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In The News
The Mid-Night Sun.
Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska
"Where the sun comes up at midnight from an ice pack round the pole."
Vol. 1, No. 3
December, 1905.
SHOT AT TIN CITY.
Tin City, Oct. 20, 1905. An Accident that might have proved fatal to two
men occurred here early this morning. Charles Carlson and Wm. Pirie, two
miners, went out duck hunting in a row boat. Carlson was rowing and his
partner shooting. The gun would not work and Pirie struck the breech
over the side of the boat.
One shell had been exploded and when the gun struck, the second
exploded. The shot passed through Pirie's _____ leaving a large hole in
it and tearing the pocket out of his pants.
The shot then struck Carlson in the legs and groin. When examined
Carlson had forty-four shot holes in him.
Fearing blood poison it was decided to send him to Teller in a canoe.
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FIRST WHITE MAN IN NORTH WEST ALASKA
By Meeligzrook
When I was about eight years old I went to Port Clarence with my father,
who was on a trading trip with his friends, and while there I saw the
first white man in north west Alaska. The natives called him "Moho."
My father had seen Moho at Kotzebue Sound, where he had gone trading
before this. Moho had leaf and black tobacco, which were highly prized
by the natives. Moho had the first rifles the natives ever saw.
Some of these he _____ out but on _____________________________ were
_____________________ to buy one. My father had told me so much about
Moho that we were all anxious to see him, and when we came into his
presence we were very bashful. Moho made a trip from Kotzebue Sound to
Port Clarence in a ship, and one trip between these points through the
interior, with a dog team. Two of the white men who accompanied him on
this trip were lost and gave the natives a double barreled gun to guide
them back to Kotzebue. All the natives like Moho because he was ready to
trade for anything and never sent natives away empty handed. He gave
them food to eat and tea to drink.
At first the natives did not know how to use tea. One man was given some
in trade and after bringing it home put it in the cache. Part of it was
spoiled by the dampness and the rest cooked, the water poured off and
oil put on the leaves. This was eaten for "greens" and considered a
delicacy.
The first gun brought in to the village was a curiosity. When it was
shot off the natives would shut their ears, and the dogs howl with
fright. The first gun belonged to the great-grandfather of Asigzerok's
wife. Once or twice two deer were killed at one shot.
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LOCALS.
Two good and comfortable buildings are nearly completed at Shishmaref,
for teacher's residence and school. They are on an island overlooking
the lagoon. The buildings will be completed during the next month. The
carpenter, Olsen, will then go to Pt. Hope to finish the building there.
The Shishmaref reindeer herd is in excellent condition. The deer are fat
and sleek. The country around Shishmaref is covered with fine moss.
Two white men, Duncan and Thompson, are wintering at Shishmaref this
year. They have a sixty ton schooner there.
An abandoned camp was found by Sokweena one and a half miles from the
mouth of the Pingur____. It probably belongs to two prospectors who were
in that neighborhood.
There has been two narrow escapes for the natives this season. On
Thanksgiving day, Ongoouruk, a seventeen years old boy, was hunting on
the floe ice. He was carried out in the strait, and was brought ashore
by Ahotok several miles north, late that night. Another was rescued in a
kayak.
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