Douglas Island news., 1919-06-27
CHAPTER HISTORY
 OF RED CROSS
Story of -Trcadwcll Chapter Since Its Inception, Given
 in Detail

activities, has been prepared by the Chapter Historian. Mrs. John Me- COrmick. of Treadwoll.
 1 A history Of the local chapter ! should give. to Ice complete proper recognition to every individual on Douglas Island who has done any work whatever for the benefit Of the chapter. and to do this, some men | tiOn would have tO be made of al- most every one on the Island. The instructions from Headquarters. however, are explicit in this matter and the personal mention has Co be limited tO those whOg1 activities were along certain well defined lines.
 It is sufficient tO say that every man, woman and child has done his or her share and that this work has been SO unsclfishly done that the individuals have received their own reward in doing what they knew to be their duty, and while it is with regret on the part of the officials of the chapter that all names cannot be mentioned, they feel that the chapter members will experience no regrets if their activities were not of special character that required personal mathematician
 Alaska has an cnviablc record for her part in the Great World War. Although looked upon, by the ma iority of tht people as far-away place and. in some instances, as foreign land, we responded to our Country's call one hundred per cent American. Our Red Cross activities are records to be proud Of, we sent our quota of men to dc:end the flag and went lover the top" in all bond and other war drives.
 Among the first Of the American Red Cross Chapters organized in AL aska. was the Douglas-Treadwcll Chapter. This chapter includes with in its Jurisdiction the town of Doug las and Treadwell; these two com munitics are near Juneau, the cap ital of Alaska, being separated there from by the Gastincau Channel.
 On Douglas Island are the famous gold mines Of the Alaska Trcadwcll Gold Mining properticg-which at the time the chaper was organized gave employment to about twelve hundred men. In April, 1917, the two towns Of Douglas and Treadwell boastcd of population of some 5000. The mines mentioned above arc located in Treadwell and at that place many employees lived in com pany houses. Douglas was not only the home of many employees of the mining companies, but also was the center of number of smaller indus tries and the seat of a number of prosperous mercantile concerns.
 During the month of April. 1917. plans were made to secure an inde- pendent charter and to organize a Red Cross Chapter. the required number of names being easily ob- tained. the personnel being: Mir. and Mrs. P. R. Bradley, Mir. Bradley being general manager and consult- ing engineer of the Treadwell and Alaska Juneau mining properties; Mir and Mrs. R. c. Wayland. Mir Wayland. at that time, being super ntendent of the Trcadwcll Com pany; Mir. and Mrs. II. Irvine. Mir Irvine being in charge Of the gov ernmont cable office in Douglas; Mir and Mrs. A. F. Gurr, Mir. Gurr being cashier of the First Territorial Bank of Douglas; Dr. and Mrg R. V. Ellis, Dr. Ellis being the Treadwcll Com pany physician; and Mr. and Mrs. R. II. Pratt, prominent citizens of Douglas. In due time the charter was received and on April 2l, 1917. the first meeting was called to order at the home of Mrs. r. R. Bradley The charter was signed, officers elected. and plans completed for starting active work. Governor Strong. then governor of Alaska, was present and gave an interest ing talk. officers elected were as follows: President, Mrs. II. A. Pin ger. wife of the manager of the mer- cantile and supply departments of the Treadwell Company; vice prcsi- dent. Mrs. V. A. Walker. member of the Douglas School Board; secretary. Mrs. T. c. Macdonald (being unani- mously elected while on visit to the States, which speaks for itself. Mir Macdonald is a prominent Treadwell man); treasurer. Mir. A. F. Gurr
 Thus tho Douglas-Trcadwell Chap ter started out with flying colors and a good sized membership roll. At midnight of the same day. April Fist. 1917. there was a disastrous subsistence in the Treadwell mines. resulting in three of the four mines
 being hopelessly flooded by the
 waters of the Gastineau Channel Naturally gloom was cast over the entire place, but Alaskans do not know the meaning of the words
 "give up," and when there is life
 there is always hope in our mines
 We knew, of course, that over two
 thirds of the men were thrown out of employment, as far as the minei were concerned. and they would b'