VOL. 2
PETERSBURG, ALASKA MAY 25 1928
NO. 42
A Quiet Wedding
Miss Ellen Hill and Mr. Henry
Hasbrouck were united in marriage
at the home of C. O. Parks, five
o'clock, Monday afternoon, the 21st
of May. Reverend David Waggoner
of Juneau officiating. Guy Skyman
and Mrs. Zelma Mendenhall were
witnesses..
Immediately after the ceremony,
ine happy couple left on Bert Cor
nelius’ cruiser for Green Rocks,
Duncan Canal and other points of in
terest.
Miss Hill has been connected with
the local public school as teacher
tor the past three years and Mr.
Hasbrouck arrived in town a couple
of years ago and acquired an interest
in the Petersburg mills. Both are
well known and liked by everyone in
the community and all join in wish
ing them bon voyage in the sea of
matrimony.
One On Absent-Minded
Benedict
Henry Hasbrouck, who was form
erly a partner in Erwin’s Cabine*
Shop, had formed the habit of lock
ing the shop of evenings, when his
partner was absent. Force of habi:
you know.
Now, one morning lastweek. Hen
ry the benedict, hotfooted it over
to the shop on some hasty errand
hr lit. When he made his exit from
the shop, SNAP went the padlock
on the door, with H. F. Erwin at
work inside. What the heck—
hlinkety-blank—thunderin’ blazes —
thought Erwin. Locked in! After
an hour’s incarceration, Erwin man
aged to hail a passerby, by holler -
ing thru the door, telling of his
plight and requesting to be let our
He slipped the key through a crack
in ’lie door, and regained his liberty
r(he laugh was on Henry. He re
turned later and when told of the
episode, pleaded innocence claim
ing to know nothing about it. Un
inrential, just absent-minded, you
know, he said.
Now, everybody knows that when
this happened Henry was carrying
a marriage license in his pocket,
and—doggone it, anyway, can’t you
excuse the poor fellow? “In spring
a young man’s fancy lightly turns
to thoughts of love, housebuilding,
nost-feathering,” etcs,” and so—
w,tn Henry’s thought^ all askew,
racking his brains as to the merits
of companionate marriage versus
orthodox wedlock and what not—
we can’t blame him for locking a
man in his establishment, can we?
—Mary Irwin, contributor.
Scouts Move Their
Bert Cornelius, Harold Dawes and
a troop committee of Boy Scouts
towed the building, donated the lo
cal Scouts by Oscar Sather of Scow
Rav, to the Scout Camp near Point
Frederick Wednesday of this week.
At a meeting of the Scouts held at
their summer camp, they decided to
give it the name “Camp Lindy,” in
honor of America’s most illustrious
flier.
On Tuesday of this week, the Boy
Scouts were hosts to the Camp Fire
Cirls at Sandy Beach at a beach
party. Misses McKecknie and Ot
nes3 were with the girls while Troot,
Commander Dan E. Standard and his
assistant, Trygvie Strom were with
the Scouts. Everyone reports o most
wonderful time and all hope for
another day like it.
Mrs. E. P. Preuschoff spent a few
days of this week in Petersburg.
Gas Explosion Nol
Fatal
Saturday morning about nine
o’clock the city was startled by the
loud report of an explosion down
on the water front. Investigation
revealed that the “Dime” owned by
Jack Olsen was totally destroyed by
ignition of gas in the cabin.
Herbert Mjorud and Olsen ha 1
gone aboard a few minutes before
and were preparing to fix up their
gear for trolling. A fire in the stove
was suggested so Olsen struck a
match which immediately set fire to
the gas in the cabin. The cabin was
thrown about forty feet up into the
air and the hull split in two. In fall'
mg the cabin lit on the float beside
which the vessel had been laying
Before the cabin hit the float how
ever, the men had scrambled on the
float and out of the way. A heavy
battery alongside the engine, also
thrown up on the float is about all
that was saved. Aside from a set
ere scorching on the face by Mjorud
the men came through unharmed
and live to tell the tale of an escape
from death that is hard tobelieve.
Open Office, Ketchikan
The Fishing Owners’ Association
of Seattle has established a branch
office at Ketchikan, according to
an announcement of H. F. Lekken,
manager. Several hundred Seattle
fishermen operate over 200 boats
out of Ketchikan during the season
without coming to Seattle and the
northern branch was opened to take
c:.re of the needs of that group of
the powerful fishing organization
—Railway and Marine News.
Like the carpet baggers, the fish
ermen of the Sound country will be
telling Alaskans what they must do
but fail to contribute anything to the
development of the Territor. And
as to usefulness, they are about on
par
Bughouses
The long fight against the Port
land institution where Alaska in
sane are eared for, seems near an
end, but to what advantage seems
problematical. The Johnson Bill
pa°sed by the House provides that
Alaska’s insane shall be cared for
in the St. Elizabeth Hospital in
Washington, D. C. It is now in the
hands of the Senate.
FIGHTS OFF RHEUMATIZ
Jack Thompson, machinist, has
been laid up the past week or so
with a severe attack of rheumatism.
However, the past couple days he
was able to be about his business. *
Are Selling Poppies
The local unit of the Legion Aux«
iliary will soon put on their annual
poppy sale as Memorial is but a
week off.
Money derived from thesale of the
poppies will be used for rehabilita
tion and child welfare programs
On poppy day one may buy as many
poppies as may* be desired and pay
as large a sum per poppy as the
heart will permit. As the cause I?
f^r the especial benefit of children
who wished not for war and yet
were hurt by it, the Auxiliary hopes
that Petersburg citizens will be most
generous.
Fred Patton was in port this week
from Five Finger Islands.
Big Case Was
A Big “Dud”
i ——
During the past, week the case of
U. S. vs. Neil MacGregor was tried
ir Juneau before Judge Lomen with
District Attorneys Harding and Stab
I«r on the prosecution end and At
torneys Wickersham and Roden on
the defense end of the case. The jury
reported a verdict of not guilty on
one indictment of three counts and
as they were taking up the counts
in the indictment in a systematic
way, could not reach a verdict in
the time specified so the court pro
nounced a mistrial and discharged
i be jury. They had reached a vei
dict on seven counts in the second
indictment but were not permitted
tot report.
The Court was desirous of catch
Dig the steamer Alaska for Seattle
and notified the jury that they one
hour in which to reach a verdict.
On reporting tat they would be un
able so to do in that timre, they
were dismissed. Counsel stipulated
upon a disolution of the one indict
ment and upon their agreement the
jury brought in verdict of not guilty.
Unable to agree on a verdict in one
hour on the other indictment the
jury was discharged.
The charges on which Mr. Mac
Gregor was tried was “misappropri
ation of federal funds.” Upon these
charges a grand jury reported true
bills last fall. Whereupon Mr. Mac
Gregor was placed under arrest and
“in strict custody until bonds were
approved. Earl Ohmer and C. E.
Swanson went surety for Mr. Mac
Gregor whereupon he was released ,
He appeared in Juneau at the order <
of the Court answered the charge
and entered his pleading of not <
guilty. Returning to Petersburg
he thought the matter was over witn
until case came to trial but in that
he was mistaken. Marshal Brown
served another warrant on three oth
er counts which probably had been
n islaid in bureaucratic pigeonholes
while MacGregor was in Juneau
Additional bonds in the sum of
$1,000 was required and posted; in
nil a bond in the sum of $4,000 was
required that he do not go A.W.O..L
and the sum of his alleged misap
propriation not alleged to exceed
one-tenth that amount.
The court was unable to reach
11.is case on its calendar so trial was
ordered held in Ketchikan. For
over three weeks prior to date set
for appearance, Mr. MacGregor was
ill in bed with indigestion from
which he has suffered for many
years. Dr Dan E. Standard made
aiiiidavit showing that MacGregor
was in no phyiscal condition to go
Lo trial and that it would lead to
grave consequences did he so do.
District attorney’s office objected
most strenuously and insisted on
eo tinuing the trial. MacGregor
got out of a sick bed and managed
Lo get to Ketchikan where affiida
wts were secured from Drs. Ellis
uul Mustard certifying to the phys
ical disability of defendant. The
1’sirict attorney was still obdurate,
tiewever so counsel for defense put
1 e matter up squarely to the late
Tundge Reed who appointed Dr. Bee
sen to make examination. This
nude the fourth certificate and even
hen prosecution fought for contin
ence but Reed ruled against it.
From all reports gathered through
conversation with witnesses in the
?«se, it was one of the most bitterly
'ought cases in the history of the
murts of Alaska. At no time did
arosecution attempt to see that de
’en lant secured justice. The reverse
lowever, was true for any shred of
Continued on page 3
“Big Bill" Dies in Exile
On the 18th of May in Moscow,
Russia, died Wiliam Haywood, form
or I. W. W. leader in the United '
States. He died in self-imposed ex
ile in his 66th year.
He had been a fugitove from Am
erican justice since 1921, when he
went to Russia to escape serving a
20-year prison sentence for ob
structing the war. Ninety-two oth
ers were sent to Leayenworth at the
same time but were released on ba.l
pending a review by the Supreme
Court. By the time the sentences
were upheld, Big “Bill” was gone to
Russia.
Will Dredge Bar Soon
The big dredge W. D. Grant will
be brought down to the bar abreas.’
of the Standard Oil dock shortly and
v ill begin dredging the fill-in about
the first of June. It is estimated
tout between 20 and 25,000 yards
of mud and sand will be taken out
It was expected that operations
would have begun sooner but the
breaking of one of the big “spuds”
delayed completing the the work
upon which they are now engaged
i
ANNUAL OVERHAULING
Bari Ohmer’s shrimp scow was put
or. the beach for its annual spring
ovoi hauling. It will receive a heavy
moat of copper paint and such other
repairs as may be necessary and then
brought back to its mooring on the
big tides of next nmoth.
i
Irish Fisheries
The Irish Free State has appoint
ed a Minister of Fisheries accord
ing lo the “Canadian Fisherman.”
This ministry recommends that
Ihe Government establish three tech
nical schools to provide instruction
in the newest methods for the fish
ermen in those districts.
This ministry recommends that
loans to enable the fishermen to ac
quire boats and gear, that public
improveemnts be made in variuos
harbors, and that a system of in
specting cured mackerel, with a
compulsory Government brand show
ing the grade be instituted.
The Irish ministry asks for more
funds and points out that the little
country of Denmark is spending
nearly one million dollars a year to
assist in the solution of the tech
nical and commercial problems of the
industry, and, in addition, is making
loans to parties engaged in the fish
eries, loans on which no interest
payment is required for the first 6
years.
The Irish ministry recommended
that the State loan on easy interest
terms to enable the fishermen to ac
quire craft, following the Idea of the
Danish ministry.
t.
Judge Lomen of Nome was a pass
neger on the Alaska Steamship Co.,
liner Alaska, enroute to Seattle. He
is hurrying to be present at the wed
ding of his daughter, Miss Helen Lo
men to Clinton Austin of St. Paul,
Minn.
Pioneer’s Hall To
Be Sold
Rev. Waggoner left Thursday
morning for Wrangell where he wiil
meet with Rev. R. J. Diven and J
H. Wheeler and consumate a deal
whereby the Pioneers will turn over
to the Presbyterian Church the Pio
neer s Hall, Petersburg. Considera
tion named $37,00. Of this sum the
Board of National Missions of that
church are putting up $1,200; the
sum of $2,000 was a gift specifically
donated by two ladies of the Pres-!
byterian church and the sum of $500
was raised by the Native members
of the church here in Petersburg and
represents their savings from what
they earned picking shrimp. Less
than a hundred of this sum was giv
en by local business men for the fur
therance of this good work.
Shrimp Pickers Going
Hard Pace
The shrimp pickers are working
fast these days putting up a larger
quantity of shrimp than they did
during the past winter. The next
two or three weeks will show just
about what will be done locally foi
much of the work here depends on
the catch of the cheaper or poorer
grade of shrimp in the Mississippi
and Mexican fishing grounds./ If the
catch there is not as good as it was
last year, more will be finished at
the local cannery and vice versa 5f
otherwise.
What is true of the shrimp mark
et is analogous in the packing of
crab meat. This year, however, dur
ing the close season, the crab fisher
men of the Sound expect to go off
shore three miles and operate there.
However much of their effort will
depend on the weather and condi
tion of the ocean. If stormy, even
if crabbing is good, they will not ef
tect local production, but if the j
weather holds good and there is lots
of crab, their competition will be
felt locally. t- j
Cubbed On Head
. “Kcolution” or “Cal” was attack- |
ed in his room Saturday night by |
Harry Lee, Korean. Call warned i
Lee not to enter his room but Lee j
with blood in his eye and much loud I
cursing crashed thru the door and j
was met with a heavy bar of iron
across the face necessitating eleven I
stitches. Dr. Standard attending.
Lee has been quite a character
wherever he has been. Records are
said to be on file in Oregon, Wash
ington and Califronia showing him
to be more or less of a troublesome
character.
Cal was picked up by city mar
shal and taken to the federal jail
but was turned out the next day.
Will Benefit Bank of
Alaska
Chairman Louis T. McFadden of
the House Banking Committee in-,
troduced a bill in Congress this week
which proposes to extend to Alas
ka provosions of the Federal Farm
Loan Act. This measur ewill per
mit the establishing of branch bank3
in Alaska and will provide that loans
may be made to any one borrower
from branch banks but to be limited
to $25,000 and not to be made for
a longer period than 20 years.
Andy Anderson left out Tuesday
for his fox ranch near Hobart Bay
this week with supplies, feed and
so-forth.
Texas Rant Convention
The Texas Republican convention
split in a furore, midst the crashing
of glass and heated wrangling. En
deavor was made by Hooverites
..e send instructed delegates to the
National convention at Kansas Citv
wi :le opposing faction stood for un
instructed delegation. Those who
opposed the idea of instructed dele
gation walked out and held another
j convention. Both sides claiming to
be ’-n line for recognition from the
National committee. It is stated,
however that Hooverites had the
right to name only four delegates as
the 22 had been chosen at meetings
from Congressional districts.
SAILING VESSEL ASHORE WITH
300 ABOARD
The Alaska Packers full-rigged
ship, Star of Faulkland is reported
as being ashore on the rocks haif
a mile west of Akun Head, Bering
Sea.
Coastguard Haider and the t’edar
vete proceeding to the aid of the
vessel and the more than SCO men
aboard—280 Chinese and 40 white
’ahorers reported as being on board.
This calls to mind the wreck of
the ill-fated Star of Bengali on Cor
onation Island along about 1912
which went down with all but a
small handful of her crew of sailors,
and cannery crew.
The Star of Faulkland was insur
ed by the Alaska Packer’s Associa
tion which carries its own insurance
on ships, cannerie andsoforth.
College To Secure Grant
Delegate Sutherland introduced la
Congress a bill which authorizes a
erant of 100,000 acres of non-min
eral land to the Alaska Agricultural
College. The bill passed the House
and was sent to the Senate where !t
is expected that it will become a law
without opposition.
Nominee Adams
The nomination of E. J. Adam?
of Eugene. Oregon as federal terri
torial district judge for Alaska, sen'
to the Senate by President Coolidg ■
probably will be recommended for
confirmation by the Senate Judiciarv
Committee, although Adams was no:
indorsed by either of the Oregon
Senators.
Selection of Adams followed clseiy
an inquiry made of Senators Mc
Nary and Steiwer on Saturday by
Attorney-General Sargent, the nature
of which indicated that the Eugene
man was picked without particular
regard for State lines. Both Senators
weie asked where they had any ob
jection to appointment of Adams
tregonians see in Adams’ ncmina
another expression of gratitude
by Presilent Coolidge for the im
porant part which several delegates
from that State played in his nom -
nation as vice-president in 1920. It
was recalled that Adams was a dis
trict delegate to the republican con
ception of that year, and one o£
those who prompted the nomination
of. Mr. Coolidge, yvhich was made bv
Wallace McCammant of Portland.
Parks On Tour
Governor George A. Parks left for
point westward this week expecting
to cover practically all of the terri
tory save the Bristol Bay district.
Accompanying him was R. G. Som
mers, territorial engineer. They will
be joined later by Major Malcolm of
the Highway Commission.
Ted Hungerford was in port with
his goodslitp “Defiance” this week
for mall and supplies.