Nome Census Area
AKGenWeb
The earliest newspaper was the "Eskimo Bulletin", at Cape Prince of
Wales in 1895 which was issued yearly at the mission school. This was
followed by:
"Nome News" with the first issue Oct 9, 1899.
Published by the Nome News Publishing Company, J F A Strong editor.
"Nome Weekly Gold Digger", Winter 1899.Issued by Cassius N Coe.
"Daily Chronicle" started July 29, 1900 by Fred Healy, C P Burnett and
Walter C Kurtz.
"Nome Nugget" (formerly the "Daily Chronicle"
purchased by Major Strong, early summer 1901. Published twice a week.
"Council City News", by J J Underwood and Leo Dumar during the winter of
1902-1903.
"Nome Mining Gazette": a monthly, started in the summer of
1903 by W C Kurtz. Focused on the mining interests
"Teller News",
started on an unknown date, didn't last long. Established by Gene Allen.
Source: Nome and Seward Peninsula by E S Harrison, 1905
The Hilah Seward Industrial Home was at Sinuk. Sinuk was a small
native village about 30 miles northwest of Nome. The mission was founded
in 1906. A mission boat called the "New Jersey" was sent in 1910. The
boat helped in the first walrus hunt for the Home bringing 14 walruses
which gave the natives a good supply of meat for the winter. The boat
was lost in a storm in October 1915 and was replaced by the "Jewel
Guard".
The Lavinia Wallace Young Mission at Nome was founded in
1911 and includes a home for the missionary's family, a wooden church
building which seats 300, a gymnasium, a carpenters shop and a social
hall. They keep fourteen dogs and sleds so they can attend to freighting
and messenger service.
Source: The Women's Home Missionary
Society in Alaska by Anabelle Kent, ca 1920
L. H. McCloy of the Alaska Banking and Safe Deposit Company, received the sad news today of the death of his father, A. McCloy, which occurred in Seattle on January first.
Bobby Brown, wife and child will start tomorrow, weather conditions being favorable, for Sweepstakes creek in the Koyuk country where Bobby has some good ground and where he will operate all next summer.
Miss Grace Hill, who is the government teacher at Sinrock, is spending a few days visiting her father in Nome. Miss Hill is conducting a good school and says she much enjoys the work among the natives.
Fred Daniels met with quite a serious mishap at the Carnival Thursday night. He slipped and fell on the smooth floor at the Eagle hall and in the fall broke his left leg just above the ankle. He has the limb in a plaster cast and is able to be around.
Miss Inez Walthall, of Sinuk, has been visiting friends in Nome for a few days.
Under the direction of Mr. Elmer Reed the Chorus Choir of the Federated church repeated their Christmas Concert in the Methodist church last evening for the benefit of the natives. The Eskimos having an ear for music enjoyed it very much. Every seat in the auditorium was taken.
Wm. Lehmann who was operatd on last Wednesday for appendicites is doing nicely and will soon be around again. The stitches were removed this morning.
Mrs. Simon Simson who has been very ill for several days is improving very rapidly and will soon be around again.
Wm. Doyle received the sad news yesterday of the death of his father who died in Seattle recently.
J. W. Boone of the wireless station won the Sunshine cake at the Aksala carnival.
John E. Hasting arrived from the Kongarok section last night. He made the trip from Taylor in three days and said he found the trails in fair condition. ...
Miss Grace M. Stevenson started this afternoon to return to her school at Teller ... She is a magazine writer of ability and is an expert in school organization work ...
A dog race was pulled off here [Candle] the first of January from Candle to Keewalik and return, a distance of 18 miles for a purse of $100. First, Hart Humber, 8 dogs, 1:39:12. Second, Enos Thomas, 7 dongs, 1:40:08. Third, Richard Sundquist, 5 dogs, 1:50:10.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ray arrived from Shovel creek last night and are stopping at the Golden Gate. Mr. Ray is dredgemaster for the Kimball dredge at Solomon and will spend a few days in Nome.
Judge Milton Luther is expecting to pay a visit to Nome and his many friends here soon.
H. Hunnicutt, the teacher at Mary's Igloo is doing most excellent work at that station ...
A new dancing school has been started in the Miners Home Club hall by Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Oliver. ...
Bert McCarthy has just returned from staking the trail from Teller to Woolley. ... Prof. Swager, sometimes known as Harry Henderson, has a large dancing class who are learning the tango, ...
In 1918 there was an outbreak of the Spanish flu which killed 72 out
of 80 residents in a 5 day period at Brevig Mission alone. The virus was
brought to Nome when a passenger carried the virus there on the last
steamship of the season. Natives had no chance of immunity against this
virus - nor did many others. This virus killed over 50 million people
worldwide in about 15 months time.The Alaskan territorial government
hired gold miners from Nome to travel to the flu ravaged towns to bury
the dead. More than 1,200 people died on the Seward Peninsula.
With permission of Inupiat elders at Brevig Mission in 2005, Pathologist
Johan Hultin was able to successfully extract RNA of the virus by
exhuming the body of a Inuit woman who had been buried and preserved in
the permafrost in a gravesite.
Balto and the team of dogs that brought the medicine on the last leg
of the journey to Nome, 1925. (Photo at left)
In 1908 the Alaska
Road Commission started to open an overland route called the Iditarod
Trail which was completed in 1911 by crews working through the winter.
Nome is usually icebound from November to July so this trail was very
necessary.
The Iditarod Trail was important but became even more
important in January 1925 when a Diptheria epidemic broke out in Nome.
They did not have enough medication on hand. Dr. Curtis Welch was Nome's
only doctor then and telegraphed Fairbanks, Anchorage, Seward and Juneau
to get more medication. Anchorage had some - but how to get it to Nome?
They could not send by boat. There were no railroads or conventional
roads linking Nome to the rest of Alaska. There were a few airplanes in
Alaska at the time, but they could not fly. So, the only method left was
dog sleds. Usually the dog teams could only travel 6 miles per hour.
Normally that distance would take a team a month to go that far. They
decided to organize a relay of mushers to take the insulated cylinder of
medicine and the serum arrived about a week later in Nome. Now the
Iditarod race which takes place every year commemorates that 674 mile
relay from Nenana to Nome.
Chief Kokituk was shot and stabbed and killed by Setartuk and his brother Eraheruk. Source: Nome and Seward Peninsula by E S Harrison, 1905
The Sophia Sutherland, a fast first class, seaworthy vessel, will said for the Cape Nome Alaska on or about June 10, 1899, or before. Fare $75, including 1000 pounds of freight. Apply at once to H B Orr, Secretary, 8 Thurlow Black, 126 Kearny St. San Francisco, California.
James Connidy, a mining man who worked for W L Vinson in Montana a few years ago, and who has been around town for some time, left yesterday for Cape Nome, Alaska.
Letter from Mr Pearl Watt to his mother:
Nome Alaska, Oct 31,
1899: My Dear Mother; Much to our surprise, the British steamer "Alpha"
sailed into the harbor the other day with four tons of US Mail. We had
put our paper cases out of doors and were fixing up for the winter, so
the arrival was rather inconvenient. But we can and are willing to give
almost any price to get mail in this country so your letter of Oct 2nd
amply repaid me for the extra work attached to the handling of so much
mail. One package with Enquirer and Tribune also came. Have sent out two
registered letters with some $25 worth of nuggets. Hope you received
them ok. What do you think of them? You will notice one small piece of
quartz in the lot. The prospects are good for some rich quartz
discoveries here another season. I suppose you think that gold after all
is a rather small thing to draw thousands of men away from civilization?
But 'tis money that makes the mare go" and that what we're here for. Had
a very novel but decidedly pleasant experience Sunday night. After
church was introduced to a miss, and had the pleasure of seeing her home
and making a short call. Possibly you don't see anything new or novel
about this, but you must remember that this was the first young lady,
unmarried, that I have talked to since the 19 May 1898, more than 17
months ago. There are only a few in town and it is hard to say how long
they will last. Two have been married since their arrival here a week
ago. We are to organize a literary society tonight and we hope to get
both great pleasure and benefit from it this winter. We are now fixed up
for the winter. The office has been partitioned off and we have a living
room 8x21. We have our trunks in one corner, cook stove in the other and
a heating stove in the middle of the room. There will be three of us
here, G H Rhodes, who is acting postmaster, J H Wright, the brother of
the one who is postmaster and myself. As I told you before, I have an
all winter's job but will leave it next spring. It has frozen up once
more, this time for good, I hope, and everybody is feeling better. We
have some good winds here, and they will be the most disagreeable
feature of the winter. They come through here about 60 miles an hour,
and billed direct from the North Pole so you can imagine what they are.
Sent you a copy of the "Nome Gold Digger" in letter cover, Oct 29. Hope
you received it ok. You will notice a few of the prices have gone down
since the date of the bill of fare I sent you but that was caused by the
unexpected arrival of the "Alpha". They will soon go up far above the
prices I sent you. I nearly forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed the
souvenir postals you sent me. The different scenes, all so easily
recognized, made me spend more time in thinking of Chillicothe than I
had devoted to it in the past year. I have shown them to several friends
here, and they all think Chillicothe must be a very pretty place. The
pictures of Second and Bridge streets with the rows of trees are the
ones that catch the eyes of the people here, where trees are conspicuous
by their absence. Even through the western cities there are but very few
that can match Chillicothe when it comes to the trees along the street.
If you folks only knew it, those same trees are Chillicothe's chief
charm and you will do well to spare all the trees you have and plant
some more.
A recent edition of the Chicago Record contained the statement that Robert E Rhodes, John Johnson and W H Johnson of this city are organizing a company of negroes for gold mining at Cape Nome. It says that this place has been chosen rather than the Klondike for advantages of climate. They expect to start with the opening of spring.
The Postoffice Department has made arrangements for providing a first class money order system for Cape Nome, Alaska
It is estimated by those competent to judge that there are at present 40,000 people in Nome. Four persons last winter were successful in making the trip over the ice on bicycles from Dawson to Nome.
Yesterday evening, Mr. Charles Wadleigh returned from Cape Nome, Alaska
Dr. Everly is a woman surgeon, the first to begin the practice of
medicine in Nome.
Fred Kotch has the distinction of being the
first man in Nome to cultivate garden truck. On his lot he now has
growing vigorously lettuce, radishes and the like.
Frank
Luthener, a young man who arrived in Nome about ten days ago, was shot
and killed Wednesday in the Crotto saloon by B Kinright. Kinright is
said to be a "dope fiend" and it is claimed that his mind was
unbalanced.
As a result of a shooting affray over a tow lot
Monday evening Hank Lucas and T. J. Lyne are dead (in Nome).
Alaskan District Judge Noyes Awakens Wrath of Mine Owners at Nome by
Astonishing Acts. Names receiver for five properties directly upon
arrival at the Cape. Bitter talk of collusion and threats of impeachment
soon follow.
Fists are shaken, pistols may flash and a Federal
Judge may be impeached because of the surprising acts of Arthur P Noyes
who wears the judicial ermine in Alaska. Arriving at Nome on the 21st
day of last July, he in two days threw into the hands of a receiver the
cream of the Nome mining claims. Now in a little over a month, from his
first assumption of judicial duties at Nome wealthy men and reputable
attorneys are talking of trying to oust him from the bench and are
making most remarkable statements, many of which are actionable if the
entire truth cannot be conclusively demonstrated.
There was a
remarkable scene at Nome in the judicial presence, as related in
official records of the proceedings one day early. In August, Attorney
Sam Knight of this city, representing the Wild Goose Mining and tracing
Company, of which C. D. Lane is the president, accused Judge Noyes in
open court of appointing a receiver for the company's claims before any,
petition for such appointment had been filed.
"I desire to
prove, if the court please," said Knight, "that the papers were not
filed in this case until after an order had been made, appointing a
receiver, and further, that no process was issued at that time, and
further; that no process was issued at that time and that so far as I
know, it has not been issued at this time."
This took place
August 3, eleven days after Alexander McKenzie, the personal friend of
Judge Noyes, had by him been appointed receiver in five instances. No
move was made to strongly dispute Knight's assertions. Attorney Hume,
who represented the receiver, admitted that no summons had been placed
in the hands of an officer. He explained that the petition for a
receiver had not been filed before the appointment was made because the
clerk of the court could not be found. These statements are all in the
transcript of the proceedings that has just been received by the United
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District, in this city.
Knight was not satisfied that there was any legitimate reason for this
unjudicial haste, and he went on as follows: "I think that your Honor
will agree as to the fact that the bill of complaint was presented to
your Honor on the afternoon of the 23d day of July, and that your Honor
thereafter made an order appointing a receiver and the papers were
subsequently — that evening — handed to the deputy clerk of the court
for filing, but that no process was issued in the case in which I now
appear, involving claim No. 2 below, Nos. 10 and 11 above and No. 1
Nackkela."
Millions of dollars' worth of property was placed in
Alexander McKenzie's hands, as receiver, in one day. One of these
properties has a record of yielding $15,000 per day. The bond in each of
five receiverships given to McKenzie was placed by Judge Noyes at $5000.
According to authentic advices the persons and companies who
were operating the mines when McKenzie was put in possession were
greatly surprised. Nineteen days later, as evidenced by the transcript.
Judge Noyes had decided that there was no appeal from his order
appointing McKenzie in the suit of Robert Chipps vs. Jafet Lunderberg,
Erik O. Lindblom and John Brynteson. He reached the same conclusion in
four other cases, which were as follows: O. Jose Comtois vs. P. H.
Anderson, Herbert H. Webster vs. Michael J. Nackkela, Ole Klemetsen and
Ole K. Hatta; L. F. Melsing, H. L. Blake, D. B. Libby, W. T. Hume and O.
P. Hubbara vs. John P. Tornases; Henry Rogers vs. William A. Kjellman.
C. D. Lane and the Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company.
A
large array of legal talent battled over the matter of appeal. On the
side of the receiver were; Hubbard, Beeman & Hume; for the several
defendants Attorneys Charles S. Johnson, Jackson, Hatch, Reddy, Campbell
& Metson, Page, McCutcheon and Harding & Knight strove. Finding Judge
Noyes obdurate in refusing to issue an order allowing an appeal, the
contest was brought to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals in
this city. The court was not in session. Judge Morrow has issued orders
in the five cases where McKenzie is the receiver which will enable the
defendants to have their contention considered by the United States
Circuit Court of Appeals. The orders also restrain the receiver from
interfering in any manner or attempting to enforce Judge Noyes' order
until the appeals can be heard and determined. The bond was fixed by
Judge Morrow at $35,000 in each case.
E. S. Pillsbury appeared
before Judge Morrow as attorney for P. H. Anderson. When Judge Morrow's
order was issued Mr. Pillsbury saw that it was instantly sent to Nome by
three mediums of transmission that there might be no failure to have it
reach its destination. Other attorneys took energetic measures.
A
writ of prohibition addressed to Judge Noyes may be the next thing to be
sought. There is an open season and a "close season" at Nome, according
to the interference with navigation by ice. When the close season draws
near there will be a hegira of brilliant lawyers, who will not care to
pass many months at Nome. Deprived of their assistance the mine owners
might suffer much.
Charles P. Braslan has just arrived from
Nome. For the part that he took In the proceedings he was challenged to
a duel with pistols by Alexander McKenzie. The challenge was delivered
by a clerk of the District Court, who proposed pistols at twenty-five
paces. "Make it twelve and a half paces and I will fight this
afternoon," was the answer Mr. Braslan sent back. The duel did not come
off.
Mr. Braslan says there is much talk at Nome concerning the
relations of Judge Noyes and McKenzie. The story is current, so Mr.
Braslan says, that McKenzie worked for the appointment of Noyes, and
that Noyes telegraphed from Washington-for McKenzie to come to the
national capital to assist him. After the appointment Noyes and McKenzie
were together at a St. Paul hotel. Noyes' law library was expressed to
Seattle in the name of McKenzie at half-rate because of McKenzie's
former connection with the Dakota division of the Northern Pacific
Railway On the arrival of the judicial party at Seattle, McKenzie
attended to the business of looking after hotel accommodation and
transportation.
The party all sailed together from Seattle, Mr.
Braslan says, on the steamer Senator. At Seattle, according to the
stories of people now at Nome, McKenzie said he would need the services
of at least one hundred persons in the north. He invited certain Seattle
men to go to Nome with him. Hubbard, an attorney, now at Nome, and
Chipps, who appeared as a complainant, asking for the appointment of
McKenzie as receiver, were at Washington when Noyes' appointment was
pending. Hubbard is attorney for all the plaintiffs. Noyes was confirmed
less than three months ago as Judge, the date being June 6, 1900.
Chipps, McKenzie and Hubbard were on the Senator as fellow passengers
with Noyes.
"I met Judge Noyes on the Senator upon his arrival
at Nome," said Mr. Braslan yesterday. "He arrived at 9:30 a. m.
Saturday, July 21. McKenzie hired an entire floor at the Golden Gate
Hotel for the judicial party, and his room adjoined Judge Noyes' room.
At 2 p. m. of the same day it was public talk on the streets of Nome
that Hume of Hubbard, Beeman & Hume, was to be Deputy United States
District Attorney. On the following Monday papers were filed by Hubbard,
Beeman & Hume asking for the appointment of receivers for five
properties. The hearings were ex parte in the Judge's chambers and the
defendants were not informed of the proceedings. On Tuesday McKenzie
hired a big office and placed his sign on a window. It has been openly
stated in Nome that McKenzie asked me if they would give him one-half of
their income if they were appointed receivers for mining properties.
United States Commissioner Reuben Stevens also went up on the Senator.
He is trying titles to real estate. He stopped all mining on the beach
and caused the arrest of ten miners for trespass and also for felony.
McKenzie says that he has 250 to 300 mining claims to sell."
In
addition to having their property placed in the hands of a receiver the
defendants in the suits that have finally found their way to San
Francisco have been asked to pay damages ranging from $200,000 down to
$50,000 each.
Alexander McKenzie was a day laborer at Bismarck,
N. D., when the Northern Pacific reached that place. He borrowed money
and engaged in the soda water business and made a few hundred dollars.
Next he was Sheriff and is credited with having made $20,000 during his
term. Then he was a lobbyist for the Northern Pacific Railway. He was
the reputed agent for the expenditure of large sums to prevent
anti-lottery legislation. He has money. There are many stories told
concerning his sharpness.' Now his enemies say that he is the bane and
boss of Nome.
Arthur H. Noyes came to Minneapolis from Indiana
about nine years ago. He at once began the practice of law, and about
four years later formed a partnership with A. M. Harrison, now one of
the District Court Judges. The firm's name was Harrison & Noyes. Mr.
Noyes was the office member of the firm. When Minneapolis undertook to
punish boodling in the City Council, two years ago, Harrison & Noyes
were retained by what was known as the "ring" to defend those of their
number who had been indicted for malfeasance in office. These cases were
the first big trlals that had been conducted by the firm, and they made
the reputation of both men. In all but one of them the defendant escaped
punishment. Later Mr. Harrison was appointed by the Governor to fill a
vacancy on the District bench, and the firm was dissolved. Mr. Noyes was
never a candidate for office In Minneapolis, although always a prominent
worker in the Republican ranks.
The Pacific Commercial
Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 24, 1900: Mrs. Emma Smith wants a
divorce. Husband who left her said to be now in Cape Nome, Alaska. Mrs.
Emma Smith has filed a libel for divorce against her husband, William M
Smith. They were married on May 12, 1894 in Honolulu by Rt. Rev. Bishop
Gulstan. Two children, Wilhelm and Frederick were born to them. Wilhelm
has been adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm. In her petition to the Circuit
Court, Mrs. Smith alleges that since her marriage she and her husband
lived together as man and wife until Dec 1898, then he willfully and
utterly without cause deserted and abandoned her. She further alleges
that since the desertion and abandonment of herself by William Smith,
the latter has neglected to provide suitable maintenance. She therefore
prays for an absolute divorce from the bonds of matrimony existing
between her and the husband and asks for the custody of Frederick, the
second son. Due and diligent search has been made by deputy Sheriff
McGurn for William Smith to make service of the papers, but he cannot be
found in the city. It is supposed that he is now at Cape Nome, Alaska.
Arrivals at Southern Pines Hotel.... J. D. Thagard, Nome Alaska...
Last week Mr. Jesse Grant was at Hermosillo on business in connection with his mining interests in Sonora. He left Thursday evening, stating that he was going directly to Cape Nome, Alaska to look out for interests he has acquired there.
Alaskan Lawyer to ask for Release from Prison
In order to
forestall any action that may be taken by Dudley DuBose, the Cape Nome
attorney who is not confined in the Alameda County Jail on a charge of
the contempt of court to secure his release in the same manner as did
his predecessor, McKenzie, those in this city who suffered at the hands
of the Noyes-McKenzie ring in Nome last year are securing additional
testimony to present to the court. [This is a lengthy article and can be
found at Chronicling America online.]
A Deadwood special gives the following account of a perilous adventure that former state treasurer Taylor had at Nome Alaska in which he barely escaped being frozen to death. "George Jones, formerly a resident of the Black Hills, has written Deadwood parties about his life and experiences at Nome, Alaska. He states that he and W. W. Taylor, the defaulting ex-treasurer of this state, got lost last winter in a terrific snowstorm. They wandered about all day and luckily found a cabin where they found shelter. The letter states that there were more men frozen to death there last winter than is generally supposed; that the press dispatches from that part of the country do not tell everything. He has seen a good many dead men himself, and the number of miners and prospectors with fingers and toes frozen off is appalling. Men's wages have been cut down to $5 and $6 per day, and the work is something that but few men can stand. The letter states that food is cheap at Nome, bread having been but 5 cents a loaf all winter. A great many new strikes have been made this season in the vicinity of Nome, and the writer of the letter believes that that portion of the north will be the richest ever found.
R. L. Schell returned Tuesday from Nome Alaska where he has been since
last spring.
Collin Murray and Will Lanning of this city, were
passengers on the steamer Garronne, which arrived in Seattle from Nome,
the first of the week. Mr. Murray proceeded to the city and Mr Lanning
was detained in Seattle on business. Mr. Murray has encouraging news
regarding the Buster Creek Claims.
A special term of court was convened at Nome Oct 7th, Judge Wickersham
presiding.
Nome's first brewery began operations October 1st.
Nome complains of the quantity of mutilated currency in circulation.
The customs report at Nome shows that 7000 people arrived in that
camp this season and that 4000 have already departed.
Edward W. May, convicted at Nome on March 22, 1901 of larceny and
sentenced to McNeill's Island for 5 years has been pardoned.
The
little steamer Arctic is believed to have been the last to leave Nome
this season, being scheduled to sail Nov 9.
Prospectors from Nome
and Teller City are going in great numbers to the Candle Creek diggings.
The Nome electric light plant will soon be completed, and during the
winter pole lines will be extended to various creeks and power generated
for working the claims.
Hanging at Nome. Sept 19 via Seattle. Fred Hardy, convicted of killing Con and Rooney Sullivan on Unimak Island June 7, 1901, was hanged at 9:40 this morning. The execution took place in an addition built to the ice house on the lot opposite the jail. Hardy's neck was broken and in 9 minutes and forty eight seconds the pulse ceased to beat and the physicians present declared life extinct. He died without asserting his innocence. The execution was under the supervision of Deputy Marshal Estabrook and the arrangements were complete. Father Caraldo administered the last sacrament. The death warrant was read to Hardy in his cell by Marshal Richards and a few minutes later the procession started for the gallows. Hardy showed wonderful composure up to last night he slept well. He arranged all of his earth affairs, and until yesterday was cheerful. Almost until the last moment he seemed to hope that something would happen to give him longer lease of life.
Dispatch from Nome, July 10 - Nearly a block of charred and blackened ruins mark the site of what was the Golden Gate Hotel and adjacent buildings. The fire broke out at 5 o'clock on Sunday morning, when nearly all the guests were in their beds. The second cook, F R Burr, apparently poured half a baking powder can of coal oil on the fire which was smoldering in the kitchen stove. There was an explosion, and Burr fled. Harvey Edgarton, the night clerk, turned in an alarm and hurried down the corridor to awaken the guests. The hotel was a big three story structure, a regular death trap, with no fire escapes or emergency exits, and it burned like a tinder box. R M Hayes, a wealthy contractor of Pittsburg, and his wife were on the third floor. It is thought that, on reaching the corridor and finding it a mass of flames, they returned to their rooms. They were suffocated. Their bodies have been recovered, as has also the body of Sherman D Gregg of Freeport, Penn. Daggett & Harris, proprietors of the hotel, estimate their loss at $50,000. Various warehouses in the neighborhood were badly damaged, and the losses, with those of the guests, make the total loss nearly $100,000. The cook, Burr, has been held for manslaughter, as a result of the Coroner's inquest.
Nome Disaster: Robert M Hays, who burned to death in a hotel fire at Nome July 10 was one of the wealthiest and best known pipe line contractors in this part of the state. He went to Nome a month ago to lay a water line for a fold mining company. He was accompanied by many of the stockholders and their families, and great concern is felt in this city for the other members of the party.
Alaska's Greatest Fire. Cape Nome, Alaska July 20: A great fire has destroyed the famous Golden Gate hotel and several other buildings. Several people were burned to death.
The following letter from W. M. Wells of Nome Alaska to Charles J. Fagan
of Challis does not speak in very glowing terms of that part of Alaska.
The letter says in part:
Dear Charley; I thought I would write you a
few lines to let you know how things are up in this country. I don't
like it here very well - the climate is so bad. There is a cold rain
most all summer and besides about nine months of winter, and it is hard
for a man to get onto any ground that is any good. The whole country is
staked and if you find anything some fellow will come and claim it.
These fellows that stay here all winter, go out with dog sleds and
locate the whole country, and it holds good for almost two years, so you
see it don't give a stranger much chance to prospect. There are some
very rich claims here, there is one bench claim that goes $20 to the
pan, but most of the claims are a little better than wages. There are
lots of idle men here. I don't know what they will do this fall. It is
the hardest place I ever saw to work for wages in, they expect two days
work in one. I am coming out next month as I would not desire to winter
here for a man can't do anything for seven months. If Loon creek is all
right I think I will come in there in the spring. You remember Levy, he
is here and looks 20 years older than he was when he left Custer. He has
not got anything but a big grey horse. Christ Tremper who used to be in
Bayhorse, made about $20,000 last year. Bert Wilson is here and has got
a little good ground but I don't think he has much money. The Smith boys
who lived on the East side of Salmon river are here - the Mormon Smiths.
They are doing pretty well. Your son, W. M. Wells, Nome Alaska, Aug 13,
1903.
The Corwin will again be the last boat down from Nome. The Steamship
Victoria arrived in Seattle Oct 25 from Nome Alaska. She carried 516
passenger and $225,000 in treasure.
Anvil Masonic Club has
received dispensation from the grand lodge of the State of Washington
for the organization of Anvil Masonic Lodge F & A.M in Nome.
Mortimer I Stevens, city assessor of Nome and for more than a year past
editor of the Nome News is in jail charged with embezzlement. It is
alleged that his accounts are behind to the extent of $23,722.48 and he
admits to a shortage of $1,800.
In 1890, Dr. Shelden Jackson, whose name is inseparably connected with the introduction of reindeer in Alaska, visited that country for the purpose of establishing schools, a task which had been assigned to him by the Commissioner of Education. He found the Esquimos more in need of food than schools, starving in fact, because the relentless hunt of the whale and walrus by large steam vessels had largely reduced the number of these sea animals or driven them away. The fur bearing animals and the carabou or wild reindeer had practically been exterminated by hunters. In casting about for means to help them, it occurred to Dr. Jackson that the introduction of reindeer would meet their wants, because if the deer were sufficiently numerous it would give them a permanent supply of food. When he first began, his efforts were greeted with scoffing and ridicule, and elaborate arguments were advanced to prove that reindeer could not thrive in Alaska. But he persevered and finally succeeded in convincing Congress that it was the cheapest and easiest way of preventing the extermination of the Esquimos by starvation. In the meantime, through the public press, Dr. Jackson described the starving condition of the Esquimo people and appealed to charitable persons to assist in the inauguration of the enterprise. The response was prompt and generous, something over $2,000 being received, and by the aid of a revenue cutter in arctic waters assigned by the Secretary of the Treasury to transport the deer he proceeded to procure the first reindeer from the semi-savage tribes in Siberia, the first importation consisting of only 16 head, which were landed in Unalaska in the autumn in 1891 to which were added 171 head in 1892, and an institution for their breeding was established and named in honor of Senator Teller of Colorado who had taken much interest in the enterprise. In 1893 an additional 127 head were purchased, and 79 fawns were born to the herd already imported. During the same year, Congress made an initial appropriation of $6,000 for the purpose of introducing and maintaining the Territory of Alaska reindeer for domestic purposes. At present it is estimated that there are 7,000 reindeer in Alaska and as the increase by birth is 40% per year. It is estimated that by 1910 there will be upwards of 70,000 reindeer in Alaska.
60 buildings were destroyed by fire at Nome, Alaska, causing a loss of about $200,000. All the records in the office of the government townsite trustee except the plat and tract book were destroyed.
Nome can't lose its tenderloin district.
A Masonic Temple is to
be built at Nome to cost about $15,000.
A new telephone company
has been given a franchise at Nome
A Case of smallpox was
discovered at Nome last month and was promptly isolated, and no other
cases are reported.
Special Agent comes to take man arrested for Robbery: After Obtaining the description of Bob Kennedy, arrested at Cananea last week by Officer Jack White as an accomplice in the holdup of the Winters saloon up Tombstone Canyon in which Norton and Comesford were implicated, Clyde C Coleman, a special US Agent for the second division of Alaska has come to identify Kennedy as a man wanted in Alaska for a similar charge. That Officer White arrested the right party at Cananea was learned from a picture which Coleman had. This picture was taken after a disastrous fire in Nome Alaska where he was lined up with other employees of the firm which burned and their pictures taken. At Nome Kennedy went by the name of Robert McCullough. In other places he is known as "Little Billie", "Friday" McCullough and George William. Kennedy, it is charged, in company with Walter Gilmore and Richard Roe, held up two Russians named Nerkury Nikitin and Gregory Konchenko, October 9, 1905, securing about $240.00. Gilmore was arrested and pleaded guilty and is not serving time in the United State Penitentiary.
Fire at Nome Alaska
Fire swept the heart of the business section
of Nome on the night of Sept 13. From the meager information it was
gathered that from 20 to 25 buildings were burned in the vicinity of
Lane's Way, and that the fire area covered two or three blocks. No
details are given, and no loss of life is reported. If the fire burned
in both directions from Lane's Way it is estimated by persons familiar
with the class of business in that vicinity that the loss will reach
$500,000 and may exceed that figure, although any estimate made at
present would be mere guess.
Fire Damage at Nome. Fire at Nome, Alaska, caused a property loss of about $300,000. The Second Avenue office building of the Pioneer Mining Company, the best structure of the kind in the town, was among those destroyed.
Trip From Nome on a Sled - Mail carrier makes journey with Dogs for wager of $10,000.: Traveling from Nome, Alaska to New York and back again by means of a sled and dog team to win a wager of $10,000, Eli A Smith, government mail carrier in Alaska arrived in Omaha Saturday morning on his homeward journey and secured from Mayor Dahlman an official document showing the fact to be true, the document being penned by the mayor in his characteristic style. "Eli A Smith of Nome Alaska, arrived at the city hall in Omaha at 10:30 am on this date, January 16, 1909. He looks like a four time winner to me." Eli Smith left Nome Alaska, on Nov 14, 1906 and according to the terms of the wager must be back there by May 15. He is attempting to win a wager of $10,000 made by the miners and the mail carriers. In addition to this wager, Mr Smith has made side bets amounting to $12,000 more. So far he has traveled 15,000 miles and has covered the greater part of the distance. He will remain in Omaha until Wens when he will proceed on his journey, going via Sioux City, Yankton, Bismark, Great Falls and Spokane to Seattle where he will take ship for Valdez, Alaska and then by dog team to Nome. The traveler reached Washington DC on Feb 20, 1907 and called at the White House. He visited the president, who wrote this card to be placed among hundreds of others he has received from mayors and prominent men: "The White House, Feb 20, 1907 - Eli Smith of Nome Alaska, with his dog team has just arrived here. Good luck to him. Theodore Roosevelt." Woven into the story of the queer journey is a little romance which culminated in the marriage of the traveler with Miss Hybaugh at Washington DC March 2, 1907. President Roosevelt was a witness to the ceremony. Mrs. Smith remained in Washington but he says he will soon send for her upon completion of the journey and the receipt of the wager he will return to Seattle and make a home there for himself and bride.
Fire at Nome: Nome, Alaska, Feb 23 - The United States customs house here was gutted by fire today. All the records were saved.
Fire at Nome Alaska: Fire recently destroyed the telephone exchange, putting all telephones on the peninsula out of commission. A temperature of 12 degrees below zero baffled the attempts to extinguish the flames.
San Francisco to aid Stricken City of Nome: Wiring from Santa Barbara, Mayor Rolph today called a conference of the supervisors, public welfare commission and the Red Cross association to organize a relief committee in this city for the suffering victims of storm and fire in Nome Alaska.
Storm Toll was Eleven; Nome, Alaska, Oct 13. - Eleven persons were drowned and three gasoline schooners are known to have been wrecked in the hurricane which swept the Alaskan coast last week. The coast north of here is strewn with wreckage of small boats.
NOME, Alaska, Jan. 3, 1930 (AP): A dog team driver today brought word to
Nome that a plane was heard soaring over Pilgrim Springs, 75 miles north
of here in a mountainous district, at midnight November 9, the day Pilot
Carl Ben Eilison and mechanic Earl Borland disappeared while flying to
the fur trading ship Nanuk, ice bound at North Cape, Siberia.
Arrangements probably will be made in the next four hours to send a
plane to scout the area, if weather conditions permit, those in charge
of the Eielson search said. If the plane heard was Eielson's it would
indicate that he had turned back for Alaska after finding it impossible
to land at North Cape and had been unable to effect a landing because of
darkness and fog after reaching the Alaskan mainland. The Pilgrim
Springs district is an isolated section, with only a few inhabitants
scattered many miles apart. Heretofore Eielson was believed to have come
down in the area of North Cape and all rescue operations have been aimed
in that direction.
With the loss of another plane and three men to add to their worries,
the searchers for Carl Ben Eielson and Earl Borland, whose plane
disappeared Nov. 9, today were held at a standstill by adverse fortune
and fierce arctic storms.
Three powerful cabin planes, rushed
here from Seattle and put at the disposal of arctic hardened Canadian
pilots, were down one wrecked, one apparently lost and the other weather
bound at Nualto, halfway point between here and home.
Eielson and
Borland disappeared while flying from teller to fur trading ship Nanuk,
frozen in the ice near North Cape. Frank Dorbandt, Eielson's flying
companion, who a few days ago was withdrawn from the rescue work and
ordered to take a rest, took off from Nome yesterday and flew 200 miles
inland, hoping to sight Reid's plane. Late last night from Solomon, 36
miles from here, where he was forced down, Dorbandt reported he had not
sighted the overdue plane.
Apprehension is felt here today for the safety of Capt. Reid commander of the Eielson-Dorland relief expedition, and his mechanics William Hughes and James Hutchinson. No word has been received of the missing trio since they hopped off from here Saturday for Nome. The trio was enroute to Nome to join in the search for Eielson and Earl Dorland who have been missing in the Arctic for more than a month.
Encouraged at finding an aviator's helmet and a pair of gloves, searchers digging in the snow and ice 90 miles southeast of North Cape, Siberia, for the bodies of Carl Ben Eielson and Earl Borland went on with their task today. The helmet and gloves, unearthed from the ice strewn wreckage of the Eielson plane were identified yesterday as those used by Borland. No trace of the bodies was found but the searchers still were convinced that Eielson and Borland died in the wreckage last November 9. The pane, wrecked while Eielson was attempting a flight to the fur trading ship Nanuk, icebound at North Cape was located Saturday by Pilots Joe Crosson and Harold Gilliam while on an aerial scouting trip from the Nanuk. Seven men were dispatched to the scene of the wreck from the Nanuk to begin digging away the ice and hard packed snow which all but covered the wreck. Two more men were taken to the scene yesterday from the Russian supply ship Stavropol. The theory was advanced here by persons familiar with the Siberian wastes that the bodies might never be recovered, as the country is over run by wolves and other carnivorous animals. Published January 31 1930.
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