BILLY MITCHELL
I
General Billy Mitchell a lieutenant at the turn of the century huilt
the telegraph line from Valdez to Eagle and then went on to fame
as the man who fought for an air force, predicting World War 11 and
forecasting Alaska's strategic position in the Pacific.
‘Blue Parka Man9
Tanarni Valley’s
legendary Thief
Although the lust and greed of
geld seekers in the early Klondike
has been immortalized in song and
Etory, robbery was surprisingly
rare in the gold rush days, and
shipments of gold were often left
overnight in double-enders while
piospectors made merry in the road
house.
Although the great weight of gold
probably frustrated many light
fingered pioneers, the justice of the
North was harsh with anyone who
■was caught stealing another miner's
poke.
Perhaps the closest thing to an
Arctic Jesse James w?as a highway
many known only as "The Blue
Parka Man,' who staged a series
of holdups on many of the trails
leading from the creeks to Fair- i
banks.
The highwayman struck soon af
ter gold was discovered in the Tan
ana Valley and the camp at Fair
banks established. According to the
legend, Bishop Rowe, famed Episco
pal missionary, was among "Blue
Parkas" victims along the trail. Af
ter admitting that he couldn t rob
a preacher, the thief directed the
Bishop to take his poke off the pile,
and gave him a second one as a i
"contribution."
"Why damn it Bishop, I’m a mem
ber of your church," he said.
"Blue Parka was caught and
convicted several robberies later, j
and was proved to be a constant
visitor at the library in Fairbanks, j
conducted by the Episcopal church.
Many pioneers still in Fairbanks
feel that the lack of stealing was
perhaps due to the feeling of kin
ghip the early day prospectors had
for one another. They had shared
the hardships of the trail together,
and a feeling of brotherhood helped
to counteract the spirit of cut-throat
competition which accompanied the
gold rush.
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
LAND OFFICE
Fairbanks. Alaska
Date June 19. 1956
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Ernest Lee
Plunkett Fairbanks. Alaska entrymar.. '
together with his witnesses Max Douglass,
and Leslie B Loud, both of Fairbanks. I
Alaska has submitted final proof on his |
homestead entry. Fairbanks Serial No.
012034 for the S*4SEV«, NEV4SEV4 Sec
tion 28 SW'tSWVt flection 27 Township
1 North Range 1 East Fairbanks Merid
ian. containing 160 acTes, and it is now
in the files of the Land Office. Fair
barks Alaska, and if no protest is
filed in the Land Office within the per
tod of publication or thirty days there
after. said final proof will be accepted ■
and final certificate issued.
Robert L Jenks
Acting Manager j
First P.ib: June 28. 1956
Last Pub July 26. 1956
ARC Has Work
Orders For Over
$1 Million Here
The Alaska Road Commission has
received work orders for $1,218,275
in road construction during the 1956
season, according to Territorial
highway engineer. Irving Reed. Of
the above figure, some $536,000 is
slated for the Fourth Division, with
$15,200 to come later.
Of the total amount allotted,
$1,118,500 is for new construction,
while the balance will go for con
struction. maintenance and survey
ing.
Over $50,000 has been slated for
the First Division, $145,000 for the
Second Division. $486,300 for the
Third Division with an additional
$45,300 to come later.
Dr. Storrs Visited
By Idaho Falls Brother
Dr. and Mrs. Henry G. fiiorrs en
joyed a visit from his brother,
Charles L. Storrs, Jr. at their home
on College road.
Storrs, Jr. and a friend, Bob
Brantner, flew up their own plane
from Idaho Falls, Idaho where
Storrs works for General Electric.
The pair returned home last week.
R. M. Fenton Returns From
Juneau Pharmacy Meeting
R. M. Fenton, local drug store
owner, returned Saturday from a
three-day trip to Juneau for a
meeting of the Territorial Board of
Pharmacy.
Fenton left Thursday with Pan
American. He is the owner of North
ward Drug and Fenton's Pharmacy
here.
A VA President
Visiting Chicago
Travel Firms
Ben Crawford, president of the
Alaska Visitors association, left An
chorage late last week for Chicago.
He planned to spend a week there
calling on several large travel
firms, in addition to seeing Tom
Donovan, president of the American
Society of Travel Agents.
Donovan and directors and execu
tive staff of the ASTA held their
semi-annual directors meeting in
the Territory last month.
While in the States. Crawford
will appear on radio and television
in behalf of the Alaska Visitors as
sociation, He will also visit Wichita,
Kan.. San Francisco, and Seattle.
He is expected return to Anchorage
July 27.
CELEBRATING
GOLDEN DAYS
Front Our
NEW OFFICE
LOCATION
603 - 11th AVENUE
PHONE: 2305
City Garbage Co.
EDWIN G. W. BELLSTROM
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GOLDEN
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A SALUTE TO
THE PIONEERS
DAIRY QUEEN
708 CUSHMAN 269 ILLINOIS