The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-04-04
THREE BACK
FROM FLIGHT
TO BARROW
Mai. Edwards, Mrs. Cross,
Mrs. Bender Finish
Unique Journey

of some 5000 miles from Juneau 10
the top of the continent, Point Bar
row. and return. party consist !
ing of Major Paul S. Edwards OF (
Seattle. Officer-in-C Charge of the
Alaska Communications System,
Mrs. Robert Bender of Juneau and
Mrs. John Cross of Deering arrived
back in the Capital City yesterday
evening
With John Cross of the Northern
Airways at the controls the winter
fliers went into the Arctic on a
flight unusual for this time OF the
year. In fact, their plane was, with
one exception, the only one visit
ing Barrow this winter.
Others who we're on the far north
flight with the three who returned
to Juneau were j. d. Nelson, Gen
eral Freight Agent of the Alaska
Steamship Company and, for part
of the journey, Boris Magids, Kot-
zebue trader
Banquet at Barrow
At Barrow the party was received
by Charles D. Brewer, pioneer
King of the Arctic" and veteran
trader: and others, including Mas
ter Sergeant Stanley Morgan,
Farthest North representative of the
U. s. Signal Corps Service and Al
aska Communications System, and
Mrs. Morgan. The sixteen whites
of the village gave a banquet in
honor of the party, presenting a
menu, say the travellers, that would
rival feast at the Waldorf
Astoria-the bill including delicious
reindeer roast and ice cream made
of canned cream, frozen in the
open at 35 degrees below zero with
out aid of ice.
While flying hundreds of miles
over the snowy wastes without a
sign of human habitation, the party
occasionally sighted herds of rein
deer, and was particularly thrilled
by the sight of huge herd of
reindeer, estimated at 1000, being
attacked on the flanks by rowing
wolves, near the Noatak.
Two hundred miles southwesterly
from Wainwright, an unusual scene
from the plane was series of vast
terraces, looking, said the travellers,
like some vast project of man.
Cat Dollar Raar
Among the places touched on the
cruise was Point Lay. between PIT.
Barrow and Cape Lisbourne, where
hunting party was staged by the
natives, who mushed far out over
the Arctic ice. Travelling 20 miles
off shore with dog team, the hunt
ers got out to the broken ice lanes,
headed by Bob Tuckfield, noted Es-
kimo of the region, and famed as a
hunter and most highly educated
native of the region.
At this extreme limit, beyond the
national jurisdiction, and IN what
was termed the international seas,
Major Edwards had the thrilling
experience of shooting fine. large
polar bear, measuring eight feet.
With a 5000 he plugged the big
fellow in the heart. Tuckfield shot
two polar bears.
After the pelts were recovered 1t
was long hard mush of IL hours
back to the mainland, and the party
did not make the village before |
am. 1t was beautiful night. with
most marvellous display of northern
lights perfect Arctic setting, said
the Major
On return to the village, Major
Edwards had the skin of his bear
dressed, and brought the pelt back
with him to Juneau rs a present for
Gov John w Troy.
In on Electra
Major Edwards Mrs Bender and
Mrs Cross came into Juneau by
PAA Electra from Fairbanks yes
terday afternoon
Mrs Cross is the guest of Mrs.
Bender at the Governors house She
will take the Baranof south on Fri
day.
Major Edwards made the trip as a
tour of inspection of stations under
his Jurisdiction in Northern and IN
terror Alaska
Every outlying village or COM
munity in Alaska should have two
way radiophone connections with
the nearest large town or city. and
will make strong recommendations
to that effect the Major said
Utterly Cut Off
Il found numerous places he
declared, where the people who are
devoting their lives to a heroic
frontier service-mining, prospect
ing, trapping, fishing, and the like
are utterly cut off from all COM
munications. They have no way of
c ling a doctor, a plane or help
of any kind in an emergency, and
suffer many handicaps which easily