and
Gulkana. Mr. Griswold says that
iiuck Moyt came out of Valdez creek
to Gulkana in six days. Hoyt'shorse
was packed more than '200 pounds
and no attempt to hurry was malic.
Griswold came from Gulkana to Val
dez in four days and in his opinion
the Valdez route is not only easier
than any other but, granting that the
same time can be made from Seward
or Knik to the inside, is at least
twenty-four hours quicker because of
the steamship travel saved.
SENATOR ALLISON
CALLED By DEATH
Prominent Member of Rep
ublican Party Succumbs
to Heart Failure
Dubuque, Aug. 5—Bonntor William
Boyd AlliHon of Iowa died at his home
hero last, night, heart failure being
the enuHo. Death carno as a surpriso
for to all appearances Benator Allison
had boon enjoying his customary
good health. Benator Allison passed
bin seventy-ninth birth auuiverHary
last March.
Bonator AIHhoii wan known as the
father of the senate having served
eontlnuouHlv for thirty-Ave yearn.
Ho was one of the most powerful re
publican influences in the upper
house. Horn In Perry, Ohio, William
B. Allison was educated at the West
ern Iteservo college of that state. Ho
studied law and practiced that pro
fessson In Ohio until he removed to
Iowa In 1857. He sorvod on the staff
of the governor of Iowa and aided in
organizing volunteors in the begin
ning of the civil war.
Mr. Allison was elected a represen
tative in the thirty-eighth, thirty-nin
th, fortieth and forty-first congresses
and was elected to the senate to suo
cced James Harlan, republican, for
tho term beginning March 4, 1873.
The term he was serving at the time
of his death expires March 3, 1009 but
be had been nominated at the pri
maries to succeed himself.
ENTIRE KO
EY IS
DESOLATED BK FOREST FIRE
Hundred or More Dead, Several Towns in Total Ruin, 5000 Homeless and
Starving, Seventy Square Miles in Aslies and Property Ivoss of
$10,000,000 is Disaster's Record to Date.
Cranbrook, Northwest Tcrsltory,
Aug. 3—One hundred or more per
ilous are dead 5,000 are homeless and
without food or shelter, Fernie, llos
mor, Crowsnest and several other
towns are totally destroyed and a
property Iosh of between $8,000,000
and $10,000,000 an the result to date
of a fire which started in the Koote
nay valley Saturday night. The lire
is still sweeping across the country
and tho railroads arc finding it almost
impossible to afTord relief. Commu
nication has been practically suspen
ded and only scant details arc obtain
able.
The reports so far received show
that the fire will be the worst in num
ber of lives sacrificed and in property
destroyed, since the San Francisco
disaster. More than seventy square
miles have been burned over, and the
latest report says that Elk valley, a
populous farming section is a seething
mass of llnmcH. dry brush furnishing
an abundance of fuel.
The railroads are doing all in their
power to remove to places of safety
those made destitute but there are
thousands who will perish of starva
tion unless relief is soon forthcoming.
The premier of Canada has been ap
pealed to for assistance.
Premier Calls Special SeBsion
Ottawa. Aiur «—T>not»»So>« t .invioij
t,ooay called an early consultation of
liis colleagues in the government for
FAIRBANKS TURNS OUT
TO FAREWELL KENNEDY
About all the people of Fairbanks
turned out last evening (June IS) to
do honor to Dan Kennedy and give 1
him their best wishes as he paraded
through the street s of the city just he- >
fore his departure to the Snailna
country, where ho is going with a
store of provisions for the miners of
that section.
Kenn ly's undertaking is l>y no!
me^r a small one, as he will under- j
tak > the blazing of a trail from some
where in the vicinity of Wood river
to Valdefc creek and it was a splendid ;
spirit that the people of Fairbanks
showed in turning out to pay their |
respects to one who may eventually i
prove the pioneer to h great eonimer- j
cial movement.
Kennedy and his outfit was met on j
the other side of the bridge by a ten
piece band. The music was struck'
up and the procession moved across j
to where hundreds of people who lined j
the sidowalk and extended well out i
into the street were awaiting him.
The caravan moved up Front street,
crossed Lacy and went down Second
and across Oushman street, from
which point he went to the Florence
S.
It was quite a while after he got to |
the boat beforo his provisions and j
twenty-four head of stock were oft |
for their memorable trip.
Kennedy made the statement that
he expected to make the overland j
trip in about twelve days, and that I
he oi|>ectod to be back in Fairbanks
sometime during the middle of July.
—Fairbanks News.
Guggles Mnke Trouble In Klondike
Dawson,—Contract laborers for the
(luggnnhoims arc still poiirln^ in, the
Victoria and Prospector having
brought in big crowds of thorn last
night. The whole Klondiko Is pro
touting at thin reduction of the oamp
to a cheap basis, but without effoct.
The Importation of ignorant Slavon
ians was stopped, l>ut only hccauae
(hoy proved poor workmen, and that
their habit* were such aw to cause
their fellow employes to refuse to
work with them. The last' so vend
hundrod to arrive here are practically
all English Hpoaking.- Fairbanks
News.
For Uudnut's Violet Hoc. Toilet
water call at Alaska Drug Co.
the purpose of arriving at some de
cision with regard to affording re
iief to (he sufferers in the Kootenay
disaster.
Vancouver, Aug. I—Willi the de
tails of the Kooteuay valley disaster
as yet very meager it is known that
the death list will heelose to'JOO. The
fate of the llosuior and Michael and
the death list of those t wo towns is
undetermined so far, as is the belief
that the Are is of incendiary origin.
Rossland has given accommoda
tions, food and clothing to .">(io refu
gees from ('ranhrook and Nelson.
VANCOUVER RUSHES
RELIEF TO SUFFERERS!
Vancouver, Aug. :$—There was a
special meeting of the council yester
day afternoon, called to take action
for the relief of the sufferers of the
Kootenay valley disaster. A live
thousand dollar relief fund was voted
and this morning a special train car
rying provisions departed for the
stricken district. AJ1 government
agents have been notified to furnish
the victims with all provisions that
can he possibly spared.
Coal Mine In Danger
Winoeoeir. Auir. 3— Advices have
Ween received from the lire stricken
district to tlie effect that it is feared
t In* llamcs have reached the workings
of the coal mines at Pernie. If so it
means that the mines may never
again he workable for the tire has
destroyed all surface \Vbrkings, hoist
ing machinery and the like and be
fore the mine can ho entered the Are
will have eaten away all the timber
ing and have obtained such headway
that il will be almost impossible to
extinguish it.
Fifteen Bodies Recovered
Spokane, Aug. 1—Fifteen bodies,
charred so badly as to be unrecogniz
able, have been recovered from around
I'Vrnie. The lire is still burning in
that localityaiul li ttle can be done.
No detailed account of the disaster is
obtainable at present but it. is learned
that there were many acts of hero
ism during the heighth of the conflag
ration.
Seattle Raises Relief Fund.
Seattle, Aug. 4—This city iH ap
palled by tin* reports coming from the
Kootcnay country. Thore was a
meet ing of the chamber of commerce
yesterday afternoon at which a com
mittee to raise a relief fund was ap
pointed. Wholesale houses havo come
forward with donations of food stuffs
and within :i day or so several car
loads ot ioou and clouting will be sonr,
to the stricKcn district.
APPEAL TO ROOSEVELT
Supporters of Independent Candidate For Delegate
Allege That Court Officials in Fairbanks are
Framing Up For Corson.
Fairbanks, A up;. 4—Charging that
the federal court officials of lliis city
are taking an active pari in behalf of
John Corson's campaign to lie elected
dclegatc, flic W^ickersham committee
yesterday ufternoon sent to Presi
dent Itoosevelt a message giving reas
oris for the fear t hat crooked election
tactics are purposed, and asking him
b>) take the courts out of politics and
give Alaskans a square deal.
The act ion of I lie com in it tec is based
upon the refusal of Commissioner
Goodwin to grant the committee's re
quest that the names of those ap
pointed as election judges he made
public. This information is in pos
session of the Corson forces, at which
Goodwill and other court officials are
at the hend. Deputy Clerk MeDon
alo is paymaster of the Corson cam
paign in this section and i< attending
to his campaign duties on govern
mont time, according to assertions
made by Wlckersham representatives.
The Wlckorshain supporters charge
further that Corson left, to do the
work of the court bouse bunch liis
press agent, Harry Steele, who was
clerk of the court in Nome under the
regime of former Judge Noyes, and
who was deposed as the result of the
scandal arising out of court proeced
' Ings at that time. It is declared that
' the court employes iu Fairbanks have
subsidized tho Fairbanks press and
Throe Autoa Ifor Alaska
Heattle, Aug. ft—Tho harbor man
i ter's monthly report shows that, three
automobiles and 2,000 men were ship
ped to Alaska last month.
Hteam Heated Furnished Itooms at
Motel Valdez.
have placed Htoelo in char go, and
thai Steele is floodiugthe coast town**
willi lying telegrams concerning con
ditions ho re and is tilling the local pu
pcrs under his control with fake tele
grams purporting to come from Nome
and the coast.
Wickcrsham men declare that they
know positively that every unfair
means is to he nscd to hring about,
the election of Corson hut that dea
pitcthis Wiekersham will carry the
Tanana by an overwhelming majori
ty, Haying that the people are thor
oughly aroused and are determined to
rehukc at t he polls the deliberate at
tempts at grafting.
As the result, of a bet between a life
insurance agent named Webster of
Dome, and Mrs. (Jarboneau, who fa
vors Wickersham, there wan a Hun
day poll taken of a heavily loaded
train on t he Tanana Valley road with
the result that only two out of one
hundred were found to iavor Ooraon.
This is considered a fair average of
the miner vote In the Tanana.
Wickersham arrived In Nomo last
night and was mot by a delegation of
supporters who chartered a steam
boat to escorthlin from St. Mlohael.
lie will speak in Nome tomorrow. It
Is said t hat < lorson's strength in Nome
has been greatly overestimated and
that he will run fourth on the How
ard peninsula.
Chamber Of Commerce To Meet
There will be a meeting of the
chamber of commerce tomorrow
night. It Is hoped to advance ar
rangements with regard to the pro
j ject to obt ain cheaper eoal and a full
attendance Is desired.