Felix, Joy, & Dandy Pedro

Felix, Joy, and Dandy Pedro. Death of Joy, Felix Pedro's Dog. , In the early days of our local history, a dog was a revered animal to many men. A good dog could help shoulder a load, provide an ear for a lonely miner, patrol mining camp perimeters and alerting of impending intrusion by either man or beast, and they were a great aid in keeping a camp clean from bear attracting debris. Most men had at least one dog in those days. Felix Pedro was no exception, in fact he had two, and those dogs were with him when he made his discovery of gold here in 1902:, FELIX PEDRO MOURNS DOG THAT PULLED HIS SLED. With an expression of dejection as though he had lost a near relative, Felix Pedro, a noted Alaskan prospector, spoke feelingly today of irreparable loss of his valuable dog, which was electrocuted on the third rail of the interurban line at Edgewood yesterday. Pedro returned from Alaska last fall, having left Fairbanks in August for his ranch near Edgewood. He brought his dogs with him. Joy, the one that was killed, and his mate, Dandy. Joy was purchased when a pup at Circle City in 1900., He was of mixed blood, three-quarters malamute and one-quarter shepherd. Felix Pedro is widely known as the discoverer of gold in the famous Tanana district, and Joy pulled the first sled into camp in 1902. In that year, Pedro struck pay in his discovery on Pedro creek, about 15 miles from Fairbanks. He also located a rich claim on Cleary creek which, owing to ill health, he sold in 1903 for $6,000. This claim proved to be the richest one in the country. Over $500,000 in gold has been taken out and it is said to be not more than half worked., Through all the years of his experience in Alaska his dog Joy was his faithful friend, working hard on the trail, or guarding his cabin. "I would share my last crust with him," said the rugged but soft hearted miner. "No money could buy him, but now he is dead." The dog's body will be buried on Pedro's ranch at Edgewood and a suitable stone erected to his memory. , - San Francisco Call - January 5, 1908, Story provided by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pioneers of Alaska..