Hanford Journal Hanford, Kings Co., California Tuesday, 17 MARCH 1896 *********************************** BIRTH -- HICKS -- In Hanford, Thursday, March 12, 1896, to the wife of J.W. HICKS, a son. BIRTH -- STYLES -- In Hanford, March 13th, 1896, to the wife of James STYLES, a son. BIRTH -- MIDDLETON -- In Lemoore, March 8th, 1896, to the wife of Richard MIDDLETON, a daughter. BIRTH -- FELLOWS -- In Hanford, on Saturday, March 14, 1896, to the wife of Herbert FELLOWS, a son -- weight 9 1/2 pounds. BIRTH -- REYBURN -- In Hanford, March 14, 1896, to the wife of Rev. C.H. REYBURN, a daughter. BIRTH -- PIEMENTAL -- At Lemoore, March 15th, to the wife of Manuel PIEMENTAL, a son. DEATH -- RUGGLES -- At Woodland, Yolo County, Saturday, March 14th, 1896, F.C. RUGGLES, father of Mrs. Elias GALLUP of this county, and brother of L.B. RUGGLES of Sanger. [Mrs. GALLUP was called to the bedside of her father about a month ago and was with him at the time of his death. The relatives of deceased have the heartfelt sympathy of many friends here in their bereavement.] [from Local Paragraphs column] -- Jasper RHODES of Lemoore died at the Agnews insane asylum a few days ago and the remains were brought to Lemoore yesterday and interred. He has been an inmate of the asylum since last December. [from Local Paragraphs column] -- Andrew FRANCIS, a boy 17 years of age, while driving into Visalia on Sunday of last week, accidentally shot himself in the head with a bullet from a rifle. He died last Tuesday afternoon. [from Armona column] -- The friends and former neighbors here of A.B. HAMMOND were terribly shocked to hear of the sudden death of his wife and they extend to him and his family their deepest sympathy. [from Lemoore column (Lemoore 'Leader' of March 14)] -- Wm. W. WELLS, of Lemoore, died on March 7th. He came to California in '49. He was born March 1, 1800, and at the time of his demise was in his 96th year. ------------------------------------------------------- FROM ALASKA -- Experience of a Kings County Man in the Far North -- "Squaw" Dances and "White" Dances -- Raising Funds to Start a School -- Enormous Mosquitoes -- The Mines -- The Lemoore 'Leader' is in receipt of the following interesting communication from W.C. YATES, a former resident of Lemoore, but now a resident of Alaska: It is now mid-winter, the time for physical relaxation and social enjoyment. We are working the social part for all we are worth, from 3 to 5 squaw dances and 1 white dance every week and a theatre every Tuesday night. We don't bother with churches and Sunday schools. There are about 300 men here in the town, and about 100 up at the mines, 14 white ladies, and any number of squaws. There are 10 saloons, most of them having a dance hall attached, and nearly every night there is a squaw dance in some one of them. After the dance the gentleman must take something at the bar, which costs him 50 cents. If he treats his fair partner it costs him $1. You see it is quite expensive to dance with the natives all night. We are now getting ready to start a school for the half-dozen white, and as many of the native children as wish to attend. The ladies of the place have a dance a few days ago in order to raise funds for the school. They charged $1.50 for admission, including supper. After supper was over a good-sized cake was left uncut. One of the ladies, having a long head, proposed to auction it off. So it was put up and sold for $163.24. We had a heavenly time that night and the ladies took in $343. They thought they had done well, but the squaws told them they didn't know the 1st principles of money making. They were interested in the school, as their children were to attend, so they also gave a grand ball for the benefit of the fund. They charged $1 admission and 25 cents for each dance. They had for sale moccasins, gold sacks, tobacco pouches and other skin goods, and cakes. They invited the white ladies, most of whom attended. We had a lively good time. The squaws presented the school dire ctors with $706.70, the net proceeds of the ball. School will begin the 1st Monday in January. Mrs. YATES will teach it. The weather has been very mild until about a week ago. Until that time the temperature has averaged about 12 degrees below zero. Christmas eve it was 66 degrees below. Today it is 45 degrees below. To people in California this sounds like cold weather. It is too cold to travel long distances, as there is danger of freezing noses, fingers, etc., but to us who are here in town, it is not at all unpleasant. I travel 2 or 3 miles every day and don't get near so cold as I used to riding the same distance in a buggy in California. I have a heavy overcoat hanging on the wall, but have not worn it at all up to date. There is no wind when it is cold. It is necessary to have the feet and hands dressed warm, and ears covered; otherwise the same clothing worn in California during the winter will suffice here. The snow is about a foot deep. Was about the same depth last winter. It is as loose and apparently dry as ashes. The fall, winter and spring are all pleasant enough here, but for fr om 4 weeks to 2 months in summer the mosquitoes are so thick that even we moral men are tempted to say naughty words. They are about 1/3 larger than those around Tulare lake and have exceedingly voracious appetites. I won't attempt to tell what a nuisance they are, as I can't do the subject justice. I believe brother LINDSEY would "cuss" if he had to endure their tortures for 1 hour. The men wear thick gloves and broad-brimmed hates with buttercloth over them and tied around the neck. Last summer the pack train had to lay off for awhile as the pests worried the horses so much that they would take to the brush and play havoc with the packs. At Forty Mile and vicinity they are not so bad, but there they have gnats which are worse, if such a thing be possible. As to the mineral wealth of the country we know very little as yet. We know that from the source of the Yukon nearly to its mouth there is gold in its bars. After leaving the chain of lakes which form the source of the river, the 1st branch we come to is the Hootalingue river. Considerable gold has been found on its bars, but from what information I can get, I believe no prospecting had been done on the branches of this stream till last summer, when a party of men went up it a considerable distance and found good prospects. They will return next spring with a 2 years' outfit and expect to make some money. There is no post nearer than Dyah, 120 miles from its mouth. I suppose they will ascend the river from one to three hundred miles. The fine gold on the bars must of necessity come from some of its branches and if the proper branches are prospected and coarse gold will in all probability be found. Following the Yukon down, the mouths of Big Salmon, Pelley and Stewart rivers a re pa ssed. Gold has been found in paying quantities on the bars of all these. The gulches of none of them have been prospected. There are other streams which I do not name, and which have not been prospected at all. Then come Sixty Mile creek, so named from being that distance above some old mission. Miller creek, one of its branches, has produced more gold than any other creek in the country. A syndicate is making arrangements to put a bedrock flume in the lower part of it. Glacier creek is another of its tributaries. It was not worked until last summer. It has some very rich claims and promises to be as good or better than Miller creek. Fair prospects have been found on others of its gulches, but no claims opened on them. The mines on Miller and Glacier creeks get their provisions at Forty Mile Post, where those who have shallow claims winter. Those who own deep claims remain on them all winter and drift. By "drifting" is meant tunneling under the "cultus" dirt while it is froze n. Th e pay dirt is thawed out by burning. A claim, say from 15 to 20 feet deep, can be worked out in less time by drifting than by ground sluicing off the upper worthless soil, and then running the pay dirt through sluice boxes. ----------------------------------------------------- LOCAL PARAGRAPHS -- -J.H. MELONE is slowly recovering from his dangerous illness and is now able to sit up a little. -Wm. NYSWONGER is confined to his bed by illness. He has been ailing for quite a while, but until recently was able to be about. -Walter B. STANFORD, an opium fiend, plead guilty in the Justice's Court last Wednesday of petty larceny and was sentenced to 40 days in the county jail. His offense consisted of stealing an ax, a shovel and a hoe from Chas. DARBY and selling them. -Mr. LOVELACE, a recent arrival from the East, has located 3 miles NE of Lemoore and has engaged in the raising of fine horses and hogs. -The engagement of Isaac and Marks BENAS, formerly of this city, is announced. Isaac is engaged to Miss J. LUBIN of San Francisco and Marks to Miss L. LANZET of the same city, the ladies being cousins. -Theo. LOVENTHAL and wife came over from Visalia last Sunday to visit I.S. LOVENTHAL, landlord of the Hotel Hanford, who has been ill for some time past and suffers greatly at times with excruciating pains. Some 2 months ago he fell and struck his head violently on a marble washstand and he has not been well since. E.J. CLARK of Syracuse, N.Y., brother-in-law of G.M. STOLP, visited Hanford for a few days last week. He came out from the East intending to interest himself in the asphalt business with the WORSWICK Bros., and had taken part of the State of New York in which to introduce their asphalt pavements. Mr. CLARK was greatly pleased with Kings County and said in all his travels he had never seen as prosperous looking a country, and he will no doubt be the cause of many of his friends in Syracuse investing in lands here in the near future. Mr. CLARK said he thought Mr. STOLP and his fellow investors in vineyard and orchard property in Kings County had made their investments wisely and well. FRANK McCORD of Dallas was badly injured last Saturday morning by a horse he was riding rearing up and falling over backward on the rider. His leg was so badly injured that it had to be amputated and Drs. MUSGRAVE and DUNCAN performed the operation last Saturday night. He is now doing very well and progressing favorably toward recovery. ------------------------------------------------------ GRANGEVILLE -- -Mrs. Louis NATHAN and her brother, Mr. KAHN, visited Grangeville Friday. -Mrs. WALTZ is rapidly gaining strength again and the future little bishop is making haste to get big. -Mrs. M.A. HORLOCK has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. J.B. NEWPORT, for a day or 2. -Mrs. SHRIEVES is visiting her parents, Mr.&Mrs. LEVENS. Her home is in Contra Costa County. -Father CALLOWAY was called very suddenly away from Mrs. THORNE's, where he was visiting, to attend the bedside of his grandson, Master HAYWARDS. -A letter received from Newt AGEE recently, gives the information that he has formed a partnership with his brother-in-law in the milling business in old Missouri, so the chances are we shall not see his genial face for some time. All wish him success. -The heirs of the MORRIS estate have been busy the last few days arranging matters and receiving their portion. The ranch formerly owned by J.E. TILTON has been divided into 4 equal parts and each one receives a quarter of this valuable property. It is likely that Monroe BURRELL, whose wife is one of the heirs, will run the ranch for them all. ARMONA -- -S. RICHMOND is reported as being much better since he went under treatment at Paso Robles springs. -Mrs. C.G. HYLIER, who some 3 weeks ago was taken very sick, is now convalescent. -Mrs. FAULKNER, teacher of the intermediate department of the Armona school, now goes and comes on a bicycle, which gives her good exercise every day. -A.L. WEDDLE, who had the misfortune of getting the horn of a catfish run into his hand some 3 weeks ago and came so near dying a week later from the effects of it, is now improving slowly, but will probably lose part of his hand. LEMOORE LOCALS -- [from the Lemoore 'Leader' of March 14] -Alexander PATTERSON, wife and children, are visiting with Mr. J.S. NISBET. Mr. PATTERSON is a prominent butcher in Sacramento. They will likely remain several weeks. -Mr.&Mrs. A.W. KEITZKE and a couple of their friends who have lately arrived from Iowa, spent Saturday and Sunday last visiting friends and relatives near Hanford. Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/