Yukon Valley news., 1907-03-20
ADVENTURE OF A YANKEE SKIPPER
Resulted in the Name Alaska" Being Applied to Uncle Sam's
 Northern Territory.

Back in n period remote that the date, as well as the names of those who figure in this imperfect chronicle, is lost to history, q Yankee skipper chanced to overhear n sailor reciting to his mates wonderful stories of adventures he had had in n cruise through the unknown islands bordering the Ameri- can coast line of the Northern Pacific oce an
 The skipper was impressed by what he heard that he called the sailor aside and questioned him long and infinitely regard ing the inhabitants and resources of the wonderful islands, with the result that it was quickly determined to fit out n vessel and proceed on q voyage of exploration and trade, with the sailor as pilot, confidential friend and interpreter.
 Now, the skipper had reached that ad- vauced age at which many men become unduy suscei tible to the charms of young womanhood. So, when the vessel in due time anch hcred near n populous island and was approached by the wondering people, the old man's eyes rested on q particularly comedy maiden, and he said to the inter- preter:
 My she i, good looking! wonder if she would go along with us"
 "I'l ask her" said the sailor.
 And the skipl CT who had been influenced to unusual generosity by the maiden's beau- ty, handed the sailor a dazzling red hand kerchief to present to her.
 The natives heard the sailor say m ask her" and saw the skipper hand him the handkerchief: SO all of them, concluding that it had been bestowed in response to the ms gic words. and desiring similar gifts, held out their hands and cried m ask her!" m ask her"' "i'll ask her!" till the poor old skipper was bewildcred and much con cerneh for the safety of his ship and cargo. Every moment the natives were gathering in increasing numbers along the shore and the cry of m ask her" burst from many throats thnt it vibruted in an ominous, un- broken roar.
 In dr-Fere ten the ,kiprer grahi ed il handful of beads and other iktas and threw them into the crowd, whereupon the people pied up in struggling heap and scrambled for possession of the triukcts. This enabled the interpreter to board the vessel. which immediately withdrew to a safe distance from shore. The maiden had probably min glcd in the crowd; indeed. it is a rcgrettable fact th history is dumb about her ever nf- ter she hid her pretty brown fingers o- the red hurdks rrhief.
 When things had quietcd down e bit the head mUn of the island approached the wa- ter'- edge aud called "I 'LL Ask uEH!" The interpreter rnt ashore and conferred vi ith b,r .o successfully that grrat stores of fine fur~. ivory. whtlchoue and other valuable product, were conveyed Go the ship and eN- thlneeI for th. skjpicrs goods who rec turned home independently rich from the soud berg ius he had made
 iueu.e cdtrg tear. many "a hite men sailed tl.t th~ tsl,nJ. si irsdc nut the motives nl- v,s. h.ilri them v lth -t 'll asl, her.' w hich th.y in'ruded ss a modification thut they de.ired tlr shils' eoasi. Much repetition shrrtruei th~ efartiuE f' NIlsk1.' and tte nftttts would utter ttc Word and 4oiu, tna srl the mountains of the raainIand sun fv berc beyond which thss knew the Nhits n sn bod thsiF hatne.
 ~af c4me about thss the s.riau visited hy tts soft-hFsFfed Ysuhes klrpsr gus to fe called Alaska. Frusa that it was hwt s short stsp sv eaa sn ,he tersisoss ae.tuses,i from