Douglas Island news., 1901-10-16
The Ketchikan Journal say that the

The Ketchilzan Journal say that the escape of Homer E. Russell from en- stantaneous death, recently, seems almost providential. He was resting in his bunk the other evening, his cab in being not far away from where the rock excavation for the foundation for the 3O-stamp mill which is in progress. Hearing blast that seemed heavier than usual, he started up to look out of the window, and was scarcely out Of bunk before large fragment of rock came crashing through the roof and into and through the bunk in which he had been lying but few seconds be- fore, and thence through the. floor, Had he been the fraction of a minute later in leaving the bunk he must have been instantly killed.
 The Skagway Guide does not believe in mincing the truth, vide the follow ing: Mrs. M. L. Ferguson, who got up the Dawson and Yukon Directory, lost about S12,O0O on the job. The loss was the result of change of government officials. Of all the small and measly crafters in the world the Canadian graftcrs of Alaska and the Yukon are the worst. They would steal gray backs from a dead Siwash's blankets and then kick the corpse because there were not more. Every man or woman who comes from the interior tells tbe same tale of woe about these brazen money grabers and grafters, who would take anything from nickle to hot stove.
 The employees of the White Pass R. R., upon the retirement of E. c. Hawkins from the general management of that road, presented that gentleman with a poke containing $500 in gold coin. Here is a case where it paid to be re- tiring, although it is the generally ac cepted theory that man must have large quantities of doubly distill- ed gall to get along in this world. If a faithful section boss, with family of 15 kids in assorted sizes, had thrown up his job, he probably would have been compelled to hang around 30 days to get his time check cashed.
 The Skagway Guide says that Messrs. Nicolai and Clark, the Dyea farmers, have 25,OOO bushels of as fine potatoes as was ever shipped to this country from anywhere. They are large, solid, mealy and palatable. These enterpris ing gentlemen have something better than a quartz ledge, and they will come pretty nearly supplying the market from now on. It has been demonstra- ted that this country from Skagway, clear through to the Yukon, will pro duce as fine spuds, and as many of them to the acre as any country in the world.
 U. S. COumlSSlOuSF OGulUI6Oo 10 oh der cloud; and has been busted from office. A special agent sent to Skag- way for the purpose of Investigating the affairs of his office, found that he had in many ways violated the trust imposed in him. At last accounts Shel- brede was organizing branches of the Y. M. c. A. at the various camps along the Yukon.
 The rate for messages over the Do- minion telegraph line between White Horse and Vancouver has been placed at s4.50 for ten words and g cents for each additional word. The press rate from Ashcroft to Yukon points is five cents per word, the minimum charge being equal to the full rate of ten word commercial message.
 A semi-weekly mail service is to be established between Skagway and Ju- neau Dec. 1st. The postofces at Der ner's Bay, Seward and Haines will also be supplied under this new contract.