VOL. 1 NO. 2?
TAKOTKA, ALASKA. FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1937
t TRICE, J* JCBWTS
RUSSIAN FLIERS
ARE LOST; WIDE
SEARCH MADE
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14—Ir
the search for the lost .Russian polar
fliers. Russia has enlisted the aid oi
the United States and.Canada.
Ihc fliers are believed to.be down
somewhere between the North Pole
ar.d Alaska. A huge, flying boat, pi
loted by James Maaero,.left Oak
.. j.j and made .a non-stop aflight to
rbnnks, making the. trip .in 13
h. urs and .85 minutes. . This . dying
a p has .a cruising radius ..of 4,0(1
its. and will be used in searching
nr the missing fliers. Another or
nized searching party left the
C ndian line intending to scour
desolate country between the
n-Csr.adian boundary and the
N ,h Pole.
K ~e still exists for the safety of
the lost fliers.
CO' .HESS COMMITTEE
VISIT HAWAII
ASHINGTON — Favorable re
was n.ade today by the Senate
. . rr.ittee on Territories on a bill
r: ...orizing a congressional commit
tee to visit Hawaii to study the ad
• bility of admitting the Territory
<, s the forty-ninth state of the Un
ion.
he full expense of the ccntaes
t committee's visit to the Ter
will be borne by Hawaii, the
nture of which appropriated
,uCO fer the puipose.
'VAN BRINGS DRAGLINE
tIINT TO THE MEADOW
he MS A.:, kan arrived this
ri ing with pan of the dragline
ana equipment £f>r Uotilla &. Hard
The boat arid' barge mopped oelow
Takotna and unloaded at the Elbow.
This was the second trip, this week
for the Alaskan, i.having arrived in
Takotna Wednesday aftermoon with
12-tons of freight from McGrath.
Tiie freight was quickly unloaded
and the boat. left again for down
river to where she left the barge
1. i d with th dragline equipment.
5 -00 LOYALISTS captured
IN ONE-SIDED BATTLE
MADRID. Aug. 18—The rebels
have turned the tide of the Spanish
; velut. n in their favor with the
capture cf 5,000 Loyalist troops in a
one-sided battle today. The - rebels
are again at the gates of Madrid arid
the fall of this city is imminent.
"STEAMER TUPFER SAILS FOR
GOODNEWS AND KRSKOKWIM
SEATTLE, Aug. 18—The steamer
"Tupper sailed from Seattle tdday
" heavily loaded with winter supplies
for Goodnews Bay and the Kusko
"kwim on its last trip -north this year
REPAIR OPKIR ROAD
The ARC sent men and trucks out
to Little creek to repair the Ophir
road yesterday. Several of the cars
have been stuck in a bad mud hole
along this stretch of roadway. The
recent hard rains and heavy travel
have been playing havoc with the
r d between here and Ophir.
e
Funtilla Dredge
On Gattes Creek
Going^Rull Blast
The old Pustilla dredge on upper
Gains creek is again working after
laying idle nearly a year.
Pat Savage purchased the 'dredge
early this summer and immediately
pu: a crew to work overhauling the
■equipment and drilling the ground.
Apparen ly satisfied with the re
sults A he drilling, he hired a
drt ge ci w and is now in full swing
with the machinery humming night
and day. It is reported that the
panning is shewing good values. It
is generally believed that Mr. Sav
ag» will make .-a success of his oper
ations. He has considerable ground
available on op per Ganes and if It
it turns out -good, there is enough to
keep the plant running for several
years.
HE KXOW THE REASON WHY
Martin Clancey “sez,” “It’s a poor
year for wav-rruflons in Takouia.”
Clancey informed us last spring
that_ he was going to do the “im
possible,” and raise watermelons
this season or know the reason why.
“If they can raise watermelons in
the States, we can raise them here,”
the Takotna potatp king said.
MRS MILLER 'RETURNS—
A. H. Twitcbell made a trip to the
Takotna sawmill Wednesday after
noon and brought up Mrs. Andrew
Miller and children. Mrs. Miller has
been residing at the sawmill most
of the summer.
"SINGLE BOUSE BILL IS
FAVORED FOB ALASKA
WASHINGTON—Establishment of
a one-house legislature rn Alaska,
creation of several new air routes
in the Territory and free use of
timber for churches, hospitals and
charitable institutions, in the North
land are matters that have received
attention recently from the lawmak
The Senate Committee on Terri
tories reported favorably on the bill
' providing that a referendum be held
at the time of the regular
election in 1938 on the question of
whether a one-hous*e leigslature
should take the place of the present
House-and-Senate legislature. Dele
gate Dimond appeared before the
committee in support of the meas
ure.
The House passed and sent to the
i Senate the bill permitting theT^oSt
office Department to establish sev
eral new airmail routes in Alaska,
the cost to the government being
limited to $25,000 annually.
r * • • 4- » » » 4
HOLY CROSS
HAPPENINGS
BY MISSES ANCTKA and ANGELA
DEMIENTIEFF
(Special Correspondents)
t—*—*—*— t t —*—*—+
Accepts Hospital Position—
JULY 12—Mis? Celestint Papp. a
former pupil of Holy Cross, was a
pa=-eng~r on the steamer Nenana en
route to Tanpna lVhere she expects
T be employed :n the Hospital. Miss
Papp has been in the employ of Mr.
and Mrs. Sheppard of Mt. Village
during the past year. Alberta Fisch
er of Mt. Village Hospital, with_her
sister, Josephine, former.y of Fiat,
who this last winter has been work
ing for Jake Aloysius of Pymute,
also arrived on the boat. They are
at present visiting with a third sis
ter, Edna, -who resides here with Mr.
and Mrs. Richardson, traders. Al
berta and Josephine both expect to
enter the Ekiutpa School.
Brings Passenger' From Bethel—
JULY 14—Pilot Nat Browne land
i ed here today coming from Bethel
and returning there with >aoe of the
Mission boarders. George Chenay,
the youngest of Mr. Chenay’s sons.
The boy is a cripple, having sustain
ed a severed leg a few years ago
while working at the wood saw.
Miss Dora Moran Passes—
JULY 15—A funeral was held here
today for Miss i»ora Moran, aged
27, a boarder at the Mission. The
girl is the adopted child of E. W.
Miller of Tkkotua. .She-.was tuber
cular SBjd-acffered greatly the last
manifes.
Fr. Eitdal'-Making’'Tbip—
FathemEndal is making a second
missionary trip to Bonazeala in the
Mission boat “St. Francis.” Albert
Edwards is-acting as a guide.
Visiting Sister Here—
Catherine Christo, the youngest of
the Christo family, who spent the
past winter in the Ophir district
with" her brother Mitchell, arrived
here today on Max Simel’s boat. She
is visiting with her sister, Mrs. Al
phonse Demientieff'
Mrs. Alex Stephan Very 111—
JULY 20—Sister Mary Armella
, and .S M. Epiphane, our nurse here,
went to Pymute today to assist J*
very sick woman, Mrs. Alex Stephan.
Father Glancey also went down.
Leaving For Vacation—
JULY 21—The Nancy Belle is
bringing away the Misses Ann and
Tassie Whitley, young daughters of
Mrs. Lucy Whitley. They are both
leaving for a vacation, Ann to Flat
and Tassie to Holikachuk.
Re;o>n Mother At Fairbanks—
JULY 22—Miss Lillian Meinhardt
and brother Jack, children of Mrs.
Lon Brady of Fairbanks, left here
today on the steamer Nenana to re
turn to their mother after having
boarded 11 years here at the Mis
sion. There are two Mei?'t'*rdtj* still
here. Fritz Noble, also a boarder,
left here, being sent to a reform
school. Fritz has a mother living in
Tanana.
Card Party Largely Attended—
JULY 25—A lovely card party
was put up today by the * Sisters at
the Mission recreation hall. The
amusement was held especially for
their children but the villagers were
cordially invited. There was a large
attendance and the party, which last
ed from 2 to 5 p. m. was a tremen
i dous success. The game played was
j "500.” Rev. Father Endal and Fr.
I Glancey graced the occasion with
j their presence. Mrs. Nicholas De
nt Sent ieff won the first prize and
Mareia Parker the “booby.
: Pyaiste Woman Passes Away—
JULY 27—Mrs. Alex Stephan of
Pyaute died . a .few days ago.
RECORDS SHOW
U. S. PAID LESS
FOR TERRITORY
_
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 — The
United States only paid Russia $1,
500,000 for the Territory of Alaska
instead of ST.200,000 as has always
been supposed.
As a result of a recent investiga
tion of the U. S. Treasury Depart
ment, records were discovered that
uncovered a secret long held . from
the ?ubl'_.
Five million seven hundred thous
and dollars of the supposed purchase
price went to pay a debt to Russia
insured by President Abraham Lin
coln-during the Civil War. It was a
debt of gratitude to Russia for her
: friendly naval display in the inter
est of the North when France and
England threatened to interfere on
the side of the South and were at
tempting at the time to smash the
blockade of southern ports by the
North at the time of Russia's dis
play of friendliness toward the Un
ion.
At the time of the purchase of
Alaska, a check was given Russia
totalling $7,200,000 apparently the
regular agreed purchase price until
the present investigation of the re
cords unearthed the latest facts.
•YANKEE JACK’ CLOSES "SHOP
MOOSE', Wyo.—“Yankee Jack
Woodman, manager of the Flying Vj
trading post, well-known in this part
of Wyoming, is “abdicating.”
He said so in an advertisement in
a newspaper. He explained his cus- ]
tomers “never paid yet.”
The advertisement offered his ov
erdue accounts for sale at one cent
on the dollar, and, in addition, des
cribed a complete postoffice, except
government equipment, with fresh
stock of stamps from New York”
that he would sell.
“To the purchaser of the post- |
office and these dead-beat accounts,
we will donate one mayor’s chair
and one justice of the peace gavel,"'
he added.
MRS. LARSON VISITS
Mrs. .Frank Larson was a-visitor
in Takotna today, coming in from
Little creek with Joe Oates.
PARENTS OF CHAS. CRAVEY
VISITING HERE FOR FEW DAYS
Mr. and Mrs- J. J. Cravey are
visiting their son Charles, out on
Ganes creek. The elderly couple ar-.
rived by Wien. Airways today after
having waited a week in Fairbanks
for a change of weather.
Mr. Cravey is part owner in a
quartz mine out on Hap_py creek,
about 16 miles from Fairbanks. The i
couple came in from the mine last
week for-the first.time this summer.
They report a very successful j
mining season in the Fairbanks dis-;
trict. They have had plenty of wa
ter for all types of mining there
this summer.
The couple plan on visiting with
their son and his wife for several
days and will then return to Fair
banks where they will remain until
sometime in November. They expect
to leave for a three-months’ trip
Outside in November.
LARGE GOLD SHIPMENTS
COME TO ANCHORAGE
More than $100,000 in gold and
platinum was brought into Anchor
age recently as the annual flow of
the yellow metal got .underway.
Indications were that the traffic
in valuable mineral would continue
until fall with at least $100,0(f) com
ing to Anchorage weekly. Prospects
are that the amount will increase as
the season goes on and the mines
bring in their cleanups.
Local bankers said the flow of gold
into Anchorage is earlier than last
year and that tnere is every indica
tion that the 1937 gold production
will exceed that .of 1036.
The gold comes from the Wasilla
mines scattered through the Kusko
kwim country. Mine .operators .ar
rive in Anchorage by automobile,
train and airplane with pokes hang
ing heavy with their precious loads.
Platinum arrives chiefly by . air
plane from the Goodnews Bay dis
trict. The production from that area
is far ahead of last year.
ARC CLOSES TWO-MILE CAMP;
MOVING CREW TO NIXON
The ARC has closed the Two-Mile
camp and all efforts will be .-employ
ed finishing the road through for
winter travel; the balance of the
work for this year to he carried on
at the lower end of the road from
the Nixon Forks jeamp.
Send in year Subscription to. The
KUSKOTYMESib^ay
__ _ i
SINTERS BECOME HUNTED
WHEN BIG BEAR APPEARS
BY THE WANDERING REPORTER
Several issues ago, the Kusko!
Times printed an “O p h i r bear
story” taken from our files of 16
years ago.
The old-time Ophir bear hunters |
have nothing on our young Alaskans
of today as the following story will i
indicate.
It seems that a bear had been in j
the habit of raiding the ARC cache |
at Shorty. Creek, carying off a few
choice slabs of bacon and a ham or
two. On each trip'back for more ba
con, Mr. Bear would scorn the old
opening he had made into the cache {
and insisted on making a n«*w en
trance into the tent sheltering sev
eral tons of foodstuffs.
After about three damaging trips
of the marauder, Foreman Ed Adams j
decided the game had gone far i
enough for one bear, so he called
forth his two reputed b rar hunters, j
Mike McRoberts and George Cristo.
“I’m going to give you a chance
to make those bear stories that you
fellows have been telling the crew,
good. You fellows take your bed
and guns and go down to the cache
and lay for that bear, and don't
come back without that rascal’s
scalp,” Ed warned.
The two young men, armed to the
teeth with rifles, sii-shooters and de
termined looks, left for OP Man
Bruin’s playhouse. The assignment
was easy. All they had to do was to
take it easy until the victim showed
up on the scene, then with a well
plaeed shot they would put the poor,
defenseless-bear away.
Arriving at the cache early, the
boys prepared to await the return of
brother bear. They talked over then
plans and chuckled as they pictured
the surprise that was going to greet
the marauder.
The afternoon was warm and still
A few stray mosquitoes buzzed list
lessly around. George’s head settled
back on « pile of bacon and Mike
softly dozed on top of a pile of su
gar—dreaming of far-away lands
and beautiful nurses.
Outside the tent a different scene
was being enacted. A huge, black
bear trudged methodically down to
ward the tent, his enormous head
swinging slowly from side to side.
He, too, was dreaming, but his
dreams were cf nice, big, juicy slabs
<jf Jlacan and large, jplomp hams. As
the visitor approached the side of
the tent, he seemed to change bis
mind and swung for the previously
torn opening and entered.
He stopped and gazed near-sightedly
around, lifted bis nose and snifting
gently for the tempting order of
well-smoked bacon.
“Ah. there it isgigfct straight
ahead.” On locating the prize, Mr.
Bear shufiVed “bacon-ward” and
eagerly seized the top slab—the slab
that George was resting ms head on.
At the loss of his soft pillow, George
awakened- with a start ; and turofec
around to gaze into the bright eyes
of a huge bear. In one move George
disappeared from sight making a
new hole in the tent and exciting
Mike, who, aroused from his dreams,
raised his head to investigate the
disturbance. The enormous bear
stood in the center of the tent with
the juicy bacon between bis jaws i
and gazed around, wondering why all j
the excitement. One look was
enough for Mike, and he, too, made
his exit. Mike stated afterward that,
he was too close for a shot and
wanted to move away a little farther
to where he could shoot to advan
tage.
When the unwelcome visitor
emerged from the tent, carrying his
supper, Mike and George had suc
ceeded in getting far enough away—
if distance means anything—and
vcere perched up on the top limb of
separate trees. Evidently Gorge
thought the range was s’ i'able for
good work with a six-shooter and he
now began firing with -he speed of j
a machine gun. It sec: a- if Mike,
in his hurry to get a little range,
had forgotten the trusty 30-06 and
left it laying on the sugar pile. Old
man bruin, unaware of a!! the dis-;
turbance he had caused, swung con
tentedly up the creek at peace with j
the world.
It is understood that the two boys j
managed finally to get organized:
and succeeded in capturing the na-!
rauder’s scalp a few hours later.
George said he would rather have
shot the bear when he first saw him
in the tent, but thinking that he had
left his gun outside, he rushed out
to retreive it. He faded to find the
gun so went up a tree and perched 1
>n a limb to get a better view of the
surroundings and then ■ discovered
ais trusty six-shooter strapped to a
lis side. a
JAPS BOMBARD
SHANGHAI FROM
AIR AND WATER
SHANGHAI. Aug-. 14—The war
scene shifted to this city today when
the Japanese fleet steamed into the
harbor today together with a fleet of
planes and immediately began bom
barding the city from both air and
water, causing unestimated damage.
The land forces were also engaged
in the most terrific battle ever known
between these nations. The Chinese
have ..down marked improvement in
the art of warfare since the last
Japanese invasion and are giving a
good account of themselves to date.
Five thousand foreigners, includ
ing hundreds o f American citizens
are evacuating the Oriental city’ and
are striving to get safely out of the
far-flung war zone. Three A ericans
were reported killed in the opening
bombardment of Shanghai.
NEPHEW OF PAT SAVAGE
KILLED IN EXPLOSION
Wm. Savage was kill-J in a y:
mite explosion at Flat las: Satur
day, according to a re .t
hoard here that evening. Pa: cicuiaes
have not been learned date.
On receipt of . word of the sad oc
currence, Pat Savage, who was the
young man's uncle, and his wife en
gaged a . plane for Flat, leaving
Monday. They have not yet 1 ... n
ed.
TAKOTNA RIVER BEEHIVE
OF ACTIVITY ONCE MORE
Once again river traffic is boom
ing on the Takotna river. The toen
has been full of industrious riser
men this week.
Smith & Lang pulled in . Tuesday
with the Sea W olf and barge loader
with freight; Woodrow Vanderpoo'
continues to go up and down the riv
er steadily, pushing a small fcargt
with his kicker and hauling five tons
of freight; Joe Oates, Jr. keeps go
ing in all kinds of weather; last bui
not least, we have A. H. Twitcheli
at your service.
WILL ESTABLISH TRAPLINES
IN NIXON FORKS SECTION
Jibe JfcClur-g. brothers are hetpiag
Curley, -Andersen. huild a cabin at
Nixon Forks. In turn,-Anderson, wil
help .them .ranstruct .thair «. winter
quarters. .The cwo .hoys informed
the Times reporter .that Jbev are go
ing to establish themaefaes a trap
line in that area this .falL Johnny
Adams is visiting with the brio, hav
ing gone down Wednesday.
MAKING REPAIRS ON HOME
Ole Blindheim hauled Chris BoL
gen and his boat from Ophir to Yan
kee creek early this week. -Chris
wanted to get a boat-load of logs
for his house in Ophir. Ole inforrn
the Times that it was only a matter
of a few hours before Chris came
floating down the Innoko. On land
ing in front of the town, the ambi
tious woodsman unloaded a whole
armful of logs. Car is says they will
have time to gro *• considerably be
fore he gets around to use them.
Sees Platinum
Market Upset by
Alaska’s Output
The platinum production frrir. At
aska in 1939 stands a lair char, .e oi
upsetting the 'world market, E A.
Rasmuson, president of the Bank si
Alaska said recently in Anchorage ir
commenting oc the activity ir. tat
Goodnews Bay country.
“The production this year will be
much larger than iast," Mr. Rasmus
on said. “Late this rail the Good
news Bay Mining Company will havt
its huge dredge ready for operatic*.
It will probably be too late in the
season f or product on this year.
“In 1938 the platinum taken out
from Alaska will increase greatly
over the current year when the large
iredge is operated. In 1939 whet,
the dredge is operating at top capa
city and the production mounts stS
further, the tremendous volume of
platinum coming from Alaska mai
upset the world market.”
Platinum mining is one of the
younger industries of Alaska. Start
ing a few years ago on a small; scale,
the production attracted little atten
tion outside of the Territory.
In the past most of the platinum
of the world came from tie «Urai
mountains :c Russia. Later/deposits
were fctmu in South America aiid
Borneo.
Indications are that Alaska w®
-a ik high on the list of the platinnn.
orodncers once operations are 'ope*~
ting at scheduled speed in thejQMfh
lews Bay district