Douglas Island news., 1920-09-10
PIONEER DIES
 GAME TO FINISH
Diary of Tom OBnen, Found on His Dead Body in Lonely Cabin,
 Tells Tale of Suffering

 ] Alaskan. was found In a cabin on tho banks Of Che Whiting river on scp- tember by searching party con- slsting Of D. w. Flanagan, Wright ! Wonrlch and William Strong It was evident that OBrlen had been dead for some time and his diary with Che last entry in it on June Q. 1920. told O tale Of suffering sel- dom eQualled in Che annals Of the North.
 Tho last entry in the dlary-that of June 9-was. "Lifo is dying hard. The heart ls strong" The first en- try giving any indication that |OBrlon was sick was made on April 30, in which he said. Baked bread An stove n with rheumatism. ITho day following he wrote: "Siokor than ever" Ho also stated he was able to get wood on that day.
 From then on. according to Che book. he failed fast until May 6 Inc
 said. My left leg is all in My tooth | |arc rattling and sore and ] am al- most an in." Up until that time ho ! had not realized that he was In Che grip or scurvy On May Q he made ! Che entry RaInod most an day. am the most helpless today ] ever was to my recollection in all my ! lifc. Just able to get a bucket Of water by @ desperate effort" This is tho last entry on which there is any mention Of his getting any water On May s be wrote. "sicker than hell an day" Both legs on the bum" The next day he stayed in bed an day.
 From that tune on ho was SO weak chat it was hardly possible for him to get out of bed, but he wrote in his book faithfully. On May l2 he was able to split a block Of wood by am awful effort and tho next day ho got up and made a fire and cook cd breakfast and was forced to go right back to bed and was unable to get out of the house Go get water. In writing Of his feelings that day he said. "m bed an day. On the bum. Legs an in. House cold as he'll No heat In my bedding"
 On May lG be was SO weak that In getting mp ho records: "I had a uG fell on Che floor; out Of my mind. Again got un to nx the bread and had another f.t; len on my face. smashed my nose and side Of my face. One hand skinned" On the next day he renewed hope and said: "LitIe better today There is chance now think ] gave mp yes- terday."
 Up until this time he had not roc allzod he had Che scurvy. but now seemed to think SO and changed his dict eating a raw potato. drinking lemon extract and vinegar and oat- mg pickles He tried constantly to got out of bed but only made it twice and was never able Co get out for water Once Inc was two hours crawling to Che door to open it Co get fresh air. He was slowly dying from thirst and malnutrition. There was stream or water near Che house that be was unable to reach and hc was expecting a heavy rain SO that Che seepage water that might leak through Che cabin roof would Quench ! his thirst
 The last entries in Che diary show that he kept mp his courage Co Che Hast They follow
 Saturday. June 6.-Rained hard ! in Che morning not enough to do any good This is the hardest night and day yot am suu strong in Che mind and heart
 Sunday Rainod @ little. Put ! iu hard night and starting a hard |day Getting weaker every day.
 Monday. Almost the end.
 "Tucsday. June 9.-Lifo is dying |hard The heart is strong"
 Tom O'BrIon loft Douglas Island on Sept 8. 1919. for the Whiting Iryer. from which place ho had re- cuuy returned after having spent year there He had previous to that time lived and worked on |utue homestead on the Douglas beach below Che government road. | Tie was a pioneer who camc North l in Che 'S0s and had spent a great deal of his time in Che Interior. Having liked Che Whiting river coun- ! ry back Of snettsham. he had ro- solved to return there to run a trap limo and Co return here in June of ! this year
 When June. July and August passed and he did not return to civ-