ianana Leader
Vol. II
TANANA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1910
No. 25
Delegate James Wickersham
!
Delegate Wiekersham arrived on the Sarah from St. Michael at 5 o’clo k this
morning. His friends had planned to give him a public reception, but it was
learned the boat might remain in Tanana but a short time and the plans were
abandoned, lie is leaving for Fairbanks on the Tanana and will go to the out
side early in September.
Major Strong’s Printery
Was Lost in the Shuffle
From reports which arrived on the 1
steamer Sarah at 5 o’clock this morning I
Major J. F. A Strong’s plan to start an j
old-line Democratic newspaper in the I
Iditarod has been frustrated either bv '
• 1
Providence or the Shipping Combine.
Major Strong shipped himself and
his printing'outfit t<^ the Iditarod, and,
in due time, he took his foot out o’ the
sand at Dikeman and stuck it in the
mud at Iditarod City. He knew he was
there and thought his consignment of
Democratic principles and printing ma
terial had arrived also.
Vain thought: unmerited and ill
considered trust!
The general had reached the strategic
point, but his leaden messengers were
sidetracked and his inspiration was
nought.
Good luck, Major Strong! You are a
trump, hut your shipping connections
are on the hum.
Here’s hopin’ you will assemble your
outfit an’ give ’em ’ell yet, although it
will be too late to count in this cam
paign. _
Motor Boat for Mouse Point.
Pete Johnson, of Mouse Point, last
week bought the swift little gasoline
boat belonging to Tom Howell and
Johnny Racine. He went home inde
pendent of the big steamers.
See Jack Cavanaugh for well water and
light express. Scavenger work a specialty.
FOUND CORPSE
COLDFOOT
In a letter to the Leader from Commissioner Frank E.
Howard, of Coldfoot, an account is given of the finding of
the body of H. E. Volckart, who was drowned in the
Middle Fork of the Koyukuk river five miles below Cold
foot, June 18, 1909. The body was found August 2 by
John Jenson, white, and Harry Snowden and Roxv, na
tives. The commissioner took their sworn statement of
the circumstances attending the finding of the body, and
an inquest was held the next day.
The body was found nearly submerged in the water
near the bank.- It was badly decomposed. There were no
wounds or even fractures found on the skull, which was
stripped entirely bare, with the exception of the lower part
of the face, bv the jury. The body was a mere skeleton
from the neck to the hips, it having probably been picked
by ravens. The left arm was broken and detached from
the body. The clothes on the upper part of the body were
mere rags; the overalls, drawers and shoes were but little
torn, but very rotten. In the pockets were found $60 in
currency; two receipts from the Fraternal Order of Eagles,
Fairbanks, in payment of dues, one dated April 5, 1905; a
roadtax receipt, June 26, 1908, signed by Jack Kinney,
road overseer, and some receipted bills, all bearing the
name of H. E. Volckart; also a gold watch. The remains
were buried on the hillside near where they were found.
Volckart was drowned while going down river on a raft
in company with Heinrik Bismarck. The raft was cap
sized by a sweeper. His companion grabbed the sweeper
and saved himself, but Volckart was lost, and the fact that
his arm was found broken may account for his drowning.
MAN’S LIFE DEPENDS
ON OENEROUS PDDLID
Nick Thomas, a prospector lately from Cache creek, is
in Tanana looking after his brother George Thomas, who
has been under the doctor’s care here for the past two
months. George is afflicted with consumption, and the
only hope of prolonging his life is in sending him outside.
Nick has shared his means with his brother until he has
only $25 left.
Under these circumstances the well brother deems it
his duty to ask the public for aid, and a subscription paper
will be circulated. A little self denial on the part of the
more fortunate will be in a good cause and will be duly
appreciated.