THREE CARRIED TO
LAST LONG SLEEP
Following Over-indulgence in Commercial
Alcohol Toddies, Old-timers are Strick
en With Convulsions and Die.
“Joe” Hamlin, aged 47, Geo. LeCland,
aged 53, and Napoleon LaCasse, aged 39,
old-timers of Dawson and Alaska, died
last week as a result of consuming five
quarts of whiskey and topping off with
several quarts of commercial alcohol
toddies. Hamlin and LeCland died on
the third island, Friday of last week,
and Napoleon succumbed at the post
hospital the following Saturday morning.
The three were chopping wood on the
third island for Andrew Vaclion. They
began drinking the whiskey at Napo
leon’s cabin at 4:30 p. m. Tuesday. They
slept some that night, and early Wed
nesday started in afresh. By 10 o’clock
the five quarts of whiskey were gone so
they began on the alcohol, making hot
toddies with sugar, water and coffee, and
seasoning them with cinnamon. They
drank these until late in the afternoon
when LeCland went home to his cabin
500 yards away.
WRITHING IN PAIN.
Chas. Whalley—another woodchopper
living nearby—visited the boys Wednes
day night and found Hamlin writhing
in pain. The suffering man said he was
going to die and called for the priest.
Napoleon was up and about, and Whal
ley thought Hamlin was merely suffer
ing fram the effects of the spree. He
went home about 10 o’clock, but return
ed at 3 a. m. Thursday morning and
prepared some chicken broth for Hamlin.
LeCland was still alive Thursday, and
when Whalley went to see him at 5 in
the afternoon George demanded that he
leave him alone as he was sleeping off
“the drunk.”
Napoleon saw LeCland at 11 o’clock
the same night, and George was appar
ently getting better then.
Whalley left Hamlin and Napoleon
asleep that night but was awakened at
5:30 Friday morning by Napoleon, who
stormed into his cabin crying “George is
dead! Why did you leave us alone?”
An expression of fear then came into
Napoleon’s face and he clutched at his
stomach as if feeling the effects of the
alcohol for the first time. Whalley got
up and went with him back to the cabin
where Hamlin lay dead.
“joe is DEAD.”
Then he thought of George and went
over to his cabin. LeCland was still in
his bunk and became enraged, ordering
Whalley out.
“Joe is dead and Napoleon is dying,”
Whalley replied.
LeCland immediately quieted down
at this, murmuring, “My God! give me
a cup of water.”
Whalley brought him the water; but
George, in attempting to take it, reached
past the cup. Whalley then discovered
that George was stone blind.
Just then the stricken man lay back
in his bunk and closed his eyes. Whal
ley called to him but received no ans
wer. He felt of his pulse and found it
had stopped beating. George was dead.
Greatly alarmed, Whalley hurried to
town and notified Deputy Marshal Rob
inson. Dr. Harris of the post was then
summoned. He found Napoleon still
alive when he got to the cabin. Several
empty bottles were scattered around,
and the cabin was filled with alcohol
fumes from a pan on the stove. The
men had been inhaling these fumes in
addition to drinking the poisonous stuff.
Napoleon was taken to the post hospi
tal on a dog sled, although he protested
he was able to walk. By Friday night
he was greatly improved, but early the
next morning he went into convulsions
and died at 3 a. m.
An autopsy by Dr. Harris, assisted by
Drs. Wertenbaker and Loomis and Sergt.
Kinzer, showed that Napoleon had been
suffering from chronic alcoholism and
had died of acute alcoholic poisoning.
No trace of strychnine was discovered.
As a result of the autopsy Judge Galla
her decided no inquest was necessary.
Napoleon leaves a widow and several
grown sons in Montana. LeCland had
a family of 10 children at Lorette, Man.
Hamlin was unmarried.
HONEST, HARD-WORKING MEN.
All were known to be honest, hard
working men. Alcohol killed them.
“Commercial” alcohol contains some
WATCH
VACHON’S
WINDOW
Next Sunday
—FOE—
Cut Glass Silverware
Carving Sets Watches
Desk Clocks
Watch Chains
Nugget Fobs
Ladies’ Bracelets
Ladies’ Hatpins
Beauty Pins
Stick Pins
Brooches
Rings
Everything in the nugget
and ivory line that can
possibly be made.
TANANA
COMMERCIAL
CO.
wood alcohol and fusel oil. It is used
for liniments, shellacing and other com
mercial purposes.
As the men were conscious after their
intoxication, and repentant, they wrere
buried under the auspices of the Catho
lic church Sunday afternoon. Brief ser
vices were held by Father Ferron.
The funeral procession was most im
pressive in its simplicity. Three plain
board coffins, placed across a bobsled
drawn by two horses, carried the bodies
to their last resting places on Mission
road. The mourners, consisting of sour
dough friends of the men, together with
some native friends, followed the re
mains afoot.
Chena custom stamp mill is now run
ning. Opening day was occasion of big
celebration.
Arguments were heard on motion of
Stephen Redfern for change of venue.
Redfern is accused of perjury in the fa
mous Morgan criminal assault case.
Morgan is now serving time at McNeil’s
island.
St. Matthew annual hospital fair was
held at Auditorium.
Mushon is now serving lunch in the
Horseshoe saloon.
Twenty-three applicants for citizen
ship are up.
City council wants poundmaster to
pay license for all dogs he sells.
The threatened diphtheria epidemic
has been checked.
Fire destroys cabin of four laymen on
St. Patrick’s creek
Last gold receipts total $70,000.
Residence of Attorney Guy Erwin.
Ninth and Cushman, is destroved bv
fire.
Harmonic singing society takes in 10
new members.
Printers on the Mush.
Respectively pushing and pulling a
hand sled, Sam Callahan, the veteran
newspaper man and prospector, and A.
M. Elliot, the printer-editor, left for
down river Tuesday morning. Sam will
do work on his Monday creek and upper
Grant creek properties. Elliot is bound
for the Iditarod.
Geo. Bemis makes holiday presents to
order. Just the thing to send outside.
SWINGING A
MINING DEAL
Cassidy Negotiating to Handle All
of Quail CreeK Property.
Special to the News.
Rampart, Nov. 17.—C. \V. Cassidy is
negotiating with Fairbanks holders to
handle the whole of Quail creek, on
which pay was struck this summer. He
expects to make another trip to Fair
banks in the near future to close deal.
The Sourdough Mining Co., consisting
of Louis Iverson, Capt. Carlo Jackett,
Geo. Pride and his dog, Shivers; and
Adam Dictrick, have started to move
their outfit to Squaw creek. Look out
for the sourdoughs!
Ren Baker, Alaska pioneer, writes from
Hot Springs, Ark., that he is taking life
easy; that it’s as good as the “midway”
to walk the streets of the town.
The river closed here Nov. 0 at3 p. m.
For the first time in history of Rampart
it is closed in front of the town. Gen
erally, at this spot, it is open till Jan.
Mike Engles is making a record carry
ing the mail between the springs and
here. He makes 37 miles the first day
out—from the springs to the 72 road
house on Big Minook, and arrives here
before dark on second day.
HARVESTING OF
ICE IS BEGUN
Arthur Frederiekson and Louis Bun
dle are busy on the river opposite the
Tower House cutting out neat appearing
blocks of ice. They are cutting 100 tons
for Cavanaugh and 25 tons for Joe Dehn.
The ice is very clear this season and
is already 18 inches thick.
License for Manley’s.
Fairbanks, Nov. 17.—The liquor li
cense for Manley’s Hot Springs hotel
has been renewed by the courf
Envelopes printed by the News. Rea
sonable prices
Going to the Old Man Country ?
See Us for Your Outfit. Everything for Man or Beast.
COAL OIL $6.50 AND $7. Dog Fish 5c lb.
MISHAWAKA!—Ball Brand—You’ll like them!
NORTHERN COMMERCIAL CO.
WOOD
WOOD
WOOD
$7.50
DOES YOUR STOVE HOLD FIRE ALL NIGHT?
Try Some of Simpson’s Heater Wood
$7.00
PER CORD. 5-Cord Lots,
No Orders too Large, None too Small. First-class Wood—Birch and Spruce
Simpson’s Wood Yard
OPP. NEW A. B. HALL
SECOND AVENUE