Last Saturday evening, Dec. 6, about 6 o'clock, Hank Summers, an oldtimer in Alaska and the Yukon and one of the well known prospectors and miners of the north, passed away at the General hospital. His death being due to a severe attack of pneumonia.
He came up from Juneau a short time ago with the intention of going through to the Chisana country. While he was here, he and his partner, Joe Cooper, were living in the Shadwell house. A few days ago he was taken quite sick and was received into the hospital in a very critical condition, and when the shadows had fallen on Saturday the end came.
Hank Summers was one of the oldest timers in the country, having been on
the Yukon river at Circle City before the discovery of gold in the Klondike. Those best acquainted with him claim he arrived in Alaska in 1884. He was born in California, and was one of the fortunate ones in the Dawson stampede where he made a fortune. Some time later and when the rich placer diggings was discovered on the beach at Nome he stampeded to that place. He invested a large portion of his wealth in San Francisco, but when the earthquake
occurred in that city he lost a great deal of property.
It is generally understood that Hank was the person who discovered the gold at Meander creek last spring, and was the one who started the stampede to that place.
He was a member of the Yukon Order of Pioneers, and when he died Dr.
L. S. Sugden telegraphed to the officers of the lodge in Dawson informing them of Hank's death. The burial took place here on Tuesday afternoon when quite a number of the citizens showed their last respects to the dead by following the remains to the grave. The Rev.
W. G. Blackwell of the Church of England conducted the funeral service. The arrangements were in the hands of the Yukon Order of Pioneers.
Like the majority of pioneers of the frontier countries he was somewhat reticent about his folks, or his life previous to coming to the north. It is supposed that he has a sister living in Colorado. Of a kind and generous disposition he was was well liked by all who were acquainted with him. He was 62 years of age when he died.
