KEY POUNDERS SAVED
FROM HORRIBLE FATE
A detail of four husky soldier lads j
did a heroic “dash-to-the-pole” stunt -
down’river last week, rescuing from a|
terrible fate two signal corps men frozen
in on a launch.
The party consisted of Corp. Roberts
and Privs. Bradley, Rogers and C. An
derson. They took along Mate Johnson
of the Jacobs, a mule and an old horse
the corral boss hoped would be lost for
ever.
Stocked with six months’ provisions,
the septette started out. An Arctic
blast swept down the Yukon, but they
didn’t care, for they were bundled up to
the chins. At times the thermometers,
each man was armed with, registered as
low as 10 above.
The first night out they bivouacked in
a swamp they named Roberts’ pass.
Readings of the cyclometer indicated
they were three miles west of the guard
house.
The second day they saw Dan Averill
and Capt. Robson float by with the
mail. Their boat was frozen in a floe
and they were cooking dinner on the ice
in true Arctic style.
Along the way the natives came out
to greet the strangers on whom they
had never laid eyes before. They brought
offerings of wampum and dog salmon,
in return for which they received several
cans of tomatoes. After a prolonged
conference, the soldiers decided an ex
change of hostages was unnecessary.
By forced marches the relief party
reached a cranberry grove the second
night, which they named Johnson’s
spit, on account of the mate’s tobacco
chewing proclivities. They pitched their
tents, stored their provisions, staked
out the live stock and then rolled in,
which Johnson assured them was “si- j
washing it.”
Mule Gets Busy.
About 1 A. M. the men were awakened
by a deafening roar. They rushed to
arms And fired a fusilade of shots into
the darkness. After the ammunition ■
was exhausted it was discovered the
mule had broken into the provision tent
and was bombarding a box of breakfast
food with his hind feet. Sentinel Brad
ley was found 200 yards away fast asleep
on a side of bacon.
The third day the horse showed signs
of life and breaking away dashed into
the river after what he thought was a
bunch of hay. All hopes of losing him
were abandoned when he became im
prisoned in the shore ice.
They then threw overboard a ballast
of three months’ rations and proceeded.
By sundown, just as all hope of finding
the lost key pounders was given up, the
party espied an old shirt stuck up as a
signal of distress over what turned out
to be the bow of the long-sought launch.
The marooned martyrs, who hadn’t
had a bite to eat for six weeks, greeted
their rescuers with yelps of joy. The
twain were quickly revived with copious
draughts of canteen malt and then all
hands pulled the launch ashore. The
party returned to the fort, Friday, last
week.
They have all the documents which
they will submit to the general court to
prove they brought back the men.
GO. L HAS A
FINE LIBRARY
Reform Wave Strikes Quarters
Co. L has installed an excellent library
and reading room in the north wing of
its quarters. Its library collected in the
islands and other places now contains
600 volumes, supplemented by a Y. M.
C. A. library, the books of which are
frequently changed.
The library has been made snug and
cozy. A partition shuts off the unused
portion and the walls have been newly
papered. Long evenings the phono
graph, for which many new records
have been secured, grinds away, con
stantly reminding the boys of the time
they ogled the chorus girls in a bur
lesque show or yawned through a grand
opera.
The latest periodicals and newspapers
are kept on file and in fact every com
fort has been provided.
The library is maintained by a month
ly fee of 25 cents imposed on each man.
Lieut. “West, company commander, has
done much in improving the library
and his efforts are greatly appreciated
by the boys.
A base ball game played with cards is
the rage just at present, while several
groups can be seen every evening play
ing mumbledy peg or jack straws.
That’s the Co. L spirit.
Sergeant Barkesdale is the leading
light, taking a fatherly interest in the
lads.
TOWN PUMP
PROBLEM UP
News Will Receive Money
The town pump problem lias bobbed
up again. Funds are needed and it is
up to the people to contribute.
The News has taken up the matter
and will receive contributions. At pres
ent there is $7.50 in the treasury. A
new stove is needed and the pump must
be repaired.
Mrs. H. E. Simpson, who deserves
great praise for the work she did, has
resigned as trustee, turning the balance
over to the News.
Recently when contributions were
asked a number asked what had become
of the $93 made on the entertainment
last winter. Mrs. Simpson, who got up
the entertainment and who has done all
the work since without pay, rightly felt
hurt at the imputation the money had
been squandered. Here is what became
of it:
Bakery goods for entertainment, $2;
4 cords wood, $34; cutting 1 cord wood,
$4; cleaning barrels, $5; cutting 3 cords,
$12; cleaning well, $22; repairing pump,
$6; door spring, $.50; total, $85.50.
This winter seven woodhaulers have
each agreed to donate a cord of wood.
Jack Cavanaugh agrees to keep the fire
going. “Ole” will saw the wood. Now
all that is necessary is to have money to
buy a stove and repair the pump. It’s
up to you.
SKATING ON
POST GROUNDS
Large Rink is Being Constructed
on the Campus.
A large skating rink, 80 by 115 yards,
is being constructed on the fort parade
ground, which will afford a great deal of
pleasure the coining winter.
Hockey teams will be formed in both
companies and some spirited contests
can be looked forward to. Lieut. West,
on behalf of Co. L, has wired to Fair
banks for several dozen skates, which
will be bought out of company funds.
Go to Nussbaum’s Barbershop for first
class work.
POST KNOCKER
Barber Ellis feels all puffed up since
he lammed that fellow who kicked Sergt.
Knowlton’a Irish setter, caught snoring
under the pool table. He and Priv.
Ralph Ware have organized a Band of
Mercy.
Priv. Nelson felt that he was not ap
preciated as he wildly swung an ax over
a chunk of knotted birch wood, last
week. “When Jeffries chopped wood
they made a big ‘spluge’ over him,”
Nelson muttered. “No one makes a
‘spluge’ over me when I chop wood.”
Privs. Fred A. Surridge and Dick
Hughes are fast becoming expert “dog
robbers.” Last Friday they saw a dog
floating down river on a cake of ice.
Having heard that any old cur is valua
ble in Alaska, they ran to the river and
plunging waist deep into the icy stream
grabbed hold of the edge of the cake.
Meantime they were figuring how they’d
divide the animal. The dog wagged his
tail in thankful recognition and using
Fred A.’s pate as a stepping stone
leaped to shore and ran home.
Pump House Pfeiffer has turned post
“poet lariat.” He has delivered himself
of a love poem he sent to his sweetheart
No. 8, back in Fort Crook:
Next payday save a dollar and sub
scribe for the News. After all your
friends have read it, send it back to
your mother or girl or sister. When
she sees your name she’ll feel proud
of you. _
Let Jack Cavanaugh supply you with water
and ice. Prompt service. Water the best in
the country._
Forty dogs for the mail are being
kept at a cabin between Tanana and the ;
Mission.
High-grade Waltham, Elgin, Howard
and Hamilton watches at OUTSIDE
PRICES at_George Bemis, the jeweler.
VACHON’S
Carry in Stock
Armour’s Sealtight
Ham and Breakfast
Bacon
PATES
OF
ALL
KINDS
QUAIL
GROUSE
CHICHEN LIVER
BEEF BURGUNDY STYLE
HUNGARIAN GOULASH
CHICKEN A LA PROVENCALE
BRAISED BEEF A LA JARDINIERE
CALF’S TONGUE, Sauce Piquante
VEAL AND GREEN PEAS
BEEF A LA MODE
CHICKEN SAUTE a la Marengo
TANANA
COMMERCIAL CO.
DO YOU KNOW
We are making Special
Prices
ON LIQUORS?
NORTHERN
STODDARD
THE CRAND fMS
Completely Remodeled. Modern Throughout.
RATES $1 TO $2.
Our new DINING ROOM will soon be open. Watch the date.
CHARLES CHANQUIST, Prop.