Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-01-26
REPORT RECALLS
ALASKA ROMANCE
How Army Officer Lost HIS
Chance to Discover
Rich KlOndike

knows a great deal more than % did
ahout the undeycloped resources OF
7 ALASKA Mr. Fisher calls more at
Itentiou % coal whom be- visited Alas
ka last summer than 90 gold for the
gold deposits of the territory are now
.u old story.
An army officer OF high rank who
has been for the better part OF nine
years either IN the Philippines or In
the American tropics has told just
how Il was that the great fad OF gold
In the klondike country was not made
five years earlier than II was The
story embraces. doubtless. the reason
why this particular army officer Is still
living on his service pay instead OF
owning Golcondas and drawing reye-
nue. theretrom. Il also accounts prob
ably FOR the still moderate incomes OF
two or three other government EN-.
ployees and Of half dozen men In
civil life.
How Gold Find Was Delayed
The army officer had made a study
OF mineralogy. assaying and other
kindred things. Il these two be- kin.
drsd, and In the year 1891 concluded
that II would be "a good thing for the
government 10 know definitely what II
had IN the back country OF Alaska
President Harrison aud Secretary %
War Proctor agreed with the army
man and bill was prepared and in.
troduced into both houses OF congress
Tor the appropriation OF money 10 pay
Tor an Alaska Investigation with the
army officer at the head OF IL. Plans
had been made for the trip and the
exact places 10 be- visited had been
marked out one of the places spe.
ciiically iu view for investigation Is
today the richest gold spot known IN
the whole northern country.
The bil passed the senate and was
reported fayombly from the house
committee The speaker had agreed
10 recognize "a representative who was
TO move Tor the bills passage. e was
the last day Of the session aud the
representative was on his feet waiting
tor recognition The speaker had
made too many promises and the rep.
rcscuiatiye who had the treasures OF
Alaska In bin form boz the hollow of his
hand went without recognition. ad-
luurnmouf came and the discovery OF
the treasures OF the Klondike won
poJponed Tor e yenrs
The army officer who told this story
has won a lighting fame II he never
has discovered a gold mine. and with
his lighting fame he has modesty
which made him ask that bis name
should not ho used, lest pcudyouWrs
people should feel called upon 10
mourn with him rhc loss Of great %.
poriuuif} 'o say nothing u some pos.
siblc millions Of money
Postotice Duck Hawks Back.
The postun.cc duck hawks are back
and are under the special guardian
ship Of Postmaster General Frank A.
Hitchcock Possibly the country
doesn't know what the pos,oifce duck
hawks are, and very possibly the larg.
er part of the country doesn't care.
but nevertheless the duck hawks are a
source OF a good deal OF interest 20
the Washinptonlans who know about
them and 20 some Of the higher on.
cials Of the government who take an
Interest ln ornitholocy
Every winter for years pair Of
duck hawks have taken 10 the tower
OF the posioiilce building. there 10
spend the night and certain parts OF
the day when not In pursuit Of prey
The duck hawk occurs In many parts
of the world II Us noble bird. a
true falcon, the wandering falcon. Il
Is called so swift Of flight that u can
ovortaEo any known winged quarry
The duck hawk Is a freebooter and a
destroyer Of game birds. but II is so
absolutely fearless and so typical Of
the very Widest OF things. that a sen.
timent attaches TO H. and an admira
ton that has kept many a man from
destroying the destroyer.
Just now these falcons that have
chosen the tower OF the building on
the busiest part OF Pennsylvania ave.
nue. for q winter residence are picking
up coot aud grebes along the Poto-
mac a little later on. II the weather
gets very cold, the nocks Of tho city
pigeons will lose many Of their mum.
Der one Of the hawks flashed by an
Office window a day or two ago. care
less Of the city noises and intent only
on his business OF food getting
Some years ago the postofice au.
ihorities asked permission 10 shoot the
hawks. but some friends Of the birds
managed 10 save them Just now
there Is an ornithologist holding the
Office o. postmaster general II any
employee Of the postofilce shoots che
Of the duck hawks II will take all the
power Of the civil service commission
and all the pull that his congressman
can bring TO bear to save his Job
Tho duck hawk kills a few ducks.
The men who want to kill them kill
ten ducks 10 the hawks one In the
shooting season. or II the advocates
or duck.hawk determination don't
they do any duck killing themselves.