The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-09-17
IOLD PROSPECTOR
 DIES SUDDENLY.
Tom Wilson Passes Away While Prospecting on
 Whiting River

Of the Whiting River With his partner Tom Donahue, Tom Will son, prospector, 6l years old, died early on the morning of September 5, according to Donahue who was brought here late yesterday by the seaplane Ketchikan from Cres- cent Lake. rys
 The body lies a short distance above the river about IA miles above Crescent Lake, wrapped in Wilson's bedding and covered by a canvas. Whether official steps would be taken to bring it here or to bury it there remained in doubt this afternoon.
 Donahue related the story of the death this morning to Gov Parks, U. s. Commissioner Frank A. Boyle and other officers. He and Wilson, left here August 10 by plane, landing at Crescent Lake. From there they prospected up- stream
 They reached a point about IA miles above the lake on the af- ternoon of September 4. While Wilson made camp underneath a big tree about one-quarter of a mile above the river bottom, Don ahue went up hill and killed a goat for food. He brought meat back to camp, reaching there 6 short time before dusk Shortly after supper, consisting of goat steaks, bread and tea, they retired, sleeping side by side.
 Donahue said he awakened about 5 a. m. and Wilson was still ap- parently sleeping. The latter groan- ed slightly, but as he was not a quiet sleeper normally, Donahue paid no attention to it. Shortly after that Donahue heard the sound of Wilson's false teeth click ing and, looking at him, saw they had dropped on the bedding. AL most immediately he heard a rattle in Wilson's throat. This alarmed him and he lifted himself up and felt his partners pulse, finding no beats.
 He then raised Wilson's head and shoulders. The head was limp and the eyes rolled back Thinking he was having spell of some kind'', Donahue said he arose built up the fire and turn ed back to the bed. Within 10 minutes, he said, the face began to show darkly discolored and the body seemed to swell.
 He took what care of the body he could, then wrapped it in the bedding and canvas, leaving it be- heath the tree under which they had slept. He then turnei back to Crescent Lake, making the hike in two days, arriving there late on the evening of September T. There he waited nine days for the plane to return.
 During the latter part of his enforced encampment at the lake Donahue lived on starvation ra- tions, for his staple food supply was gone. Wilson had cached their food when they arrived at the lake on the outbound trip and Donahue was unable to lo- cate the cache.
 When the two men left here in the plane they were accompanied oy Wilson's black terrier dog. Don- ahue brought the animal back with hirl yesterday
 Since last night the dog has spent all of his time at the Alas ka Washington Airways hangar on avenue, patiently gaz- ing down Gastineau Channel and waiting for his masters return. Although exceedingly thin, appar- sntly from lack of nourishment, ,he dog has refused offerings of food made by the men at the hangar.
 So far as could be learned here, Wilson had no surviving relatives. He was born in Canada about 30 niles from Toronto, came to the United States as boy and resided In Washington and Alaska most of his life. He is said to have owned some mineral claims and possibly a cabin at Chichagof.