Scientists Exhume Teller Mission
Victims of 1918 Epidemic, Seeking
Answer To Cause Of Flu Virus
Alaska’s frozen ground may
contain the answer to the scien
tific riddle of what caused the
world-wide 1918 flu epidemic.
Three University of Iowa bi
ologists, working with the coop
eration of the University of Alas
ka, dug up a number of Eskimo
graves at Teller Mission on the
Seward Peninsula last summer
and took away samples of skin
tissue from the bodies of persons
struck down by the flu in 1918.
In their frozen graves the bodies
were still sufficiently preserved
for study, and the scientists hope
that the samples they removed
will permit them to discover the
virus that caused the epidemic.
The men who composed “Ex
pedition Virus” were Dr. Albert
McKee, bacteriologist, Dr. Jack
Layton, patholigist and Johan
Hultin, graduate student in bac
teriology. They were accompanied
on the trip by University of Al
aska palentologist Otto Geist who,
at the request of his old friend
Hultin, had spent a year collect
ing data about the epidemic in
Alaska.
If successful in isolating the
virus of World War I which is
estimated to have caused the
deaths of 20 million people, the
scientists hope to be able to ans
wer two big questions: what kind
of virus is responsible for the
disease and whether it is possible
to immunize against it should it
strike again.
No report has yet been made
available concerning the findings
that have been made in studying
the skin tissues in the Iowa lab
oratories.
The expedition had to over
come many obstacles before
bringing its specimens safely
back to Iowa. One was securing
permission from the Department
of Interior, Governor Ernest
Gruening, the Alaska Native Ser
vice, the Public Health Service,
and finally the natives them
selves, some of whose relatives
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Meetings — 1st and 3rd
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Phone Black 191 Federal Bldg.
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: were among the bodies dug up.
Obtaining the samples required
tedius hours of hard work excav
ating through three feet o‘f tun
dra and gravel and an additional
three feet of permafrost. Once the
specimens had been secured, the
skin tissue had to be carefully
preserved. It was placed in small
metal containers which in turn
were deposited in a glass-lined
metal thermos jar. The whole was
then sprayed with a carbon-diox-1
ide solution to form dry ice and
then flown to Iowa City for study.
%
The expedition was financed by
a grant from the central scientific
fund of the University of Iowa’s
college of medicine. This fund is
accumulated from contributions;
made by university doctors from 1
fees derived from private medical
practice.
FBI Arrests 14th Person
In 13 Months On
Embezzlement Charges
PITTSBURGH, Pa., (/P) — FBI
agents held the 14th person today
on embezzlement charges which
cover more than $3,030,000 in the
past 13 months.
The latest arrested is Paul J.
Straitiff, 52 year-old cashier and
director of the First National
Bank of Indiana (Pa.). He is
charged by the FBI with embez
zling $30,256 in bank funds.
The arrest by the Pittsburgh
office of the FBI Friday night is
the 12th embezzlement case un
covered in the Pittsburgh and
West Virginia distrtict.
Special agent Fred Hallford
said the balding Straitiff admitted
taking the money. Straitiff said
he knew he was misapplying the
funds but said he had always in
tended to make the shortage good.
Hallford said Straitiff is the
second employe of the First Na
tional Bank to be arrested since
Sept. 25.
Glorifying “Hand-Me-Dowi.
Any family with growing youngstecs can duplicate this scene show
ing little sister happy as a lark with her “new” dress, while big sister
exults as she recognizes her outgrown tog and mother beams satisfac
tion over her success.
A box of ail-fabric dye i available in 50 colors at drug, depart
ment and dime stores) did the trick You can make any “hand-me
down” palatable by tintexing it a new color—qpd even big sister
wouldn’t recognize it if you alter a little by adding a belt, collar or
hem, or by changing the trimmings.
Before dyeing, suggests the Tintex Home Economics Bureau, remove
belts, buttons and trimmings, and rip out hems, pleats and linings.
This will permit even penetration of dye And if garment is stained,
spotted or unevenly faded, use color remover first, counsels the bureau
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QUALITY DRY CLEANING A SPECIALTY
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* Because peace needs our united strength
. /
says Claudette Colbert
These are days when danger never sleeps—when only
our power keeps our country safe.
That’s why I say now, with all my heart—let’s not relax!
Defending America, and the blessings it gives us, is the most
important job we have today!
Three and a half million Americans are doing their pari
in our armed forces. But defense is our job, too.
And one very important way we can all do a defense job
is by buying our country’s Defense Bonds. For bonds
and other forms of saving are a protection for our
homes and our families. They back up our military force
with solid citizens and a sound economy.
They give America strength — and we all know by now
that today peace is only for the strong!
Got in on the *'D'* Drive. Buy an extra Defense Bond today!
I V
Do something now for peace! Sign up to buy an extra
Defense Bond during the great Defense Bond Drive. Then
go on buying Bonds regularly through your Payroll Saving*
Plan or the Bond -A- Month Plan
where you bank.
Bay Dnftnsn Bends mry monlfc.
New they earn interest 10 years lengerl
Now every Series E Bond you own
can automatically go on earning in
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date of purchase instead of 10 as be
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can return you as much as $33.33!
Bankers recommend Defense Bonds
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BUY U. S. DEFENSE BONDS
WE CARRY LARGE ASSORTMENT OF
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Out-of-Town Orders Carefully Handled
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