Digital Bob Archive

JANUARY 8, 1898-Ed James has gone to Haines Mission where he plans to locate a wharf site and build a commercial wharf.

There are swarms of carpenters and other construction men at Treadwell these days. The Treadwell mill, which has 240 stamps of 850 pounds each, will soon be augmented by a 300-stmap mill, now under construction. A 120-stamp mill will be erected on the Alaska Union Property mill of at least 100 stamps on the Ready Bullion. The Alaska Mexican has 120 stamps in operation at present.

The 100-game bowling tournament has ended with J. Johnson the winner. His score was 3,585 and he was followed by George Clerk with 3,548.

JANUARY 14, 1898-Pierre Joseph ?French Pete? Erussard is in town and is looking up old friends. Pete was one of our earliest settlers and opened the first store in Juneau, at the foot of what is now Seward Street. He also staked the first lode claim at Treadwell and later sold it to John Treadwell.

JANUARY 22, 1898-Captain James Carroll has resigned from the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and with several other men has purchased the steamer Signal, a vessel of 700 tons, which they will operate between Seattle and Southeastern Alaska.

JANUARY 29, 1898-Juneau?s fine courthouse, a pride and joy of the camp and the center of much activity, is now a heap of ashes on the hill where is stood. Last Tuesday evening, the 25th, while deputy U. S. Marshal W. S. Staley was sitting in his office, his lamp suddenly exploded. Before he could obtain assistance, the flames had spread and soon the entire building was engulfed. Many citizens, as well as a member of the Fire Department, rushed to the scene and succeeded in removing some of the furnishings and many of the records. It is understood that all of the mining records were saved, but there was some loss in some of the offices. In addition to the courtroom itself, the building had offices for the District Judge, Marshal and his deputies, District Attorney and officials of the Customs Service. Many meetings and social affairs were also held there and it was a favorite place for dances. Local officials had urged the authorities in Washington to provide funds to wire the building for electricity, but this had not been done. Had it been, this fire would not have started. One large loss to Juneau will be the fact that until the building is replaced, most terms of the District Court will probably be held at Sitka, to the great inconvenience of Juneau residents.