The Wrangell sentinel., 1931-01-02
Plane SalYaged At Telegraph; Takes IT. Turkey
M'DoNALD. OUT FROM DEAsE. BRINGS NEWS OF INTERIOR FOLK; RIVER UNNAVIGABLE: DEEP SNOW ON TRAIL

w. E. Mcdonald, caterpillar pilot In the employ of the Cassiar Hy- drauIic Mines, Ltd, arrived from Juneau on the motorship Norco last sunday, en route from Telegraph Creek via Whitehorse and Skagwav hnlshing the long overland journey rom the head of Dease Creek in iiltle more than a month. He re- ports the completion of the ditch at Lyons Guleh, which practically ends the dead work which was necessary before sluicing could begin on the eompany's claims.
 Mcdonald arrived in Telegraph Creek in time to assist in the sal Naglng of the wrecked Fleetser plane, and was rewarded by A trin to Whitehorse by air, thus avoiding the long mush over the mail trail to Atlin. He reports the Stikine stlll open at Telegraph Creek. but dlscharging mush ice from the trib- utaries above the town. Nobody could be found who would under take the voyage to Wrangell. He reached Whitehorse the day Wasson brought in Capt, Burke's body.
 Deep Snow on Dease Trail
 Mcdonald finished work with the gas shovel on November 22. There had been no ice and scarcely any snow up that time, he said. but the weather changed soon after they had finished work, and by the time he and Louis Tjemsland reached the head of the lake 30 inches of snow had fallen. They were the first travellers over the trail, and were compelled to break trail all the way. The tracks of hundreds of caribou were seen between the lake and 26- Mile, apparently headed from the Muddy River Country to Level Mountainfl
 Upon thein arrival at Telegraph Creek December they found the Stikine open but hazardous to havi- gate. Walter Julian had arrived from Jacksons Landing a few days before, reporting a number of ice jams below the town. No boatman could be found who was willing to undertake the trip to Wrangefi.
 Details of Plane Wreck.
 Blunt and Barrows, pilots for the Pacific International, Go, who met with misfortune while trying to take off from Sawmill Lake, were at work salyaging the planes when Mcdonald and TjemslaRd arrived in Telegraph Creek. Blunt, flying a Fairchild, crashed against tree and was found pinned in the cock pit, holding a fire extinguisher in his hand to protect himself in case the gasoline, which was dripping on him from leaking fuel tank, should take fire. He escaped with a broken wrist.
 Barrows, the Fleetster pilot broke through thin ice when he started to taxi. He managed to leap clear before the plane sank. They fished it out in six days and found that nothing was damaged but the pro- peller, which had been twisted when it struck the ice.
 Everybody Lends A Hand
 Everybody in Telegraph Creek came up to lend hand, according to Mcdonald. Joe Morrison came with a large tent and a stove to house the plane while it was being thawed out He also assisted Bar , rows in overhauling the engine, which was a mass of ice. McDon- aid contrived crude devices for the propeller-"and it pulled the old bus into White horse in two hours and ten min utes."
 The five passengers making the trip from Telegraph Crek to White horse were Pilots Blunt and Bar row; Joe Morrison, Edward Lowe, Jr., owner of the planes, and Me Donald They encountered snow near Nakina, flew off their course until they got their bearings by flying over Teslin Lake post, and landed in Whitehosre on the day that Wasson arrived from the Liard with Capt. Burke's body.
 Sees Martin and Kading
 Mcdonald heard from Bob's own lips the story of starvation and hardships that the two lost flyers endured. Both men showed traces of their suffering. Outstanding was story of two wolves that lurked about their camp the day after Burke died. The wolves were within so feet once.
 Pilot Barrow, soon after, discharg- ing his passengers at Whitehorse, loaded the plane with fresh fruit and vegetables, turkeys and other Christmas cheer and started back to Telegraph Creek to demonstrate his gratitude to the people of the little Stikine metropolis for their assistance in salvaging his plane.
 Mcdonald, after a brief visit here with F. H. Bryant, superintendent