Douglas Island news., 1898-11-30
To Exchanges.
JAKE oLsEN's THANKSGIVING,

4 Sea biscuit and an Onion his rcpaSs oH ahe great Holiday of last year. Three days on a
 Barge--A Flag Of Distress.
 Jake Olsen is the first mate on the steamer Alaska which is owned by Wilson S Sylvester of Fort Wrangel. The Alaska IS a staunch little craft and is used by its owners in towing the Garnet, a lum Der barge to this and oth- ST Alaska ports, loaded with lumber, the product of the Fort Wrangel saw mill, of which they are also the owners. Mir. Wilson, the senior member of the firm, and one of the best men in all Alaska, Is also sn old sea captain, and is generally known as Capt. Wilson. Sometimes the Captain commands the Alaska and at other times a master is employed. Just before Thanksgiving, one year ago, the Alaska left Fort Wrangel for Juneau with the Garnet we'll loaded with lumber, in tow. Capt. WillsOG had the boat in charge and Jake then, as now, was first mate. The trip was made without incident until Taku bay was reached, which was the day before Thanksgiving. There was a heavy sea running and the Captain thought it advisable not to attempt to pull into Juneau during the storm. The stock of provisions was running low. Rhere were some passengers on the boat and Capt. Wilson concluded to bring his passengers on up to Juneau, get some supplies and return and bring up She Garnet when the storm subsided.
 "Now Jake" said the captain, "you stay and take care of the barge and I will run up to, Juneau and return in the morning"
 "Al right" said Jake, and the Alaska was soon in Juneau with her passen- gers safely landed and the boat tied up at the wharf
 Jake is an awful good fellow, but once in great while forgets something and when the Alaska had pulled good distance away, Jake discovered that he had forgotten to take anything to eat off the boat, but, thought Jake, she will be back tomorrow and can stand it that long. Now, Capt. Wilson has hosts of friends all over Alaska and he struck one of bis best, while at Ju- neau, who took the Capt. to his home, gave him a Thanksgiving dinner, and wouldn't let him go for three days. But, you will ask, "how about Jake?" We'll, be waited until the next day, and when the time came for the Captain to return he became anxious. He waited 8 while and commenced hunting for something to eat for a Thanksgiving dinner. In his search for grub he found one sea biscuit and an onion. He ate the biscuit that day, and the next day he ate the onion. Jake was in hard lines. He was on the barge, with no small boat, nothing to eat, and even water was not plentiful. Jake stood it until the third day and then he took some lumber, made raft and padded to the shore where he put up flag of distress that could be seen by a passing steamer, and while putting up the sig nal, the Alaska pulled up to the barge. Jake padded over to the boat, and lost no time in finding the good things the genial Captain had on board, and satis- flying his hunger. Jake's experience with the sea biscuit and onion would probably never have been told, had it not been that last Wednesday the Alas ka pulled up to the Taku. Jake was at the wheel. The sea was rough, and the Captain of the boat, we forget his name, gave orders to pull into Taku bay for the purpose ofwaiting until the storm was over. Jake positively refus- ed to obey. He would not let the Cap tain get to the wheel, and consequently pulled through and reached Juneau in safety. Jake was asked to explain his conduct and he told the story of the sea biscuit and onion. ''I am not going to eat my Thanksgiving dinner in Taku bay" said Jake, and he didn't.
 MT. J. G. Mcdonald and MT. c. Fl. Stevens were most welcome callers at tbe News office last Monday evening.