Valdez daily prospector., 1915-02-11
HUNDREDS ATTEND
 BIRTHDAY PARTY
Pioneers and Friends Are Guests of pr. Won Gunther At Enjoy.
 able Smoker.


 Gunther at Eagle hall last night to Alaska pioneers and their friends in celebration of his having alta ined his sixtieth birthday will long Dc remem- bered as one of the happiest events in the history of Valdez. The big hall was crowded by citizens from every walk in life who gathered to felicitate their fellow townsman and his family on his having attained the three-score mark.
 The evening proved one of sur. prises. Shortly after the festivities opened and the hundreds of men were beginning to settle down to keen en. joyment in the consumption of frag. rant tobacco and liquid refreshments while listening to song and story, a commotion was heard at the entrance. The doors swung open and a score of women, all wives, daughters or friends of pioneer Alaskans, entered. The ladies were accompanied by two husky stalwarts who carried an inn mense quantity of ice cream and sub. stantials.
 The entrance of the ladies, while a surprise, was greeted by rounds of cheers as 1t was recognized that mo- where on earth except in Alaska is such thoughtfulness and spirit dls- played. After delivering their offer. ings the members of the fair sex retired to the seclusion of the gall lery, but seats were immediately ar ranged on the floor of the hall and the motion by the chairman that the ladies should participate in the even. ing's enjoyment was seconded by the audience to a man.
 It is rumored that the presence of the ladies necessitated a slight varia. tion of the program of several good story tellers, but if such is the case their presence, as always, added dig nifty and more complete enjoyment to the occasion.
 Senator-elect Q. P. Hubbard was called to the chair and kept affairs moving along at brisk pace. There are number of pioneers of Valdez who are splendid story tellers and the chairman appeared to be acquainted with all of them. Among those who responded were Judge Spence. Sena tor l.. V. Ray, of Seward, Dr. Boyle, Jos. Bourke, Chas. M. Day, John w. Frame, Dr. Von Gunther and others.
 Mrs. J. Krum, wife of the we'll known mining man, delighted the big crowd by giving recitation of which Alaska and it's wonders was the theme. The audience insisted upon an encore to winch Mrs. Krum graciously acceded. Harry B. F. King responded to the call for song and Joe Mccoy brought down the house by singing song of his own composition. Music by Pinkus' or chestra, assisted by volunteer musi- cians, added to the pleasure of the evening.
 Looking over the big hall where between two and three hundred men and women were assembled to wish their fellow townsman many happy returns of the occasion one could scarcely fail to be impressed by a truth uttered by one of the speakers in declaring that Aaskans seemed to grow younger after living in this northland for a time. Recalling to memory similar occasions in Valdez and other parts of Alaska 1t could be seen that many pioneers were missing, having been called to their rewards or residing in far countries, but their places had been filled by others with the same pioneer spirit. The passing of time had served to whiten the locks of many Gin some cases the locks have all been gath ered), but had not caused the fingers to tremble nor the limbs to become weak With heads held high and eyes flashing with the spirit of the occa- sion they appeared to be the embodi- ment of perpetual youth. The host of the evening, Dr. Won Gunther, al though marking the passing of his sixtieth milepost in his Journey through life, in the presence of we'll wishers and friends, was without a care in the world.
 Dr. Won Gunther's many friends wish long life and prosperity to him and his family.
 Blooded Doos for Sale.