Highlights of History from The Whitehorse Star
The Gold Rush Cemetery at Skagway, Alaska
Felix Estrada first appeared in the newspapers in The Daily Alaskan (Skagway) of March 3, 1901, when he was listed as one of 17 school students who each donated $1 to the library fund.
On May 16, 1903, he was listed in The Weekly Star (Whitehorse) as one of 15 boys who had been recruited to join the North Star Athletic Club.
April 11, 1904, The Daily Evening Star: "A warrant was sworn out today for Felix Estrada, who was formerly employed as a newsboy on the train between Whitehorse and Skagway, but was discharged by Mr. Biglow, manager for the Bennett News Co. because
he was caught attempting to smuggle.
The present case against him is for the theft last night of a $50 bill entrusted to him to get changed. When arrested he bad spent $19 of the money."
The Daily Evening Star - Tuesday, April 12, 1904
When the case against Felix Estrada was called in the police court this morning the youth pleaded guilty to the offense of theft, with which he was charged. Police Magistrate Taylor in passing sentence told the prisoner that in consideration for his youth he thought it right that he should exercise the discretionary powers with which he was clothed, and would, therefore pass suspended sentence on him provided restitution of the money was made to the owner, but warned Estrada that should he ever be brought before the court again he would receive a severe sentence not only for any future offense but also on the present charge.
In connection with this case we believe the young man has yielded to bad
influences rather than that he is naturally viciously inclined. The Star is in possession of facts relative to a certain man who, it is alleged, has been exerting a bad influence not only over Estrada but other youths about the same age, and unless this man desires to attain a very unpleasant notoriety it will be well for him to "hit the trail" across the border.
Men who are so mean and despicable as to lead younger ones astray deserve
no consideration at the hands of anyone, and the police will be upheld in their efforts to drive all such loafers from the town or put them to work on the woodpile at the barracks.
April 15, 1904, The Daily Alaskan: "Felix Estrada, until April 1 one of the newsboys on the W. P. & Y. R. trains, was sentenced to two years in jail for embezzlement. He had taken a $50 bill to get it changed and converted most of the money to his own use. The sentence was suspended upon condition that Estrada make restitution of the money and that his behavior shall be good hereafter. The suspension was on account of the prisoner's youth and the belief that evil companions were more at fault than he."
The Daily Evening Star - Friday, April 22, 1904
Felix Estrada died last night at the Whitehorse General hospital, to which place he was taken less than 48 hours previously. Death resulted from tonsilitis.
Estrada was well known in Whitehorse, having for a long time been employed by the Bennett News Company as newsboy on the train. He was 18 years of age.
The remains will be shipped tomorrow to Skagway for interment.
The Daily Alaskan - Friday, April 22, 1904
The news was received today of the death of Felix Estrada at Whitehorse
this morning of tonsilitis. The new was received today by telegraph.
The body will be brought to Skagway tomorrow and the interment will be at this place. The funeral will probably be from St. Saviour's church Sunday afternoon.
Felix Estrada was an orphan. He leaves two brothers, Frank and Lawrence, at Whitehorse, and a sister Mrs. Young, at this place. Until the discontinuation of the service, he was a newsboy on the W. P. & Y. R. train. He had been ill several days.
Monday, April 25, 1904, The Daily Evening Star: "Thanks. C. Gomez desires to thank all those who kindly contributed in the name of sweet charity toward bearing the expenses incident to the death and shipment of the body to Skagway of the late Felix Estrada, for which purpose Mr. Gomez collected among the good people of Whitehorse $107."
Tuesday, April 26, 1904, The Daily Evening Star: "Felix Estrada, the young man who died early last week, was buried at Skagway on Sunday."
