Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-24
FORTUNES MADE IN ALASKA
]. O, Gaffnsy Tells of Success in the Land
Of Midnight Sun.
He HIMSELF HAS ACQUIRED WEALTH
Says Hard Coal IL Thirty-TvO Dollars
Ton Now, but Wages Are
More Than Proportion
ateIy High.

1EuUl n 80 per month Clerk III a Nlhllu
Forks, N. D.. store to a leading merchant
at Nome, Alaska, is the life story Of J. c.
Gaffney, who was guest yesterday at the
Paxton hotel with his wife.
Mr. Gaffney Is an extremely modest
young man, but is, nevertheless. a striking
example Of western push and enterprise.
He likes to talk about anything except his
own success. Unlike many who went to
Alaska and acquired fortunes in a year,
Mr.. Carney went there in 1900 donned a
pair Of overalls, worked hard for three
years and in 1903 was able to have his name
printed over the doorway OF a clothing
and dry goods store in Nome. Today he
is able to make a trip during the CLOSED
season" 10 New York and buy his next
seasons stock.
People i'm the states should study
Alaskan geography said Mr. Gaffney yes
terday Several times since leaving Nome
1 have been asked Have you seen MT
So-and-SO in Alaskan 1 have asked the
name Of the town and frequently the reply
has been some place 1,SOO miles from Nome
People have no idea Of the vastness OF
Alaska. Last season, which closed short
time ago. we sent from the district near
Nome 100000 in gold. From June 1 to
November 1 is considered the open season,
during which time our population runs from
1000 TO 5000 During the closed season
the population is about 1900. We have two
daily papers and a weekly. Nearly fifteen
boats ply between Seattle and Nome, the
boats carrying from 1000 to $500 tons and
from 200 to 600 passengers each"
Mr. Gaffney is personally acquainted with
nh Of Alaska
one of the interesting figures at Washing
ton just now. OF Congressman Waskey
Mr.. Gaffney said:
''Waskey came to Alaska with nothing
more than a fair education and grit. He
worked hard, and today is worth some
thing like $4,000. Not so very long ago
he was selected on a Saturday to run for
alderman at Nome. The election was on
the following Tuesday He made some
stirring speeches, but was opposed by the
| labor element and Defeated by a close
/ figure. When he came up for congressman
he was supported by the very element
! which fought him in the city election. He
wants to get territorial rights for Alaska"
! Mr.. Gaffney is well posted on Nome af-
| fairs. He said the Fraternal Order of
Eagles owns its $4,000 hall, while the Ma
| sons have a $4,000 temple. When he left
| arrests were being made of persons en-
gaging in 'panggingi," a game played with
seven decks of cards, and in which a
player can pass $1,000 over as easily as 81.
Mr. Ganney said it would surprise the
stranger to know what a fine class of
people inhabit Nome, aside from the float
ing population, which includes people of
all classes. He said soft coal is just now
SO a ton and hard coal $S2 a ton, with
wages more than proportionately high. For
the young man with a little capital and
some wits there are many good chances
in Alaska, declared Mr.. Gaffney.
IF you get OF right you are all right,
but if you get OF wrong you are to the
bad" is the way he expressed It.
Buffalo Bill" Cody put one more story
across the plate before he left the Mer-
chants hotel Sunday morning for a hunt
in his old stamping ground. the Big Horn
country.
When Colonel Cody begins to tell a story
It is a token for all to gather around, for
the famous plainsman can tell stories as
well as break glass balls in a wild west
show.
while in Washington the other day !
heard a good one on the president and his
last bear hunt in Colorado" began the
colonel, as he looked at his watch to see
whether it was drawing near to train time
1.-The way 1 heard the story was some
thing like this. President Roosevelt was
bear hunting with an experienced guide
in Colorado The guides dogs were rather
of their feed on the day in question
Hearing of a Scotchman up country who
had some fine bear dogs, the guide and
the president hied themselves thither tc
get the dogs The guide first approached
the Scot with several propositions, one
being the possibility of borrowing the
dogs, another an ofTer TO hire the dogs
and the third to hire the dogs and owner
for the day at rate of pay that would
be worth while The Scotchman was OBJ.
durate, saying he would not let the dog,
go alone and was too busy to go himself
"The president himself accosted tn,
scotchman and repeated the guides propo
sitions. The owner Of the dogs stood pat
But, my friend maybe you do not know
am the president OF the United States.
continued Teddy thinking that woulC
move the heart of the Scotchman.
why, mon. IL would make nae diner
ence II ye we're Booker T. Washington
my dogs will not go out today replied tn,
Scotchman."
Colonel Cody borrowed Tom Foley's auto
matte gun for his hunting trip. From
Omaha he went to Denver, from where h
will proceed TO Cheyenne to meet officer
who will give him correct data for hi
next spectacle. which will be a realistic
depletion OF the bandit hunters OF tn
Union Pacific.
Colonel Cody will spend New Years a
Cody, Wyo.
, The crowd moved over 10 the Henshay
and Joe Keenan, OF the Henshaw got tn
floor.
; 'I was on a downtown car this morn
. ing" began Joseph. 'On the car was
woman, a small boy and a large turkey
= The woman was acting as custodian OF tn
( boy and gobbler She placed herself be
tween the boy and bird and / do no
think the congress OF the United State
could have dislodged her. She was ther
TO stay. Several passengers standing u
20 wanted seats, but the small boy and larg
turkey occupied comfortable places in tn
p car. all for one fare Of cents.
D '' Madam, please leave that turkey on IN
E rear platform remarked the conductor.
E ''The fowl tried 10 release itself froT
= pedal bondage.
''The woman gave the conductor a loo
OF scorn.
'' Madam, the rules are
4 I 'The conductors words were browne
s by the turkeys siren notes.
Ra -,