The Whitehorse Star, July 23, 1959

ROYAL STANDARD ON WHITE PASS FLOWN FOR TRIP TO McCRAE

The Royal Standard fluttered from the flag stays on the White Pass Locomotive diesel engine as Engineer Charlie Rapuzzi eased the Royal Train out of Whitehorse on its short journey to McCrae.

The Royal Coach had been completely redecorated inside and out by the Shop Staff in Skagway, Alaska. Over one hundred Skagway Citizens including 30 children were in Whitehorse for the big day.

Hundreds of Whitehorse citizens and visitors gathered at the Depot to see the Queen's arrival. Before entering the train Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Rogers and Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Abrams were presented to the Royal Couple.

The Royal Couple saw Whitehorse Rapids and Miles Canyon which figured prominently in the "Stampede of '98". On the same stretch of water they saw the new multi-million dollar dam.

At McCrae the thirty-five minute train ride ended and Mr. C.J. Rogers introduced the Royal Train Crew to the Queen and the Prince.

White Passer, Engineer Charlie Rapuzzi, with over fifty years White Pass Service, was the first to be presented. It was a great moment for Charlie who said just before leaving the station, "She is a fine lady and I want to give her the very best train ride I can."

He was followed by Fireman Hugh Forney, Brakeman Robert Hamms and Ted Caluort and finally Conductor Jack Lee who has over twenty years service with the Route.

At McCrae the Queen and the Royal Party left the train and returned to Whitehorse by car.

Forty members of the press accepted a White Pass invitation to ride to Carcross where a buffet supper and refreshments had been arranged at the Caribou Hotel.

A home made sign backed by bunting saying "Welcome Press" greeted them to Carcross as it hung from the balcony of the Hotel. John Phelps and the Army provided launches which were boarded after supper for a cruise on the lake.

John Rankin, press relations office said "Its like fairyland to be on a boat in the middle of a lake in the Land of the Midnight Sun. And what's more fantastic is that just over that hill is the Queen of England."

On the White Pass Station Platform, they gathered together and one of their number made an impromptu speech stating "This has been the highlight of our trip across Canada. He thanked Mr. Abrams of the White Pass for making the trip possible and putting a train at their disposal. He thanked Commissioner Collins and the Territorial Government for the splendid repast provided at Carcross.

Then a very unusual thing occurred. The press gave three cheers for the Territorial Government, the White Pass and the people of the Yukon Territory.

'The Stroller' Views Yukon's Royal Visit

When the first plane had left the airport and the Royal Tour was officially over there was a feeling of anti-climax in the community The feeling lasted about 30 seconds until residents started to recall some of the sidelights of the tour that will last in their memory as long as does their affection for the city's gracious visitor.

Here are some of them:

For 25 minutes Saturday at the museum which bears his name Historian Bill MacBride explained the exhibits to the Royal Visitors. Mrs. MacBride told the Queen about the late Martha Louise Black and Bill told the Duke about Yukon wildlife and Indian artifacts.

To the Queen, the museum founder said, "As you look at Patsy Henderson you can reach out a hand to touch the history of the Yukon." Patsy is the last living member of the group which started the Klondike rush.

The page from the guest book signed by the Royal Couple will be framed and preserved in the museum. The pen used by the Royal visitors will also be kept.

If anyone could have come close to the Royal Luggage when it was being trundled from the DOT Viscount, over to the VIP house, they would have seen that Her Majesty's luggage all bears a small metal plate. On it is written, "The Queen."

In the same way, Price Philip's luggage is marked, "H.R.H"

Chef for the Royal Household last weekend was RCAF Cpl. Frederick J. Johnstone from Moose Jaw, who was stationed formerly in Whitehorse. Cpl. Johnstone prepared all meals in the VIP house, except for Saturday night when the power went off for a short while. Apparently a fuse blew in a transformer nearby.

Light meals were served Sunday while Her Majesty wasn't feeling well. For Sunday dinner, roast mountain sheep was featured.

Flowers were everywhere last weekend in the RCAF Guest House, to honor the Queen and Prince Philip. From the Dominion Experimental Farm and from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sparks' garden came marigolds, zinnias and other blooms grown in the Yukon. Also from the Farm at Mile 1019 came Dr. Joe Tsukamoto, who spent two hours Saturday morning arranging bouquets for the VIP house.

In all the excitement of the Royal Visit, there were several moments of sheer panic. One of them occurred Sunday when it became known Her Majesty was too ill to continue her duties.

While reporters sent rush messages to all parts of the globe, here in Whitehorse still another crisis popped up Organizers of the Royal Tour forgot to send along the Duke of Edinburgh's personal standard, which must be flown from any car or plane he rides in. However, by good luck 19 Company Service Corps happened to have one of the Duke's standards available and, in the nick of time, it was unfurled to be placed on the royal car after church Sunday.

The lovely ensemble Her Majesty, the Queen wore on her arrival at Whitehorse Saturday, was a Hartnell original as are all the Queen's gowns. Touched off by white accessories was a cherry and white printed silk dress with pleated skirt, worn under a cherry red wool coat. The Queen's hat was white silk with pink rosettes and a white net veiling.

There was some pretty fast shuffling around to find an open car for the Queen's tour of the city after a Royal request for such a vehicle. Half an hour after her arrival, RCMP had found a likely-looking vehicle, a 1959 Ford Fairlane convertible driven by Cassiar miner Vincenzo Caparelli.

Fourteen minutes after police swooped down to ask for use of the car, the Army had polished it up and it was ready at the airbase to start the tour.

Saturday night Service Corps mechanics D.J. Leigh and R. Lawrie went to work replacing a speedometer cable and a tail-light on the car, supplied by Whitehorse Motors spare parts department manager Slim Conoly. Driving the convertible for royal appearances was Staff Sergeant G. Vills.

Northerners saw their first royal pilot when the Duke of Edinburgh flew to Dawson and Mayo. He took the four-engine de Haviland Heron on the tour originally scheduled for both himself and the Queen.

According to a member of the royal household, the Prince owns a similar plane and is quite familiar with the Heron. He returned here late Sunday afternoon and taxied right up to the VIP house, while the Queen watched from a window. The Duke also took over a driver in the car which took the party fishing later that day.