The Sunday Oregonian., August 21, 1904, PART TWO, Image 9

PAGES 9 TO 16
PART TWO
m m u
NO. 34.
vol. xxni.
PORTLAND, OREGON. SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 21, 1904.
Dispute Over Islets Formed in the Columbia "River
Ownership fcy Oregon or Washington of Sand Island Opens Up the Old Question of the Boundary Line
Butterick Patterns and Delineator for September on Sale
Lipman,Wolfe6fCmpany
Good Goods Only: Quality Considered, Our Prices Are Always Lowest
Very- Many More
Ready for tomorrow, with a much-increased showing
of the new Silks for Fall wear.
The Silk manufacturers have tried their very best to
beat all their former productions the Silks we've on dis
play in the Silk store show that they succeeded in every
possible way. These new ones on view :
.New Chameleon Mattelasse Silks
New Monotone Swivel Mervelleaux -New
Print Warp Messaline Taffeta
New Damasse Checked Messaline
New Two-Toned Checked Louisines
Prices Range From $1.00 to $1.50 Per Yard
Child's Wear: Hal
Infants' and Children's Dresses and Slips, made of fine lawn
and nainsooks, trimmed with laces and embroideries, sizes 6
months ; i, 2, 3 and 4 years.
6$c sorts, 33 75c sorts, 38 95c sorts, 48
$1.25 sorts, 63 $1.50 sorts, 75 ?L75 sorts, -88
"$2.00 sorts, $1.00 $2.50 sorts, $1.25 $3.50 sorts, $1.75
50c to 85c Bibs at 39c
Infants' Bibs, hand and machine-quilted, trimmed with lace
embroidery, Irish point and hand-embroidered edge; sold
regularly at 50c to 85c; now 39
Women's 50c Lisle Thread Gloves for 33c
Women's one and two-clasp White Lisle Thread Gloves, plain and Paris point embroidery
50c regular; Clearance Sale price is only 33
Women's 50c Black and Colored Silk Gloves 39c
Women's two-clasp, double-finger tipped Silk Gloves; gray, mode, tan and.bldck; regular
50c; Clearance Sale price is cfaly. . 39
Women's $1.25 Wov.Bl'k and Col'd Silk Gloves 89c
Women's two-pearl-button, double finger tipped Silk Gloves, fancy Fourchette, white, cham
pagne, slate and black; regular $1.25; clearance sale price is only -89
Women' 25c Lisle Thread Vests at 13c
Women's Lisle Thread Vests, low neck, sleeveless, fancy dropstitch, white, pink and sky;
regular 25c; Clearance Sale price is only 13
Women's $3.50 to $5 Hand Bags to Close at 98c
Women's Leather Handle and Chain Bags, in red, green and blue, odd lots; regular $3.50 to
$5.00; Clearance Sale price is only S$
Women's 35-50c Silk and Leather Crush Belts 19c
Odd lots of Women's Silk and Leather Crush Belts; black, tan, white, red, brown; regular
35C, 50c; Clearance Sale price is only 19
75c to $2.50 Silk and Leather Crash Belts 39c
Odd lots of Women's Crush Silk and Leather .Belts ; a large variety; black, tan, white, red,,
brown; 75c to $2.50 values at the very low price of only 39
Women's 50c to 75c Ribbed Drawers at 39c
Women's Ribbed Lace-Trimmed Drawers, sample and broken lines, white, pink, sky and
black; regular 50c, 75c; Clearance Sale price is only .". .... 39
Half -Price Sale
'of Lace Curtains
Wonderful money-saving opportunities presented
herewith for those who intend' furnishing up the home.
The price reductions extend through five great groups
three' of Scotch, one of net, the other of Arabian and
J Cluny particular:
Scotch Curtains: Values to $1.50 at 85c
Scotch Curtains: Values to $2.50 at $1.35
Scotch Curtains: Values to $4.00 at $2.50
Battenburg Edge Net Curtains, special $2.35
Arabian and Cluny Lace Curtains, sp'cl., $3.25
Misses' Fast Black Lace Lisle Hose extra fine finish. Full fashioned foot sizes 5 to 8 ;
sell regularly at 25c; special tomorrow at 18$
Children's 20c Black Cotton Stockings at 13c
Children's Fast Black Cotton HoseMedium weight, double knee, very elastic, strong and
"durable; real 20c value on sale tomorrow at !3
Clearance White Waists Worth to $3 at $1.25
Balance of White Lawn Waists, lace and embroidery trimmed, broken lines, odd lots; values
up to $3.00; on sale tomorrow at
25c All-Silk Colored Taffeta Ribbon at 18c
(Five hundred pieces of all pure silk colored Taffeta Ribbon 4 inches wide in these colors ;
white, cream, pink, mais, turquoise and reseda; regularly 25c, on sale tomorrow at. .. 18
isses' 25c Black Lace Lisle Hose at 18c
OOLYMPLA, Wash., Aug. 20. (Spe
cial.) The Washington Board of
State Land Commissioners has de
cided ,to give a formal hearing on Sep
tember 1 to the recenUy 'revived' dispute
over the boundary line between, the States
of Washington and Oregon."
While In this hearing the issue directly
Involved Is the Jurisdictloa of the State
of Washington over the 400 acres com
prising Desdemona Sands, near the mouth
of the "Columbia River, It will follow. In
the event that it is decided that Desde
mona Sands lie within the boundaries of
the State of Washington, that this state
will claim jurisdiction over 15 other sand
Islands In the Columbia River, now
claimed by Oregon. ' ",
In addition to this claim, a decision
favorable to the Washington claimants-
will Involve the state in a further con-
troversy with the United States Govern
ment as to jurisdiction over Sand Island,
which the Government claims as a mili
tary reserve.
In connection with Sand Island ., an er
roneous Idea seems to be prevalent at
Ilwaco and the mouth of the river. It
has been reported from there that the
State Land Commission had already held
that Sand Island was under Its jurisdic
tion. This Impression arose from the ac
ceptance for filing by the state land office
of an" application for the purchase of tide-
lands fronting on the Island. It has been
the policy of the state to refuse applica
tions for the purchase of tidelands abut
ting on Government reservations.
Heuston Showed a Map.
Several months ago P. J. McGowan &
Sons applied for the tidelands on Sand
Island, but nothing was presented with
the application to Indicate a controversy
as to the right of the Government to claim
the Island as a military reserve. Accord
ingly, the land office followed its usual
policy and -refused to accept the .applica
tion. Recently, however, B. F. Heuston,
of Tacoma, filed an application for tide
land on the rame Island, but presented
newsurveysand copies of old Government
charts which tend to show that Sand
Island, as It now exists, is several miles
from the Sand Island reserved by Pres
ident Lincoln by proclamation In 1S64.
Mr. Heuston claims to have evidence to
show that the Government's military re
serve has been washed away by the cur
rent of the river, the sand from the Island
going largely to form Clatsop Spit, which.
it is said, was not in existence In 1S64. It
Is his contention that the new Island
formed several miles away was locally
named Sand Island, and that in later days
the Government has "erroneously Inferred
that the new island Is the original re
serve.
While not accepting the evidence sub
mltted as conclusive, and also realizing
that Oregon, in any event, claims that
the present Sand Island Is within the
boundaries of that state, the state land
office decided to 'file the Heuston appllca
tlon, leaving its disposition to be deter
mined later. The McGowans, learning of
this action, renewed their earlier applica
tion, which was also placed on file under
the same conditions. An application by
E. P. Noonan for tidelands on the same
island has also been filed.
A Three-Cornered Fight.
The Heuston application, however, cov
ers all the valuable tidelands,adjacent to
the Island, and even If Washington should
finally be declared by a competent author
ity to have jurisdiction over San Island,
the question of' prior right to purchase
the tidelands must be threshed out be
tween McGowan, Heuston and Noonan
and others who may claim rlght3 to pur
chase.
The Sand Island question will be. a mi
nor Issue, however, In the hearing on
September 1. On that date the State
Land Commission will determine whether
or not it proposes to attempt to exercise
control over Desdemona' Sands, to which
the Columbia River Packers' Associa
tion obtained a patent from the State of
Oregon about six years ago. The ques
tion over the control of Desdemona
Sartds was raised also by B. F. Heuston,
of Tacoma, who has applied to purchase
the sands from the state of Washing
ton. A formal protest has been filed by Ful
ton Brothers, of Astoria, representing
the Columbia River Packers' Association,
In which It is set up that the association
has been in open and notorious posses
sion of Desdemona Sands for a period of
six years, has Improvements thereon of
the value of 520,000, that the lands "lie
wholly south of the .south boundary line
of the State of Washington; that said
premises is an Island In the Columbia
River about ten miles from the mouth of
said river, and the same lies" wholly south
of the middle channel of said Columbia
River and south of the middle of the
widest channel thereof; that said island
has, at all times been south of the mid
dle channel of the Columbia River."
The Packers' Association prays that the
land "be adjudged and decreed to be situ
ated and located wholly within the terri
tory and boundaries of the State of Ore
gon, and that the State of Washington
has no jurisdiction over said land and
premises, and that said application be de
nied." Hearing Before State Board.
It Is upon-tills application and protest
that the Board of State Land Commls
sloners will give a hearing on September
1. Whatever the decision of this board
an appeal to a higher court is considered a
certainty and it is believed a decision will
finally be reached that will determine
which state has jurisdiction over 16 or
more sand islands in the Columbia River
of a value of perhaps 575,000, and upon
which are located Improvements valued at
an equal amount. The decision will de
termine which state has the right ' to
levy taxes on the Islands and improve
ments, and which state Is empowered to
collect licenses from the fishermen operat
ing on these sands. The fishermen operat
ing on the disputed sands pay, it is said.
SO per cent of the total licenses Issued to
Columbia River fishermen by both states.
The contentions over the boundary be
tween Washington and Oregon at the
mouth of the Columbia first assumed
serious aspect in 1896. At that time there
were about 3500 gillnet fishermen located
at Astoria, who fished on the various
sand islands in the river, and principally
on Sand Island. On the Washington
shore were located a large number of
trap fishermen, who also attempted to
operate on Sand Island. Frequent clashes
occurred between the two. The Oregon
fishermen would raid Sand Island at in
tervals and destroy the traps of the
Washington fishermen. The Washing
ton fishermen would perform equally law
less acts by raiding the island and de
stroying the gill nets of the Oregon fish
ermen.
In April of 1896, the detachments from
three companies of -the Washington mi
litla were sent to the island to attempt
to preserve oraer. in all. 70 men were
stationed In the vicinity for three months
and -were given a merry chase in their
attempts to prevent the raids which still
continued. Finally the United States
Government took a hand on the ground
that Sand Island was a Government .mili
tary reservation and ordered off the i
Washington troops. . Since then the Gov
ernment has required fishermen to obtain
permits from the Government before al
lowing them to fish on Sand Island.
Many of the fishermen now obtain state
licenses from both Washington and Ore
gon. 4
Formerly Government Jetty.
Most of the sand islands, which
would be thrown Into Washington if
the Washington claims should be al
lowed, were fomed as a result of the
building of the Government jetty. It
is one of the contentions by the Wash
ington claimants that this jetty, instead
of scouring out the main channel or tne
river, as was anticipated,. In reality
caused it to fill and threw the main
channel over near ' the Washington
shore. It is. contended that the main
channel, as It originally existed. Is the
defining lino, and not tne present mam ,
channel.
Te defining of the boundary line by
tho Government is found only In the
act of Congress of March 2, 1853, de
fining, the boundary of the Territory or
Washington. The later enabling act
creates the State of Washington out of
that Dortlon of the United States then
constituting the Territory of Washing
ton. The act defining the boundaries
of the territory reads as follows:
All that portion of Oregon, while that state
was. a territory,, lyins ana uems
the 43th desree of north latitude, and nortn
of the middle of the mam channel of the
Columbia River from Its mouth to where the
40th degree of north latitude crosses that river
near Fort "Walla Walla; thence with tne -iota
degree of latitude to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains, la organized Into a temporary gov
ernment by the name of the Territory of
"Waahlneton.
The language of the act In defining the
boundaries of Oregon is exactly similar to
the above, so far as the Columbia River
Is concerned, except that the words
"south of the middle of the main chan
nel" are used Instead of "north of the
middle of the main channel."
The Constitutional Convention of the
state of Washington, however, undertook
to make the description of the boundary
line more definite by enacting that the
boundary of the state should be as fol
lows: Brinnine nt a nolnt in the Pacific
Ocean one marine league due west of and
opposite the middle of the mouth of tne
north shin channel of the Columbia River,
thpnpA rnnnlncr easterlv to and up the
middle of the widest channel thereof to
where the 46th parallel of north latitude
crosses said river near the mouth of the
Walla Walla River," etc.
Sand Island in Oregon.
It appears that this attempt by the Con
stitutional Convention of Washington is
larirelv resnonslble for tho controversy
over a portion of the boundary line that
Washington Is disputing, on Denair oi
the Oregon claimants to portions of the
fishing grounds In the Columbia, It Is
contended that there existed a north ship
channel on the north side of Sand Island,
and that that was the channel referred to
in, the Constitution of Washington. This
contention is nerhans given some weight
thA lrmc-uaire of the" nroclamation of
President Lincoln reserving "Sand Island"
for milltarr nurooaes. which refers to the
Island as "Sand Island in tho state of
Oreeon."
The whole controversy is gone into
aulte extensively by a "Boundary Com
mission" appointed by Governor Rogers
In 1899, under authority of a concurrent
resolution adopted by both houses of the
Washington Legislature. It was believed
at that time that the Oregon Legislature
would make provision for the appointment
of a similar commission, and that tne
two would report to their respective
states, but the Oregon Legislature failed
to act.
The Washington commission was com
posed of Fred L. Rice, formerly Prosecu
ting Attornev of Pacific County, and
John B. Nice, of Wahkiakum County.
This commission acted Independently of
Oregon and submitted a report to the
1901 Legislature, which took no further
proceedings. .
This report will furnish considerable of
the most Important testimony to be heard
by the Board of State Land Commission
ers on September 1, and it undoubtedly
gives a very clear statement of the Wash
ington claims In the boundary matter.
Contention of Washington.
The Washington commission's report, in
discussing the definition of the boundary
found In the Washington constitution
maintains that "Congress being the only
lawmaking body having the power to fix
and define boundaries between states, such
matters cannot be the subject of defini
tion by constitutional conventions of the
several states, or of legislative enactment
by any one state, but what the boundary
Is and where located geographically may
be agreed upon by the states- Interested
by a joint convention; or determined by
the United States court in a proper action'
brought for that purpose after such boun
dary has been defined by Congress."
Referring to the language in President
Lincoln's proclamation reserving "Sand
Island in Oregon," the report has the fol
lowing:
"If Sand Island has shifted, as the evl
dence certainly established it has, then
tho boundary line would, according to
Oi'egon's contention, have to shift with It
or It would not be north of Sand Island
However the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States has respectively held that the
boundaries of states, unlike the boun
darles of private property, do not shift
with the shifting sands of time or tides,
but remain where fixed and defined by
Congress, the only thing uncertain about
them being their geographical location
which may be established as hereinbefore
pointed out"
The findings of the Washington Com
mission affecting the boundary question
proper are found in the following, which
is taken from the report of the commis
sion on file In the office of the Governor
at Olympla:
Result of Investigation.
"After organizing and requesting the
co-ODeration of" Oregon, your commission
ers procured all the Government's charts
of the Columbia River obtainable back as
near as possible to the year 1S53, the date
of the act of Congress defining tne Boun
dary line between Oregon and Washing
ton Territory, finding one of the year 1S57,
showing that at that time there was
north and a south channel at the mouth
of the Columbia River, the longer, wider
and deeper one being the south channel,
leadirg up to where Astoria, Or., is now
located, and being but a few hundred feet
from the defined high water line in front
of that city and south of where are now
located the valuable and important tide
lands known as Kiddle Sands and Desde
moha Sands, and from there by well-de
fined banks up the river past Tongue Point
throush Cordell channel and Woody Is
land channel, and so on up the Columbia
River.
"The north channel was shown on said
chart to be a narrow, winding 'channel
opening from the sea north of where
North Head lighthouse, on the Washing
ton' side of the mouth of the Columbia
River, is now located, and winding up un
der the protecting shelter of Cape Dls
aDnolntment, north of where Sand Island
was .-formerly located in the Columbia
River, thence southerly and easterly to
ward where Fort Columbia is now lo
cated", In which vicinity It 'pinched out,'
being apparently a short channel worn by
the action of the waters from the Chinook
and .Walllcut Rivers, and not, properly
speaking, a channel of the Columbia
River, though passing out to sea through
tho waters of the lower Columbia. From
evidence gathered from old sea captains
and pilots, river pilots, fishermen and old
settlers, all of whom had known the river
from a time dating back in many in
stances to 1S5S, it was ascertained that
the south channel was the main one in
the sense that It was the one most fre
quently used by sea-going craft of all de
scriptions, all loaded out-going vessels
using It exclusively and all Incoming ves
sels, except In time of stress of weather,
when they would come through the north
channel. In order to anchor off the lee
side of Cape Disappointment and enjoy
the protection of Its towering rocks, the
Oregon side lying low and storm-swept.
Such vessels as used the north, channel
In such circumstances, after weighing
anchor, went southward to the south
channel, which they would enter a short
distance east of Point Adams, on the Ore
gon side, and westward of the City of
Astoria.
The north channel was never used by
loaded vessels or vessels Incoming, except
in the instances mentioned, and has not
been in existence or recognized by United
States Government charts since about
1878. Sand Island, In the lower Columbia,
that has been and Is now the subject of
dispute between the two states, is at pres
ent several times larger than shown ay
the early charts, and has shifted several
miles farther up the river and north, and
now lies right over where the old "channel
was formerly, so that the middle of the
island is about where the channel used to
be.
Channel Changed by Freshet.
"Passing up the south, or main ship,
channel of the Columbia River to and
past Tongue Point, to the disputed ter
ritory of Wahkiakum County, it was found
that the channel now used by shipping
Is not the channel formerly used until
after the big freshet of 1876 to any great
extent, but likely to remain the perman
ent channel for shipping, owing to the
action of the Government jetty. The
main channel and the one formerly used
was up Woody Island channel, through
Cordell channel, and thence again Into
Woody Island Channel and then Into the
main River. This channel through Woody
Island Channel and Cordell Channel, It
was found by Inspection of old charts
and other competent evidence, was buoyed
out by the Government as early as 1SS3,
the year the boundary line was defined
as being up the middle of the main chan
nel of thff Columbia River.
The Government certainly did not mark
out and buoy the least Important channel,
Its officers and engineers at the time
knew and marked the main channel, and
Congress must have had In mind tne chan
nel so marked when It used the language
defining the boundary. These channels
are not now in use owing to the con
struction of the Jetty, which was ex
pected, according, to the United States en
gineers report, to scour them out, but
in reality filled them up and threw the
main channel over on the Washington
shore. This shifting of the channel ha3
formed valuable tide lands, which the
State of Washington clearly owns, as the
old channel, and not the new one, Is the
dividing line, which would throw these
lands as well as others Into washing-ton."
No Trouble Above Vancouver.
The Commission found no serious con
troversy above "Vancouver, and Its final
decision was that the boundary line should
be drawn from a point located four miles
from Point Adams light on a line between
the lighthouse on .Cape Disappointment
and the llghth&use qn Point Adams, run
ning thence In an easterly direction to
the center of the south channel, following
the middle of this channel to Smith s
Channel to George Point, up the middle
of Woody Island Channel to where said
channel Is intersected by Cordell Chan
nel; thence up the middle of Cordell
Channel to where said channel again In
tersects Woody Island Channel; thence up
the middle of Woody Island Channel to
the middle of the main river; thence up
the middle of the main river to the In
tersection of the channel running south of
Puget's Island back to the main river.
The Islands claimed by the Washington
Commission to be in tho State of Wash
ington are the following, and over which
Oregon assumes jurisdiction also:
Desdemona Sands, Kersarge Sands.
Ryan Sands, Muller Sands, Walker Sands,
Miller's Sands, Johnson's Sands, Helger
son's Sands, Henry's Sands, Cowell
Sands, Bouman's Sands, Taylor's Sands,
Reed's Sands. Enyart's Sands, Oliver
Sands, Kaboth Sands. In addition to
these is Sand Island, claimed by the Gov
ernment as a reserve.
The value of the lands and Improve
ments in controversy was placed by tho
Washington commission In 1S99 at J 54,000.
Sand Island, comprising 400 acres, was not
included in this estimate. There have
been considerable accretions to the land3
in the five years that have since elapsed
and valuable Improvements have been
added. For instance, on Desdemona Sands
the Washington Commission appraised
the improvements at 500. Fulton Broth
ers sworn statement to the State Land
Commission places the value of the Im
provements 'now on Desdemona Sands at
520,000. It Is conservatively estimated that
the lands and improvements at present
are worth more than double their valuo
five years ago, while the question of col
lecting licensee from fishermen and trap
men is also a matter of considerable
moment.
The knowledge that the State Land De
partment has taken cognizance of the
controversy over the boundary between
the two states has encouraged several In
dividual fishermen to thl3 year break a
sort of tacit armistice that has existed for
several years on the Columbia. Several
arrests have been made where Washing
ton fishermen have been fishing on alleged
Washington territory or have violated the
regulations imposed by the Government
on Sand Island.
Life on a Dot in the North Sea
Oregon "Wornan Tells or Life in a Government Lighthouse.
HILOMATH, Or., Aug. 20. (Special.)
To live amid the boisterous ele
ments of the northern seas on an
island uninhabited save by six light
house-keepers, in such Isolation a3 admits
of receiving goods, wearing apparel, sup
plies and mall only once a year, and
these from a Government ship, and as.
means the Impossibility of communi
cating with ships that pass In great
numbers, just beyond speaking distance
from the shore, suggests to most of the
people a combination of monotony,
peril and helplessness that nothing but
a heroic, indomitable nature can brave.
Especially hazardous would such sur
roundings seem for a woman accustom
ed to the ever-varying diversions of
society.' Such an experience has been
the lot, the happy lo to use her own
expression, of Mrs. S. F. Shepard, who
has been visiting relatives and friends
hero.
Mrs. Shepard before going to the
Alaskan region resided here, graduat
ing from Philomath College in 1894,
and teaching subsequently in the pub
lic schools of Oregon. Her residence
on thB Island of Unlmak has been of
one year's duration, her husband be
ing the head keeper of the Scotch Cap
lighthouse. Mrs. Shepard gives an in
teresting account of her home in the
far-away northern waters.
The Island of Unlmak Is the last link
in the Aleutian chain, being distant
about 12 miles from the headland of
the Alaskan Peninsula from which it
is separated by the Unlmak Passage.
Through this watercourse passes the
ship traffic destined for Alaskan settle
ments. Unlmak Is 123 miles in length and
60 miles In width. Land adjacent to
the ocean is undulating, gradually mod
ulating into mountains In the interior.
The mountains terminate in two vol
canoes, Shlshaldln and Pogrumnoy, dis
tant about 50 miles from Scotch Cap.
Both volcanoes are' unlntermlttently
active, attracting considerable atten
tion by their pyrotechnic freaks at
night
A peculiar concurrence of waves,
winds, tides and currents, and wltha"l
occasional storms, made the Unlmak
Strait prior to the erection of light
houses a Sicilian passage with a Charyb
dus on one side and a Scylla on the
other, which struck terror to the most
Intrepid seafarer that had to direct hl3
course thither. To render the water
way safe, the Government has erected
two lighthouses, one on the Behrlng
Sea side, another on the Pacific side.
The latter, the Scotch Cap light, i3 in
cljarge of Mr. S. F. Shepard.
Everything, says Mrs. Shepard, that
is obtainable, transferable, desirable.
Is furnished the keepers at the expense
of the Government, as being a safe
guard for their preservation and an in
ducement to submit to the monotony
and Isolation incident to service. And
as another Incentive for trustworthy
efficient men to remain at these remote
and dangerous posts of duty the Scotch
Cap and Sarltche lights are made the
highest-salaried positions in the North
Pacific district.
That residence on the island, espe
cially under the extenuating circum
stances affecting the condition of a
Government lightkeeper, is not the
wretched, melancholy existence that
many people imagine it to he, Mrs.
Shepard's acount of things amply
proves.. Local conditions are far more
favorable for habltance than the lat
itude and location of the site would
'seem to admit. Climatic conditions,
controlled by equable ocean winds and
ocean currents, are all that could be
desired for residence In high latitudes.
Occasional showers relieve the heat of
Summer. Clear skies and mild tem
perature are the rule rather than the
exception in Winter. The coldest weath
er registered during the service of the
Scotch Cap keepers could drive the
mercury only to 11 degrees above zero.
. 'The Island, though treeless, abounds
in shrubbery and flowers. Rhododen
droms, orchids, aconite and violets
cover the slopes and hills, transform
ing what would otherwise be a dreary
waste into a thing of beauty and a joy
at least five months of each year. A
peculiar species of grass, specimens
of which Mrs. Shepard has left to be
examined by the Agricultural Experi
ment Station, is indigenous to the isl
and which, if proved in the test untrl
tious and wholesome, will supply prov
ender for cattle and sheep by the ten
thousand, so rank and so dense does it
grow.
Several largo lakes, fed by springs and
by mountain streams.'abound In trout and
other savory species of fish. The cariboo,
which ranges over the Island In large
herns, and which Is an easy prey to the
hunter's fowllng-picce, furnishes fresh
meat, which, possesses a flavor that
pleases the most capricious taste.
The very finest quality of strawberries
and cranberries In quantities immeasur
able flourish, ripening about the first of
September.
There are indubitable evidences that .the
island was once inhabited, presumably
by Russians. Tradition has it that upon
transfer' of the Alaskan possessions by
Russia to the United States the inhab
itants vacated the island, owing to some
superstition or prejudice. About a day'3
walk from the Scotch Cap light are a
burying ground and the ruins of a de
serted village.
Vast deposits of vermilion have recently
been discovered, which will as soon a3
regular communication with the island
can be established, be utilized. Alaskan
gold miners are arranging to prospect the
Island the coming Winter for the pre
cious metal, evidences of 'the existence of
which are strong.
Mrs. Shepard will leave Seattle on the
lighthouse tender Manzanita August 23
for her Island home. The ship will stop
en route at Dutch Harbor, which Is the
nearest settlement, being about o miles
west of Unlmak. Mrs. Shepard will un
dertake the task of taking back with her
her mother, who is SS years of age and al
most totally blind. The party, barring
delay, will reach Scotch Cap lighthouse
about September 15.
JOKE THAT MS CARRIED.
Police Raid a Little Gambling Game
in Office of Broker.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20. A joke that mis
carried has caused a police raid on a
brokerage office In a big building on Low
er Broadway and the arrest of five men,
who were locked up on charges of gam
bling. Two of the prisoners are mem
bers of the Consolidated Stock and Pe
troleum Exchange.
After the day's business had been fin
ished someone in the brokerage. office pro
duced a pocket roulette wheel, such as
are sold In toy shops, and those present,
anxious for amusement, sent out for a lot
of pennies. Then all sat down on a
big table and were having a lot of fun
when the door suddenly flew open and a
squad of detectives entered. The brokers
explained that they were only amusing,
themselves, but admitted that they were
gambllngr The pennies and wheel were
confiscated and the players marched off
to the station.
It appears that some outsider In a spirit
of fun had called up police headquarters
and reported a gambling-house In full op
eration In the office. Word was tele
phoned to the Old Slip Station, which re
sulted In the raid. The instigator es
caped without even giving his name.
Head of Passionist Fathers.
. NEW YORK, Aug. 20. Rev. Father Fe
lix has been elected provincial of the
Order of Passionist Fathers, to succeed
Rev. Stephen Kealy, who died re
cently while conducting services.