Urine, human urine, cured moccasins made from moose hide. Donald “Smitty” Schmitt didn’t know that when he admired the ones of the feet of guide, Johnny Johns. When Donna Blazor-Bernhardt interviewed Schmitt, an officer in Company D of the 93rd, about his experience on the Alaska Highway project, he had lots of memories, but …
Category Archives: Famous Alaskans
Soapy Smith
Soapy Smith came to Skagway to get rich—like everybody else in the Gold Rush years. But Jefferson Randolph Smith had no intention of mining gold. Soapy came to mine miners. Link to another story “Fascinating Skagway” A confidence man up from Georgia, dressing and presenting like a southern gentleman, Soapy took his name from one …
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp. The name brings to mind Tombstone, Arizona and the gunfight at the OK Corral. In 1881, Wyatt, two of his brothers and Doc Holliday permanently ended the careers of five outlaws there. Few people know that Wyatt Earp had as much impact on Nome, Alaska as he did on Tombstone. Link to another …