Thank you very much to Andrew Charlie of Old Crow, Roger Mendelsohn of Dawson City, and Barbara Adam of Whitehorse, for their letters about the famous riverboat pilot Frank Slim.
Their answers are appreciated.
The letters follow:
Dear Jim:
I can identify the man in the picture. He is unmistakably Frank Slim.
I met him in the late 1960s when I was planning my first river trip to Dawson. He told me to take care on the Thirtymile part of the river, and what side of Five Finger Rapids to travel on.
I used to live on the other side of the river from Whitehorse. One spring day, Frank and Jimmy Jonnie, another riverboat man, gave me heck for walking across the ice on the river to get to town.
I have never forgotten that.
These men cared enough to warn me of the danger. Later, Jimmy J made two trips with me to Dawson and helped me build the cabin near Indian River.
Roger Mendelsohn
PS: I am now a riverboat