Iditarod pioneer., 1915-09-18
WILLIAM ANSLEY APPOINTED AS
 POSTMASTER

The news dispatches of Wednesday last contained the announcement that William Ansley, the well known business man of this ciyt, had been appointed postmaster of ldit- arod, vice Albert Vile, recently resigned. While not unexpected, the appointment will cause certain surprise i'll some quar- ters, as Mir Ansley was no; believed to be the candidate of the Democratic partlsans, and there were quite a number of applicants for the position. Mir Ansley was a candl- date for the position two years ago. and at that time received the signatures of 700 persons to a petition asking his appoint ment By peculiar piece of political work the appointment went to Albert Vile, who laid claim to great friendship for the gov ernor of the territory.
 Mr Ansley has been a resident of Iditarod since 1910, and has been in business here practically ever since. While not strict partisan in local and territorial affairs, he has always been Democrat, and it was un- derstood that the plum was to be given out in accordance with the usage that ''to the victors belong the spells" That he will make an excellent official goes without say ing as he is known as careful and method ical man of business
 Bill" as he is generally known, promises to conduct the office in a manner calculated to suit the convenience of the public, and if you don't get a letter he will tighten your disappointment by telling you funny story
 Bill was formerly resident of Dawson and from sketch published in the Dawson News the following is taken:
 William AnSley, better known as Ala bama Bill" was locomotive engineer on the Louisville & Nashville railway at Bir- mingham, Ala, when the klondike gold | strike startled the world. Bill got the klon- dike fever resigned his position on the road and accepted the management of the Bessie Cox Gold Mining < Prospecting Company composed of his fellow emplOyes of the rail way Bill left for Dawson February 6. 1928 with grubstake of $500. Packing his out fit of l,500 pounds over the terrible Chil koot pass, Bill sledded it to Little Windy Arm, where he built boat and embarked for Dawson on May 26 Bill was accom- panied by other men working under the same agreement. and together they pros pected in the Stewart river country. but without success, as none of the party knew the first thing about prospecting. Arriving at the mouth of the Stewart late in August they split up their outfit and Bill proceeded to the klondike, where he staked several good claims but owing to conditions he was unable to get them recorded. He got the name of Alabama Bll'' from the sign he hung in front of his cabin at the mouth of Bonanza during the winter of lS9S-99. The sign read, Alabama Point" which was two miles from Dawson and known to every sourdough. He engaged in numerous ven lures, among them running a roadhouse and later it was his custom when he got a little stake to go up the White river and start a wood camp, and hunt and buy and sell furs Travellers on the Yukon will remember him, says the News account, because of the fact that in the fall and spring he generally had bear or two hanging in front of his cabin. He killed eleven bears in the spring of 1906, was very successful in hunting. He en- .aged in the express transfer and wood busi- mess in Dawson.