The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-21
BY LOU WEDEMAR
Times STAFF Writer

TINE Office of the United States
Il bureau of investigation at
Seattle received the following tele-
gram from one Of its special agents
at Fairbanks, Alaska, Sept. II,
1927:
Interview Captain Howell, S.
S. Victoria, due Seattle tomorrow,
Search ship for Charles Lindfors,
quicksilver miner. his partner, Ar
thur Kirk, and Harry Stevens, a
neighbor, who have disappeared.
Also search S. S. Upper, slower
boat from Bethel. Alaska
Captain Howell was troubled
when Agent J-43 interviewed him
Charles Lindfors is my father
in-law," he said. Il usually bring
a letter from him to the General
Electric Company, telling them
how much quicksilver has been
shipped. But there was no letter
when we sailed this time"
The quicksilver, sixty TASKS of it
worth $4,000, arrived on the Tup-
per. Captain Langley, in charge of
that ship, knew nothing Of the
missing men, and there was no
passenger answering Lindfors'
descriptlon-middle-aged, smooth
shaven, bow-legged, reddish COM
pleXioned, large-headed.
At Fairbanks, Alaska, the bureau
agent conferred with Lynn Smith,
United States marshal, in charge
of law enforcement in the ter
ritory. Smith handed him the fol-
lowing telegram:
Flat, Alaska, June 3. Al WEIGH
reports Charles Lindfors and Ar
thur Kirk crossing Crooked creek
On May 10 when raft sank and
Kirk was drowned. Lindfors re-
ported this to Barney Welchs
camp and then disappeared. Harry
Stevens, who has camp nearby, al
so still missing. Kincaid."
CPECIAL AGENT J-43 found the
~ marshal willing to cooperate,
and on his trip to Crooked Creek
and in his subsequent discoveries
the marshal was his constant
companion.
But neither of them, wise
though they were in the ways of
the North, realized at the begin
ming where the trail would lead.
The LindforS and Kirk camp,
near their mine at the head of
Crooked Greek, was deserted as
they approached. Joe Konechney,
one of Linfors' employees, was their
guide. He appeared uneasy, but
J-43 delayed questioning him.
Konechney showed them the
smelling plant, in which the
quicksilver was refined. One brick
wall inclosing the retorts had been
torn away and only small
amount of fuel wood was piled in
side, J-43 noted.
In the cabin was note read
ing
kirk am awful sick. I
started out for Stevens camp,
but I got only to the summit. 1
had to turn back. was all in.
Took me all day to come home.
Il haven't much use of my left
side, my left leg is almost
paralyzed. I haven't got a fire so
I can't cook and can't eat. I be-
lieve it is the mercury fumes. I
have an awful headache. I can't
stand it much longer. Lindfors."
The note was dated May IL,
which, J-43 decided, might have
been meant to indicate that Kirk
had been missing several days
and that Lindfors had been unable
to search for him.
The marshal found a watch in
the cabin and Konechney
identified it as Kinks.
TnEY had a quarrel of some
l. kind" Konechney said.
when they took the quicksilver
down the river they couldn't
agree about it. They didn't even
write the usual letter Some trou-
BILE was brewing, I guess"
The searching party went on to
the cabin of Harry Stevens.
There was a note of quite a diff
ferent character.
'Stevens-I am going down to
the cabin to get my pack and see
if 1 can cross. If I can, 1 will
not meet you. I will be back in
four or five days with grub.
Thought I might cross down near
the raft. Lindfors."
A note signed by Stevens also
was found in Stevens camp:
Have gone down to look for
Kirk. 1 will not be back for
some time. Stevens"
The tragedy of the frozen coun-
try unfolded rapidly at this juno
ture, for Barney WEIGH had a
story to tell
"On May % Lindfors came in
looking worn out from lack of
Sleep" WEIGH said. He told me
Kirk had been drowned while
crossing Crooked creek on raft"
Where did Lindfors say he was
going when he left you?"
He said he was going down to
look for Kinks body. I never saw
him again"
What do you think happened
to these missing menu"
We.ch hesitated.
I'D rather not say"
=
D Outline steps were taken by
~ tho hIfrpoI TdQ vriroI thof