The Open Forum
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Petersburg, Alaska
May 28, 1930
Editor The Alaskan,
Dear Sir:
In reading Mr. Will A. Barrows
article in your paper about the
wanton slaughter of eagles in
Alaska, as he states it, for boun
ty, I wish to contradict some oi
his statements as misleading and
not supported with substantial
facts and evidence.
I do not intend to argue the
bounty question as I am not fa
miliar with the facts and argu
ments as to why the bounty was
originally placed on eagles in
Alaska. Mr. Barrows states that
he has lived in Alaska more or
less since 1896 and asks why the
bounty was placed on the eagles
and states that he has yet to
learn the details of “that bit of
freak legislation” as he terms it
Now I wonder if he has really
tried very hard to find out why.
I most certainly would before I
argued against something which
I admittedly knew nothing of, as
he does.
So I will limit myself to call
ing attention to some parapraphs
of his statement as being incor
rect. He claims “There is no
authentic statement, no balanc
ed evidence that the eagle ever
captured a baby fox” and that
“Down to brass tacks, they had
never witnessed the destruction
of any kind of fox, little, old or
young by an eagle.” This may
have been true at one time but
it most certainly is not true to
day as I can prove by eye wit
nesses other than myself. Per
sonally I have killed three eagles
with pup fur and blood on their
talons and beaks and their stom
achs full of fur and fox flesh, but
I did not see the eagles kill those
pups. On the other hand, dur
ing the same month, one of the
men working on the same island
where this happened, did see an
eagle swoop down after a fox
pup and knock him rolling. The
eagle failed to get a good hold
cf the pup but did rip out the
eye of the pup. This man shot
the eagle on its second attempt
to get the pup and states one of
the eagles talons was missing,
evidently shot 01T prior to this
scene, that being the reason the
eagle failed in his first attempt
to catch the fox pup. Mr. Bar
rows is well acquainted with the
party I refer to.
My nearest neighbors claim
they heard a pup squealing and
looking up saw two eagles fight
ing for a pup. One had it in his
talons and they claim that they
saw the eagles actualy tear the
fox pup in two in midair and fly
away with it. These men are
willing to make an affidavit to
this fact at any time as they
were eye witnesses to it. These
are facts and it surely is evidence
that the eagle will and does kill
fox pups.
..Mr. Barrows says that Sub
scriber sheds tears about the
young geese, fawns, ducks, ptar
migan, grouse and so that ‘Bal
dy, the Killer’ eats and says that
Subscriber had a brainstorm. I
am not an authority on this
neither do I believe Mr. Bar
rows to be one. He claims that
the live ducks the eagle some
times takes are the black surf
ducks and diving scaups when
they happen to be feeding in
shallow water, and yet he claims
that the eagle is first and last
and just about always a fisheat
etr, regardless of the fact that
the salmon run lasts but a com
paratively small portion of the
year. I wonder if he has watch
ed, as I have, two eagles over a
period of two weeks killing and
eating practically nothing but
seagulls, and the feathers and
bones are on the ground and in
the tree this minute to substan
tiate my statement.
I saw two other eagles after a
female mallard duck and one of
them caught the duck in the air
on the wing as they did the sea
gulls. This was a game duck,
■ not a black surf duck nor a div
ing scaup.
One statement of Mr. Barrows
I think could well have been left
unsaid: “A narow vision mixed
with more or less ignorance, un
reasonable prejudice and crass
stubbornness, slanders, hunts
and destroys the eagles.” Does
he believe I hat this is the proper
way to right a wrong if one has
been done ? I wTonder if he would
feel any better toward others if
they were to tell him that he was
narrow visioned, ignorant, more
or less prejudiced and stubborn,
as he puts it?
I believe, as he does, that the
iaven is another of our most de
structive birds but only on the
islands and land. He is one of
the worst pests I have to contend ;
with on the fox ranch. I havej
proven that he takes, at times, j
as much as one-third of the feed,
in actual tests, that I have put
out for foxes, and I believe this j
to be true on other islands. j
I am not writing this just to t
create an argument I have stat- j
ed facts as I know them and
have seen them. I could state
many other bits of genuine evi
dence that are incontrovertible.
Almost every fox rancher is
ready with authentic experienc
es of his own which are suffi
ciently convincing and on which
they would be willing to take
their solemn oath. I am not
asking that the bounty be left
on eagles, or taken off. I am un
der the impression that the
bounty was placed on eagles to
curb the destroyer but I do not 1
claim to know all about the '
bounty question. I do know that
so far as I am concerned, the ;
eagle is no friend of mine. i
Yours very respectfully,
Bert Buchanan.
THE SQUAWKERS
The legislature of 1929 passed 1
an act by the terms of which the 1
question of the repeal of the (
Alaska Bone Dry Law should be
put up to the people of the Ter
Iritory in a referendum at the
l
coming election. The bill was
vetoed by Governor Parks.
The Literary Digest Poll now
being taken is being bitterly at- ]
tacked by the “unco guide” who '
seem peeved at the unanimity ^
of sentiment for the repeal or
modification of the Eighteenth ;
Amendment. i
We wonder if there is some- ■
thing sacred about these laws
which would warrant the setting 1
aside of the will of the majority. !
Is the Eighteenth Amendment
the Bone Dry Law in Alaska, so
sacrosanct that our people are
looked upon as bad citizens if ’
they even ask an expression of ]
the opinion of the people? j
What has happened to “A 1
erovernment of the people, for the :
people and by the people”?
| Personally we have no use for
j booze in any form and further
more we have less use for any
sect, clique or group which
strives to stiflle the freedom of]
the people to express their opin
ions. It was for this freedom
that our forefathers insisted in
the incorporation of the Bill of
Rights into the Constitution of
the United States.—Seward Gate
way.
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BOOZE OR DRY LAW LIBERTY
We wonder after reading the
article in the Seward Gateway
under the caption “The Squawk
ers” whether they are taking a
slam at the Dry Law, those who
oppose repeal or modification or
Governor Parks for vetoing that
referendum bill passed by the
legislature of 1929.
.. A more important matter than
whether we shall guzzle moder
ately, copiously cr not at all, is
the subject of controlling our
own destinies and owning ourl
own souls.. Whether we shall be
allowed to use and develop oui
resources by direction of elected
officials or will we continue tc
have political debts direct those
resources for the benefit of for
eign corporations.
Is it more important to h *ve
freedom of speech than to have
ireedom of action to earn m *e
tnan a slave wage while grea
corporations of San Francises,
Seattle and Chicago declare di -
vidends up to $30 per share or
stock much of which watered.
Whether it is more important to
buy beer than to be able to
buy shoes, clothes and food for
those in need is a question for
a few of the Other Half to pon
der over. And in the pondering
it might be remember that it is
just as much against the law to
steal fish as it is to buy beer; it
is just as much a violation of
personal liberty to prevent men
from earning a living by the uti
lization of resources as it is to
prevent the purchase of wines,
it is well to remember that it is J
the Stars and Strips and the
Constitution which grants to ev
ery man the right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
Divisional Notes
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KLAWOCK
George Demmert and family
and Mrs. Andrew Wanamaker
left for Sitka to bring their chil
dren home for the summer from
Sheldon Jackson School.
Jack Peratrovitch, and Joseph,
eft on the gasboat Margaret for
Sitka to bring a group of chil
dren.
R. J. Peratrovitch is getting his
piledriver in shape so that he
3an soon drive new piling under
lis cannery.
. .The families that have been in 1
;own since the close of school
lave now all left for the trolling
grounds at Noyes Island.
The new moving picture house
)eing put up by Mr. R. J. Pera
;rovitch, is now almost complet
id.
.Captain George Peratrovitch
jrought in several hundred
rounds of king salmon from the
'tfoyes Island grounds.
.Mrs. Charles Demmert is act
ng postmistress of the U. S. Post
Dffice during the absence of G.
Demmert, postmaster.
Dorothy Demmert is giving
service with a smile these days
n the Commercial Company’s
store.
. Supt. Charles Demmert is get
ting his cannery ready for the
summer run of salmon.
KAKE
Capt. Charles Newton was a
visitor in town this week. Billy
Newton is with him. They will
;et the gasboat “Katy” ready for
luying kingsalmon before the
reining season.
The construction of the big
warehouse by the Skinner-Eddy
Company is about completed.
About forty Kake men have been
smployed on the job which has
meant much to local revenue.
The committee sent to com
plete incorporation of the town]
were advised by Attorney Gen
eral Rustgard to secure another i
attorney to do the work as he
was dissatisfied with his election
treatment. They secured the
services of Judge Wickersham.
The Skinner-Eddy Corporation
opposes being incorporated in the
town limits. The Kake people
will insist on the incorporation
and a battle royal will be expect
ed. It is said that the company
is willing to pay its per case tax
to the Town but does not wish
to be assessed any property tax
by the town.
KARHEEN
E. J. Rowan is leaving shortly
for Petersburg where he hopes to
pick up a crew for his outfit for
he summer. Henry Jackson is
coming with him to take his.
family out to Karheen for the,
summer.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smith are!
planning to leave on the “Vali
ant” for Petersburg soon in or-j
der that Mrs. Smith may have]
some dental work done.
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WRANGELL
John Saarikoski, age 61, was]
drowned off Woodpecker Cove]
last week while towing in some]
logs to town. Louis Retzloflip
found the boat swamped nearJj
Zarembo Island but no trace ofn
the body of Saarikoski.
He is survived by his two sons.p
John and Tuovi of Wrangell, and:]
two daughters, Miss Lempi Saar-U
ikoski of Wrangell and Mrs. L. D.j
Moore of Bellingham, Wash
Memorial services were held in]
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on 2
the 25th. H
. .James Whaley, son of Doctor:]
Whaley will be graduated at the:
Juneau High School, the 30th of:;
* %*
this month. Doctor and Mrs. S
Whaley left for Juneau to be pre-:]
sent at the exercises.
Margaret Ottesen will be sa-*:
lutitarian of her class which is]]
to be graduated from the Ketchi-g
kan High School this week. Miss!]
Ottesen was but one-half a point]]
behind the valedictorian. ::
W. D. Gross, head of the Alas-:]
ka Film Exchange, left for:]
Haines where he is getting his]
theatre there ready for sound]
equipment .
The gillnetters and trollers]
in general have been having a;
very fine season. Everybody’s]^
happy. |
Frank Desmond after several::
years service in the Cold Stor-::
age has resigned and is hooking |
up with his first love, trolling. ff
George Collins and Walter Ru-f]
dolph left for the Sitka trolling]]
grounds. They will have someK
machine work done in Petersburg ♦
before leaving for the outside. | j
Jack Gurr who has been a stu- 1t
dent of Gonzaga College, in itsj:
high school department, will be i
graduated from that school on t
the 10th of June.
Ned Lemieux who has had S
charge of the Starland Theatre *
since its transfer by Mr. Cun- •
ningham to Mr. Gross, returned *
to Juneau where he is employed :
in the Coliseum Theatre.
Raymond Wheeler and John \
G.ant returned home after b3- !
ir:o- in school in Seattle for the :
past year
Beryl Cunningham, Juanita;*
Lewis and Lloyd Benjamin and ♦
John Iverson were graduated at «
the Wrangell High School, last \
week.
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ANTICIPATION 1 J
_x_ I J
X l i
“Is there anything you want?”; J
the waitress asked one day. ' <
i i
The young man glanced at hcv; <
and said: “Will you let me have *
a k-k-k—?” |
.. The maiden glanced at this:
significant sound and threw a
i
glance of triumph at the other
waitresses.*
..—“a k-k-k-cup,” finished the
young man.
. .The girl blushed deeper than ';
ever at this, and the young man,
went on: “I know why you’re!
blushing. You thought I was go- |
ing to ask for a k-k-k-clean
cup.”
OF GREATER FEMININE
INTEREST
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The professor was showing a
young woman the heavens thru
his telescopes. He directed her
gaze to a planet which he told
her was Venus.
“Oh, isn’t it perfectly lovely!”;
she exclaimed—and th§n, “Now
I please show me Adonis.”
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THEN AND NOW
Uncle and neice stood watch
ing the young people dancing
about them. “I bet you never
saw any dancing like this back
in the nineties, eh, Uncle?”
v Once—but the place was
i aided. __ __ _ 1
‘Greater A -trac ion at she Age,'' says the press |
, With BETTY COMPSON. ARTHUR LAKE, SALLY H
| O’NEIL, LOUISE FAZENDA, JOE E. BROWN AND |
THE FAIRBANKS TWINS. I
The TWO DOVES
| IN
I “SCARED STIFF" Vitaphone
| -X
I The Foy Family, EDDIE FOY And
l The Seven Little Foy s'
i 1N
! “The FOYS FOR JOYS"
—x—
TWO ALL-TALKING p
PARAMOUNT NEWS REELS |
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(0\G) - —" '—<9\(§})
V/here Sound Sounds Best
Commencing
FIRST 100% NATURAL COLOR PICTURE
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DAHL and SKEI, Owners.
Prescriptions filled by Graduate Pharmacist
Leave Seattle SB
Petersburg
May 13 May 19
Alameda
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Alamecla
W. Alaska
Petersburg. Alaska
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