Chris McCandless: Piece of Mattress From Bus 142 Also Put Up On Ebay
October 7, 2007
Update: Click Here to Read Alaska DNR Response
So I mentioned the piece from The Outside Blog yesterday regarding the instrument cluster from Bus 142–that Chris McCandless was found dead in, in 1992. Now comes a more morbid item.
A piece of cloth from the mattress that Chris died on. The seller, who happens to be the same person who sold the instrument cluster for $177.50, has stated that these items were taken on a “cleaning” expedition for the trail that he went on.
I have one question. If it were a “cleaning” expedition, shouldn’t these items be in the trash and not at the sellers house? If they were “trash”, then why are they on Ebay? The seller is trying not to draw to much attention to these items by claiming he was only there to clean the area…yet he came home with items that he specifically was marketed as the “Into the Wild” movie has hit the big screen. Sound like a person only out to help clean up the environment? Yeah, not to me either.
I did contact Denali National park about the first item. They told me that they have no jurisdiction over the area, as the Stampede Trail lies two miles outside of Denali National Park. They have put me in touch with the Department of Natural Resources, though, in Alaska. I am still awaiting word from them at this time.
To myself, this is plain and simple theft. The perpetrator is trying to cash in on an unfortunate situation..and he is undoubtably drawing more attention to himself.
I now have the guys name and hometown, along with the ads for the two items and the photos of the bus and the matress ect..as proof. This information will be given to the DNR, and hopefully something good will come out of this.
My intention lies in the fact that this seller is keeping the money and cashing in on something that doesn’t belong to him. The matter of the bus on the Stampede Trail should be a DNR issue. If anyone cashes in, it should be the DNR and the Alaskan Park system…not some Bozo that seen dollar signs with anything he could grab out of the bus.
The piece of mattress for sale had an asking price of $20. No one bid. The auction closed with no bidders. Seems like a few people have noticed the same thing–
I will keep you updated as I dig a bit deeper.
From The Adventurist Vault:
Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Chris McCandless |
Glad to see that people aren’t just taking this kind of stuff. Sure, there are probably people who would buy something like that. But that’s not excuse to take something and cash in on an unfortunately incident like McCandless’ death.
You know, if you look back on many people who have gained a sort of mystique upon their deaths, this has happened alot. John Dillinger and Jim Morrison have both had their gravestones stolen so many times that now they are 1) buried in six feet of cement to keep people from stealing the bodies and 2) now have a low profile gravestone.
People will always try to get a piece of the myth. That is a sad part of our society. At the same time, the US done the same with Saddam’s palace..so where do we get our values? Money and fame will always bring out the thieves..
This is such an interesting issue and one that many have differing oppinions on. I am unfortunately stradling the fence on this one Jason. If we first just look at the “act” of this person that is being questioned, on a very direct and narrow basis, he stole. It was not his, no one gave it to him, nor was there any written statement, verbal mention that whatever was cotained on the bus was ok for him to take. Now, one could make an arguement that if this person was walking down the street and found a quarter or dollar lying there with no one around, and he picked it up and put it in his pocket would it be wrong or immoral? This scenerio a little different due to the items in question where on a bus and not on a city street which would make it the property of the city but, he would still be in the wrong. Everyone has picked up a quarter or dollar that they found and not thought to much about it. So, does this mean that just because Chris died there in the bus, which was not his nor did he have permission to sqwat there for the time that he did, and the fact that he was able to sell it using Chris as an incentive to get others to buy it make this whole thing wrong? It is not a new thing to try and capitalize on the death of a peson to get someone to pay a large sum of money for an item. Famous musicians guitars they used in their last show, diaries, clothing, etc. etc. Look at all the Princess Diana dresses, necklaces and whatnot being sold at Sothebay’s. But in this case, this person actually took something that was not his and on a busthat was not his but whose is it? For the stealing part to hold any weight, it has to be owned by somebody. Does the DNR own it? The bus does not have a sign saying “No Tresspassing or Private Property.” What about old war items that are found and sold. Is that stealing and compensating off of the dead which seems to me a more moral issue than the selling of items that were not even Chris’s. And the whole issue of him compensating off of Chris, Sean Penn is, Outside Magazine is. Are they giving all profits toChris’s famil or a fund in Chris’s name. What about all the war movies compensating off of all the people who died in WWII and all the other wars? Would like to hear more logic and understanding about this issue. Thanks Jason
Lawrence, thanks for your thought provoking insight. As far as the bus is concerned, it was abandoned in the park while the Stampede Trail was actually being built in the 1950’s. It has been in the same spot for close to 60 years now. A construction company originally owned the bus. Since it was abandoned and left there before the DNR took control of the property, upon the ownership change, it rightfully became the property of the DNR.
In a since, it is sort of a legal tightrope. In many National Parks, as well as State Parks, it is unlawful and considered theft if you even remove a rock out of one of these parks. I do understand your point about Chris making the abandoned bus his shelter and the bus being ditched in this area in the first place, but since the bus was actually there before it became a DNR property..and perhaps even before Alaska was a state…then the DNR would be the rightful owners.
A “No Trespassing or Private Property” designation can not be assessed to something that is rightfully paid for by state and government funds. The people pay for the DNR and the Park systems. The DNR know that this bus is used as a shelter and now check this area often.
Concerning Sean Penn and Outside Magazine–It is actually Jon Krakauer who is profiting from this story. The writer, who decided to pen “Into the Wild”, has actually been setting aside 60% of all sales from his book to a fund in Chris McCandless’ name. Sean Penn spent over 10 years trying to get the movie rights to this book–of which he paid Krakauer for. Yes, Outside did run the original article that led to the book, but at the time Chris’ story was unknown to the public and once again, they paid Krakauer for the rights to this story.
As far as a personal stand, I think it all goes back to a person’s ethics. My concern does not lie in the money issue–but rather the issue of a person taking something that rightfully does not belong to them and selling it. I believe that if anyone should be profiting from the situation, it should be the DNR and the park system. Now that this story is public, people will undoubtably head to Alaska in search of the famed bus–it should be the DNR’s decision on what and how they approach this issue. On the one hand, they can use this as a marketing vehicle, which you can now see at the Denali National Park site with the big “Into the Wild” banner and on the other, if in fact they don’t want the crowds associated with the Bus, then they should have the option of removing it or selling it–if it is sold, the money will go to the park. The reason Chris was there in the first place…
It shouldn’t go to some jackass looking to make $20 here and there
As far as the Princess Di and the famous people argument goes, you have to realize that when something like this comes up for auction, it was 1) originally given to the seller by that person or 2) the family has put it up for sale. Neither of these apply in Chris’ case. The ammunition and old war memmorbilia argument is an interesting equation, yet how do you place ownership on a spent shell casing from 1864? You can’t. That is why people are able to legally profit off of these items…which I might add, if those items are discovered in a Park and dug up or brought out, it is specifically stated that this is an action of theft and will result in charges–and it does.
My thought is not the issue of money, but the issue of theft. If people are going to profit from a situation like this, it should definately be the park or the rightful owner of said item.
Tell me your thoughts.
By the way, upon contacting Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, I have still not recieved a response on my inquirey.
Jason,
It is true, he did steal. There is no way around this no matter how he did it or why. All of your points a very good and sound points. I wonder, would this as big of deal if he had not put these two items on Ebay or try to sell them. The fact that he stole would still be a truth but would the severity of the act had been less?
In regards to the bus, has the DNR had oversight of the bus due to them being owners of the bus? Let me be clear due to sometimes I work and write in circles, I do fuly understand the whole premise of what the bus is used for with the outdoor community, that of which I am highly involed in but people leave things there such as gas canisters, first aid items,garbage etc which does constitute those acts of leaving things littering. 1.) If the bus is property of the state, are people allowed to be in it, camp, stay over etc. Has it been officially designated as a camping spot?
You know, I hold the DNR and the park service partly to blame for this. They knew the bus was there, they own it and have done nothing to protect it, nothing to make sure that someone does not fall inside, cut themselves and then sue, nor have they, to my knowledge made it an official campsite. In NY, if it is not registered as an official campsite, even though you are twenty feet from it, you get a citation. This person who took the items is just like any ohter person who in a moment sees a possibility to one get recognized, two make money no matter whose felings get hurt and three does not see or feel that his act(s) of taking the really worthless items were that wrong.
I understand about Jon and his 60% donation, how kind of him. Is he donating 60% of the book rights also off of the money he made from Penn? And Outside Magazine did make money off this but no harm done right, jornalism. It is done in every newspaper, every newsradio and new station on TV. I am ok with that. But we can not justify one person compensating off of a dead person and not let another. He stole to do it so I guess jus th ac of stealing should truly be the only wrong here. He stole, and what a lesson for all of us this has been in the outdoor community and for those who venture out not and then. This is a good story to take to our school children before they start their life in the outdoors on weekends and weekdays. Thanks for the discussion Jason. Look forward to haring more about this, just not that he has another item for sale….
Lawrence,
If this person had not put the items up on Ebay, no, I don’t think it would have been such a huge deal. He was still stealing, but who would have known? Still not right, in my personal opinion.
You brought up some good points about the use of the bus. To be honest, I have no idea if it is indeed used as a designated camping spot. I do know that it is widely accepted that you can camp there…but, not sure if that is actually legal or not.
To make matters worse, I fully agree with you on the DNR’s responsibility on this issue. They should either take care of the bus, or get rid of it. It will definately be getting alot more attention now that the movie and book are gaining popularity once again.
This is definately not the first time theft has become an issue in the outdoors though. On Everest, many teams complain about their items and equipment getting stolen on their expeditions. I think alot of the attention that this has recieved is due mainly to the bus becoming a sort of “Shrine” to Chris McCandless and the question of who owns it. Will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. You have brought up some good points that were worth saying.
By bringing this out, I am hoping that it will make people think about their actions and take the feelings of others into consideration before picking up that “cool” item from the trail to bring home. This goes for animals, plants, and anything else.
This is is immoral to take objects from the bus and to sell on ebay to make a profit. This seller will certainly go to hell.
Bottom line
The guy who stole the items from Bus 142 is a loser, plain and simple. Period.
someone should buy the items and put them back. idc if he gets money. i jsut want bus 142 put back intact.