The Chitina leader., 1913-11-04
MOUNTAIN SNOW SLIDE

MUUUIhIN UUUu ULIUL
 VALDEZ, Nov. 4-The news was brought to town this morning of fatal slide that the Big Four claim Mineral creek happened Saturday and resulted and three others had miraculous escapes Ernest Buner John Connolly Warren Nelson and Robert Martin occupied tent and had been doing contract work the claim The avalanche of with such suddenns and erocy that prevented the from escaping petey covered the tent The first to dig himself out Brune who brother of Senator Ewood Bruner of Nome For hour he pinned down by the weight of the and wreckage the tent He finally reached broken whisky bottle and with that finally worked himself clear his hands being badly cut and his clothes completely off, In his naked and weakened condition walked quarter of mile to the tunnel and secured shovel then returned and started to dig out his partner Warren Nelson He finally succeeded after Nelson had been buried three and half hours He also practically stripped of his clothing The soon started in their companions and finally dug out John Connolly who had been imprisoned and half hours He still living although very much weakened
 was not until Sunday that they succeeded finding the body of Robert Martin He badly crushed and had been smothered death Where the working was an elevation of 5000 carried the men and tent to within ten feet of thousand foot prcpce That any them recovered considered extraordinary three surv1vors are again in pretty good shape
 WASHINGTON Nov 4-When Secretary of State Bryan was shown the Associated Press dispatch Mexico City about the umatm issued Huerta manifested much interest However, he stated that he would official comment at this time
 The recent visit to the westward of Colonel swanitz who In charge of the Alaska Northern railroad has the of considerable discussion quiet way as to the fate of the present Alaska railroad bill that have been practically agreed upon by the Senate and House. The story that comes to from seemingly authoritative the effect that the strong opposition in Congress the govern nent ownership and operation of railroads in Alaska has the of President Wilson's esancy put all the force o the administration back of the and push through While he has expressed himself favorable consruction taken this course largely through the nence of Secretary of the Interior he realizes that there is strong opposition that only be through hs own strenuous advocacy of the b This he prepared to give
 It is known that the Alaska conended right along that the would adopt reasonable coal policy that would permit of mining the Matanuska field that railroad construction would be pushed without government ad Attorney w. J. Roland made this represen- taon at the hearings before the committee territories He opposed government construction and operation Others who also oppose this method insist action is taken that would mean the opening of the Matanuska fields that would necessarily be general in its and would also apply the 5erlng fields In that 1t is figured that Copper hlver & Northwestern Railway would immediately build branch line into the Boring fields
 But phase has been placed the through
 declaration upon the part of the Alaska Northern people, Men connected with the Seward railroad have represented the President that they ready go ahead the construction of their line and build only into the Mat anuka field but also the Tanana valley They declare that ample funds available for the construction and the only requirement would be an assurance upon the side o tha government that part of the Matanuska coal lands would made available for mining operations further reported that the railway has been taken strong capitalists from New York and Boston, presumably Hayden Stone Company
 The report also that Colonel Swan has appointment with President Wilson the fore part of November further discuss the matter
 As the stories these methods securing construction will be urged at Washington when the bill comes up in December and the President now inclined to think that possibly Senator Ovean Senator and others may be
 acated n their opposition ownership by some coal action that would encourage construction by individuals far possible and then to extend aid in the building of other lines through the guaranteeing of bonds or other means When Senator Chamberlain June 23 last called Senate bill Mo- 4S authorize the President to locate construct and operate railroads in Alaska authorizing the expenditure of $4OOOOOOO for that purpose objection made to its consideration Overman
 It is said that while the President believes that he could lNt the bill thrOnoh he bo