The Alaska daily empire., 1923-03-01
TRUE STORY OF
 MERICKLE DEATH
 TOLD BY PARTNER
Authentic Information of Ac- cident- nt-Merickle Caught In
 Flood Water and Debris.

Andrew Merickiv, old.tmer, was killed by a flood of water which with slush and rock, came down Falls Creek and carried him 800 feet down the mountainside, where his slicker was caught by a snag and held him in the bed of the creek where the body was found. This is according to a statement made today by J. w. Adkins, watch man at the Treadwell ditch on Doug las Island, who has been engaged since last November, with Merickle.
 Adkins Story
 As Adkins tells the story. he and Merickle started out from their camp, which is two miles back from the beach, and nearly opposite Sal mon Creek, north of Juneau, at o'clock Tuesday morning, to lift a number of the gates on the ditch. Adkins went up the Island toward Fish Creek and Merickle started down toward Treadwell. Both men were on skis. Adkins completed his work and returning to camp spent a short time in shovelng the snow from the roofs of the cabins This work was finished at 11:30 o'clock He then stopped for lunch and at 12;30 o'clock started out to break trail 10 the beach. in prepara- ton for bringing in supplies to camp, which were to arrive soon from town. Returning to camp he found Merckle had not returned and not stopping, he continued down to- ward Treadwell, following Merckle's ski trail.
 Flood Water
 When he arrived at Falls Creek, about two miles below the camp, he saw that a big flood of water, carry ing slush, snow, gravel and large rock. had recently swept down the creek. This was probably caused. he said, by damned water held back by a snowslide from the mountain side into the creek bed, the snow finally giving way under pressure of the water. which rushed down the creek bed in a flood The tre-
  the course of the creek down the mountainside. cutting out the snow on the creek banks. as il went to a depth of 10 feet on the steepest grades and to a depth of about eight feet in a path 10 feet wide, across the ditch.
 Finds Body
 .I.s bank on the creek, following from camp. but did not appear on the other side, toward Treadwen. Ad kins said he immediately concluded that Merickle had reached the creek just as the torrent of water and debris came tearing down tho noun tainside and was carried away before he could gain safety. Adkins went down the mountainsde and about 800 feet below the ditch, found the body of Meriekle, lying face down. ward, in the creek bed, his slieker caught on a snag, which held him from being swept down to the foot of the mountain. He was dead and had evidently been killed before he reached the placo where Adkins found him, the latter said.
 Adkins lifted the body to higher ground and went back to camp, where he attempted to telephone into the Treadwell Company to inform the officials of the accident. It was then 5.30 o'clock in the ,after noon, he said. The telephone line was out of order and Adkins left at 6 o'clock, in a rowboat, the only conveyance there, 10 come into town. He came across the Channel to Sal mon Creek. and walked to town, mak- ing the trip shorter. he said. as he was bucking the tide, coming down. He reached town about S:30 o'clock in the evening and immediately in formed Manager Metzgar of the ac- cident and of Merickle's death.
 No Inquest
 Yesterday morning MT Metzgar sent the company boat Amy. with Adkins. Deputy U. S. Marshal s. c, Thomas and three company em- ployees 10 bring in the body The party returned to Juneau last even ing. bringing the body. which was taken to the c. w. Young Undertak- ing Parlor.
 It will not be necessary to hold an inquest, U. $. Commissioner Felix Gray. of Douglas. stated today.
 IA brother of Merickle. Alonzo ,Mer tickle, has been located in New Lon don, Wisconsin. and been communi- cated with by company officials. No arrangements will be made for the funeral until he is heard from, 1t was announced today.