"SO WAS ALASKA": A BOOK OF SOURDOUGH STORIES BY HEINIE SNIDER
A sourdough usually com
mands an audience when he re
lates some of his experiences in
the far North. Each has his
mode of expression and added
embellishments that give zest
to the related tale.
One such is Heinie Snider, one
time prospector, railroad worker,
mink raiser, homesteader, and for
mer member of the territorial
House and Senate, a story teller of
high repute — an emigrant from
Holland who became an Alaskan
and hollowed out a place for him
self in Alaska's legendary past.
Not everyone can meet Heinie
Snider in person, for one must go to
Wasilla where he and his wife are
living out their days on Lake Lu
cille. Second-best to meeting him
and healing from his own lips the
many stories he can spin is to read
them.
Writes Book
“So Was Alaska" by Heinie Snider
offers that opportunity. The book
was printed in Anchorage. There
13,800 Alaskans
Suffer Accidental
Injury Each Year
Approximately 13,1100 Alaskans a
year suffer accidental injuries that
require hospital attention accord
ing to a study conducted coopera
tively by the Alaska Department of
Health and Welfare and 28 hospi
tals in the state. This is a rate of
61 accidents per every 1,000 resi
dents.
The figures were projected from
daily accident reports made by the
hospitals for the winter month of
November 1960 and the summer
month of July 1961. according to
Commissioner Paul L. Winsor. The
November accidents reported were
906 and the July were 1398 making
a total of 2.304 for the two months.
These are accident injuries treated
at hospitals only, he pointed out.
and do not include those patients
seen in Dhysicians offices, by pub
tic health nurses, or untreated. In
addition to the non-fatal accidents
reported, there were 10 accidental
deaths in November and 31 in July.
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth ’
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
arc few indeed who would not en
joy at least a few of the stories,
and relish acquaintance with some
of the women and men Heinie has
met in a lifetime of backwoods oc
cupations in the early days.
Space doesn't allow for more
than a quick skimming through its
pages. Here are a few of the titles
you will find: “The Calf With Two
Heads," “When Yes Means No."
“Stampede Mary,’’ “A Cadillac
Meets a Bear," “Christmas on Snag
Creek.” “Gold Is Where You Find
It,” and “A Bear and His Beer."
We ll give you a sample of what
to expect from the following story,
“A Cadillac Meets a Bear.’
Unusual Experience
Jack Fabian, pioneer Alaskan and
known in the Matanuska Valley
as Cadillac Jack, had an unusual
experience with a bear.
When automobiles first came into
use, to warn pedestrians. . a horn
was attached to the side of the car.
On this horn was a rubber ball.
In order to make a noise—the rub
j ber ball had to be squeezed, but
you also had to open the door or
pull down part of the imitation
leather curtain to get at the horn.
; This was too slow for Jack.
I He invented a contraption that
I was fixed on top of the steering
wheel. By pressing it hard, or giving
it a slap with the hand, this horn
End Of An Era
(Continued From Pg. 3)
1 Dodson went straight from the
plane to a meeting of the Pioneers
Lodge. He told them that the two
I pioneers were in town and a com
mittee was immediately formed to
make sure they had what they
needed.
At Home
Both are in the Pioneers’ Home
now. Tootsie will be busy with her
book, Burns will occupy himself
i with his memories of the trail.
All these years, and Tootsie has
kept an almost unlined face. Per
haps it is because she's never held
things against people.
I “Believe me, she's had plenty of
cause.'” said Mrs. Padersen. “When
I think of the dozens of people who .
have cheated her and taken *h1- (
vantage! Poor soul!”
But, said Tootsie, waving a gay
farewell, “I got nothing to say
against one person in Alaska!”
Jessen’s ads get results!
i
made enough noise, it seemed, to
wake up the dead.
Once, during the summer, Jack |
took his prized Cadillac as far as i
Fishhook Inn Roadhouse on the way |
to a prospecting trip. He parked the
car and went inside the roadhouse
| to have some refreshments.
Unbeknown to Jack or anyone
else, a bear, smelling the grub, es- ;
| pecially the bacon, climbed in the
i car. Looking and pawing around in 1
the Cadillac, he found lots of good
eats, helping himself to bacon, but
ler, bread and sugar. He even
opened a few cans of milk.
After he had cleaned up the
grub, he was now ready to resume
his journey towards the Susitna
river, and maybe catch a salmon
or two. All this went on while Jack
and his friendsi were having a
“pow-wow.”
Terrible Noise
The party was interrupted by a
terrible noise coming from the Cad
illac. and when they looked out, the
bear was coming through the top
of tne car as muuBu
out of a cannon.
What apparently happened was
that Mr. Bear, looking for a way out,
climbed on the steering wheel —
where the new gimmick-horn was
located.! And when he sat down
well. toot, toot, and out came the
bear, who took part of the top of
the car with him on the way out.
Before anyone could get a gun
to shoot him. he was out of sight.
Everyone agreed that never had
they seen a bear run so fast.
1
Looking
Ahead fo
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535 Second
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