Valdez weekly Prospector
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>). 7 Valdez, Alaska, December 17,1908. na
NELSON IS GUILTY
OF LESE MAJESTY
Fearful Tumult Is Occasion
ed By Result Of Bidding
For Government Job
BOND IS OBJECT OF ATTACK
War Department May Be Called
Upon To Effect Final Adjust
ment Of Trouble
When Georgo W. Nelson decided to
bid on a government contract for
hauling supplies into the telegraph
stations along the Valdez-Fairbanks
trail he little supposed that lie was
committinglese majesty. But he was
doing it, and ho did it, and shortly
there was a most tumultuous uproar
on the part of the competitors. The
uproar is not yet among those things
that were, and it is possible that the
innermost sanctum of the war de
partment may be called upon to
offect a final determination of the
person entitled to the contract.
The trouble started when it was
found that Nelson had underbid his
nearest competitor by a little more
than f^OO. Then it was that those
who also ran began to start some
thing. Inasmuch as a great deal is
nominated in the bond exacted by
the government, the opposition at
tacked the bond offered by Nelson.
Then affairs began to stir. The
telephone wires between Valdez and
Fort Llscum sizzled and glowed from
the molecular activity necessitated
by the transmission of facts, near
facts and misinformation having to
do with the contract bond contro
versy.
Surety after surety was rejected,
some of them being among the most
substantial citizens of Valdez, but at
last it appeared that the also-rans
would be obliged to quit for lack of
amunition.
But not so. To the contrary, it is
declared that the assault is being
waged with vigor and cablegrams,
and that not entirely repulsed by the
unsatisfactory result of a weeks fili
bustering the also-rans are yet in
hopes of defeating the Nelson ex
pectations.
VESSEL FOUNDERS
WITH ALL HANDS
Odessa, Dec. 14—Fifty passengers
and every member of the crew of the
Turkish steamship plying between
here and Constantinople drowned this
morning when the vessel foundered
in the Black sea. Yho vessel was
caught in a terrible storm, sinking
after combatting tho elements for
soveral hours.
Word of tho tragedy was brought
to this city this afternoon by another
stoamship that was caught in tho
same storm, and that helpless to
render assistance was within a short
distance of the doomed craft when
tho latter went down. The erew of
tho vessel that foundered made
heoric but futile efforts to lannch her
boata.
BANDS III BERLIN
PLAY FOR CASTRO
Berlin, Doe. 15—President Castro
Of Venezuela arrived In Borlin this
morning and was given an enthusias
tic reception. Bands paraded the
streots, and the visitor was escorted
to his hotel by a oomrnltteo Of dis
tinguished eitizons.
President Castro declined to make
a public statement with regard to the
trouble in which his country and Hol
land are Involved. He will remain
for som* time in Berlin.
The oldest building in Alaska, the
old Russian prison on Chirlkof Island,
will be reproduced at the Alaska
Ynkon-Paeiflc exposition.
i
CONGRESS LEARNS
OF ALASKA'S NEEDS
Governor Hoggatt's Report
Makes Recommendations
For Valdez's Benefit
FOURTH DIVISION FAVORED
Committee To Select Most Feasi
ble Railroad Route, And Then
Government Aid. Is Urged
Washington, Dec. 14—Prompt pas
sage of the bill purposed to give Val
clez tlie right to issue bonds to defray
the expenses of building its dyke, and
an appropriation sufficient to build a
vault for the courthouse in Valdez are
among the recommendations made by
Governor Hoggatt of Alaska in tlie
report Hied this morning with con
gress by the territory's executive.
Government aid for railroads, strict
regulation of the liquor traffic, and
an extension of the labor lieu law to
cover miner's liens on dumps are
among the recommendations made by
the governor. Briefly the governor's
report recommends:
Legislation to provide for a revision
of the Alaska code.
The creation of a Fourth judicial di
vision in Alaska.
Laws to provide more strict regu
lation governing the granting of liquor i
licenses. |
The appointment of a congressional
board to consider the most feasible
route of transportation from the coast
to the interior, and upon completion
of the investigation congress to be
urged lo give aid to the building of a
railroad or railroads along tho route
recommehded.
The passing of a law to make the
area of mining claims the controlling
factors of ownership, rather than the
direction or the boundaries of tho
claims.
A law to make fifteen children the
number necessary to the establish
ment of a school.
An appropriation to defray the ex
pense of building vaults for the court
house in Valdez and for the courthouse
in Ketchikan.
An appropriation to erect a court
house in Juneau.
Prompt, passage of the bill giving to
Valdez the right to issue bonds to
raise money to defray the construction
exponse of dykes.
More aids to navigation along tho
coast of Alaska.
A law to define assessment work on
placer i laims.
A law providing for the extension
of the labor lien law to cover the right
of miners to file a labor lien on dumps.
CANAL EXPLOSION
KILLS FOURTEEN
Washington, Dec. 11 — Fourteen
persons were killed and fifty more
were injured as the result of tho ex
plosion in the Panama canal zone
Saturday afternoon. Details of the
accident were slow in reaching Wash
ington, and oven slower in reaching
the general public.
This is tho second disastrous ex
plosion to occur in tho canal zone
within a brief period, and it has in
tho White House occasioned much
chagrin. It. is prohahlo that an in
vestigation will be ordered.
NEVADA TOWN IS
RUINED BY EIRE
Mina, Nov., Doe. 16—The business
section of Mina wa« this morning des
troyed by fire, which started in tho
Davis Hotel. One llfo was lost.
Tho monetary los* from tho flro
will approximate $100,00 >.
During old homo week in Candia,
N, Hm rocently "Parson's one horse
shay," mado moro than flfty years
ago, but still in cxeellont state of
preservation, was exhibited.
GAMBLER'S WAR IS
CAUSE OF PANIC
Bomb Explosion On Wabash
Avenue, Chicago, Alarms
Church Congregation
TWO BUILDINGS WRECKED
Debris Takes Fire, And Many Arc
Injured In Wild Stampede To
Escape Destruction
Chicago, Dec. 14—Two buildings
were completely wrecked and hun
dreds of lives were endangered yes
ternay by the explosion of two bombs
on Wabash avenue. The outrage was
another move in the gamblers' war.
The perpetrators are unidentified.
The buildings wrecked are in close
proximity to several hotels and near
by are a number of church buildings.
The explosion came when the church
buildings were filled and a panic re
sulted, several persons being injured
in the scramble for safety. Tho
wrecked buildings were soon ablaze,
and the presence of the lire depart
ment added to the tumult.
PERSIAN REBELS .
FALL IN BATTLE
Royalist Troops Kill 100 Of
Enemy But Engagement Is
Far From Decisive
Tabriz, Persia, Doc. 11-One hundred
robel soldiers fell today in a battle
fought between the revolutionists and
the royalist troops. The loss of life
on the royalist side is not made pulv
1ic. It is reported that despite the
loss of life on the part of the rebels,
the engagement is not decisive.
Opposition to the rule of the shah
has grown to such an extent as to re
sult in open and organized rebellion,
and today the conditions in Persia
are critical in the extreme.
BILLY 6ELINEAU
IS CUPID'S VICTIM
"B-i-l-l-y O-e-l-i-n-e-a-u i-s m-a-r
r-i-e-d; what <lo you know about
that?"
The foregoing in tho remark and
question that last night formulated
from the lips of a dozen or moro
friends of the just-heeome-benedict
after they had boen takr-n into the
confidence of Dick Golineau, brother
of tho aforesaid Billy. And Dick
had no logical explanation, for all
his knowledge of tho circumstances
came In a letter from his brother.
Tho letter announcing tho double
life to bo lead from now on by Billy
Gelineau is very brief. It confines
itsolf to a statement of facts, which
are that the marriago coremony took
place Deeombor 5, In Sitka, that tho
bride Is "tho daughter of Mr. Car
mlchaol of Portland" and that tho
couple will arrive in Valdoz on the
Portland. I)ick Gelineau is instructed
to "got tho place ready," which
means that he is now without a home,
for the brothers have dwelt together
in poace and comfort.
Dick (loiineau says that ho has had
no inkling of his brothers Intentions,
and that tho information contained
in tho letter surprises liim moro than
it can surprise any onf else.
Billy Golineau is widely and favor
ably known In Valdez He owns con
siderable real estato here, and also
has extensive mining interests in
this locality. Ho has always been
considered a confirmed bachelor.
The ship Ojoa, I/ which Amundsen
sailed the Northwest passage, Is to
bo outfitted Jnsjp ns It was for tho
Arctic voyage Mud placed on Lake
Washington dtflng tho Alaska-Yu
kon-Paelfle ox|£dtion.
WOUNDED WOMAN
BEATS IN BADLY
Fred Vansicklin Shoots Fin
ance And She Nearly Kills
Him With Chair
POLICE COME TO RESCUE
Trouble Arises Out Of Mrs. Sadie
Campbell's Threat To Break
Promise To Wed
San Francisco, Dec. lt>—So battered
about the head as to be unrecogniz
able, And due for much attention on
the part of a surgeon, Fred Vansick
lin of Victoria, H. C., was this morn
ing removed from the temporary
home of his erstwhile fiancee and
locked in jail. At the same time the
fiancee, Mrs. Sadie Campbell of Se
attle, badly wounded by a bullet dis
charged from a revolver in the hands
of Vansieklen, was taken to a hos
pital. Mrs. Campbell is responsible
for tliM injuries to Vansieklin, and
they were inflicted after she had
been shot.
According to the story told by the
woman, who will be the first of tlie
two to completely recover, she and
Vansieklin have been engaged. Re
cently she came to San Francisco, and
Vaneicklin followed her. A few days
ago the lovers had a falling out, and
Mrs. Campbell threatened to break
the engagement.
This morning Vansieklin came to
the rooms occupied by Mrs. Camp
bell, and urged herto forgive him and
to consent to an immediate marri
age. She refused and then Vansiek
lin drew a revolver and shot her.
Mr». tSampbell was severely woun
ded but she armed herself with a
chair and before Vansieklin could fire
again she knocked tho revolver from
his hand. Then she struck him over
the head, the while calling loudly for
help. As Vansieklin struggled from
the floor, to which ho was knocked
by the first blow struck by his husky
fiancee, she landed on him again, and
then growing frantic she belabored
him with an incessant rain of blows,
which were falling vigorously and
rythmically when the police entered.
U. S. ROADS QUIT
ORIENTAL BUSINESS
'
Washington, Dec. 16—True to their
threat, the American railroads heie
tofore hauling freight destined to, or
received from tho Orient, have aban
doned this line of business. Today is
the date set for the roads to tile froight.
rates with thw interstate commerce
commission, and the only line to give
a schedule of rates on Oriental freight
is the Canadian Pacific. Tho other
roads Hie only the increased rates in
transcontinental traflle, and reiterate
their previously announced determi
nation to withdraw from Oriental
business.
When months ago the interstate
commerce commission announced
that roads hauling Oriental freight
would be obliged to make public tho
ratoa, and to base accordingly thoir
transcontinental rates on freight
ahlpped between points in the United
Htatos, tho big roads of this country
announced that such a course meant
that they would be obliged to retire
from Oriental business. It was stated
In this connection that in order to
make possible tho maintenance of tho
American merchant marine plying to
Oriental porta it is necessary to make
a much lower froight rate on Oriental
merchandise than IJ. Is |>ossiblo to
mako with profit on freight trans
ported between points in this coun
try.
At tho time the rallronds made an
nouncement of their determination to
quit hauling Oriental freight it was
l>elleved to bo only a throat to induce
the interstate oommorce to modify
its ruling. However, tho railroads
declare that their announcement was
made in good faith, and that the de
termination will be adhered to. Those
railroads owning steamship lines to
tho Orient are preparing to dispose
| of their vessels.
NEW YORK WORLD UTTERS
DEFIANCE TO ROOSEVELT
President Is Declared To Be Reckless Demagogue
Who By Deliberate False Statements Makes It
Impossible To Accept. His Judgements, And
He Is Accused Of Having Grossly
libeled The United States
jVo living m<tti has so grossly libeled this countr// as has /'resi
dent Roosevelt, ivho besmirches congress bulldozes judges, slanders
citizens and assails courts- A'eiv l'ork World in editorial attack
on President Roosevelt.
New York, Dec. 16—Never has pres
ident been made the object of such
violent attack by a newspaper of in
tlnence as is that directed against
President Roosevelt in this morning's
issue of the Now York World. The j
artiele is in reply to Roosevelt's mes- ;
sage asking congress to bring crimi- j
nal libel proceedings against the {
World, and it is an absolute defiance
to the president who is informed that j
lie cannot "muzzle the World," and !
who is characterized as a "reckless |
demagogue whose habits of giving;
utterance to inaccurate statements
makes it impossible to accept his
judgments."
The World says that the case at is
sue is the first time a president has
over asserted belief in the doctrine of
lese majesty, or has ever proposed
the prosecution of a citizen for criti
cising the government. It is further
declared that neither the king of
England nor the emperor of Germany
would venture to advocate such ar
rogant power.
VENEZUELA LOSES
COAST GUARD SHIP
Dutch Cruiser Gelderland
Makes Capture Without
Firing Single Shot
Willemstodt, Doc. 1/i—Without the
discharge of a single gun and without
the loss of a single lifo the Dutch
government today won its first vio
ory in its trouble with Venzuela. In
sight of the fort guarding Puerto Ca
bello, on the Venezuelan coast, the
Dutch cruiser Uelderland captured
the Venezuelan coast guard ship
Alix, put her crew ashoro and then
towed the prize to this port.
It was early in the morning when
the cruiser sighted the Alix, and the
latter made no attempt to escape.
Neither did her crew <>JTer the least
resistance and the capture was une
ventful. The cruiser was stripped for
action and it was belieVed that the
first gun of the war would he fired,
and that the metal of Castro's navv
would he tested.
LAUNCHING LUNCH
PUIS0N5 GUESTS
Shu Francisco, Dec. l/>—Decayed
beef, used to mako sandwiches,
caused a sorious aftermath to the
launching of the bis: collier Prome
fchus. The launching wan a notable
occasion and the youth, beauty and
the prominence of San Francisco wan
present. The huge collier took
gracefully to her native element,
and then overy one turned attention
to the lunch provided by the builders.
It was an hour or ho after the
guests had scattered that the phy
sicians of the city began to receive
hurry-up calls, and shortly scarcely
one of tho homes represented at the
launching but opened its doors t-o
admit the family doctor. In overy
ease tho diagnosis was ptomain
poisoning, and soon it was decided
that the luncheon sorvod after tho
launching was responsible.
, After It was learned that none of
those affected would die, an investi
gation was started, resulting in the
discovery that the beef used to make
the sandwiches had long since passed
the gamey stage. Tho responsibility
rosts between tho caterer and tho
butcher ho patronises.
Seaweed may be planted In the
Schuylkill river as an experiment to
attempt to niter the water which Is
used for drinking purpose* in Phila
delphia.
i
EVANS REPLIES TO
CRITICS OF NAVY
Fighting Bob Declares Amer
ican Battleships To Be
Superior Class
New York, Dec. 15—Admiral Rob
ley 1). Evans at a banquet In this city
last night spoke as a defender of the
American navy, and in reply to the
criticism of Henry Reuterdahl, the
magazine writer who has so often
charged the navy department with
inefficiency and with a bureaucratic
disregard of suggestions made by offi
cers in the active service. Admiral
Evans declared that the battleships
now under construction are in every
way superior to the English Dread
naught, as is also the case with those
constructed along thr> same lines and
recently launched.
Admiral Evans' remarks were con
fined to th«> battleships built recently,
so far as specific statements were con
cerned. but in a general way be took
exception to all criticisms that have
been passed on the navy.
ALASKA HAS 140
NEAR RAILROADS
Washington, Dec. lft—One hundred
and forty companies arc in existence,
each of which was formed with the
avowed purpose of building a rail
road in Alaska. A very few of these
companies have railroads in operation,
several others have laid rails on a
few miles of right-of-way, a consider
able number have routes survoyed
but the Kreat majority have confined
their energies to preparing blue prints
and mapsshowiugthe country through
which they purpose building. These
faets were this morning presonted to
congress in the report made by the
war department, which just before
the adjournment of the previous con
gress was asked to compile such a re
port from the maps and applications
on flic in the war department.
It Is front this number of purposed
nllroads that congress will, by means
of an Investigating committee, en
deavor to ascertain those companies
organized and maintained in good
faith, and to find out whether or not
the routes pur|>osed aro feasible.
The state department this morning
asked for an appropriation of f100,000
to be used In completing the work of
surveying and marking the Alaska
boundary line.
Photo supplies at Owl Drug Co.