Digital Bob Archive

JANUARY 4, 1896-A number of Juneau people went Douglas yesterday to attend a dance of Kane?s Hall last night. The ferry was unable to run today because of rough weather and they had to stay over another night in Douglas.

A report of the treasurer of the Juneau Fire Association shows receipts of $1,755.80 during the past 15 months and expenditures of $1,734.36, leaving $21.46 on hand.

The Sisters of St. Ann are opening a school in the Bear?s Nest boarding house in Douglas, near the Treadwell mine. It is expected that most pupils will be from Treadwell as they will be able to avoid the long walk to the Douglas public school. The old boarding house is owned by the Treadwell Company.

JANUARY 8, 1896-The mill of the Juneau Mining & Manufacturing Company, now owned by William Ebner, has been completely destroyed by a snowslide in upper Silver Bow Basin. The slide first struck the boarding house, then the mill building, then the office building and covered all with 40 feet of snow. The entire plant, including stamps and concentrators, were carried several hundred feet and the slide did not end until it reached a point 2,000 feet down in the valley. The 20-stamp mill built in 1889 by the Eastern Alaska Mining & Milling Company, was valued at $28,000. It stood on ground supposedly out of reach of slides. This slide was apparently triggered by a large piece of ice that broke from the glacier above the Basin. John T. Pears, age 30, watchman at the mill, has not been found and is presumed buried in the slide.

JANAURY 11, 1896-A Douglas council of the National Union has been organized and will give a masquerade ball on Washington?s birthday. Officers of the Douglas council are Frank Back, president; C. E. Dunlap, vice president; Oscar Patten, secretary; George Messendorf, financial secretary; Dr. Downdall, treasurer; George Pare, auditor; Charles Anderson, usher; John Krutzner, sergeant, and P. Haggart, doorkeeper.

At a meeting of the Juneau Fire Association at J. P. Jorgenson?s store, a budget of $1,395.40 was drawn up for the coming year. The expenditure will include 12 new hydrants, 600 feet of new hose, water rental, and a special fire watchman during windy weather. It was decided to raise the amount by subscription.