V
VOI.. 16 NO. 41
KODIAK, A LAM* i OCTOBER 13, 1956
fillCK 1U CEMS
Demos Sweep Alaska
Bartlett Vote Getter
The Democrats clung to their
one-sided victory in the territorial
election as returns continued to
straggle in from remote precincts,
being victorious or leading for 30
of the 39 territorial offices and
legislative races. Del. Bartlett de
feated Byron GilRim more than
two to one.
The victory in Alaska for the
Democrats was hailed by Adlai
Stevenson as a harbinger of a na
tional Democratic victory in No
vember. National Republican
Chairman Leanard Hall poohooed
the results as without significance.
The victory was slightly less one
sided than in 1954, when Demo
crats won 32 of the 39 contests.
The Democrats won in the terri
torial House race overwhelmingly,
winning or leading for 21 seats.
Republican got three. The Repub
licans made small gains in the
Senate race, in which they were
blanked 9-0 two years ago. They
are leading for five seats this
time, the Democrats for four, with
one or two subject to change.
The Democrats, however, will re
tain control, as they retain seven
seats in holdover. They apparently
swept all six territory-wide ollices
at stake.
Delegate (Bob) Bartlett was top
vote getter, swamping Gillam
16,173 to 8,067. William Egan and
former Gov. Grueniog won the two
Tennessee plan Senate positions,
while Ralph Rivers goes to the
House of Representatives under
the same plan. Gruening’a edge
was the only close one, with about
300 votes separating him and But
rovitch.
Vessel Sinks
With Dynamite
A load of dynamite, destined for
Kodiak, and the White Alice Pro
ject atop Pillar Mountain, never
reached here, but plunged into a
watery storage space, when the
M/V Tuva, enroute from Seattle,
presumably overturned 30 miles
east of Cape St. Elias Wednesday
afternoon. All four members of the
erew are feared dead.
Rescue operations have been
conducted by a Kodiak-based Coast
Guard plane and an Airforce
plane, but all with negative results.
The sinking occured at approxi
mately 2:30 p. m. Wednesday. A
UF left here, on receipt of a radio
message, at 3:30, and after about
five hours search, part of which
was conducted by means of flares,
• VIU1 11VU WIUIUUI llciviu^ aigllltu
the men or any sign of wreakage.
An Airforce C57 was dispatched
from Elmendorf Wednesday, but
also returned after several hours
of fruitless search. Up to press
time, the fate of the four man
crew is not known. Each were said
to be wearing life jackets Very
little hope is felt for their survival
in the icy Alaskan waters.
The CG Cutter Storis left Adak
for the scene eWdnesday after
noon, in an attempt to make a
thorough search of the area. The
OG UF left Kodiak again Thurs
(Continued to Page 9)
New Council
Takes Office
The newly elected City Council
members were sworn in Monday,
at a meeting held at the Elks
Club. A small group of interested
spectators witnessed the ceremony.
The old Council was in attendance,
but vacated their seats following
the ceremony.
Following the reading of the
minutes, Mayor Johnson was sworn
into office. The City Attorney Russ
Arnett advised the Council that
though he won the election as a
write-in candidate, this was not a
legal procedure, and made his
tenancy of office questionable. He
was then appointed by the Coun-.
cil, thus simplifying the procedure.
The new Council members are
Jim Brightman, DeWitt Fields,
Charles Edris, Bob Spencer and
Tim Gilmore. Pete Deveau is the
only encumbent from last years
Council. Retiring Couneilmen were
Bob Hall, Anna Mae Vokacek. Pal
Cannon, Wilton White anJ Stan
Nelson.
Mayor Johnson, in a few prelim
inary remarks, complimented the
outgoing Council members for an
excellent job while in office. "We
have not always agreed,” he said,
but this is a healthy condition
They should be commended high
ly.” He said no Council has work
ed harder for the community bet
ierment.
Turning to the new Council,
Mavor Johnson warnpH thorn th:it
all is not easy sailing. He askea
them to pay close attention to the
oath of office.
He then asked Councilman De
veau to assume the chair, and the
Council voted Johnson into office
by a unanimous vote. Devean then
stepped down as Mayor with the
comment: “This is perhaps the
shortest term for a Mayor.”
Jack Hinckel, Union Oil Con
signee, who was present, asked the
new Council to put on their agen
da for early consideration, action
taken by the previous Council e
questing the removal of the pro
pane tanks from the Chy Dock.
They were considered a fire haz
ard. He said he would have to -e
quest the removal of City and
other operations from property he
has under lease, in order to find
storage space for the tanks
Uviiiiii ui
the residents of the annexed area,
and requested early action be
taken on zoning Mission Hoad.
A discussion arose as to what
action to take on the Kodiak Ice
and Cold Storage property. Follow
ing the reading of a letter from
the City Attorney, in which he
stated the City had a legal right
to take possession of the proper
ty, Pete Deveau moved that legal
steps be taken to gain possession.
The motion was seconded by Edris,
but was recalled following furth
er discussion. Pat Cannon review
ed the history since the present
facilities were built. He recom
mended the Council institute im
(Continued to Page 4)
Fishermen
Air Views
The Fisheries hearing held at
the Fishermen’s hall on October €
brought out opposition to some oi
the proposals of the FWS, particu
larly the area licensing, which was
introduced last year. A demand
that fish traps be abolished was
also made. About fifty people were
in attendance.
Donald McKernan, Administra
tor of Alaska Commercial Fish
eries, who conducted the hearing,
introduced FWS officials and
others .who were in attendance
Among them were Mr. John Gar
ret, Assistant Administrator; Roy
Lindsley, local agent and Fish
Management Superintendent for
Western Alaska; Mrs. Wright oi
the local FWS office; Dr. Howard
Tait, scientist; Mr. Monte Clem
mons, Assistant Management Sup
ervisor of the Kodiak area; Mrs,
Frederick Withler and Dr. Wallace
Johnson of the Biologist Research
Board of Canada. The latter have
been following the h e a r in g s
throughout the territory.
Slides were shown by Roy Lind
sley of the general picture throug
out Alaska and also slides and
graphs covering data on all phases
of the Kodiak salmon fishing.
McKernan stated that there was
some improvement in Alaska fish
ing generally. “Kodiak was the
weakest in Alaska this year,” he
said. “Area licensing achieved a
substantial reduction in tr.e move
raent of gear and a reduction in
fishing.” Area licensing has elim
inated guessing as to how many
will fish, he said. ,
Dr. Tait was introduced and re
viewed research efforts at Karluk
and Bare Lake.
John Garrett explained the tent
ative proposals of the Department
which were presented in two sec
tions—Alaska generally and spe
cifically for this area. These were
generally the same as published in
the Mirror last week.
Mr. Christiansen stated that he
represented the Karluk beach
seiners when he said they resent
the Karluk closures. He asked the
Service “not to be too stiff on
them.” He said he thought if area
licensing improves the situation,
there should be more openings in
stead of closures.
McKernan replied to this: “The
FWS tries to compensate by open
ing the Karluk district earlier and
keeping it open longer. This would
allow a greater take from the
earlier and later segments of the
run.
Ciehoski then read a letter Irom
the Kodiak Island Fish Producers
Association, which he wanted in
troduced as a brief for considera
tion by the Department. In it was
proposed several recommendations.
One recommendation was that the
control of gear should be continu
ed, but there should be no restrict
ing of boats and gear to fish only
one area.
Ciehoski said proposals are made
by fishermen at the hearings
every year, but go unheeded. “Ap
parently the fisherman is the ‘for
gotten man,’ ” he said.
“You tell a fisherman where he
(Continued to page 12)
Fire Destroys
Fishing Boat
The GPC 19, a 34 foot fishing
boat, was completely destroyed by
fire Monday during the noon hour.
Three men were injured and taken
to the hospital. Nick Kctelnikoff
was owner of the vessel.
Katelnikoff is reported to have
had difficulty starting the engine
on the fishing boat, which lay
along side the Standard Oil Dock.
He had just filled the gas tank ten
minutes before and brought sup
plies aboard, in preparation for
his return to Afognak. He called
over to Peter Gundersen who was
aboard the “Double O,” which Jay
along, side, and asked if he could
assist him in getting the engine
started. Gundersen walked aboard,
and after a few minutes conversa
tion, turned to go aboard the
“Double O,” when Katelnikoff turn
ed on the ignition key. A loud ex
plosion resulted, which threw Gun
dersen to the deck, knocking him
unconscious momentarily, Katelni
koff was thrown out of the pilot
house, and landed in the vessel’s
stern. Gas fumes in the engine
room ignited, and the two men
were singed by the flames.
Arthur Haakanson, who was
down in the foc'sl hold, slowing
away groceries and supplies taken
aboard earlier, attempted to come
on deck, but turned back when ne
was met by flames, which had
quickly gained considerable head
way. Katelnikoff then went to his
assistance by lifting up the cabin
which had been losened by the
force of the exDlosion. and mariae
ed to extricate him. Haukanson
was severly burned about the face,
arms and legs, and he and the two
men were rushed to the Griffin
Memorial Hospital. Katelnikoff
was released shortly after, but the
other two men remained. Haakan
son suffered second degree burns,
and Gundersen checked for possi
ble broken ribs.
Attempts were made to exiin
guish the fire as the boat was tied
up to the dock. Fire Chief George
Magnusen, who is an employee of
the Standard Oil Company, made
every attempt to put out the fire.
Failing this, it was decided, in the
interests of safety of adjacent
boats, dock and plant, and in order
to prevent the fire from spreading
over the entire area, to push the
blazing boat into the channel.
Further attempts were then made
to extinguish the fire from aboard
the Alaska Health DepaiIntents
Hygiene, which was tied to the
dock. This proved fruitless.
Arnold T. Hansen, skipper on the
urc. ii, men puoiea ms ooauome
stern of the burning vessel, and
pushed it further into the.channel.
The boat drifted towards the dock
again, and he then pushed it to
the shore of Near Island. There it
remained until it was demolished
and sank. Prior to that, one ex
plosion followed another, as the
flames set fire to the gas tanks, oil
and fuel aboard.
Aboard the “Double O ' were
Johnny and Betty Nelson and their
two children, and Peter Gunder
sen, who planned to leave shortly
before the accident for Afognak.
The boat, a complete loss, was
covered b> insurance.
Along The
Waterfront
The big news of the week along
the channel, of course, was the
burning of Katelnikoff’s GFC 29.
There was considerable excite
ment for a while, as it soon became
apparent that it was impossible to
get the fire under control. It is
just such fires as this that can
wipe out an entire dock and some
times a section of a city. Because
of that possibility, Fire Chief •
George Magnusen had to make a
quick decision to set the burning
boat out into the cnannel. The
hero of the day was Arnold Han
sen, who pushed the boat out into
the channel with his GFC 11. As
the flaming boat was blown to
wards shore, he again went out
and pushed it on to the shore of
Near Island.
It wasn’t long after that before
an explosion occured. The rise of
smoke had the appearance ol a
miniature atomic blast at Bikini.
The Health ship Hygiene lay
along side the dock. She had mov
ed over from the City dock to es
cape possible harm due to the un
loading of dynamite there. She as
sisted greatly in providing water
prior to the 19 being moved into
the channel. The Hygiene is still
tied up at the dock.
Crab canning was pretty much
at a stand still this week. King
Crab, Inc., didn’t turn a wheel, but
anticipates starting next week.
They will can first and then may
switch to freezing.
Island Seafoods, too, was very
quiet this week. Pete Deveau. man
ager of the Company, stated they
should be going full blast next
week, as several boats are topping
off their catches, preparatory to
bringing them in. It is possible
some of them may show today.
The Expansion is in at the City
Dock, on her trip to the Westward.
She has loaded aboard 70 tuns of
freight. The boat brought in two
cars. The Mailboat Monitor, the
boats paper, has been upped from
10 cents per coppy to .25. It's high
priced reading, but a good little
paper.
About fite passengers disem
barked here. Father Stunner, pas
tor of the Russian Church, has
gone aboard for a visit to some of
his parishes along the Chain.
Jack Johnson repoits ihe Coastal
Rambler is expected in m <t Tues
day.
The Mary Jean stopped in here
enroute to Seattle. Jo--.: McCord,
who has been an Island resident
for many years, unloaded 110 cat
tie at Sitkalidak last Wednesday.
the boat was formerly owned by
the late Martin Jenson.
BPW DINNER MEETING
Members of the B • .mess and
Professional Womens C’ ib are re
minded that the regular monthly
dinner meeting will be rH Mon
day, October 15, at the Island
Fountain at 7 p m.
MEASLE REPORT
SHOWS DECLINE
According to the Department of
Health only three cases of measles
were rtportd for the Kodiak area.