Douglas Island news., 1902-11-26

CT Shelikoff left Uyak bay for Afognak, Kodiak and Seattle, writes a cores pondent of the Valdez Prospector. She had on board Mir. H. Hume, the super intendent of the P. P. & N. cannery at Uyak, his wife, book-keeper, cannery boss and others. This marks the clos ing of the fishing season of the P. P. x N. Go. at Uyak bay for this season. The company had a pack of S5,0O0 cases of red salmon for this years work. The closing of the season was marked with a series of fights and much dissatisfac- tion among the fishermen. They say that it was nothing but starvation all summer.
 The Scientific American, speaking ol the wonderful new explosive, Hatha- mite, says that a small charge was placed between two large cakes of ice, each weighing in excess of one hundred and fifty pounds. The powder was al lowed to remain between the ice cakes for nearly an hour and was then eX- ploded by means of caps. All that re- msined of the ice cakes after the ex- plosion was small pile of snow-not finely crushed ice, but snow of the or dinary character. This test is particu- larly interesting as evidencing the pos session by the explosive of properties which will allow of its use in mining operations in Alaska during the winter.
 The W. P. A. Club Husking Bee dance on Thanksgiving Eve. Nov. 26, says the Skagway Alaskan, promises to be the best thing that has blown in on a load of hay for many moons. The decorations of the hall will be one of the strong features, and when all is over the decorations will be given away as prizes to the most original characters. It is desired that all who can will come in calico and overalls, but no one will be barred from dancing during any part of the evening. If any city folks get little axle grease on their dude "close," they needn't kick. Nice, small sized haystacks will be provided for the tired work hands to roll in and there will be plenty of managers for the little children.
 "What Alaska needs can perhaps be partly explained by first showing what she has and what she doesn't want" says Judge Wickersham. "The laws of Oregon were given her in 1884, with an accompanying governor and court. A townsite law was given Alaska in 1891 In 1898 bad modification of the home stead laws was given her. h 1897 a penal code for Alaska went into force. In 1900 a civil code was established and made into law I would like to say that after working for years under the penal code, I consider it as good as that of the state of Washington. The civil code, too, is founded on that of the state of Oregon, as is the civil code of this state, and say that we have as good laws there as here."
 Rev. G. S. Clevenger, of Skagway, says the Copper river is fast becoming depopulated of natives. Hardship, hunger and sickness, he says, have taken off more than half of the h. dians of that region of Alaska with in the past five years. MT. Clevenger recently visited Valdez and investi- gated the condition of the natives, and he declares that the destitution among them is greater than in any other AL askan tribe. 1t is said furthermore, that the Indians are more deserving of care; also that they are peaceable, in- dustrious and as yet uncorrupted lot. One of the things that would seem to bear out this estimate of their character is the fact that the miners of the Copper river neighborhood are talk ing great interest in them, and are very anxious that they be assisted by the federal government.
 On the 7th inst. the steamer Excel sior lowed the Newport into Valdez in a badly disabled condition, having picked her up off Kyak. The follow ing description of the accident is given by the Valdez News: About , o'clock Wednesday evening, when the Newport was off Kyak, her propeller shaft sud- denly twisted off, and moment later her engines were broken into thous-