Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-02
HEART STORY OF
THE ALASKAN
RINGS TRUE
Play Really Possesses a Plot
Comic Opera Is Well De-
serving Of its Phenomenal
Success,

The story of The Alaskan is some-
what unique in the fact that it really
possesses a plot to be Followed. ana a
heart story that rings true while the
opportunities for local color are un-
Limited. Combining these three. il
would appear that this comic opera
well deserves that success that has
: come to il, for how seldom IN the mus
ical comedy of the present day can
there be found more than a single
thread upon which to hans a series of
tunes and melodies, The play is
booked at the Elks theater, Febru-
airy s.
The story tells how Peter Harrison
goes to Alaska in the first rush OF
prospecting. He discovers rich ground
in an unknown district near the Tan
ana river, where mining viii be i'm
possible until a large ditch has been
constructed to bring h water a con-
siderable distance. Harrison locates
the water right, and proceeds 70 the
coast in search OF a partner VINO can
help him build the ditch. Ills money
running out, he takes up the trade OF
"A packer as a temporary business and
becomes known as Totem Pole Pete,
because of his unusual height. While
acting as a guide he takes a contract
to transport one Richard Atwator.
! who has been grub-staked by a Boston
capitalist into the interior. Atwater
has a surveyors transit In his freight.
Attracted by that Totem makes in
quiries Of Atwater and learns that he
is skilled as u surveyor Totem then
/ decides that he Will show Atwater the
rich ground on The Tanana, and after
getting him there viii offer him the
water rights IL he will Guild the dilch
Atwater readily consents 70 so to
this secret place, but on the way there
Totem breaks a leg. Atwater ramains
with him while it is men1ing. They
make this camp in an indian Village
while Atwater prospects The n%eighbor-
ing streams and discovers gold. In
spite of Totemts urgings that they
push on to the secret Eldorado. At
water insists on remaining for the
season and working the find he has
made.
Totem is forced TO accept The posi-
ton as foreman of this find, rather
than to lose the chance of getting At
water to build his ditch later on. The
play opens on d clcan-up day at At
waters claim. The miners have
heard rumors of q great discovery 10
the Tanana country and are about TO
leave AtWnter. when Totem makes
himself known to them as Harrison,
and %persuadcs them 70 finish the
Icleaning up before stumpeuinS. Mean
while the capitalist who grub-staked
Atwatcr has died. His daughter has
Inherited the grub-stake contract, RC-
ceiyipg no reply to her letters TO At
water, she determines TO visit Alaska
on her W account, This IS not so
much on recount Of the mine of which
she owns her balf. but because Of an
old dream Of her father's, that some
dag she ana Atwator shnnld make Al
match. Arlee is chapsrened, by Alrs'
Good Eetter Best. and they go to
Alaska under the protection Of Pro-
fossor Knickleheiu IN search OF a lost
ingredient for his laughing powder.
During the cleanup a band OF stroll
Ing players reaches the AtWater mine,
for the purpose OF giving "a perform
ance. Totem is in no mood for TINS
and being without resources the play
.ers are forced by him to don miner
clothes and go to work.
W%alsingham Watt, the managerial
comedian of the organization. learns
of the arrival OF Miss Eastman me
represents himself as beinS Atwatcr.
Arless, disgusted with the MAJ she
thinks Is Richard, presents her chap
% rs herself and assumes the dlg-
nifty of the chaperone' AlNater uls-
covers the plot and Is about 20
straighten 1t out when ne learns that
his mine is a failure. Thereupon he
allows the mistaken Identity to stand
and introduces himself as the pros
rector. After the failure OF the nine
Totem makes his long cherished secret
known to Atwatcr and the two leave
for Tanana as partners, MISS last
mar has taken q bungalow I'M De
cidcd to remain in Nome throushout
the winter; Atwater and Totem come
tf,1.. j., .n,,,I Taxt wars and at tho