Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-10-15
Druggist Smith Drowned in Alaska
Alfred Lowell Son Of One Of the Founders of Alaska
Also Lost His Life-Were Crossing Lake in Small
Dory when High Waves Capsized Boat-150 Feet
from Shore But Neither Could Swim - Guide
Escaped

The following despatch from Seward,
Alaska. was received by The Bulletin
Friday evening:
Seward, Alaska, Oct 14-H. B.
Smith, a wealthy druggist of Norwich.
Conn, who came to Alaska to hunt
son of one of the founders of Seward,
We're drowned in Lake Kenai October
H. While returning from a moose
hunt in the mountains.
With William Walker a guide, they
Were crossing the lake in a small dory.
ana encountered storm. The waves
swamped the boat and threw the oc-
cupants into the water. They were
only $50 feet from shore, but Smith
and Lowell could not swim. The guide
reached shore. The body of Smith will
be sent to Norwich for burial.
Telegram in Afternoon.
This conveyed in detail what had
already been received here during the
afternoon in telegram to the man
ager OF Mr. Smiths store; which was
received at . o'clock, telling of Mr..
Smiths sudden death last Tuesday
The telegram was from w. A. McNei :
ley at Seward. and it said: H. B.
Smith drowned, eleventh, returning
from hunt, in Kenai lake. Body re-
covered. Wire instructions"
James Mara, head clerk at Mr..
sage with it's shocking news, and in
company with George C. Engler, part
enr of Mr.. Smith in the Broadway
pharmacy, they broke the news to
Mrs. smith and daughter, who We're
about to enter the Boston Store at the
time. Being told that they had receiv-
ed some bad news for them, Mrs.
Smith was taken in a hack to her
home in Harrison avenue and inform
ed of Mr.. Smiths death ON the way
home.
Body Ready to Be Sent.
A telegram was Immediately de-
spatched to Seward giving instructions
that the body be prepared for the trip
east and to inform them when it left.
This was answered in the evening, a
despatch being received from w. G..
Weaver, guide of the Smith hunting
party, TO the effect that the body was
ready to be sent and asking if an at
tendant was desired. The body will
b esent east at once, and it is expect
twelve days.
Left Here August %.
Very few people knew that Mr.
Smith was in the far northwest, and
many didn't know he was out of the
shock from such a sudden death, there
was the additional surprise of his be-
ing in that distant territory He left
here August % for his hunting trip,
going alone. He had been making
preparations for this three months
trip for some time, and as on all but
one Of his former hunting excursions
he went alone. He has for many years
been an ardent sportsman and took
great pleasure in hunting large game.
He often went to Canada, Maine and
New Brunswick in search of deer,
moose or caribou, and went alone. ex-
cept for guides. Last year, however
he went in company with John j.
Murphy and A. E. Grimes, two close
friends.
Peculiar Coincident.
In speaking of his trip before going
Mr.. Smith stated that he was going
in search of big game in one of the
best hunting grounds known. On the
Penal peninsula Alaska. where he did
his hunting are to be found the largest
bear and moose. and in speaking of
this fact he said he would get bear
or the bear would get him. He little
thought at the time that those words
contained a prediction of his death or
that he would really lose his life in that
northern peninsula. A peculiar fact in
connection with his death is that Jay
Clarkson, who had been employed in
his pharmacy, was drowned here a few
days before Mr.. Smith left, the drown
ing occurring from the capsiZing of
boat and the inability of the young
man to swim.
Went Into Woods Sept. 10.
From postals received from Mr..