The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-05-04
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
The O,d River Paying Off

 s.lt, accumulated over the years in the inner harbor, into the new re- claimed area behind the new break water. It meant that approximately i've acres of land would be added to the heart of the town which formerly nad been tideflats. It was the same area where a million and a half loss occurred in the disas- trouS fire of March 1852 as half the business district, then built on piling, went up in smoke.
 For more than 20 years since the last dredging, the old river had, been backing its mud and debris into the little arm which forms the inner harbor. For 20 years it has been cursed by the boat operators who got stuck in its grayish mud. For 20 years the community had plugged and plugged and plugged for another dredging of the inner harbor.
 Last year the Congress approved and gave the Army Corps of En- gineers the green light. This week lic 4hdASOu-OSUSIS SuC- cessful bidders on the project, mov- ed their big dredge in. Today the Stikine river mud was coming round the bend to fill a valuable waterfront area in the heart of the town. Its removal from the inner harbor was creating a larger and more accessible refuge for small # were being fulfilled.
 The old river kept windings it way to the sea, dumping a little mud here and a little mud there Another generation would find plenty of fill material whenever it needed it.
 As the poet wrote of Oregon's famed old Willamette:
 Onward ever lovely river, soft ly flowing to the sea; time that scars us, mains and mars us, leaves no track or trench on thee"
 Man Does His Bit. Too
 To capture the use of the mater ial the river had supplied, man had done record job. Thirty days ago, on April 2, to be exact, Pro- go-ahead from the City Council gathered his crew and set the first piling in the new breakwater. There was May 1 deadline to meet when a retaining wall must be ready to hold the fill.
 In those 30 following days, city crews working day and night with the favorable tides erected a break water or seawall containing 3O,0OO lineal feet of driven piling. set pill ing, mud braces etc, and 30,250 lineal feet of pianking. At peak times up to S7 men worked on the project. On May 2, Engineer Voor- hies was prepared to say, ~they can start pumping it in"
 Estimates were off, costs were off, plans had to be changed and the problems of a rush job were ever present. With limited equip ment, they had to do it the hard way - largely manpower alone. But they did it. The breakwatar was ready on schedule
 A community salute to Engineer Voorhies and his men who turned out a record task against the toughest obstacles.
 He Wi Be Sorelv Missed
 There is void in the community this week. One that leaves a mark ed sadness in the whole town. Curley ThornQuist, for Is years an outstanding figure among us, suc- cumbed to a heart attack.
 Jovial Harold B. Thornquist will be sorely missed. His big, wide smile and cheery morning greeting as he prepared to open the bank for the days business had come to be an established part of the con- munity life. Where's Curley?" was a familiar query if he happened to ,be out of town for a day or two. Immediately, his genial personality and radiant good will was missing.
 In his church where he gave out with his we'll known baSso voice; in the "Stikine Stampede where he clowned in his early-day costume and six-shooter; in the Chamber of Commerce where he served for three successive years as president; in the fraternal orders - Masons and Elks where he had been active and esteemed with high of- flee; in the gasboat forecastle off on fishing trips or running the river in search of moose, Curley leaves tremendous void.
 Wrangell and Alaska has lost one of its finest citizens; good neighbor, Humanitarian, friend of & countless number.
 Our sympathy, and that of the community, goes to his family who have lost a husband and father; we have lost a good friend. It may be part consolation to know that Curley will not soon De forgotten.
 L. W.