The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-20

S-csTT-s-'.-'.''"I'
That delightful musical play "The
Alaskan.n with its handsome chorus
one of the pretticst. by the way, seen
In Salt Lake for long while. and with
its dog train of Eskimo and Alaskan
dogs. will appear al the Salt Lake
thester the first four nights of the
week, with a special matinee Washing
ton s birthday. "Thc Alaskan has
been sung here before and proved un-
usually popular. and the presentation
of the musical play this time, IT is said.
will he better than ever, The story of
''The Alaskan - which has been told
before but which will bear repetition.
is somewhat unique In the fact that
II really possesses plot to be followed.
and heart story that rings true while
the opportunities for local color arc un
limited Combining these three, it would
appear that this comic opera well de
serves that success that has come TO
II. for how seldom in the musical COM
edy of the present day can there be
found more than single thread upon
which TO hang series Of tunes and
melodies 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 Tanaua river, where mining viii be
impossible until a large ditch has been
constructed to bring the water con
siderable distance. Harrison locates
the water right and proceeds TO the
coast in search of a partner who can
help him build the ditch His money
running out, he takes up the trade of
packer as n temporary business and
becomes known as Totem Polo Pete,
because of his unusual height, While
acting SIS a guide he takes contract
10 transport one Richard Atwater, who
has been grub staked by n Boston
capitalist, into the interior Atwatcr
has surveyor s transit in his freight
Attracted by that Totem makes in
qulries OF Atwater and learns that he
is skilled as a surveyor Totem than
decides that ne will show Atwater the
rich ground on the Tanana. and after
getting him there will offer him the
water rights if he will build the ditch.
Atwater readily consents to 90 TO this
secret place, but on tho way there To-
TEN breaks a leg. Atwater remains
with him while it is mending They
make their camp in an Indian village
while Atwater prospects the neighbor-
ing streams and discovers gold In
spite of Totem s nrgings that they push
sists cn remaining for the season and
working the find he has made
Totem is forced to accept the posi-
tion as foreman of this find, rather than
lose the chance of getting Atwater to
build his ditch later on. The play
opens on cleanup day at Atwatcr' IS
claim. The miners have heard rumors
OF great discovery in the Tanana
country and are about TO leave At
water when Totem makes himself
known 10 them as Harrison, and per.
suadcs them to finish the cleaning lid
before stampeding, Meanwhile the
capitalist who grub-staked Atwater has
died His daughter has inherited the
grubstake contract. Receiving no reply
To her letters 10 Atwater she determines
10 visit Alaska on her own account
This IS not so much on account of the
mine OF which she OWNS her half. but
because OF an old dream Of her father s
that some day she and Atwater should
make match. Arlee is chaperoncd
by Mrs. Good Better Best and thev 90
to so. Alaska !! under the protection Of Pro
fessor hnlcklebein. in search Of lost
ingredient for his laughing powder.
During the clean up a band Of stroll
ing players reaches the Atwater mine
Tor the purpose of giving a perform
ance, Totem is In no mood for this
and being without resources, the play
ers are forced by him to dor miners
clothes and 90 10 work. Walsingham
Watt. the managerial comedian of the
organization. learns of the arrival of
Miss Eastman and represents himself
as being Atwatcr Arlee. disgustcd
with the man she thinks is Richard.
presents rer chaperone as herself and
assumes the dignity of the chaperone.
Atwatcr discovers the plot and is about
to stralghten It out when he learns that
his mine is a failure. Thereupon he al
lows the mistaken identity to stand
and introduces himself rs the prospec
tor After the failure Of The mine
Totem makes his long cherished secret
known TO Atwater and the two leave
for Tanana as partners Miss Eastman
has taken a bungalow and decided 10
remain IN Nome throughout the winter:
Atwater and Totem come there 10 spend
New Years and at the reception the
various threads OF the tanmln arc