Iditarod pioneer., 1917-02-03
LETTER FROM THE ANIAK
 TELLS OF LAST DAYS
 OF DUNCAN MCDONNELL

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 4 letter from Duke E. Stubbs, dated Anlak, January 24 gives details of the pathetic end of Duncan Mcdonnell, the news of whose death was published in last weeks 1 Pioneer and of the terrible experiences of the unfortunate man which led to his de mise. The letter is as follows: Duncan Mcdonnell died at 2J minutes to l o'clock on the morning of January "A after suffering terribly for seventeen days /. Ills mind wandered considerably up to within twenty four hours of the end, after { which he made no further signs that h. recognized anyone about his bedside.
 A Terrible Journey
 On the morning of January 7 Mir. Me Donnel left Discovery cabin, on Bear creek, where Guy Groat and Oscar Henderson are stopping temporarily, to go to Oplir creek. 1 The trgil leads some eight miles up Bear creek, all of which is above timber hne, to the pass between Bear and Ophir creeks, which is somewhat steep and narrow pass, in which the wind blows at times with great violence.
 He was blinded by the violence of the wind and particles of snow hurled along with it, and turned back to return to Dis covcry cabin On the journey back, which le maGe with great difficulty because of his blindness he got his feet and legs wet in overtlowS or by breaking through the thln ice cn Bear creek Because of this, to- wards the last he could only travel on his hands and knees.
 1t was while thus traveling, on the sec ond night, having been two days and one niqht in arriving at this point that the dogs began barking violently, which drew the attention of the boys, and he was found crawling on past the cabin, and frozen In most horrible manner.
 "The temperature during this time was extremely low, as recorded by q government thermometer On January ' Il reached 3O degrees below zero; on January s. 39 be- low. and on January 9, 43 below.
 "Guv Groat, Mike NcDcrmott and J. A. Davidson brought Mcdonnell from Boar to Henry Towards cabin, on Ophlr creek Charles Castleman and William Crbby started for the kuskokwim river at Ohaga- mute with him. and were caught by storm at Whtefish lake, and were compelled to camp two CT three nights and suffered great hardships. Fred Webster and William Me Lean then travelled with him from Ohaga- mute to KoImakotf where Mrs. StubbS nrrsed him until death relieved his suffer ings.
 Physicians Fast Trip to Render Aid
 "The miners arrived at kclmakott with Mcdonnell on the l7th. ten days after he had had his awful experience. Arthur "ll- lis undertook the trip to Iditarod to secure nedicsl aid. He reached Flat late in the afternoon and an hour later the servlceS of Dr. H. R. Moore were secured The doctor started on the long journey behind one of the fastest dog teams, which was volunteered for his use, and arrived at Louis Nelson's Bonanza roadhouse in less than two hours, making an average Of about seven miles an hour, despite the loss ot brake en route.
 "At the roadhouse Louis Nelson was wait ing with his large fast team of dogs, and left in few minutes for Stevens X ko- nechneys camp. on Crooked. This part ot the trail is the worst on the whole trlp being the part where the trail crosses the mountains. and all of 1t is through timber where the snow is very deep. Besides, the most of the trip was made in the dark
 "At Stevens &, Konechney's camp A. A. Burglin was waiting with hIS team, ana took Dr. Moore 10 the mouth of Crooked where Dennis Parent piloted the doctor the balance of his journey, stopping twce 10 hitch in fresh dogs, arriving at hls destlna, ton just after midnight, making record trip for the entire distance, and hours ahead 1f cXDcctations The entire trip was the fastest that has ever been made, even when the trails were at their best, which was not he case just after the big storm.
 'Dr. Moore found his patient still alive and conscious part of the time, but ln the most serious condition, and still be alive of any case of freezing, probably, that has ever occurred in this section. Dr. Moore used every effort at the command of hls medical skill to relieve the intense sufferings of the patient, but the case was beyond human help.
 "Only the highest praise can be expressed for the sacrifices and hardship Dr. Moore went through to answer the call for medical aid which he did cheerfully, and with en- tire disregard of his personal affairs.
 "McDonnells home was three miles be- low Kolmakoff. He owned interests in quartz claims about eighteen miles back of the Russian Mission mountains, besides some placer claims on Bear creek, which he had gone to look after when he met with his mishap.
 Burial will take place on the bluffs on the right limit of the kuskokwim river, across from his old home"
 A Good Samaritan
 Dr. Moore returned to Flat late on the evening of Friday, January 26. He spoke in deep appreciation of that Good Samarl- tan of the Kuskokwim," Mrs, Duke E. Stubbs, who he says, gave all she had for the relief of the sufferer.