Northwest History. Alaska. General.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1934
• Subjects: luck; Spokane; Miss Marion Johnson; Kodiak; Alaska; Mrs. E. Ben Johnson; Sitka; Seattle; Curacao; Ketchikan; Aleutian islands; the United States; salmon pack; face bankruptcy; Greek Orthodox church; Russian village; strike; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Pacific; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/91934

Luck Brings Spokane Girl Past Strike. LUCK BRINGS SPOKANE GIRL PAST STRIKE. Two weeks of hectic travel, six times facing the prospect of spending the summer in some lonely northern settlement and luck brought Miss Marion Johnson home from Kodiak, Alaska, for the first visit in two years with her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. E. Ben Johnson, N4128 Wall. Miss Johnson, who teaches at Kodiak, on the island of the same name, 500 miles from Sitka, set out, warned by friends that the longshoremen's strike in Seattle might make it impossible to reach the States for months. She left with friends aboard a freight and passenger boat, the Curacao, to make the trip, which usually takes eight days, with no change of boats. Land Six Times. "We landed at six different ports, each time told by the captain it was as far as he had orders to proceed," explained Miss Johnson. "We went ashore in despair, unloading my traveling companion's eight trunks, but within a few hours, sometimes almost as soon as we had disembarked, the captain would come to us with the welcome news that he had orders to proceed to the next port. "We finally arrived at Ketchikan, where we hoped to take the Canadian liner south. We found hundreds ahead of us frantically trying to secure reservations. By good fortune we obtained a stateroom, cancelled at the last minute. "The boat was crowded, the women all in first-class cabins, but the men, including a baron, a count, and a wealthy game hunter, who had come on the Curacao with us from big game hunting int he Aleutian islands, were in the steerage. Lack of Food. "When I left, Alaskans were suffering from the lack of fresh foods of every kinds, usually shipped from the United States. The stock of butter, milk, eggs and other perishables was running low. Residents were very much worried, particularly about obtaining cans for the salmon pack. If the pack is not made this year the territory may face bankruptcy at much of the revenue for operating the district comes from the tax on the industry." Miss Johnson, who is young, blonde and attractive, was dressed in a white suit with a light blue voile blouse and small white hat. She has taught at Kodiak three years. "Life in Alaska seems happier and simpler, and one hears little about the depression. Kodiak is the oldest town in the territory, settled by Russians, who keep their native cutoms and ahve a Greek Orthodox church. They built the city in imitation of a Russian village. Many delightful people live there and have built lovely homes. It is gay socially, with dances and bridge parties. Sportsman's Paradise. "The island is a veritable sportsman's paradise with hunting, fishing, skating and skiing. The temperature warm months wild roses cover the country. I am looking forward to returning in the fall."