davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
One Thousand Men, Impelled by Fear
of Famine, Battling with the Ter
rOrs of an Alaskan Winter.
MANY WILL PROBABLY PERISH
WHILE CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS IN
QUEST OF PROVISIONS.
Secretary of War Alger's Report to
the Senate on the Situa ton I'm The
KIOndike-Prices Very High.

VICTORIA, British Columbia, Dec. 49,
BY steamer Topeka, from Dyea, news is
received that more than one thousand ILL
provisioned men have stampeded from
Dawson during the latter part of October
and, impelled by the haunting fears of
famine, are now madly forcing their way
over the mountains. AUX, the Indian mail
carrier, who brings this report, left the
Yukon capital fully ten days after the Dali
ton party. He says the vanguard of the
terror-stricken army is following less than
a week behind him. AUX declares that fully
rs per cent. of the stampeding army will
never live to recite their flight. The river
steamers Bella and Weare, it now appears,
did not land more than one hundred tons
of provisions on their arrival in Dawson in
the early part of October owing to their
having been held up at Circle City The
only bright view of the situation is that
the crossing of the pass above Dyea and
Skaguay has lately been greatly improved
and within a month will be in excellent
condition. Dyea parties headed by George
+. Ulmer propose to go to the relief of the
hungry at Dawson. They will make the
United States government an offer to de-
liver fifty thousand pounds of provisions
within fifty days after the time of starting
for Dawson for the sum of $4,000. They
already have five thousand pounds of pro-
visions cached at Lake Bennett which they
will take in over the Chilkat pass this win
ter. Ulmer will go south by the next steam
er to lay his report before the secretary
of war by wire. 1t is stated that material
for the proposed railway over Takau pass
has already been shipped from the East.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14

raised about two feet and two steamers,
Weare and Bella, arrived. but their car
goes were all required to fill orders and did
not seem to relieve the situation much, as
nothing was offered to the public.
fhe shortage In candles will be great
setback to the working of the diggings this
winter. and this, together with the shortage
in food supplies will make a difference of
output of this district this winter. Candles
are now worth. and selling for, 81 apiece.
Prices of everything are in the skies.
Fur caps are worth $2o, moccasins from 50
10 $40, mitS the same, window of six small
lights SIS TO $50 padlocks $40 apiece. stoves
that cost $6 in Juneau sell for $40, sleds $25,
etc. Wood is worth $50 per cord. Horses
which sold readily for $500 apiece are now
pound 1t is being bought for dog feed.
Dogs are scarce and sell readily for $3.50
apiece.
Two sawmills have been running night
and day, all summer and selling lumber for
$40, and at the present time people cannot
get lumber to finish their houses. Any kind
of cabin rents for $50 per month, and
good cabin 1Sx20 near by rents for 500 per
month.
Several miners meetings have been held
to discuss the food question, and a careful
estimate made by the government officials
and transportation companies nix the num-
Der of people here at 1000 and food supply
sufficient for only one-half of them, that
the government, the companies and every
body with supplies have been urging and
helping unprovided people to go down the
river. My personal opinion is that there
will be some suffering, but that provisions
are not so scarce as is generally reported.
There are plenty of people here who think
that hundreds of men will die of starvation
before spring in this vicinity, but cannot
believe 1t is that serious. There is still
boats up yet If the river remains open for a
week or tWO.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
THREE-CENT FARES DO PAY.
Governor Pingree Says Street-Rail-
way Men Are UntruthfuI.

DETROIT, Dec. 13.-Caovernor Pingree to-
day gave out signed statement for publ!
cation, denying that Scent street car fares
have proved failure. He says that 1.-The
railway managers damn their own business
by saying Scent fares do not pay, hoping to
receive sympathy from the aldermen and
mayor and that the next move has been
for the newspapers to take up the cry. The
Governor asserts that if the 81 100000 bonds
of the Detroit Railway were sold, the own
ers got back all they paid for constructing
the road; if they were not sold, they have
received on their bonds a greater profit than
have most of the manufacturing concerns
of the city for three years past. Governor
Pingree says that a subsequent issue of ST.,
coo 900 bonds, which was made at the time
of the consolidation agreement between the
rival systems, were, in reality, pure Sifts
made by the owners of the road to them
selves, upon which they expect the people of
Detroit to pay interest and eventually the
principal. The Governor asserts that for The
last year, after paying interest upon all
honest bonds there was clear profit of
more than per cent to stockholders.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
ECKELS ON CURRENCY
VIEWS OF THE CONTROLLER ON THE
FINANCIAL SITUATION.
He COmmends the Presidents Mes
Enough-Speech at st. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 13-Controller of the
Currency James H. Eckes, when asked to-
day if he agreed with the recommendations
as to the currency made by President Nc
Kinley in his recent message to Congress,
said: Il think they are very good as far
as they go. He does not go far enough, in
my opinion, when he says certain things
ought to be done If possible. Things that
ought to be done should be done, and espe-
cially when they so vitally touch the coun-
try's business life. The President admits
that the $780, 900, 900 greenbacks and $12 600 900
Sherman legal tenders should be taken up,
and would, / dare say, like to see it done;
but it is conditional problem with him.
Those notes are simply debt, and the only
way to get rid of debt is to pay it,"
How would you pay such vast sum at
one time?'
Il would issue long term 215-per-cent gold
bonds and call those tenders in. Then these
issues could be made gold certificates"
"Will Congress take any decisive action on
the currency question:
Sentiment in favor of it's doing so is
growing at Washington, and / think the re-
suit will be some kind of action along the
line of the Presidents suggestions"
"Will the Dingley bill produce enough rev.
eEue to pay current expenses
"All tariff bills are problematical So far
the bill has not been the success predicted
for it, but as times improve the revenues
will increase, and it may produce better
resultsa
Mr.. Eckels delivered speech before the
Commercial Club tonight, taking as his
subject "A Great Nations Weakness" He
said, in part: This Nation stands out from
all its sister nations as having monetary
and financial laws which invite public dis
grace and private disaster. The government
now presents the rather pitiable spectacle
of a bOaSted great nation resting its mon
etary integrity on the mere chance of hay-
ing man OF sound principles and strong
sense of right in the executive chair. If
by the accdency of an election q man of
unsound monetary views or weak will
should be placed IN office, the whole fnan-
cial fabric would go to pieces and the coun-
try would find itself without credit at home
or standing abroad. The banks of the coun-
try are strong enough to undertake the issue
of all the credit currency that circulateS.
If they are too weak to support a safely
guarded bank-note issue, based upon assets
by which the commercial needs of the coun-
try only can be responded to, the govern
ment is no less weak. The insolvency of
the would mark the insolvency of the
other, for when point is reached where
the combined assets of the country's banks
will not bear the volume of currency needed
to carry on the country's business. the gov
ernment. as well as the Individual will be
hopelessly involved in bankruptcy
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14

republican members and will have a good
chance or passing the Senate and receiving
tne Presidents signature.
MI Pearson, of North Carolina, who in
d9Edrated the movement and is a member
OF the special committee, says the essential
notifications of the law likely to be COIL
sldered by the committee are follows:
excluding from the operations of the law
cases in which one government officer is
responsible for the acts of his subordinate,
as deputy collectors of revenue exanina-
tlon of those already covered into the claSSi-
.ned service without examination, so as to
put them on a footing with new applicants;
change of examinations. so as to make
them more practical and less theoretical;
distinct provision against life tenure and for
right of heads of departments to remove,
reduce or promote in the interest of the
public a limitation of the law to specific
departments, bureaus, ETC., and an exclu-
sion or those not enumerated.
Another point that will materially figure
in the discussion of the subject is the al
legged rapid and unauthorized enlargement
of the functions of the Civil-service Com
mission. The opponents of the commission
assert that the original law was never in
tended to apply to tenure of Office and re-
movals and that the commission, growing
from a corps of three commissioners and
several clerks to large institution, has ar
rogated to itself not only the rank of de-
partment, but the power of debating to
heads of departments what action they will
take, and further to employ attorneys to
make pleadings, as in the Virginia collector
OF internal revenue case. An attempt will be
made to define the exact functions of the
commission.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
SENSATION In A WILL CASE.
Alleged Attempt to Bribe a Jury of
Kentuckians.

PARIS, KY, Dec. 13.-Great excitement
was caused here tonight when Hon. e. M.
Dickson, attorney for the defendant in the
Thomas Woodford will case, asked Judge
James E. Cantrill to discontinue the trial
until an investigation could be had, as he
had information that there has been an
effort to bribe members of the jury. The
judge sent the jury out put Mr.. Dickson
under oath, and asked him the source of
his information Dickson stated he was in
honor bound not to divulge the name of his
informant The court threatened imprison-
ment, and the attorney stated that w. r.
Thomas, son of Senator-elect j. NJ. Thomas
had told him Hon. John T. Hinton a menu
ber of the Legislature. and j. Hal Wood
ford one of the beneficiaries of the will
and a prominent farmer and turfman were
charged with attempting the bribery. The
court issued rule against Hinton, Wood
ford and Thomas, reIurnable at o'clock
tomorrow. The estate involved is esti-
mated at $200,0O0.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
PROTEST FROM DIR. JORDAN.
He Is vigorously Opposed to Exter-
mination of the Seal Herd.


mination of the Seal Herd.
WASHINGTON, Dec 13.-Prof. David
Starr Jordan, president of Stanford Uni
versity, who was the leading expert for the
United States government in the seal nego-
tiatons here last autumn, has given his ver-
dict strongly against any such proposition
as that presented in the bill to be intro
duced by Representative Johnson, of North
Dakota, looking to the. immediate killing
of all of the seals on the seal islands as the
readiest manner in which to prevent fur
ther friction between the United States and
Canada. The report of DR.. Jordan showing
in a preliminary way the results of his in
vestgations in Bering sea during the past
season, will soon be published and mean
time the following extract shows his opin-
ion:
within the past two years it has several
times been proposed that should settle
the fur seal question once for all by the
slaughter of the entire herd on its breeding
grounds. 1t is scarcely necessary to point
out that this course of action would not
accomplish the desired end. AS the animals
are never all present at one time on the
islands, remnant would be left which in
time would revive the herd and with it the
whole question In the meantime every
objection which has been urged against
pelagic sealing would be justly chargeable
against such a slaughter. 1t would be nee
and kill them as they came ashore on land
to give birth to their young or to provide
them with nourishment. The young must
be slaughtered wantonly or else left to
starve. The proposition is an abominable
one without a single redeeming feature.
THE fur seal is the noblest of all the
mammals of the sea. From the naturalists
point of view it is one of the most inter-
esting forms of life the earth. From the
commercial view it is one of the most VAL
liable. Unlike the buffalo, the elk, the stag
and like animals, it occupies territory that
cannot be used for any other purpose.
Where the former animals once roamed
great cities have sprung up but the haunts
of the fur seal would be deserted for all
time If their inhabitants were destroyed.
Though sadly reduced in numbers, a nu-
cleus of the fur seal herd is still left Under
favorable conditions it can be restored. The
Prybilof herd once yielded 100000 skins
nually, worth 81, 600 or more and without
injury to itself. This would represent a
cash value of $25, 600, 600. If properly pro-
tected it will again reach this value. These
figures represent a sum too great to be
thrown away in childish spite. To slaughter
the fur seal herd ourselves because its
preservation is heset with diplomatic diff
culties, in which the fault has not all been
on one side, would be confession of i'm
potence unworthy of civilized nation. 1t
would transfer to the United States alone
and for all time the odium for the destruc-
ton of the fur seal herds.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
HIGH PRICES FOR FOOD.
Provisions Scarce ana Luxuries Few,
but Little Danger of Enmine

JUNEAU, Alaska, Nov. 25.-A. b. Thomp-
son, in a letter to the Searchlight from
Dawson City. dated Oct. IA, tells of the
food situation in the Klond'ke After the
failure of the steamers to reach Dawson
City from ST. Michaels he says the North
American Transportation and Trading Com
pany closed its doors and the stampede to
the Alaska Commercial Company's store
was something terrible. Hundreds of peo-
pie crowded about the doors each morning
awaiting the opening AS soon as the doors
were opened the large storeroom would be
packed with a struggling mass of humanity.
each one striving to buy anything and ev-
erything eatable. No flour, bacon, hams
or any of the other staple articles could be
had and only in very limited quantities
would they sell other food supplies
Flour Immediately jumped to $lOO a sack.
as high as 1925 being paid for some few
sacks, all other provisions going to about
81 per pound. A few days later the river
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
DRY KANSAS, TOWN.
No Water Since the Mayor Took Pos
session of the Pumping Works.

FORT SCOTT, Kan, Dec 13.-Not drop
of water has been served to the consumers
of this city since Mayor Hesser took charge
of the water works Saturday evening. EN-
ployes of the water company refuse to work
for the city, and no engineer can be found
who can operate the pumps. The city au-
thorities accuse the company's engineer of
having spiked the pumps. The superin-
tendent of the works has served notice on
the city that the safety of the pumping
station is in danger because of the incom-
potency of the men who are attempting to
run it. Hotels factories and consumers
generally are compelled to obtain water
from private sources, which are insufficient
to supply the needs. The trouble grows
out of the city forcing the water company
to sell its plant.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
STEAM SNOW LOCOMOTIVES.
They May BE Used i'm Relieving Fam
inc Distress in Alaska.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The plan of us
ing steam snow locomotives to open and
maintain communication between the out
side world and the Klondilke country has not
been abandoned by any means. Secretary
Alger was in consultation to-day with sew
eral representatives of company which has
already made ten of these unique locomo-
tives and the secretary. who is intensely
solicitious to extend aid to the miners who
are supposed to be suffering from lack of
food authorizes them to proceed to ship the
machines to Alaska and make the effort to
get through to the interior. The plan is to
use either the Chilkoot pass and the Dalton
trail, or White pass, with preference to the
former route The men who were at the
War Department to-day assured Secretary
Alger that they could take the locomotives
up either of these passes. with the possibil
ity OF requiring the assistance of cable
power in one place about half a mile long.
Once over that place near the head of Chill
koot pass. there would be no difficulty, they
said, in making good time across country
over the snow to Fort Selkirk, and thence
to Dawson.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
LUETGERT JURY COMPLETE.
Second Trial of the Chicago Sausage
Maker VIII Begin To-Day.

CHICAGO. Dec. 13.-The Luetgert jury of
the second trial was completed this even
ing by the swearing in of Henry Boaskerg,
a pressman, and tomorrow the second
trial of the sausage maker will begin. AS
sistant States Attorney McEwen will COM
mence a wo-and-a-half-hours review of
the states case at 10 o'clock tomorrow,
and Attorney Harmon will follow immedi-
ately with the opening statement for the
defense. Boaskerg was not sworn in until
each side had exhausted all but one OF it's
peremptory challenges. and 327 veniremen
had been examined by the attorneys and
found disqualified. Only eighty-seven
yeniremen were examined TO procure the
former jury.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES.
President Mckinley, 1t Is Said, VIII
Urge Creation OF a New Department.

cago Business League have received word
from Washington that President Mckinley
will make the proposed Department of
Commerce and Industries the subject of
a special message to Congress Immediate
ly after the holidays a delegation of local
citizens interested in the new Cabinet de-
partment will go to the Capital to have
the bill introduced in Congress. Many let
ters from senators and representatives at
Washington have been received by the Sec
retary of the Chicago Business League, in
which the writer's all agree to support the
bill. and appeals to commercial and mer-
camille bodies all over the country to in
struct their representatives to vote in favor
of the bill have met with greater success
than looked for. An effort will, it is said
be made by delegates from this city TO the
convention of the American Federation OF
Labor at Nashville to commit the body in
favor of the new department..
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
BRYAN AMONG FRIENDS.
He Is Given an Ovation in the Free
silver Republic of Mexico.

CITY OF MEXICO, Dec. 13.-Mr. Bryan
ard party arrived over the Mexican Rail-
way from Toluca, the capitol of the state
of Mexico at $50 tonight. Colonel Garcia,
of President Diazs staff, in full uniform,
greeted and welcomed Mr.. Bryan in the
name of the chief magistrate and escorted
him to the Presidents private carriage.
Enthusiasm was great among the many
Americans present. Cheers and tigers"
for Bryan rent the air and loud calls were
made for speech. but he refused to talk
and again ne was cheered, Mrs. Bryan COM
ing in for her share of the applause Moth
ing like to-night's demonstration has ever
been seen here. President Diaz has given
orders that Mr.. Bryan shall be considered
as specially honored guest
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
National Board of Trade.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.--The annual
meeting of the National Board of Trade
will begin at the Shoreham Hotel, in this
city, tomorrow at noon. A number of
matters of national interest will be con-
sidered. among them the presentation to
Congress of a pooling bill and the recon-
mendation for a department of commerce.
Just what action will be taken on these
measures cannot be predicted. The advo-
Gates of the pooling bill are to be found
chiefly among the Eastern delegates, while
the opposition to the measure will come
from the South and West. The board as a
whole is in favor Of the. establishing of the
department OF commerce. and it is rumored
that this measure had the approval of Pres
ident Mckinley, and that a message will
be sent to Congress on the subject soon
after the 1st of January. This, however
cannot be confirmed from any official
aOnrCe
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
DEMOCRATS WILL OBJECT.
Scheme to Give Chicago MetrOpOI-
itan Police System.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Dec. 13,-The much
talked-of metropolitan police bill, which is
to be submitted to the Legislature at the
present special session and which is expect
ed to take the Chicago police department
from the control of the present Democratic
city administration, was made public to-
night. The bill provides for a board of
three persons appointed by the Governor,
which shall have full power to appoint. dis
charge, promote and degrade police officers
under ciVil-service regulations The mayor
is given control of the department only in
time of tumult or riot, and the chief Of
police is left with but little power. The bill
will be introduced in the Senate tomorrow
by Senator Barry. and is expected TO meet
fierce opposition from the Democratic ma
iOrity
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
AMERICAN IRON FOR JAPAN.
European Producers Underbid by the
Furnace Men of Alabama.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 13.-The Ten
nessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company
and the Sloss Iron and Steel Company to-
day shipped five thousand tons of Alabama
pig iron to Pensacola, from whence it will
be forwarded to Kobe and Yokohama
Japan. A trial shipment of Alabama iron
made to Japan several months ago gave
such satisfaction that extensive orders are
resulting to-day's shipment being the first
of a series. Japan heretofore was supplied
by European furnaces, but Alabama has
underbid these
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
VAN WYCK In A HURRY.
CrOker's Man Takes Oath OF Omce as
Mayor of Greater New York.

NEW YORK, Dec 13-Robert A. Van
Wyck to-day took the oath of Office as
mayor of Greater New York before Justice
Fitzsimmons in the City Court to assume
the duties of the Office on Jan. /, 1895.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
THE VANDERBILT POLICY.
II Was Issued froni the Head ONCE of
the Mutual Life, and No Commission
Has Been or VIII he Paid ON II.

NEW YORK. Dec 13.-The million-dollar
policy written by the Mutual Life Insurance
Company. Of this city. on the life of George
w Vanderbilt was issued directly from the
head office OF the company. No agent was
been paid or will be paid on IL. A large
proportion of the risk has been reinsured In
smaller companies
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
The MOnOn Route
70
CHICAGO

Trains leave Indianapolis
700 a. m. 1850 a. p;. 1886 D. m. 1856 night
Trains arrive Indianapolis
$3.50 a. 1855 a. M. s2:40 D. m. 4:37 n m
sDaily except Sunday.
Local sleeper in Indianapolis ready at $50 D. nl
Leaves Chicago, returning. at 2:45 a. m. Can be
taken any time after $3.50 p.
Ticket offices, 2 w. Wash. St. Union Station
Massachusetts-ave. Depot and Twenty-second st.
GEO w. HAYLER. d. p. A.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14
Invalid ChairS

OF all kinds and accessories for the sick room.
Trusses made and properly adjusted. Store open
every Saturday night.
VIM. II. ARMSTRONG & Co.,
New No. 1877 n S. Illinois St.. Indianapolis, Ind.