THE KUSKO TIMES
VOL. L Mi 31:
/AKOTNA, ALASKA FRIDAY. SEPTEMBERS, 1937
PRICE, X CSNT6
DRAGLINE NOW
BEING WORKED
OPHIR GROUND
(By Special Correspondent)
There has been great, activity in
this old camp during this, week on
account of he arrival inr town of the
arrival in town of the Uotifa & H»ra
mining machinery last. Saturday. As
soon as the outfit, consisting of a
i dragline, three “cats" -with bulldozer
attachments, and other mining sup
plies, arrived in town, .they were put
in condition for work which has now
started.
The dragline has been working
steadily night and day during this
week building a road aird digging a
drain up Ophir Creek .to No, 4 Below
Discovery Bench: Harold Hanson
operating it during the day and Jack
Frost during the night time:
The boxes are now- being set up
and the work of putting through pay
dirt will be started in a day or two.
The ground has been hydrauliced
down to pay by Frank Meier, the
former owner of. the ground, and
there is quite a lot of ground both
on No. 4 and No. 5' Benches ready
to be put through the boxes.
Work also has been done this week
on a drain leading down to the In
noko Kiver. with one and sometimes
two bulldozers. One bulldozer is
now being operated on No. 4 Bench,
moving tailings and doing other pre
paratory work. This will illustrate,
that no time has-been lost in getting
work started.
MARY GREGORY AND
BERT DEMIENTOFF WED
Bert Dem lento if and Miss Mary
Gregory, 24, were, married at a quiet
ceremony recently at McGrath ac
cording to word received here this
week, U. S. Commissioner W. J.
Widman performed the service.
The bride was born at Vinasali on
the upper Kuskokwim. The groom is
a well-known resident of McGrath
where he has made his headquarters
for a nine ben of years. The couple
will make the» home in McGrath.
STRANDBERG TO McGRATH
Pilot Kenneth Neese left Takotna
Tuesday-night taking H. Strand
berg as passenger:
WAGES STILL UNSETTLED
AT M KIN'LEY PARK
FAIRBANKS—Still' unsettled is
the question of he wage scale on the
McKinley Park Hotel construction
The issue of the whole matter is
whether or not there shall be a sep
arate wage scale for the Fourth Di
vision.
•‘The question CGCI
“The argument for the higher
wage scale here is that of the cost
of living is generally much higher in
the Fourth than in the First or
Third Divisions.” according to Harry
O. Arend, secretary of the Fair
banks Carpenters Union.
An attemp has been made by
Delegate Dimond to secure the high
ei scale for men working on the ho
tel job at McKinley Park.
His most recent telegram, dated
August 23, Washington, D. C„ is as
follows:
Assistant Secretary of the the In
terior Chapman says he wage scale
on the hotel construction at McKin
ley Park was made to agree with the
scale set by the Alaska Railroad,
which has been in current use, and
also to conform with the-wage seal*
of the Alaska Road Commission, and
that the wage rate established in ex
cess of the minimum set by the P.
W. A. for Alaska, and higher than
the scale prevailing at Anchorage.
“The Anchorage scale is as fol
lows: Skilled mechanics. Si.25 per
hour; helpers. 90 cents per hour, un
skilled laborers. 75 cents per hour.
And a deduction of $2 per day is
made for subsistence.”
Wages paid at the park, according
to Victor C. Rivers, engineer in
charge of construction, are on the
Anchorage scale.
The Fairbanks P. W. A. wage
scale is: mechanics, $1.40 per hour;
semi-skilled, $1.05 per hour; labor
ers, 90 cents per hour.
Mr. Dimond’s telegram was in an
swer to the following message sent
to him by the executive committee
of the local' carpenters union on
August 11:
“We are informed that the McKin
ley park job is actually paying An
chorage P. W. A. scale ;n spite of
all efforts to get recognition for the
Fairbanks P. W. A. scale.
“AH Fourth Division projects war
rant the minimum established for
Fairbanks because of similar condi
tions.
“We will appreciate your further
efforts in our behalf, and we thank
you for past fivorsT
PETE MESSICH RETURNS
Petje Messicfc returned with' Pilot
Goodman from a trip to Anchorage
Tuesday. The pilot also brought the
■tail and meat;..
ONE KILLED, THREE INJURE
PLANE CRASH, MOORE GREEK
!
In the airplane crash at
Moore Creek last Friday after
E. G. Morton of Tacoma was
killed. Billie Harding of Flat
George KreibL, enroole to Flat,
and Pilot Dan Victor were se
verely injured. The plane was a
complete wreck.
When it became known that Pilot
Victor had not shown up at Flat,
his destination, within three days,
the Star Air Service instructed sev
eral planes to start searching- for
him immediately. Pilot Ralph Sav
ory who was down the lower Kusko
kwim at the time, on receiving word
at Bethel, flea- to Flat and began
searching the area for the missing
flier. He located them the same day
as the search began when he noted
a thin- wisp of smoke curling up
from some tall and heavy timber
a few miles from the Uotila mining
camp on Moore Creek out from Flat.
Savory flew over the spot where
the smoke was curling up and as he
came directly over it. he saw a man
waving on the ground and pointing
toward what looked like a person ly
ing in a blanket on the ground. Sa
vory circled the spot—which could
only be seen when directly over it
because of the thickness of the
heavy timber—several times, but
could only see one man who was
constantly signalling by waving his
arms.
Being on pontoons, the pilot could
not land, so he sped back to Mc
Grath to get food supplies and first
aid equipment. On returning to the
scene, Wm. Kokko, manager of the
N. C. store here, who was in Mc
Grath at the time, and a Mr. Mar
tin, who was enroute to Anchorage
from Bear Creek, accompanied him
in order to assist in dropping the
supplies to the crash victims. The
bundle was dropped a short distance
from the wreck and Savory contin
ued on to the Moore Creek camp in
order to allow time to find out if
the supplies had been retrieved by
the time they returned. They found
that such was the case, so they re
turned to Takotna where Savory
awaited the arrival of Pilot Oscar
Winchell. The latter arrived later in
the day and Savory and C. A. Fow
ler of Takotna left with Winchell,
who had a land plane, for Moore
Creek. Mr. Fowler, who is acquain
ted with every foot of ground in the
Moore Creek area, was invited to go
along and assist in locating the
accident with the fliers on foot from
the camp at Moore Creek. At the
latter place, a large number of men
working there and nearby, increased
the relief party to about 20.
The relief group got the injured
trio safely to Moore Creek without
a mishap over hills and mossy
ground, over -which here was no trail
most of the way.
The unfortunate man who sue
combed to his injuries, had to be
left for the time being until a sec
ond trip could be made.
Because the men from the Moore
Creek area, who comprised the relief
party, were busily engaged in nam
ing, the Star Airways pilots decided
to recruit the second party from Ta
kotna, Ophir and McGrath, if possi
ble. A crew of ten from these plac
es agreed to go and took off Wednes
day for Moore Creek. They were
Dave Peck. Veryl G&rd. Bill Kelson,
Jim Simi, C. A. Fowler. T R. Mc
McEoberts, Bert Demientoff, Alexie
Wilson and George Christo.
(The following account was writ
ten by a member of the first relief
party giving a detailed description
of the airplane crash and of the spe
cific injuries sustained by the vic
tims).
“Pilot Victor was making a direct
flight from Anchorage tt> Flat when
he ran into fog at the head of Moore
Creek and was forced to turn back.
“The fog closed in on him and in
trying to keep under and clear of the
mountains, the fog settled down to
below the bops of the trees, and, of
course, the first patch of imber he
came to. it was impossible to go
over, so the pilot did the only thing
left—cut the switch and run down
between two trees which sheared off
both wings. One wing went under
the fuselage and the other over and
the propeller hooked another tree
and tore the engine partly loose. As
they hit, the engine side-swiped a
rotten stump and the lower wing gas
tank was torn out, the plane settl
ing and sliding among a dense
growth of alders which cushioned
their fall to some extent.
“The tops of the trees, some 10
inches in diameter, were running
through the top wing and extending
out at both ends and were lying on
top of the passenger cabin which is
the only part of the plane left in
tact. The engine is laying along
side.
“When looking at that mess it
does not seem possible that anyone
could come out alive.
“Dan Victor, the pilot, says when
he came to he saw the woman, Billie
Harding lying in sort of a sitting
position outside against the lower
wing minus most of her clothing and
her shoes were inside of the cabin,
but he saw that she was alive.
Later it was found that she was
suffering from severe internal injur
ies and lacerations about the head
and face, but no bones appeared to
be broken.
Victor then saw George Kreibl
who said he was allright but some
thing was on his leg which proved
later to be broken above the knee.
He also had a slight face wound.
E. G. Morton proved to be dead,
and it was later found that his neck
TELLS OF HYDRAULIC
MINING ON TULUWIKSAK
G. B. Martin was a Takotna visi
tor for a few days this week while
awaiting a plane for his home in An
chorage after spending the summer
working a good hydraulic proposi
tion on the Tuluwiksak River not far
from Bear Creek.
He and his partner, Chas. Smoot,
have five claims. It is very hard and
slow work as they are working in
cemented ground. There is good pay
however. Martin stated and he had
two bottles well filled with fine sam
ples of coarse gold and many size
able nuggets to prove the statement.
Mr. Martin located the claims last
year when he was employed by the
Bear Creek Mining Company and
Smoot joined him as partner this
spring.
The partners sank one hole 150
feet from their present workings
and while they did not strike pay.
they did get colors. Smoot will work
the proposition as long as he can
this fall, but Martin is going to An
chorage on business and will not re
turn this year.
He was with Pilot Savory when
he located the missing plane party
who crashed cn Moore Creek.
TERRITORIAL LICENSE
INSPECTOR ARRIVES HERE
John Ronan Territorial liquor li
cense inspector for the Fourth Divi
sion. was an arrival in Takotna this
week and is spending a few days
attending to matters in his line.
Mr. Ronan is a sourdough Alaskan
and served in the third Alaska legis
lature. His headquarters are at
Fairbanks. He is making a tour of
points in the Kuskokwim area at
present.
TED LAMBERT WEDS
FORMER BETHEL TEACHER
FAIRBANKS — Ted Lambert,
famed painter of Alaska outdoor
scenes and rugged life were married
there recently it was learned here.
The bride taught school at Bethel
for the past three years.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
MAY TOUR NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON — President Roos
evelt said recently he still has un
der advisement the matter of calling
a special session of congress. He
also said he has no plans for a wes
tern trip but might start thinking
about it in a few days.
was broken and his skull badly frac
tured.
Pilot Victor suffered face and ieg
injuries and was generally badlv
shaken up.
LATE NEWS ARTICLES FROM OPHIR
By Christian Bolgen—(Special Correspondent)
•> — — ■ — — — — —
Come in From Foljer—
James Wilson and Rudy Kransi
arrived in Ophir last Saturday from
Folger, having come from Takotna
by airplane. Mr. Wilson returned to
F olger Monday, via Takotna while
Rudy, who has been working for Sid
Paulson on Colorado Creek for some
time past, will remain in Ophir far
the present.
Many in From Creeks—
Among the visitors to town from
the creeks during the week were
Patrick Savage and Arvid Repo from
Ganes; Mr. and Mrs. Arvid Larson
Frank Larson, Joe Clark and Frank
Barabano from Little Creek; Evan
L. Jones and Mrs. Weir from Spruce
Creek; ars-5 Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hill
from Victor Gulch.
Flocks of Cranes Going Sooth—
There has been great flocks of
cranes winding their way southward
this week, and old-tmiers predict
colder weather. It seems to the wri
ter that these great, stately birds
have it, a great deal over us earth
bound humans. For when the weath
er is getting colder, and the food
getting scarce and their young able
to make the long flight, they simply
spread their great wings, leaving
tbeir summer home and breeding
ground up around the Arctic Circle,
sailing away towards a warmer cli
mate and an- abundant food sapply
! Takes Wood Contract—
Olaf Bolgen, who has been in town
nursing a cat in his right foot, is
learning for Independence GVeek,
he has a contract cutting
the Rlindheim Stoic.
Glizn Having Hard Luck—
Talk about hard luck: Tom Glazei
who has been working’ for Uotila &
Hard for a short time after return
ing from Palmer wherv he under
went an operation, is now laid uj
with a sore foot and unable to work
This is the third time that Tom has
been disabled by illness in less that
half a year.
Roadhouse Kept Busy—
As most of the men working foi
Uotila & Hard are staying at the
Ophir Roadhouse, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Soini have been kept very busy for
some time past.
Crew Is Laid OT—
On account of frozen ground or
the Speljack property on the Littk
Creek benches Bonanza Group), the
workmen have been laid off for the
p resen t
Have Good Visit to Ganes—
Charles Holky and Mike Myott:
made a combined business and pleas
ure trip to Ganes Creek Dredging
Company's dredge in Myntti’s cai
during last week; your’ correspond
ent trailing along for no special
purpose. With us were also Mrs
Geo. Karttunen and little daughter
Helen, who went to the Savage &
Matheson dredge on No. 9 Above
Side Claim, where Mr. Karttunen is
employed as engineer on the dredge
We stayed three days on the creek
and while there the Ganes Creel
Dredging Company had a cleanup
on Discovery, which* was reported as
Tfcry satisfactory-. After returning
to town Miss Helen told the writer
that there was lots of mud and lots
of rocks coining up in tbe bueketi-on
the dredge; that Mr. Savage and Mr.
Matheson hell the men what to do;
and that Half dan Wiig makes lots
! of good things to eat. She very
much regretted that she did not have
a chance to see Betty Lou and Bert
; Spel.aek. the two. in her estimation,
being the most important people on
the creek. She is probably right at
thai. for to the young belongs the
future.
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OIL DRILLING
IS PLANNED IN
ON PENINSULA
A new oil well is scheduled to be
drilled in the vicinity of Ccld Bay
next year by three of the foremost
petroleum companies, it was learned
from authoritative sources, says a
recent issue of the Anchorage
Times.
The project is to be carried for
ward by a firm representing the
Standard Oil Company, Union Oil
Company and Tidewater Associated
Oil Company.
G. J. Hanna, head paleontologist
for the Tidewater Associated Oil
Company with a party of 10 men
and a pack train, is completing the
mapping of the ground between
Kanatak and Cold Bay in prepara
tion for the oil drilling venture next
summer.
It was said that the three firms
are awaiting the report of Mr. Han
na before giving the "go ahead’’ or
der on the project. Mr. Hanna was
reported to have found three anti
clines in the area and is expected to
give a favorable report.
The new well will be on the south
ern shore of the Alaska peninsula in
the same area that was drilled in
1024 by the Standard Oil Company.
In that year two holes were made,
one 3.500 feet and the other 5,500
feet. Reports are that the next well
will go deeper to give a better test
of the ground.
Operations in the Cold Bay region
have no connection with those of the
Iniskin Drilling Company on Chini
tna Bay. It was said that success or
failure of the Iniskin project will
have no bearing on plans for sink
ing the new shaft.
Mr. Hanna went to he Cold Bay
area early last spring with his par
ty and is expected to complete his
work shortly.
BUSINESS GOOD IN ARMY
SIGNAL CORPS STATIONS
Business of the Army Signal Corps
in Alaska is the heaviest of several
years. Col. George E. Kumpe of Se
ct lai. chief of the system said re
cntly while visiting in Anchorage on
his annual inspection tour.
Colonel Kumpe said July was the
most prosperous month reported
thus far. Figures are not available
yet for August.
The commander said every en
deavor will be made to continue and
improve the communications service
for the territory. Lack of funds pre
vents launching improvement pro
jects at this time.
Colonel Kumpe said he has found
the equipment of the system in Al
aska in good condition and proceed
ing smoothly.
"The Anchorage and Fairbanks
stations are up to their ears in traf
fic due to the messages in connection
with the search for the Russian
fliers,” Colonel Kumpe said. The
colonel plans to spend about a week
in Anchorage, the centra] station in
western Alaska.
VANDERPOOL GETS FIRST
MOOSE OF THE SEASON
W. Yanderpool copped the honors
for this season in downing the first
moose since the season opened. He
killed the animal a few miles up the
Takotna River, going up Monday af
ternoon and returning to Takotr.a
the same night with the kill. It was
a pleasant surprise to local residents
who have had their first taste of
fresh meat.
MINES OFFICIAL LEAVES
J. C. Roehm. an inspector with
the Bureau of Mines in the Tern
tor;.', who has been spending a few
days looking over mining activities
in this vicinity, left for Anchorage
the first of the week with Pilot
WincfeelL