The Wrangell sentinel., 1944-10-20
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

emergency food Supplles "hlSH MSiN V sbiDned to Alaska at the time that things looked tough and when 1t appeared there might be a Jap be- hind every rock are finally and completely being disposed of, large lv to the Indian service and the Navy. c. J. Tyrrell of the Division of Territories in the Interior De partment was in Alaska the past week to wind up the details. Even ahe food supply at Nome, which produced more stories of waste by Uncle than any other place, was transferred. Remarkable situation there was food to transfer despite the bugaboO stories which emanat- ed from the Second Division metro polls during those dark days when half the population of Alaska didn't know whether to migrate to the States or take a chance on the Japs. Big majority. it can be re- ported. stuck it out, and those who retreated for the moment came back. Alaskans are tenacious char acters Mayors and city councils of the Territory, who have been bat tling the storage space problems for the last nearly three years, doubtless will breathe. sigh of re- lief now that the emergency sup plies are finally being taken off Eheir hands.
 Albert White, bull of the woods for the Republican party in Alaska and who recently offered a bet of $25O that the next House of Rep resentatives would be Republican and $25O that Dewey would be elected providing the caller took both bets, is out with new predic tions. Albert figures Dewey has a chance to get 237 electoral votes with some five border states in doubt. A total of 266 votes are nec- essary in the electoral college to win the election. The border states which include Missouri, Maryland. New Jersey, Pennsylvania an q California could throw the election either way, according to the poli- \ cost you $14 to get five that Roo sevelt will be elected The New York Times has come out for the President and the fourth term. AL askas Jim Farley-Jim ConnOrs- who has been picking them for years puts it this way: Alfred LandOn, who carried Maine and Vermont, isn't going to feel so bad after he sees what happens to Dewey Other reports from the States say 1t will be close, one com menting "too close" Our guess: As Alaska goes, so goes the nation.
 Wednesday last was Alaska Day, the day the United States took of ficial possession. of Alaska from Russia at Sitka, known to the Rus sians as New Archangel Territorial archives reveal that it was an event not without it's unhappy moments. Brig. Gen. Lowell H. Rousseau, U. s. Commissioner who had been assigned by then Secretary of State William H. Seward to make trans fer, in making his report of the event to the Secretary on Decem- Der 5, 1867, recounted to Secretary Seward:
 ''T h e troops being promptly formed were, at precisely half past three o'clock, brought to a present arms, the signal given to the Ossi- pee, (Lieut. Crossman, executive of ficer of the ship, and for the time in command). which was to fire the salute, and the ceremony was begun by lowering the Russian flag AS it began it's descent down the flagstaff the battery of the Os- sipee, with large nine-inch guns, led off in the salute, peal after peal crashing and re-echoing in the gorges of the surrounding mountains, answered by the Rus sian water battery, firing alternate ly: But the ceremony was interrupt ed by the catching of the Russian flag in the ropes. attached to the flagstaff. The soldier who was lowering it, continuing to pull at it, tore off the border by which it was attached, leaving the flag en- twined tightly around the ropes The flagstaff was native pine perhaps 90 feet in height. In an in stant the Russian soldiers, taking different shrouds attached to tht flagstaff, attempted to ascend tt the flag, which, having beer whipped around the ropes by tho wind, remained tight and fast. Al first (being sailors as well as sol diers) they made rapid progress but laboring hard they soon be came tired, and when halfway uI scarcely moved at all. and finall! came to a stand-still. There was dilemma; but in a moment a boat swain's chair so called, was mad
 by knotting a rope to make loo
 for a man to sit in and be pulle