John Rafliff

John Rafliff. John the Bearhunter. , The following story occurred around 1910 at a wood camp on the Yukon river about 30 miles above Circle. A boat loaded with tourists stopped and marveled at John the Bearhunter's apparent unconcern about the millions of mosquitoes that were buzzing around him., One of the more inquisitive tourists asked John how he could sit calmly there and allow hundreds of mosquitoes to light on him without making some effort to brush them off. John answered that mosquitoes didn't bother him at all. He further added that he could peel off his clothes and lay down and sleep without the mosquitoes causing him any discomfort. The tourist naturally doubted him and offered to give John $10.00 if he would take off his clothes and lay down for ten minutes and let the mosquitoes work on him. John needed $10 and it was no time at all until he was stripped and prone on his stomach., After eight minutes, had passed in rapid succession, the donor of the $10 felt uneasy and knew John was going to keep his bargain and win the money. Feeling that he didn't have $10 to invest in the enterprise, the donor, who was smoking a cheap cigar, reached over and gently pressed the burning end to a prominent part of John's exposed anatomy. The flesh sizzled and smoked a little and no doubt caused John some discomfort, but still he held his ground. John squirmed a wee bit but not enough to disqualify him. He sensed that things were not as they should be but not wishing to jeopardize his well-earned $10 he said: "Mister if you will knock that damn yaller-jacket off me, I'll lie here for 20 minutes.", Story provided by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pioneers of Alaska..