In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
June 4, 1914: Foreman S.S. Swening of the Stikine Trail was in town last Wednesday on business. When interviewed by the Sentinel man, he stated that the trail was complete to the lower end of Cottonwood Island, which makes some two miles of trail built. Mr. Swening states that they are now on one of the worst places along the entire route, as for the next mile the trail will have to be blasted through solid rock. Mr. Swening has changed his original plans somewhat and will bridge the first slough this side of Cottonwood Island instead of going around as intended. The new trail is going along in fine shape, but it is believed that the appropriation will be insufficient to make the trail complete to Little Andrews, and the Chamber of Commerce, who first interested the government in this trail, will do all in their power to get another appropriation for the work.
June 2, 1939: A definite upswing in the salmon market conditions is indicated by the packer’s recent offer of 6 3/4 cents for pinks in anticipation of a $1.10 per dozen selling price this fall. This is an increase of 1 3/4 cents over the price accepted for the 1938 season. In the face of the increase, the Wrangell Camp of the Alaska Native Brotherhood last Saturday signed an agreement with the Wrangell packing Company to accept a price of 6 cents on a sliding scale. This was necessary, F.S. Barnes, president of the company, said today, because it was impossible for his company to sign on the scale demanded by the Alaska Purse Seiners Union. The local ANB sent a letter to the company claiming bargaining rights, stating they believed their members were in the majority and calling attention to the fact that at the last Grand Camp meeting the ANB bylaws had been revised so that the organization could function as a bargaining agent through its executive secretary.
June 5, 1964: A class of nine, known as the Lester Johnson Class in honor of Past Exalted Ruler Johnson, was initiated into the Elks Lodge last Wednesday night. It was one of the largest classes ever initiated by Lodge 1595. The following became members: C. Girad Davidson, Lloyd C. Goodrich, Jr., Gerald Hall, Tom Ingle, Harland Shepard, Frank Warfel, Kenneth Skulstad, Sidney Jenkins and Edgar Duncan. It was first initiation for the newly elected officers.
June 1, 1989: A humpback whale tangled in discarded cable off the east side of Zarembo Island for at least 24 hours apparently died early Tuesday despite attempts by Wrangell residents to free the mammal from the bonds. Jeff Berg, whose floathouse is anchored at Roosevelt Harbor, spotted the barnacle-encrusted whale on Sunday, and notified local search and rescue crews Monday evening when it became apparent the 35-foot-long animal was in distress. Wrangell search and rescue volunteers from town and those out fishing in the final hours of the 1989 king salmon derby responded to the call, ultimately cutting about 15 one-inch cables from around the whale. About an hour after the crew left Roosevelt Harbor Monday night, Berg said the whale’s breathing appeared to be labored. Berg said he turned on his portable generator to run his crab lights, and then watched the mammal thrashing.
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