The Wrangell sentinel., 1933-11-03
DROPS
 BALLOT BOXES
 AT TELEGRAPH

| the air to frozen-in constituencies of the Anyox electoral district of northern British Columbia is the latest interesting development in aviation circles. This is thought to be the first time that such action was necessary, and it was carried out today by Pilot J. MacConnachie, | of Anyox, who circled over Tele- graph Creek early this afternoon and dropped the ballot boxes with parachutes from an Eastman flying boat. He was accompanied by c. B. Prust, mechanic.
 Unprecedented Cold
 An unprecedentedly cold October, the coldest in fifty years, is held ac- countable for the confusion result ing from the lack of balloting fa- cilities in the little Cassiar metrop- oils. The ballot boxes did not arrive from Anyox in time to make the ] last trip of the Hazel B, and were held in the bonded warehouse here awaiting transportation.
 Slush ice in the Stikine for the past two weeks prevented the trans- | portation of the ballot boxes by small river craft, and when the day of election drew near it was decided to send an airplane. Pilot MaoConnachie arrived in Wrangell late Wednesday evening from Prince | Rupert to pick up the boxes, but in the meantime Capt. William Strong, veteran Stikine and Taku river pilot, and a Canadian citizen, fearing that the Telegraph Creek folk were about to be denied the privilege l of casting their vote, decided to take a somewhat long chance on reaching the camp with the speed launch Mary J.
 Boat Stopped by Ice
 Strong got as far as Andrews Creek and encountered a wall of heavy slush ice. He tied up in the slack water below Andrews and was waiting there when the airplane flew over, headed up river.
 Pilot MacConnachie looked for Strong as he passed over Andrews Creek but failed to see the Mary J, l He eruised as far as Dirt Glacier. bucking a strong Stikine wind, counted five ice bridges and decided that the Mary J must be behind him. On his return he circled over Andrews Creek and saw Strong's boat, which was making circles in the river to attract attention. The plane returned to Wrangell about t2 p. m. and the Mary J reached here about two hours later.
 Parachutes Drop Boxes
 Last night MacConnachie was in a quandary. The election returns of ficial at Anyox wired that the bal lot boxes must be in Telegraph Creek by o'clock Thursday night. In the meanwhile a wire had come from Hackley Smith in Telegraph CIG6ht dShlhS lHdl llC PlohC NOh- tinue it's attempt to reach the camp and pick up passengers. Smiths wire stated that the river was running slush ice, the temperature dropping steadily, but indicated that a land ing might be made at Dease Lake, 72 miles away, whence contact might be made by motor truck
 Early this morning MacConnachie received instructions from Anyox to go ahead with his plans for dropping ithe ballot boxes over Telegraph ICreek with parachutes He took off There at 12:15 o'clock this afternoon. land returned at 33O. after drop lping the two ballot boxes, a bundle Iof ballots, a parcel of mail and med icine. Attached to one of the parcels was note to Hackley Smith ex Ipressing regret for inability to land and pick up his party.
 Encounter Snow Squall
 MarConnachie reports that ice conditions were unfavorable for a landing at Telegraph Creek, al- though the river was more free of ice than yesterday. The flyers en- lcountered a snow squall near the International Boundary and were compelled to descend within three hundred feet of the river to pass under it. The visibility improved as they cruised north, and in the vicin- ity of the canyon they swept out into bright sunshine.
 Both men are ex military flyers. on the eastern front in the Great War, and Prust has the distinction