March 21, 1918: Capt. H. B. Babbington, I. Less and E. Brennan of Vancouver Dredge and Salvage Company, arrived on the Princess Royal, Tuesday bringing with them a diving outfit. The gentlemen left today with Charles Darwell on the Marguerite for the scene of the Mariposa wreck where they will make a divers survey to determine the feasibility of raising the vessel. Capt. Babbington stated to the Sentinel reporter that whether the Mariposa will be raised will depend entirely upon the condition she is in. He stated that from all reports he had received he was inclined to believe that it can be raised. “However, we can soon tell when we get out there,” he added. It was Capt. Babbington who raised the Curaco at Warmchuck in 1913, and the Northland at Kake in 1917.
March 26, 1943: Andrew Bakke, well known Wrangell fisherman, became the first veteran of World War II to join the American Legion in Wrangell and the second in the Territory, Home last week with his honorable discharge in his pocket after service on the East coast, “Andy” was initiated into Merlin Elmer Palmer Post of Wrangell at ceremonies in the Legion Dugout Monday night presided over by Commander Harvey C. McKowan. Andy, discharged for physical disability, is a brother of “Tink” Bakke, charter member of the local post and veteran of World War I. The affair brought virtually all the old vets left in town out to welcome him. More than 80 of Wrangell’s men are now in the armed forces aside from a goodly number serving in the Army Transport and other non-military service organizations. The old boys of France days already have picked out their corner (the one near the stove) to sit in on the meetings when the lads of World War II come home to dominate the Legion. To honor those men out doing their bit for their country, Legionnaires decided to erect a plaque in the Dugout bearing the names of all Wrangell’s men in service.
March 28, 1968: The city, on Tuesday, bought the television equipment it seized when Alaska Television Network was closed down. The equipment went on auction on order of Superior Court Judge Tom Stewart. It was taken by the city as security for approximately $3,000 in pole rental and sales tax owed by ATN. City Administrator Clayton Schmitt told the City Council Tuesday that only one person bid on the gear-valued at $6,000. The bidder offered $104, Schmitt said. The city bought the gear for the amount outstanding from ATN. At Tuesday’s meeting, councilmen voted to look into the possibility of the city operating the system. Schmitt told councilmen that General Telephone Co. had indicated interest in operating a cable system here.
March 18, 1993: The U.S. Forest Service reported last week that it paid out $50 million more in 1992 than it earned from selling timber off national forests because of payments made to state and local government in lieu of property taxes. According to an Associated Press story, the Forest Service’s annual report said it earned $255 million on timber sales from 120 national forests, but was required by Congress to pay $305.5 million to states for such things as schools and highways.
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