Hislorial Sketches and Experi
ences of Trail-Blazers Who Made
Alaska the Empire of the North
i! PIONEERS OF ALASKA
EDITED BY
JOHN W. FRAME
President Anchorage Igloo No. 15
BISHOP TELLS GOOD STORY
Bishop Rowe’s story at Pioneer
hall Friday night, about how he over
came the incompatibility of being at
the same time, both a minister and
a dog driver in Alaska, was one of
the best ones he has ever told.
*' He came from Michigan to Alaska
’way back in the early ’90’s, and be
fore coming he had been told that
here in Alaska one had to go from
place to place with dog teams, so
preparatory to engaging in his work,
he made inquiry of an old Alaskan as
to the essential qualilications of a
dog driver.
“(let hold of the gee-pole and
swear like hell,” was the answer.
‘This puzzled the young minister for,
after graduating in his eclesiastical
preparation, he was loth to under
stand how he could harmonize that
line of work with dog mushing. But
the time arrived for his departure
and his good old mother told him to
obey the call and that the Lord
would provide a way to be a dbg
driver and at the same time be a min
ister of the gospel. He came on to
Alaska and after viewing all the sur
rounding circumstances he said it
was the easiest thing in the world
to solve the problem of preaching the
gospel and cussing the dogs. Here he
paused and an old sourdough whose
curiosity had been arouied, cried out:
“liow’d you do it.”
“Hired an eskimo boy to drive the
| dogs,” calmly replied the bishop,
i And then, after the house had al
1 most fallen down with the laughter,
he added: “And that boy was the
most accomplished dog driver I ever
saw. 1 don’t know whether he swore
or not, but he was always talking to
i the dogs and sometimes looked aw
fully angry.”
He told this story as illustrative of
1 how oldtime Alaskans always found
' a way to do the apparently impos
jsible things in order to accomplish
their ends.
BEXJ. BENSON LAID TO REST. !
!
The death of Benj. Benson, occurred
at the government hospital on Friday
morning last, August 23. At the
regular meeting of the Pioneers of
Alaska at their Igloo Friday night
the funeral was arranged for Sunday
afternoon. The body, encased in a
beautiful casket, was taken from the
Williams Undertaking Parlors to the
Pioneer Hall where, after the funeral
sermon was preached by Rev. James
L. McBride, of the First Presbyterian j
church, the ritual ceremonies of the j
Pioneers of Alaska, of which order j
the deceased wa s a member, took j
place. Mrs. J. J. Benedict rendered [
the song service, with Mrs. Terrino j
presiding at the organ. After the ‘
conclusion of the services at the hall j
the pioneer brothers of the deceased,i
numbering more than one hundred, j
led by the Anchorage band, marched
in procession to the cemetery where
the ritual burial services of the Igloo
were continued, and the remains of
the departed brother laid to rest.
Brother Benson was 62 years of
age. His old home in the states was
tat Eau Clair, Wisconsin. He came to
Alaska in '98 and had not heard from
any of his relatives since leaving
ihonje.
C ' _
I Jack Richardson, a Yukon pioneer,
teter known to all oldtimers of Daw
son as “Long Rich,” dropped dead at
his hotel on Bear creek near Dawson
as the result of an attack of heart
failure. During the early days Rich
‘a’rdson was a member of the mount
ed police force.
If you are going outside for the
winter, order the Weekly Times sent
your address. It will more than
take the place of “a letter from
home,” as it will contain all the im
-portant news of Anchorage and Al
aska.
A FIGHTING PIONEER.
Some of the very, very oldtimers
in Alaska will probably remember
Capt. C. H. Morrison. He came to
Alaska by the Stikeen route in 1862.
For many years he prospected over
Alaska. He went as far as the head
waters of the Mackenzie, though this
was years after his first northern ven
ture. For awhile he ran a trading
post at the place now called Ketchi
kan. He saw Alaska pass from Rus
sia to America. For many years he
lived at Port Townsend, where he was
harbormaster for twenty years. He
wears upon his breast the ribbon and
medal of the Crimean war. He is 84
years old and has a grandson and two
great-grandsons, now lighting at the
front. But what we started to say
is that Capt. Morrison presented him
self for enlistment in the service of
his country the other day and was ,
hopping mad when they refused to j
accept him.
D. B. PATTERSON.
I). B. Patterson is another member j
of Ilgoo No. 1. He was a charter
member of the original Igloo and liv- j
ed in Nome for a number of years, j
Mr. Patterson was born in Nova j
Scotia and has lived on the pioneer
most all his life. His ancestors were
the very first settlers in San Fran
cisco. He is an own cousin to the
late Thomas Bracket Reed, and his i
full name is Daniel Bracket Patter
son. He is engaged at the present
time with that other old No. 1, A.
C. Craig, in laying the city concrete
sidewalks.
Fifty armed business men of Love
lock, Nev., deportd C. W. McKinnon,
brother-in-law of W. D. Haywood, na
tional secretary of the I. W. W. one
night last week. McKinnon was “agi
tating” among the miners.
Felix Brown & Co.
| WE ARE JUDGED BY OUR CLOTHES.
Reflect the Prosperity of Anchorage by wearing a
jlj Stein Bloch Suit. C ME FELIX, for a good front.
NEW STOCK ARRIVED ON ALAMEDA
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RAY C. LARSON
Has the Most Complete Stock of
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AND GLASS
In Alaska.
SEE HIM BEFORE YOU BUY.
Telephone 88-R.
Fifth and K.
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LET’S GET BUSY.
The purpose of the Pioneers of Alaska is to “collect the
history of Alaska, and to secure the enrollment of Alaska pio
neers.’’ The oldtimers of the Territory have not been slow to
organize and secure the enrollment of their numbers but, after
organizing, they have in many instances neglected to take up
the work of “collecting Alaskan history and preserving it.”
Enrollment of the pioneers is merely preliminary work to the
collecting of the history after enrollment. An effort is now
being made to organize the work and endeavor to get each
member to od his bit.
The pioneer is a natural born rover; he goes from camp to
camp prospecting on his way and often is, for months, lost in
the primeval forests. He is a lover of nature; he enjoys life in
the solitary forests, for there is the lure of gold to urge him on.
There is only one thing that can call him back from his search
for the glittering sand, and that is “a letter from home.” When !
this “life line is thrown out” by an old mother, or a sister or j
brother, “back home,” he shakes his shaggy mane, and turns
his face towards civilization again.
1 ill r>tl lilt lllll'l* Ol | H) Wl'l UpeitllflS III till lgJOU ,|USL US 11
does in the liome. The only way to keep a brother in the fold |
is to keep in touch with him by letter. Don’t let him get too
far away. Throw out the life line of brotherhood to him. In
treest yourself in his welfare and you will, in time, get an
answer, and there will he a check in the letter for his dues.
That is the chief purpose of this page. It is a kind of
fraternal life line. It is a letter from the home Igloo each week
to the brother who has gone to some other cam]); to some broth
er who is wandering too far away from his old-time friends.
They are the best friends he ever had. Why should be lose
them f
Co-operation between the secretaries, or historians of the
different. Igloos and the editor of this page will do much to
overcome this tendency to wander away and forsake the home;
Igloo, if the officers will only furnish to the editor the pioneer!
news of each locality such as the return of brothers to the camp,
1he departure of others for the states, or the address of those
absent—in fact any news that will naturally interest the pio
neers.
There are now enrolled nearly 4,000 pathfinders of Alaska
who came to the Territory prior to 1000, but many of them
have gone “back home’’ to the states, or to some distant camp
in the Territory, or possibly—and in a few years we will say
probably—gone across the Great Divide and are camping on
the other side. »
It should be the aim of each Igloo to have their secretary
keep the address, as best he can, of each Igloo member. By
calling over the roll at the meetings there is most always some
brother who can tell where the missing brother is and what he
is doing. This information reported to the editor of this page;
will furnish an excellent directory each week as to the where
abouts of those who have wandered away. In this way the i
history of Alaska can be written, for all will take an interest!
in the work. Let us get busy. Don’t wait for some one else.
Do your bit. Do it NOW.
LETTER RECEIVED FROM
VALDEZ WOMEN'S IGLOO
In answer to request made for
record of the organization of Igloo
No. 2, Pioneer Women of Alaska, at
Valdez, the recording secretary has
kindly furnished the following:
Replying to your inquiry will say,
our Igloo, No. 2, was organized by
Gi and President Frank Aldrich on De
cember 15, 1914. The charter mem
bers were:
Mesdames Jessie Dolan, Anna Bar
rett, L. M. Smith, Edith Graham, A.
F. Hubbard, Miss Della Hubbard,
Mesdames W. H. Blackwell, L. A.
von Gunther, Margaret McIntosh,
Bertha King, May Erickson, M. Aud
rey Krum, May Handngton, E. R.
Davis, L. A. Depuy, Minnie Syring.
Doon M. Ames, M. A. Dates, Frances
Blix, K. L. Hoyt, Margaret Erickson,
Emma Jenson, Anna Boyd, Ursula
Gaeng, Mabel Greenig, Olive Howard
and Mary Riley Crrittenden.
Members who have joined since are
Mesdames Emma V. Mitchell, Carrie
Ammen, Kathryn Topliff, Nina Cal
lin, Madge Pinkus, Ollie Lows,
Teresa Surryhne, Fannie Barber.
Members who have dropped out, or
who are far in arrears, number five
in all.
The first officers of the lodge were:
Mrs. A. F. Hubbard, president.
Mrs. M. Audrey Krum, vice-presi
dent.
Mrs. May Harington, secretary and
treasurer.
Mrs. Doon M. Ames, historian.
Mrs. E. R. Davis, chaplain.
Mrs. L. M. Smith, sergeant-at-arms.
Mrs. W. H. Blackwell, Mrs. L. A.;
von Gunther, Mrs. Minnie Syring,
trustees.
Officers now incumbent are:
Mrs. King, president.
Mrs.. Margaret Erickson, vice-pres
ident.
Mrs. Kathryn Topliff, secretary.
Mrs. Jessie Dolan, treasurer.
Mrs. Olive Howard, historian.
Mrs. Anna Barrett, chaplain.
Mrs. W. H. Blackwell, sergeant-at
arms.
Mrs. Emma Jensen, Edith Graham
and Mrs. A. F. Hubbard, trustees.
Should there be further data re
quired which our Igloo can supply we
will gladly furnish same.
Fraternally yours,
MRS. KATHRYN TOPLIFF.
Recording Secretary Igloo No. 2 Pio
neer Women of Alaska.
NEWS FROM SITKA HOME
Since our last report of the inmates
in the Sitka Pioneer Home the fol
lowing arrivals, discharged, and
deaths have occurred: '
On August 18, Albert Hughes of
Fairbanks was admitted. Mr. Hughes
was born January 1, 1844, in New
York. He came to Alaska March 20,
1898. He is a marine engineer.
Charles A. Lockart, of Kotzebue,
died August 14, of pulmonary tuber
culosis.
James Gilligan was discharged
August 18.
Joseph Sharp was discharged Aug
ust 20.
BISHOP PETER T. ROWE.
_
Bishop Peter T. Rowe is the last
member of No. 1 that we have lo
cated. He was one of the staunch
members of the old original Igloo at
Nome. He described to the members
of the local Igloo at the last meeting j
what an Igloo really is-and told all
about its peculiar construction, also
about its peculiar smell. He is the
Bishop of the Episcopal church in
Alaska and is probably the best
known man in the Territory. He came
from Michigan to Alaska in 1895.
DOINGS OF IGLOO NO. 15
The regular meeting of the Pio
neers at their hall, corner of Sixth
and F streets, on Friday evening last
was of more than usual interest.
There were almost 100 in attendance
and general enthusiasm prevailed.
A communication was received
from Fairbanks thanking Igloo No.
15 for the burial of Frank Mathew
son, a member of the Fairbanks Igloo
and a check for $100, the amount ad
vanced by the local Igloo for the bur
ial, was enclosed. The amount of
$22.10 collected from the effects of
the deceased brother, was ordred paid
to bis home Igloo and the secretary
instructed to forward check for same
to Fairbanks.
The sick committee reported the
death of Brother Benjamin Benson,
at the government hospital on Friday
morning and the arrangements were
made for the funeral on the following
Sunday at two o’clock *
There were seven applications for
membership, Frances Connolly, Chas.
McKenzie, James C. Gaffney, H. W.
Ross, Alex McComber, Alex A. Cresa,
and Harry Hicks. Three of the appli
cants, Connolly, McKenzie and Ross,
together with Chas. H. Sage, elected
at a previous meeting, were initiated
and declared members of the Igloo.
Messrs. Gaffney, McComber, Cresa
and Hicks were not present and their
initiation was held over until next
meeting.
1 Bishop P. T. Rowe, member of Igloo
No. 1, Nome, was present and after
the initiation of the candidates was
asked to address the Igloo. He re
sponded in an extremely interesting
talk, for he knows Alaska probably
! better than any o*th r man in the
i North, and his stories were superb.
! After he was through with his talk
| a short recess was taken that all
might shake hands with the brother
Bishop, and the remarkable thing
about it was that he could call so
many of them by name. Every old
timer present seemed to be personal
ly acquainted with him. He met sev
eral of his old friends from No. 1,
among whom were A. C. Craig, Felix
Brown, Dan Patterson and a half
dozen others whose names we do not
recall. He is undoubtedly the most
beloved man in Alaska.
The building committee reported
that the work on the building was
progressing satisfactorily, but that
it would take some time yet to install
the heating plant, and finish the in
terior in the way of painting, etc.
Brother McNiece of the dance com
mittee announced that on account of
the house not being in readiness the
big opening hop would be postponed.
Marshal McDonald gave instructions
relating to the big parade on Labor
Day, and after some general discue
j sion of Igloo matters, the meeting ad
journed.
FAIR FULFILLS EXPECTATIONS
AH expectations are fulfilled in the first annual agricultural
and industrial lair, which opened here yesterday morning and
which will continue until tomorrow night.
\ egetables of all sorts and of unprecedented sizes; grain
and hay of unsurpassed quality; specimens representative of
nearly all the precious and useful minerals, and furs in pro
fusion from animals, trapped in wild places and reared on
breeding farms, is evidence in wonderful but not at all extrava
gant fashion the natural resources of this favored region.
In Alaska, no exposition so educational in character and
so comprehensive in extent has ever before been undertaken.
fIhe sole regret of the thousands of persons that are privi
leged to see it fs that it cannot be visited by multitudes from
states to whom its lesson of agricultural and industrial ad
vantages would be a revelation, indeed, and most of whom,
once the opportunities offered in this part of the northland
were brought home to them, would be eager to participate in
the country’s development.
Of less importance than the educational value of the fair
hut of nearly equal general interest, are its amusement fea
tures.
Pains have been taken by the citizens in charge of the
enterprise to give it perfection in every detail. The result is
creditable in the extreme to the management and to those
public spirited residents that originated the enterprise and
contributed so generously to its successful promotion.
an
Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
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LYNCH & EMARD
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RESTAURANT
A PLACE TO EAT
No Stools, No Counter
No Musie
JUST FOOD
Opposite P. 0., Next to Robarts
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ANTON JOHANSEN
\
Seldovia, Kachemak Bay.
GENERAL MERCHANDISE.
Everything for the Settler,
Fisherftian, Prospector, Hunter
and Trapper.
RIGHT PRICES.
Read The Weekly Times.
Job work at The Times office.
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i: S. McNEICE *
;; Building, Contracting,
;; House Moving
; * Work Promptly Done and Sat
| | isfaction Guaranteed
• Wh44HWW4»H4 I H4
The interior of the White House is
being brightened with the application
of a coat of paint and varnish on the
walls and stairs.
Dr. W. A. Rystrom
DENTIST
Office Over Harmony Theatre.
Furrer and Taxidermist
W. D. WANDLING
Fifth St., Bet. C and D
Anchorage.
Write us for Information
Laurence makes portraits
40
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