12

Johnny Taku Jack, iovember
1972, age of 69 years old.

Tonnny Taku Jack recently
rettred at the age of 69. He
worked as a Janttor for Casst-
ar. ite was born and lived tin
iiuig area all hts ltfe, so we
tought that our readers mtigh-
t be tnterested to learn more
about him,
As it turned out the White-

‘horse Star had the same idea | °
and the followtng story, wrt-

tten by Johnny, was published
tn thetr Oetober 4th editton.
It was necessary for John-
nu to leave school wnen he
us tn Grade 3, and we fell
he has done an excellent ol

of relatina hte story.
HEX

Born in Atlin, April 26,
1903. Son of Chief Taku
Jack and wife, Mrs. Emma
Jack of Atlin, Johnny T.
Jack.

I was
went farming for Mr.

12 years old when I
E.W.

Pillman, cutting hey, pickine’

potatos, spletting wood,
pack water for $75 per montu

and at 14 years old, I cut
cord wood for Mr. Luise
Schulz for $2.50 per cord -
four feet wide, 4 feet hiach,
eight feet lond pile.

Then in year 1923, I go to_

Carcross looking for a job.
At that time Mr. and Mrs.
Gedion was running the Cari-
bou Hotel and Mr. Friser was
agent at the White Pass Depa.
They all help me to find
work for me finly time had
come when Mr. Fraser told me
to get on the train to Penn-
ington, 16 miles south of
Carcross. There I settle
for 4 years working for for-
man, Mr. Denny Kostas is a
Greek, but a verry good man
to me. But as any forman
you'll have to work. Three
of us work together the firs
-t season, was me Johnny T.
Jack and Billy Hall, and ,
Jimmy Smarch of Teslin. So

in June 1923 they put qn the -

full crew. It was John
Boone and [dger Sidney at
the end of the second year I
start to take straw boss ee.
when the forman take his
holidays. Then the rest of
the crews quit and go on

other jops. rt

So then had come my friend: ye
Come to’ Carcross =~
Bill Hall tells me they want” oa Vy,
an we

Bill Hall.
one day June 25, 1927 and

a deckhand in the fraight
bord SS Aksala down the

Tulsequah. They ask re if I

want to come with them to
stake claims. So I quit the
Yukon River and I come back
to Atlin and we all go to
Taku River. That four of

us Tom Williams, I'enry Jack,
three brothers, sons of :
Chief Taku Jack.

RAILWAY TRACK

Back to 1923 when I go to
work on the railway track.
He only get 24 cents an hour
and 10 hours a day, 6 days a
week and no coffee time and
if we had track troubles we
work around the clock 24
hours at same 24 cents an
hours. No time and half.

Then in 1927 in Boad Deck-
hand we get sixty dollars

Yukon River and I get inter-"~ |

ested so I give.my boss one

week notice that I am quit- 73*3"

ing so I quit.

Last day of :

June 1927 and I go to White= +;

horse by train and got on th”
SS Aksala as deckhand. There
I was with Billy lall going
to Dawson City I was on the
Yukon River 1927-8-9-30.
Four seasons in 1929 I start
as Deck Boy, and learn how
to splice cables off all
tipe all so rop splice and
I take up second officer
part time and at 1930 in
August I got a phoone call
from my brother lenry T.
Jack. Ie told me that in
1929 him and Tom fVilliams
they find some mineral down

Oetober 1952, Joh) paahala"
ling Atlin-Teleqraph Domin-
ton Tratl, to Atlin.

per month straight and no
over times. Some times we
get on a sand bar and work ©
32 hours untill we clear the
boad.

Back to our story, 1930
after I come back to Atlin
we left for Tulsequah August
30, 1930. We all four go to
Tulsequah, Tom ITilliams and
Henry Jack and Edward Jack
and myself, Johnny T. Jack.