1924::From Washington to Alaska on a 16-Foot Open Boat... With a Goat
- Papertown Station
- Apr 7, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: May 8, 2024
Washington State family man takes family and pets on a summer cruise to Alaska.
"1924::Bon Voyage!"
Photo Clip: Battle Creek Enquirer (1924)
Battle Creek, Michigan
On June 2, 1924, Linden Pentz of Seattle, Washington, set out on a cruise to Alaska in a 16-foot open boat. Onboard was his wife, their 6-month-old son Jean, their goat Seragro (for feeding the babe and providing milk), their dog Sourdough, and their black cat No-See-Um as their good-luck mascot.
"I want to show that such a cruise is possible as a family outing." - Linden B. Pentz
"1924::The Ark"
Clip: The Philadelphia Inquirer (1924)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The boat was geared with a small motor and sail, a non-sinkable crib ringed with life preservers and enough provisions to last two months. They planned to beach the small catboat each night and sleep in their tent while the goat foraged for food. They hoped to arrive safely in Alaska on time for the babe to cut his teeth on a piece of grizzly bear hide or mountain goat steak.
"All you need is a small boat, a few supplies and a spirit of adventure, and off you go!" - Linden B. Pentz
"1924::Family Arrives in Prince Rupert"
Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1924)
Victoria, British Columbia
By the time news of the Pentz family's departure was reported in newspapers across the continent, they had already arrived safely in Ketchikan, Alaska, with nothing to report but a beautiful, safe, and uneventful two-month 1,000-mile journey. From Ketchikan, they ditched their boat and journeyed to Skagway, Alaska, to see the sights. North Americans followed their journey as newspapers reported their sail up the coast.
"1924::Arriving in Ketchikan, Alaska"
Clip: Nanaimo Daily News (1924)
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Pentz, born in 1893, remembered the excitement of the Alaska gold rush when he was a young boy growing up on the coast. The stories of adventure and fortune from that time had always fascinated him. He spent time in Alaska as a young man, working in the newspaper industry and exploring the wilderness. Later, when he started a family, he felt that his young wife and son deserved to experience the remoteness and beauty of the Great North. It had been a trip of a lifetime for the young family, a journey of personal adventure.
