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''News of ^America * ; ast Frontier”
you 16 NO. 10
KODIAK. ALASKA, MARCH 10, 1956
pjtfCE t* ckWfo
Survivors
Stop Here
Kodiak was the scene Monday ol
the first landing of the survivors
of the S. S. Washington Mail, fol
lowing the disaster which ended
so happily in a dramatic sea res
cue in the Gulf of Alaska.
60 rilen and Women aboard tverc
transferred from the rescue ship
thd MSTS vessel General Freeman
which anchored beyond the har
bor, to two waiting Navy tugs, anc
brought to the Naval Station. Aftei
a brief interval, they boarded i
waiting PNA Constellation for the
final leg of the journey home.
Through the cooperation of Na
vaj Station1officials, newsmen anc
photographers froh\ the mainland
the United States and Canada
vtere able to gain first hand ac
counts of the sea disaster arid the
rescue that followed .'4 Interviews
apoard the Freeman, prior to,tht
sUrvivors landing at K o d.i a k
brought out many details of hetpie
a(cts, performed while the ship was
£wly sinking into the turbulem
i, of tense moments and a dis
ui imueiievaoie caim dj
people facing possible death.
As the world now knows, the
S. S. Washington Mail broke in twc
at the after part of number :
hatch flush with the bridge. The
parting of the huge ship, at 1:1J
Saturday afternoon, was, in the
words of the survivors, describee
l>y some “like a boiler bursting,’
others “like a mine exploding’
and by others as like “a machine
gun firing.” John Rego, from the
Hawaiian Islands, said it went
“boom, boom, boom.” Most of then
said it was three blasts that were
heard, and when they rushed or
deck from either lying down, eat
ing or playing cards, their horri
fied eyes saw the fore part of the
ship drifting away. Smoke hamper
ed their exit, and the possibility oi
fire gave them.their first fright.
The fires were quickly extinquish
ed.
John Kokoszenski, a civil engi
neer from Los Angejes, described
the scene neatly and truthfully
as we confirmed later, when he
said there was “utter confusion
but no panic.” Part of this he at
tributed to the fact that a fire
drill was held the afternoon be
fore. Kokoszenski and his wife
June, were on a world tour plan
ned years in advance, and this was
the first leg of a trip that was to
take them to many strange ports
and foreign lands. The trip seemed
doomed from the beginning with
Kokoszenski’s wife becoming ill
resulting in an operation, a close
relative dying and then the disast
er at sea. Even to the last the hand
01 late seemed to be pointing al
him, for as he was being lifted up
from the lifeboat to the deck oi
the Freeman, the rope used broke
and he dropped into the sea. As
he came to the surface, he founc
himself between the big ship anc
the lifeboat as it was being tossed
broadsnde against it’s side, and he
just managed once more to. sinh
down into the cold water, and latei
hauled back into the boat.
High tribute was given the cap
tain of the ship, Dudley A. Dur
(Continued to Page 4)
Annexation Ordinance
Up for Pataaga Mar. 22
At the recessed meeting of the
Common Council March 2, 1956,
the City Clerk read proposed Ordi
nance No. 204( “which is an ordi-;
nance providing for the fixing of
the time for the area known as the
Mission Road Area to become a
part of the City of Kodiak,” for
'the first time. Council passed Or
dinance No. 204 for the first read
ing. *.
..first reading and passage of Or
dinance No. 204 will be made at
the regular scheduled meeting on
March 12, 1956.
Bears Win Opener
Out Of Tourney
The Kodiak Bears were upset
winners in their opening game
with the Seward-Seahawks. They
won in overtime play by a score of
47-43.
’» In ( the second game with An
^-chorage Ragles, the Bears were
crushed with a twenty point lead.
The final score was 59-39.
— * * — {5“***v *' ia (i * U1II1U1 , tut jut tu
High school team were nosed out
by a close score, and are now out
of tournament play.
The Naval Station high school
team were also winners in their
opener. Described as “lightning
fast,’’ the Hornets sustained their
opening big lead to down the Eiel
son Ravens 60-40.
They then dropped into the lo
ser’s bracket by a defeat at the
hands of the Wasilla Warriors. 51
39.
Hot Rod Club Formed
The first meeting of the Road
Runners was held at the Union
Hall on March 6, 1956. Election
of officers took place.
Jack Castlow was elected presi
dent, Bill Hill, vice-president, Nell
Chase, secretary and Jerry Elder
kin, treasurer. Parnel Lockhart
was elected Sergeant-at-arms. Pa
trolman "Mac” McKinley will act
ill a supervisory capacity.
The plans of the Club include a
"drag-strip” and a 34 mile stock
car track at Anton Larsen’s Bay.
These are expected to be finished
for the summer races. In the near
future an “Auto-show” which will
feature various cars, will be held.
The next meeting of the Club
will be held March 13 at the Union
Hall. Anyone interested is cordial
ly invited to attend.
PINEAPPLE COVE RESIDENT
DIES AFTER SHORT ILLNESS
Oscar Nelson of Pineapple Cove
died at the age of 61, following a
two months illness. Funeral ser
vices will be held this afternoon
at 2:30 in the Community Baptist
Church, Rev. John Molletti officiat
ing.
Nelson was born in Norway. He
lived at Ouzinkie prior to his
death. He died in the Griffin Mem
orial Hospital Maich 3 of cancer.
Those left to mourn his passing
are his wife, Mary, two adopted
sons. Ole and John, a brother,
Sverre Nelson of Pineapple Cove,
and a sister in Norway.
United Fund
Drive Looms
A United Fund drive looms as s
possibility for Kadiak, The ques
tion, among others, was discussed
at the Chamber of Commerce meet
ing held Thursday at the Island
Fountain.
A committee wall be set up tc
make a study of the question. Ir
view of the many -charity drives it
Kodiak every year, it was th&Ughi
advisable to. qomplete them in oht
big drive.
The opening up of lands in"th<
Kalsin Bay area for homesites, ai
proposed by the Land Office, cam<
in for considerable discussion. I:
is land next td that of a rancher ii
the area, and the Chamber voted'a
a previous meeting to register s
protest with the Land Office, wit!
the thought in mind of protecting
the cattle industry. It was felt bj
many that there is other land ad
jacfent to Kodiak much more snit
able for homesites, and many o]
them close to town.
A Land Office official was quot
eu as saying ne wouifl ramer maKt
a hundred and fifty people happy
rather than just one. The object oi
opening the land is for the pur
pose of providing recreational
property for inhabitants of this
area.
The possibility of having a Col
lector of Customs in Kodiak was
brought before the Chamber. Mer
rill Coon, president of the body
reported that two men are avail
able for the job, on a part time
basis. In previous correspondence
with Customs officials, it had been
pointed out that no funds were
available in the Department, to
have a collector stationed here.
The question will be further pur
sued with the suggestion of using
a local man for the job.
Another question receiving consid
erable attention at the Chamber
meeting was that of providing ac
commodations for tourists visiting
Kodiak this summer. Because of
the inadequacy of the local hotel,
a committee has been set up to
seek out accomodations in homes,
on a paid basis. Dr. A. Holmes
Johnson and Rev. John Molletti
were appointed by Vice-president
Clarence Dizney, who acted as
chairman of the meeting in the
absence of Merrill Coon. Letters
will be sent out to residents of
Kodiak seeking registration of
rooms available.
The possibility iooms for some
action being taken this summer
— v“v' au i. a nia weta
brought out by Bob Hall, who has
conferred with CAB and other of
ficials. There are no definite com
mitments as yet, however.
City Manager Charlie Truitt re
viewed the critical water situation
pointing out the City is conducting
a losing battle in its attempt to
keep the reservoir supplied. He al
so stated arrangements are being
made with Naval Station authori
ties to secure equipment needed
He urged the shutting off of fau
cets, and using as little water as
possible during this critical period
Dr. Johnson, medical health offices
urged the boiling of water that is
(Continued on Page 12)
Alaskan Protestant*
Organiao Association
Tea of the major denomination
in the Territory were represents
at an organizational meeting hel<
February 28 and. 29 at Fairba,nks
at which the Alaska Association o
Churches was formed.
Rev. John Molletti, pastor of th
Community Baptist Church, wa
present. Protestant chaplains fror
the various military command
were present, as well as minister
of various churches. <•"
' - Bishop W. Gordon of the Epis
copal Church was elected pres
dent. Rev. Molletti is chairman o
the Christian Missions committee
and as such is also a member c
the Board of Directors of thei nei
organization.
AVA Drive Aided
By Seattle Firms
^'.Cooperation of Seattle business
men with the Alaska Visitors As
sociation is ' evidenced . by ' thei
continued response in contribi
tions to the fund drive currentl:
in progress.
The following names are addei
to the list of contributors. $10
membership: Western Hotels, Inc
$50 memberships: Northern Pacii
ic Bank Note Company; Zellerbacl
Paper Company; Under $50 mem
berships: Northern School Supply
Palmer G. Lewis Co., Inc., Syming
ton of Seattle, Universal Services
Inc., Western Aluminum Company
Washington Aircraft Company, Ri
chard White - Charter Boats.
Frank H. Whaley, Managing Di
rector of AVA reports the curren
drive for memberships is resultin?
in a good response throughout She
territory. In Anchorage, AVA ha:
six times the membership it had ir
1955. There is a seven fold increase
in Fairbanks. Juneau has four-fiftl
of its quota already in.
This years promotional program
by AVA will be the biggest in it:
history. Besides newspaper, radic
and TV stations participation ir
Alaska, radio and TV shows wil
be presented throughout the Unit
ed States. In addition, West-Mar
quis, Inc., Advertising agents, plar
promotion features which include
the following:
New four-color all-Alaska folder
travel agents manual to so to ira
vel agents and carriers; a series oi
three press packets with pictures
on Alaska to go to major news
papers and magazines; “Top 0
The World” certificates to be giv
en to Alaskan visitors interviewee
on radio or TV in Alaska; Buttons
for visitors to wear with a space
indicating the state from whict
they come; Bumper banners foi
autos; posters for travel agent dis
plays; materials for convention dis
plays; national advertising in Holi
day, Sunset, Fortnight and leading
metropolitan US newspapers: in
ternal Alaska promotion; foui
months News Bureau service; anc
inquiry answering and follow-uj
procedures.
Dr. Milo Fritz, eye specialis
from Anchorage and John Spawn
an optometrist from the same Cit;
left today. They conducted a clini
here the past Several days.
Along The
; Waterfront
* Continued cold weather has slow
’ ed crab operations to almost a
E standstill. Boats have been weath,
ered in, with some activity just
5 now showing. >•
* Island Seafoods, usually a good
producer every week, reports j»
activity. Bob Resoff at King Crab
■ had a couple of boats in. The Adat",
Pete Walkoff, owenr, brought in
610 crab for a total weight of 7435
f pounds. Pbul Jensen, with his bo$?
the Falcon, brought in 910 crdb
’ for an approximate weight
f 10,000 pounds. , r. - , . ..
Alvine and Gibson are bu#^
making repairs to boats for bo<"U;
owners taking advantage of the
iiiyover, to get reidy their bbalk
for the fishing season. Sergio.
Pestrikoff’s boat the Left Cape was:
launched after extensive repairs.'
The Parks No. 6 is in the shop for!
- repairs. Pete Olsen is the skipper.;
r La Verne Wakefield brought his
- Janette in Thursday to Dick un a
t propeller which came in on PNA 4
He vr:H install it on the Janette,
1 He is from Port Wakefield.
* The Suzie Q left for Alitak to g©
' crab fishing. Oscar Dyson is skip
per. Fritz Deveau is in with his
‘ Kingfish. He is waiting for parts
for repair of his fathometer. The.
> LeRoy also left. •
Otherwise, there is little activity ‘
1 Canneries and crab fishermen arc:
’ awaiting good weather—as are
City officials, and all residents of.
Kodiak. Rain predicted for ne>l
week or sooner.
Local Couple Married
Mrs. Mildred E. Markham an*
Mr. Ray Emerson Wilson we;?
united in marriage on Thursday,
March 1. They exchanged then
vows before the U. S. Commission
er in Anchorage.
The couple was attended by
Mrs. Mackie Cooper and Mr. Roy
Snyder.
The bride wore an Original Liid
stand up to the new and fastei
cessories. Her bridal corsage war
fashioned of pink roses. •
Mrs. Cooper’s suit was deep vio
let, and she wore a corsage of yel -
low roses.
The couple returned to Kodiak
Friday afternoon, March 2, and
were honored at a reception at the
Mecca Lounge that evening.
RABER & KEIF LOW BIDDER
ON ADAK CONSTRUCTION JO*
Capt. R. B. Krum, District Pub
lie Works officer of the 17th Naval
District at the Naval Station, an
nounced Friday that bids were
opened on Family Housing and Di
rection Finder Facilities construe
tion at Adak, on Thursday, March
8. at 2:30 p. m. in Seattle.
Low bid submitted by Raber an*
Keif of Seattle, Washington was
i S3.440,000. Second low bid was sub
mitted by B-E-C-K of Seattle. The
figure was $3,467,960. Third lew
bid was $3,717,343 by Patti McDon
, aid of Anchorage.
r All bids are being reviewed by
: the Bureau of Yards and Docks at
v Washington, D. C.