The following is an article in the Petersburg Pilot Newspaper of Petersburg, Alaska on August 11, 2016 Longtime resident and author turns 90 by Jess Field ![]() If you ask Wayne Short what his profession was he'll most likely respond with acute, warm laughter. The Petersburg resident will be turning 90 next week, and his resume includes veteran, carpenter, hunter, trapper, fisherman and author. Short's first book The Cheechakoes, published in 1964, became popular in Europe, and it bought him his first big boat, the F/V Denny M, a 45-footer that allowed him to start making "real money." The story of Short's life strongly follows the footsteps of his pioneer relatives, including his father, a man who could not stay in one place for too long. "I just like to do things myself, and that's why I got into boats up here as soon as I could and I kept getting bigger boats," Short says. "You needed a boat big enough so you could pack a lot of ice, in those days we didn't have refrigeration or anything." The Cheechakoes detailed the adventures of his family moving to Surprise Harbor on the southern end of Admiralty Island, in the 50s. The famly stayed there for seven years and battled brown bears on the doorstep of their cabin and took on the steep learning curve of becoming commercial fishermen. One man read Short's book and became inspired to "become a mountain man." Short refers to the man as a goodhearted storyteller with a strong imagination and a love of guns. He often could be seen carrying a .44 magnum like Clint Eastwood's movie character Dirty Harry, even though he weighed 100 pounds soaking wet, and liked to shoot jelly fish off docks with the hand cannon. "He though the Commies were coming over the hill any minute, you know," Short says laughing. "Oh my god, he had machine guns and mortars." The idea for the book came on the radar of a New York agent after he and Short started corresponding. The agent pushed Short to write about living the pioneer life in Alaska, because it's northing short of remarkable. The agent's persistence paid off, awaking the storyteller in Short. One winter, after Short completed his fishing season he sat down and started writing. "At that time, I wrote three chapters and I knew kind of how it could end and I wrote the end chapter, and just a one page outline of the other chapters just off the top of my head," he says. "Sent it in, he took it over to Random House and sold it, and I got advance money." Writing became a way to supplement his self-sustaining lifestyle. One trick Short uses while writing is stopping the day's work in the middle of a sentence. Then the next morning, he gets up and does something , like chop wood, to get going then come in and reread the last chapter he wrote and start writing again. It's a process, and one Short has honed although he won't be writing about his experiences during World War II anytime soon. Short joined the Navy the day after he turned 17 years old and got out the day before he turned 21. During his service, Short took shrapnel in his back from a suicide plane, but the injury wasn't anything major, he says. Short spent time in Saipan, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima on a 328-foot by 50-foot wide landing ship tank or LST. "We could hold about 25 or 30 tanks, besides a lot of Marines, and after Saipan and Iwo Jima sometimes we'd have that fll down there of wounded and dead," he says humbly. "Somebody asked me why I didn't start writing about the war, you know, because I was in plenty of action there. But I don't know, I just saw so much damn death." Short says the war is "still a sore spot." For him, living in Alaska meant freedom to be his own man. It was still a territory at the time and a man could make his own way by working hard. Short and his brothers, Duke and Dutch, did everything they could to get ahead instead of constantly working for wages, including earning extra money by bounty hunting seals with their .220 Swift rifles. Wayne and Duke even ended up buying a crab cannery in Kake on a whim. One day the brothers were looking to offload crab and the cannery was quiet as a ghost town. They soon discovered the cannery wasn't operating for the day because the owner had a flat tire on the vehicle he used to shuttle workers to and from work. "So Duke and I went back to our boat, and got out a jug and poured us a few tosses there," he says. "We decided to go and buy him out or try to." Short hails from a long line of pioneers who fought Indians in Texas, and one family member who is regarded as one of the Old West's most colorful gamblers and gunfighters. Luke Short had a talent for gambling, was a dead shot and good friends with Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. In fact, the biography Short wrote about his relative caught the attention of Hollywood moviemakers, and he recently signed an option for the rights to the story. There's been talk of Tom Cruise playing the lead role, and Michael Mann is slated to direct the film, Short says. "I hope they get an actor I like. They want to get going on it pretty quick, and I hope they do. Before I kick the bucket, I'd like to see it," he says with enthusiastic laughter. Wayne and his wife, Barb, have called Petersburg home for decades and a small celebration of his 90th birthday will take place at the couple's Mountain View Manor residence next week. Short is truly Alaskan, and his stories will live on in the hearts of many long after he is gone. Books by Wayne Short, which can be purchased at Amazon.com:
The Cheechakoes This Raw Land (the sequel to The Cheechakoes) Albie & Billy, the Skypilot and Other Stories Luke Short: A Biography of one of the Old West's Most Colorful Gamblers and Gunfighters
35 Comments
12/26/2019 03:52:15 pm
I am the grandaughter of missouri lee short,please contact me.
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S McCullough
6/3/2020 04:36:10 pm
My 11 year old son and I just finished reading Mr. Short’s Book, the Cheechakoes and we thoroughly enjoyed it! What a great adventure story told by a gifted storyteller!
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6/3/2020 04:40:36 pm
I enjoyed all of Wayne's books too! Wayne is still alive and living in Alaska. He is a distant cousin of mine. Thank you for contacting me. I will forward your comment to his son, they will appreciate hearing about you and your son
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6/8/2020 01:13:58 pm
I have emailed you Wayne's mailing address, so you should be able to contact him through the mail. His son says he will be very happy to hear from ya'll!
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Jenny Burdick Holbert
8/19/2020 08:51:20 am
My mom, Eloise Brownson Burdick Meyer, was friends with Barb and Wayne! I was born in Juneau to Dr Whitehead in 1956 and would love to know more about mom and dad--Jim Burdick! And when it is safe, would like to visit again.
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8/19/2020 11:40:16 am
Hi Jenny! That would be a wonderful trip. Barb and Wayne are living in Petersburg in retirement. I hope you are able to return to Alaska soon!
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Jenny Holbert
8/23/2022 04:52:17 pm
I'm sorry that I didn't get this response and was just looking up Wayne again, because I'd love to talk with him and Barb! One of my final two courses this fall (I'm on the GI Bill) will focus on my mom's experiences in Alaska and I'd really like to make contact with them. They met because my mom and Barb were both in labor on the same day with boys, I believe during an evacuation drill at the hospital. Can you please reach me on the email I provided? 8/23/2022 06:54:57 pm
I am sorry you didn't get my first response. I have also commented toothers on this blog that Wayne is still living in Petersburg, Alaska. His mailing address is: P.O. Box 1530, 16th North 12th Street, Petersburg, AK 99833
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Jenny Holbert
8/23/2022 07:17:32 pm
Thanks for the come-back! I did see their address, of course AFTER I sent my comment to you.
Bubba
2/3/2021 12:43:26 pm
Neat
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Tom Bowers
7/13/2021 09:08:25 pm
A great article I remember reading Wayne Short's first two books 50 years ago when I was like 14 years old. It made me dream of living such adventures. I remember being saddened when I read "This Raw Land" was dedicated in memory of Wayne brother Dutch. I always wondered what things would he accomplished had he lived.
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7/13/2021 09:42:34 pm
Hi Tom, I am glad you enjoyed the article. Wayne is living in Petersburg, Alaska and I am in touch with his son, Lafe. If it's alright with you I will forward your post to Lafe so that he can read it to Wayne. Wayne loves getting mail from his readers.
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Tom Bowers
7/14/2021 06:00:37 am
Thank you Vicky I enjoyed the YouTube he did with his son Luke. I wish we could see photos of the family back then. That would be great two of the books I found were signed by him so that means a lot to me. Like I stated I admired Wayne for his writing and Dutch for his love of photography both of which I enjoy.
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Tom Bowers
7/14/2021 10:53:08 am
Oh Vicky I forgot to say that would be great to forward my post to Lafe to read to Wayne. It would be an honor. Thank you and I have a lot of tales of the family and how they moved around the country. I hope they would do a movie about Luke Short and about Wayne's books about his family. I know he said there was talk about but never got pass that stage of buying the rights to the books. Thank you again
Tom Bowers
7/14/2021 02:45:39 pm
Most of my free lance writing was about antique in papers about auction I went to. I need to write down stories my Dad told me about the family if I get that done I can post them somewhere
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Tom Bowers
7/14/2021 04:13:13 pm
Okay I will let you know thank you again for passing my note onto Lafe for Wayne to hear his books meant so much to me and I read the a lot during cancer treatment. But I am doing fine now and do what I can but had to give up my work restoring furniture but retired now
Carol Ferrari
8/10/2021 03:09:44 pm
I read Wayne's first two books and thoroughly enjoyed them. What a true Pioneer. I am wondering if Wayne is still living. I would love to send him a note. I also shared the books with my adult sons. The third book was only available in an Oregon or Alaskan library and was shipped to me from Medford Or.!
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Mary Terry (I’m the grand daughter of Nannie Belle Short
10/19/2021 06:59:03 pm
I would like to talk to, Luke Short. 936-876-3139. Thank you Mary
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10/25/2021 09:47:25 am
Hi Mary: I'm not sure what you are asking. Do you want to speak to Luke, like you pose in your comment or Wayne?? I am not familiar with Nannie Belle Short, what is her connection?
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John
12/25/2021 04:02:36 pm
I read Wayne's first book in the late 70'sand it stoked what was already my dreams of Alaska. It greatly influenced what became my military and law enforcement career in Alaska. I would be honored if you could put me in touch with him!
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12/27/2021 08:19:12 am
I would be happy to give you his contact info: His mailing address is: P.O. Box 1530, 16th North 12th Street, Petersburg, AK 99833 He will enjoy hearing from you!
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Carmen hrebar
1/11/2022 01:48:11 am
My husband Tony, was a great friend of Duke, Shirley, Wayne and Barb I. Kake lived down the road from the crab cannery..love to wayne.
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Tom Bowers
8/23/2022 07:40:16 pm
Great to hear about people who knew Wayne and the family
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John McMichael
2/8/2023 08:41:38 pm
I am your cousin on your mother’s side. Wayne’s mother and my mother were sisters. My mother was Hattie (Price) McMichael. Wayne was in Arizona last time we wrote.
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Luke P Short
11/25/2023 02:35:15 pm
I am the oldest son of Wayne Short, the author of "The Cheechakoes", "This Raw Land", "Albie, Billy the Sky Pilot and Other Stories" and "Luke Short, A Biography". My name is Luke Short and I live in Petersburg, Alaska. My Dad, Wayne, is still alive and lucid, living at the Assisted Living Facility at Mountain View Manor here in Petersburg, Alaska. He celebrated his 97th birthday anniversary in August of this year. My Dad has macular degeneration in both eyes and cannot read anymore, except laboriously with a magnifier with his peripheral vision. But his mind is still sharp and we have good conversations. I am managing the sale of his books for him; though his autograph is rather shaky and barely legible.
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11/25/2023 02:51:25 pm
Hi Luke - thank you for commenting and updating us on Wayne.. I sent you an email separately.
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Annette Sharpe
7/7/2024 05:36:05 pm
Just loved reading Mr Shorts two books about moving and living here in Alaska. While I was reading these books I was able to pass by the homestead sight and also look across the straight and see warm springs. Just totally loved it!
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8/23/2024 06:22:40 pm
I remember that Robbie Sauder gave me this book as a present on my thirteenth birthday. When I saw it was a book, I was really disappointed! It took me about 2 years before I read it. That was my loss! I was fascinated by the story and have read it many more times. I even read it to my daughters every night before bed, as part of our bedtime ritual. I still talk about some of their exploits, like the message in a bottle, the mailboat, and their Christmas running trap lines. It ranks as one of my favorite books of all time.
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Luke P. Short
8/27/2024 12:11:51 pm
This is Wayne Short's oldest son, Luke. My Dad celebrated his 98th birthday anniversary this August, 2024. There were several of us there with him, including his brother Duke's granddaughter with her 7 month old daughter and her husband. My Dad, Wayne, is still lucid and eager for conversation, and will get on his battery operated chair and go to the nearby store by himself to grocery shop for some of his favorite foods and desserts. Though the Assisted Living Facility at Mountain View Manor serves good food, my Dad enjoys some impulse shopping. I had my 73rd birthday anniversary this spring and decided not to continue working upon commercial fishing boats anymore, so I am here on a regular basis to drive my Dad around to other stores or the bank when he needs to go farther afield.
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ERIC J MORISKY
9/23/2024 01:18:15 am
Happy belated birthday Wayne! From a first time reader,in Stka,thanks for the good read
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Brian Carlson
9/7/2024 04:40:27 pm
Luke, I happened to jokingly mention to my wife today that we might get a williwaw. She didn't know what that meant so I told her and told that I learned the word by reading books about Alaska. I don't remember for sure if your dad used the word but it wouldn't surprise me. I read all 4 of his books several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them. I spoke to him after ordering them because they didn't show up and he sent me additional copies. He was quite the gentleman. I am happy to hear that he just celebrated his 98th birthday! God bless you all, Brian
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