Douglas Island news., 1917-05-25
EARLY HISTORY
 IS RECALLED
Author of The Clam Digger's Dream" at Susina After Ten
 Years Absence

Dream" at Susima After Ten
 Years Absence
 e. Edward Cone. the poet Of the susiua who gained considerable fame m days gone by as the author of "Thc Clam Diggcr's Dream" is iu susIua after an absence of ten years Mir. Cone has been mining on Hartman creek in the Kusko- kvm river country, says tho Valdez Miner
 The rcturu of Mir. Cone recalls thc exciting times n che days Of ioO7, with its miners meetings and murders at Susiuo.
 Cone. who was the discoycrcr of Poormau crock. lcrt the creek with a poke of S3.O0O. He stopped at Kmucy's road house and as was the custom laid his poke on a shelf back of Che stove. In a couple of hours he was ready to resume his jour ucy and upon looking for his poke found it missing. Kinney claimed to know nothing about it. Cone left immediately for Susitna, where miners meeting was called and an investigation started Every man in that section Was accounted for ex- rcpt two men who had left the day previous for thc outside These men were intercepted and searched, when they voluntarily returned to susit- ua Go take part in the proceedings. The suHua meeting lcft in body for thc Kinney road house and there continued its investigation Kinney stoutly denied any knowledge Of the poke. but thc evidence was SO strong against him, as being the only man having an opportunity to got thr gold. that che meeting de- cidcd to usc force. Kinney was told lo either give up the gold or Co mako his will Being unable Co aat.s.y Che miners of his innocence. Kinney had McMauus write his will whereby hc loft everything he had to Rampant Nell who danced her way Co fame m Che carly days or the Nomc rush.
 A sraGold was hastily erected and thc rope adjusted. When thc moose was placed around KIuncy's neck ho was given his last chance to tell where thc gold was hidden. In his strenuous efforts Co convince the committee. Kinney tipped over tho box upon which he was standing and nearly traurlcd before he could hc cut down. This brought up a fine qustion having lived through one hanging. was he Co be hanged a-lue 10 was finally decided to- briue him to Susima and turn him over Go tbc commissioner. This was done and Kinney was taken to Val dcz. where little later he was tried and acquitted.
 Tho trial at Valdez was sonsa- uoum m Che extreme After his ocquittal. Kinney brought action against Che miners meeting and re- covered Sl.5OO damages, which was ncyor collected. as the men he sued had no property which could bo seized. and thc matter finally passed into history and was forgotten.
 Within three months after tho ac- quittal of Kinney two members Of Che miners meeting were killed. Purchase. the husband of Rampant Nell. was shot in his road house at Euik. and Dunn was shot in his road house a, susitna Little has ever been known as Co the cause of these killings. In both cases the only witnesses present were women land both assailants were acquitted on thc plea of self defense.
 Later Rampant Nell married the man who killed her husband. a young man by the name Of Johnny Kashcyuikou, and left for the states with him, and their whereabouts arc at present unknown. The slayer of Dunn Ralph Williams, was also acquitted. and has since dropped out of sight