The daily sentinel., 1909-05-04


which were sent to the family. and
from the proceeds of the sale the
| funeral expenses were paid.
AT the coroner's inquest. held at
Seldovia, Alaska. Jack Kares. who
with w. D. Valentine and Eli Fuller.
started from Seldovia. up the bay in
a dory and who had his feet frozen
in the terrible storm that cost his
/ two companions their lives, gave a
/ graphic account of the affair. The
coroner's jury exonerated Kares from
Il all blame in the matter and found
that the two men came to their death
| through exposure. In Kares' deposit
tion Valentine is the man referred to
as the young man." and Fuller is
the man referred to as the old man.
Kares' testimony, taken at the in
quest, was as follows:
Left in dory March 81. 1909, in
company of two men, Valentine and
Fuller Reached Lone Island about 3
p. m. stayed there on account of
wind left about 2:30 p. IN. next af-
ternoon. Pulled over towards First
point on the main land sea was
calm. everything looked favorable
except little cloud in the westward;
stopped rowing and asked young fel-
low his opinion as to advisability of
crossing; Answer-"If you think so
go across Well, all right. spit on
your hands and go to it.
Had gone about one and half
miles from shore toward Homer
when the wind struck from the west;
young man asked me what we would
do and l said run for shore as quick
as God will let u.s. wind increased in
such force that we had to run before
it; sea raised SO quick that we were
afraid of swamping; threw sack of
| flour overheard; | suggested to the
young fellow to throw the bedding
over and he replied better to drown
than to freeze to DEATH told him to
bail and do as | told MIN. because
he did not seem able to handle the
oars; landed about an hour before
dark; windy. blowing a gale and
showing; place of landing called
China Potat. right hand side of spit;
called the young fellow to help pull
| up the boat.
After the boat was made safe
went down toward the spit about 500
yards to see If it connected with the
main land; came back and told them
to unload everything out of the boat,
and take the boat over to the other
side into the lagoon, and then follow
along TO the main land; the young
fellow said that We can not do that.
and the old man was pretty near dead
with cold; the young man suggested
to pull the boat up and turn ii over
to make a shelter from wind and
snow; | answered all right, let's get
at 1t as quick as we cam; called on
the old man to help pull the boat up;
turned the boat up and propped it
up with oars told the young fellow
to look after the old fellow and to
give me his axe, that would go and
look for fire-wood; he answered that
there was no axe in the outfit; left
MIN with the old man and went TO
look for wood came back with little
sticks; the young man said no use
to make the fire. better stretch tent
and make shelter for the old man; l
answered all right; stretched tent
over boat; could not make tent stand +;
. suggested to use tent for covering
the old man; young man asked have
. you bedding to stand all night
. said never mind, ! can take care OF
, myself
Before turning in l suggested to
look for the main land again; if the
tide came in we would have to get up
in the night; turned in under pro
test; at a. IN. was awakened by
the sea washing under me as | lay
on the beach: jumped up quick and
hollered for Gods sake, boys, lets
get everything and get il over in the
. lagoon; tide coming very fast; trying
to hold boat head on to tide; waves
always showing little ahead and
broad side to ice cakes; called or
!. young man to help; answered from
under blankets in the boat. L can't
have no clothes on and | am freeZ
ing; they stayed in blankets unit
the boat was full and they were flood
ed out; boat at last in lagoon. al
: full of water: called young man tt
: help bail II out; did 1t myself; landed
I on the left side of lagoon; told young
: man to tell old man to keep moving
I to keep warm while go for help; ole
: man suggested we make hole in th'
/ snow to keep warm; | suggested tina
: 1t was impossible. as We were too
I wet, and had to keep moving; wen
: in woods to look for dry boughs t'
I make a fire; matches wet, could no
( make fire; told them to go bacl
Z from beach and seek shelter. while
I | go and look for help.
/ About ten minutes walk founS
i, cabin. turned around and came bacl
/ to companions; told them to chee
/ up as there was cabin about fiv'
/ minutes from there; by that time
/ was barefooted and feet frozen; thu
/ old man says to me take him, ] an
/ too weak and pretty nearly dead
/ did all l could TO get the young MAJ
i to move. but he was too far gone
/ pulled him out and used all my eff
i forts to get him to the beach; trie'
!. to get him to walk towards cabin
!. but he was continually falling dow
/ and dragging me with him; tried t
/ carry him but was too weak to do so
/ struggled along with him until h
f.o, a I. IT,