The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-10-20

of Juneau, took an interest in the statue, Roden said.
 STATUE PURCHASED
 "Eiler Hansen gathered about Sl3,000 and Dave Gross gathered about $7,000, which they turned over to the Territory for the pur- pose of buying and erecting this statue,' Roden continued.
 Every penny came from private sources: there is not a cent of gov ernment money, either Federal or Territorial. in this monuments fact of which we can be proud, Roden asserted.
 Additional funds, he said were contributed by individuals and by the Pioneers of Alaska and other organizations, the statue was ship. ped to New York to be cast ir bronze and was brought from Seat tie to Sitka without charge by the Alaska Steamship Company.
 MRS. FONDA PRESENT
 Model for the Prospector statue was William "Skagway Bill7 Fonda and present for the dedication cere- monies was his widow. Mrs. Lucy Fonda, presently of Seattle but formerly resident of Anchorage where she first went in 1916. Mrs Fonda spoke briefly to the crowd bringing greetings from the Alaska Yukon Pioneers at Seattle.
 The 13A-foot statue, which stands on a base of native rock in front of the Alaska Pioneers Home, wa unveiled and dedicated by the sculp- tors daughter, Mrs. Charmaint Gross, of Juneau.
 FLAG IS RAISED
 | A special observance of Alasks Day completed the afternoons cere- monies. E. L. Keithahn, Curator of the Territorial Literary and Mu- scum, related briefly the events ol October IS, 1867, when the U s. s \ Ossipee, U. s. s. Jamestown anc U. S. s. Resaca were in Sitka foi the formal transfer of the Territory
 Following his talk, the Sitka Seq Scouts and Sitka Boy Scouts, re- presenting respectively the Russian troops and American troops, per- formed the ceremony of lowering the Russian colors and hoisting the Stars and Stripes. They fecited ex- cerpts from President Johnsons proclamation of purchase and re- enacted the formal transfer by Cap tain Peschouroff, the Russian Com missioner, to General Lowell Rous- seau, the American Commissioner
 A gun salute to the flag by fir ing squad from the U. s. s. Baga- duce followed the raising of the American flag. The Alaska Day ob- servance was concluded with the singing of Alaska, My Alaska and the days ceremonies ended with group singing of "The Stal Spangled Banner" to the accom- paniment of the Sitka High Schoo , Band.
 Charles w. Carter of Juneau acted as Master of Ceremonies. LARGE ATTENDANCE Despite a drizzly rain, crow' attended the ceremonies in the larg open square in front of the Pioneers Home. It was. perhaps, fully as col orful a crowd as that which attend 7 ed the original transfer. It includ : ed a squad of United States Mar : ines which acted as Color Guard members of the crew of the Nav : fleet tug Bagaduce, in Sitka iron 2 its Kodiak base for the occasion 1, the High School Band in blue, whit and gold uniforms; group 0 : Thlinget men and women in beau tiful and colorful ceremonial robe and blankets; students of the Shel don Jackson Junior College am Mt Edgecumte School, and tn citizens of Sitka, most of the mel l in full boards which were sproute' especially for the occasion. ii HI-JINKS, TOO
 The Alaska Day events commenc ed Monday evening with dance the Moose Hall and Elks Hall, feat uring prospectors, miners, danc hall girls. old fashioned girls il long skirts and bonnets, flash. gamblers and bartenders, am boards, boards and boards. Ther were prizes for costumes and 10 boards the longest beard, the mos unique beard and. best of all, fo , the most caressable beard" A special feature of the eveninl , was a troupe of dance hall girls , can-can dancers and songsters wh' reached Sitka by way of Ruby, Ram , part, Dyea, Silver Bow Basin, Root , znahoo and other thriving camp and brought down the house witt } their performances at both thu } Elks and Moose parties.
 , A Sourdough Mug-Up, complet } with beans and other yictuals ap , propriate to the trail, and dancin , la Days of '98, held at the Sitk , ,rommunitv House. wound up tn