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In The News
Nome Gold Digger
Nome, Alaska
Vol. 1, No. 9
Wednesday, December 20, 1899.
CITY CLERK RESIGNS.
L. S. Burrell Asks For a Three Years' Ferry
Franchise Across Snake River.
Warrants Ordering Drawn for Various Bills - New
Map Adopted - Water Front Boundary Changes.
City Clerk Harrison resigned last night at the
council meeting. Joseph H. Wright, the newly elected councilman, took
his seat, he being formally introduced by Councilman Donovan. Councilmen
Pennington, Lowe and the mayor were also present. The salary of Mr. Lowe
as street commissioner was fixed at $250 a month.
These bills were ordered paid: W. J. Allen, nine
lantern with globes, $15.95; L. L. Lane, water, $5.65; for duplex pump,
$175; E. K. Brush, nursing, $15; Chicago Cafe, $5; Nome Commission Co.,
stove and pipe, $35; Harry Corning, labor and material, jail kitchen,
etc., $92.50; J. W. Donovan, flag, $20; Nolan, Fisher & co., meals Nov.
14 to July 20, $241.75; Nome News Publishing Co., four books assessment
sheets, $100; same, death certificates, proclamations and ballots, $27;
Nome Gold Digger, eleven tax receipt books, $90; rent of hall, $300; W.
T. Reed, collecting poll tax, $50; Roth & Greenburg, pick, $2; S. Hall
Young, for money paid in connection with the burial of a patient, $20;
A. J. Lowe, sundries, $22.75; Willoughby Clark, Virgil Moore, judges,
and T. M. Peters and M. Rosencrantz, clerks of election, $9.50 each;
meals for election officials, $11.50; M. Rouse, hauling six cords of
wood, $60; salaries of police, $1,568.
Surveyor Glenn exhibited Recorder Dean's map of
Anvil City and his new map of Nome including the former, as far as map
is completed, and was instructed to complete survey as begun and shown
on the map. He said errors in both the old and new sites were still
being corrected; that lots were being located steadily; that Snake
river, at the mouth, had shifted 200 feet and that the initial point of
boundary survey was 137 feet out in Bering sea. Corrections were being
made. U. S. Marshal Lee and L. L. Brown asked for and were given
information, partly in regard to the old reserve on the old survey on
the water front, to the effect that the reserve is not recognized.
Bills of the municipal judge and chief of police
for fees in 44 cases, for $168 and $147 respectively, were laid over for
a week.
L. S. Burrell asked for a three years' exclusive
franchise for a ferry across Snake below the mouth of Dry creek, the
ferry to be 40 feet long long, and for teams and passengers. It went
over for a week.
D. P. Harrison offered his resignation as
municipal clerk. Councilman Lowe moved its acceptance. The resignation
is to go into effect as soon as his place can be filled.
It was ordered that Chief Allen and Assistant
Palmer, of the fire department, be paid $100 each on their salaries,
also that warrants for a month's salary each for Treasurer Rudd,
Municipal Clerk Harrison and Health Officer Gregg, be drawn, but that
they should not be paid until after the foregoing bills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESSFUL FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER.
A dinner was given Friday night by Captain W. H.
Ferguson to a number of guests, among whom were Lieut. Craigie, Key
Pittman, Alonzo Rawson, Dr. Kierulff, F. W. Mettler, Mr. Embleton, Mr.
Boskie, Albert Fink, F. W. McNulty, Dr. Emil Pohl, Dr. J. G. Humphrey,
Mr. Harkinson and Major Roth. Key Pittman toasted Captain Ferguson. The
latter spoke on Judge Rawson, commending him. He also commended Lt.
Craigie. Pittman then spoke on Nome and its government, and was
complimented by Lieut. Craigie, who followed in a toast on the army and
the local government.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MIDST THE CLINK OF COIN
Eccentricity of the "Tiger" During the Week in
Some Leading Resorts.
The sporting spirit has been rampant about town
for several days past, and many interesting bouts with the far-famed
"tiger" have been witnessed. One of the most talked of events transpired
on Saturday at the Eldorado, where the crap game ran amuck, and let the
boys walk off with between $2,200 and $2,300. Walter Pilgrim "hit it"
the hardest, his "draw out" amounting to over $700. C. B. Heath,
popularly known as the Hobo Kid, ran up $230 without a skip and then
quit because the game didn't interest him. Harry Brown then took a fall
out of the game for several hundred, and the other boys followed suit in
lesser sums until five o'clock in the morning, at which time the dealer,
Frank White, turned the cash drawer upside down upon the table to show
that he was busted, and hung out a flag of truce. "Doc" Madden then sent
a man with a cipher dispatch to the chief Frank Johnson, and in less
time than it takes to say "Jack Robinson" twice that gentleman had
shaken off his "beauty sleep" and stacked up another fortune on the
table. It would take a mighty hard game to increase Frank's pulse-beats,
and it hasn't happened yet, nothwithstanding fortunes have passed to and
fro on the same table in a single evening.
On Sunday night the Northern crap game got into
a sulk too, and when it got out the boys lost no time in instituting a
run on it. On Monday a heavy faro play was indulged in and onlookers
were five deep around the table.
On Sunday evening the Hobo Kid and Donald
Mitchell engaged in a brief but spirited poker battle. The Kid is a
redoubtable man at the "great American game" and made much good money
with his skill at Dawson, where high playing is as common as dishonest
officials, but luck wasn't with him on Sunday, and the crowd of watchers
saw several hundred of his cart-wheels pass into the possession of his
opponent.
Considerable amusement was created at the
Pioneer faro table, where a short-sighted player laid down a $50 bill in
mistake for a $10 one. The dealer, Donald Mitchell, saw the size of the
denomination and asked the player if the "whole piece" went. He got an
affirmative answer, and when the queen won and Mr. Mitchell threw out
$50 worth of chips, the player nearly "fell down with surprise," as one
of the witnesses expressed it.
The Hunter people lately introduced the
seductive keno to the sportive ones, and it has "caught on" like and
epidemic of the measles.
A "flyer" was the attraction at the Grotto -
everybody who knows anything about faro also knows how a "flyer"
attracts the most coy and cautious - and "the boys" showed it in a full
measure of appreciation.
The Cabinet games also evidenced an increased
attendance and show of the sporting spirit and altogether, the whole
"line" showed a strengthening that can only mean a spontaneous and
substantial loosening of the purse strings that, in a mining camp,
should indicate a better public feeling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OUTSIDE WITH MAIL.
Captain J. S. Worth and E. Erickson, of the A.
E. co., will leave here Jan. 7th for the outside via Katmai with mail
and commissions. They will take letters in person to Seattle and San
Francisco. They have the finest dog teams and have had much experience
on the trails. Letters $1 each.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IS BADLY HURT.
The water-back in the rang aboard the steamer
Fortune Hunter exploded just before noon today, severely injuring E. E.
Hardison on the face and side of the head and breaking his right
forearm. He is at St. Bernard Hospital.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A SMALL BLAZE.
A fire occurred in a small one-story frame
building, occupid by W. C. Carter and others, adjoining the California
laundry, this morning. The damage was slight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOME'S FIRST BABY.
He Will Be Named For the Town and Have a Claim
Staked For Him.
A fluffy little bit of humanity with dark eyes
and a beautiful pink complexion arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Chas. E. Gordon, on the Spit, a week ago. It constituted the first baby
born in Nome, and all over the San Spit and wherever else the
circumstance is known, the greatest interest has been created in it.
The baby is to be called George Washington Nome
Gordon and the father says he is going to stake the best vacant claim he
knows of in the country for him. Mr. Gordon is the discoverer of gold on
the beach and made the first location there. The mother is the Princess
Bluiak, sister of Princess Mary, the reindeer queen of Sinrook, and a
cousin of Mrs. John A. Dexter, wife of the millionaire discoverer and
owner of Dexter creek. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, ever since their marriage,
which took pace at Sinrook, and which was recorded at Sitka, have been
living in their neat cabin in this city.
"This is the first baby born in Nome," said Mr.
Gordon yesterday, as he fondly contemplated the bit of humanity, "and he
is all right, too. I haven't weighed him yet, but he is a smasher when
it comes to size. I know that. The doctor says he is about the biggest
boy for his age he ever say."
Mr. Gordon has been twelve years in this country
and in Siberia. He was formerly a whaler, but has also had experience in
mining in Arizona and elsewhere.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
A free Christmas dinner will be served aboard
the City of Chicago on Christmas day, to which all are invited. Menu:
Clam chowder, mutton stew, pork and beans, corn-beef and cabbage, ham,
chechako potatoes, tomatoes. corn, green peas, pudding, pies, tea and
coffee. Dinner served from 4 to 9. All aboard! T. J. Nestor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PERSONAL.
John Kill has entirely recovered from his
illness, and is again on the streets. His battle with the fever was
pretty severe, and for a time it looked as though he might not pull
through. He is now, however, busy selling holiday meats.
Frank Harker is issuing a calendar, the first
printed inh Nome, which is a handsome affair. It will be generally
circulated. Frank is a hustler.
Captain J. S. Worth, of the A. E. Co., will
leave for the outside Jan. 7th. E. Erickson will accompany him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENERAL BANKING.
Remember that the First Bank of Nome is now
ready for business. The institution does general banking, and receives
deposits subject to check. Drafts and gold dust bought and sold. It is a
new departure for Nome, this having a bank. We are the first in the
field. M. R. Button and others are associated to do a strong business.
Take your gold dust and deposits to the bank.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINING NOTES.
Joseph Sliscovich, recorder of the Golden Gate
mining district, has removed his office from Belmont point to the mouth
of Lake Minerva. He has also appointed W. F. P. Ellis and Wm. Depue as
deputies. There are about 100 men in the district.
Wm. Willis has returned from Feather river and
Tacoma and Dome creeks in the New Eldorado district. He says that of all
of those who have located only the Swedes, of whom there are a number,
have done any prospecting. They will not say what they have found beyond
the fact that they have prospects, but have been very anxious to record.
They are also dissatisfied that they are not allowed to record 20pacre
claims, instead of claims 60 by 500 feet in size.
Chas. C. Suter of the Cabinet, is going to work
a tundra bench claim off Anvil creek in a few days. He will put four or
five holes down and prospect thoroughly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW MINING DISTRICTS.
Daniel H. Cahill, recorder for the Inland mining
district, which was organized Nov. 23, is in the city this week. This
district lies at the head of the Costadepoga (Spanish for pay house) and
is the Mecca of a host of stampeders just now. The principal creeks are
Banner, Ruby, Cahill, Ptarmigan, Ridgeway, Slate, Squirrel, Green and
Cripple, some of which has prospected from 15 cents to $2.75 a pan.
Mr. Cahill describes the route to the
Costadepoga as down the coast to Port Safety, up the Solomon to Bonanza
creek, up Bonanza to California creek, up California nine miles to the
bend, thence over a portage in the divide four miles to a tributary of
the Costadepoga. Mr. Cahill says that all the streams in the district
carry a fine sluice head of water during the summer.
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KNOBLESDORFF AND THE GOLD DIGGER.
Carl Knoblesdorff, known as the "Flying
Dutchman," left here a few days ago for the outside via St. Michael,
Rampart, Circle City, Forty Mile, Dawson and Skagway. He carried with
him several hundred copies of the last Gold Digger, besides a number of
complete files of the other issues. These papers will be sold along the
route and taken by him to the coast. The mining and other news which
give Nome its coloring will be eagerly read by everybody. Mr.
Knoblesdorff is traveling by dog team and has one companion.
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BIG BEACH DISCOVERY.
Johnson & Strom Take Out $919 in Fourteen Days
and Still at Work.
Their Claim is Five Miles Up - Sand Dark Colored
and Obtained at a Depth of Seven Feet.
R. N. Wilcox, who is mining up the beach a mile
and a half this side of Penny river, reports that Johnson & Strom,
Finlanders, have, in fourteen days from their claim five miles up, taken
out $919, from the ruby sand. They struck an unusually rich spot, and
have been working it for all they were worth. For several days there
have been remors of this discovery. The fourteen days alluded to was up
to the evening of the 12th instant.
"I saw the gold," said Mr. Wilcox. "Johnson
panned 21 pans that weighed out $219. One would go $6 say, and another
$15, and so on, like that. Anyone can go up thre and see what they are
doing. The first dirt wasn't very rich, but directly it got so you could
see lots of gold on the blanket. They are using nothing but a blanket,
and they wash it every fifteen shovelsful, because of the cold. The pay
dirt is a sort of dark sand, half ruby and half black. The owners took
out $194 in four days, at one period of their work, and weighed it at
Elmer's cabin, next to mine.
"The ground where they are working is 40 yards
from the edge of the tide. They are down deep - 7 feet. Four feet of
this is frozen. The other three feet is soft and is being tunneled."
Mr. Wilcox also reports that Robert Wynne now at
the St. Bernard hospital, in a draw very low on the beach, got some sand
that ran 50 cents to the pan. He took out $26.50 in four days, rocking
in a tent, under great difficulties. Mr. Wilcox says that when the tide
goes out, as it will now soon, there will be great opportunities for
getting rich dirt.
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TWO WERE KILLED.
Angus Beaton, who returned a few days ago from
Golovin Bay, reports having met a man named Shaffer, who was down on
Norton Sound during the fall and saw the body of Wm. W. Wright, of whose
murder previous issues of the Gold Digger have contained particulars.
Shaffer reported that the Indians he saw there claimed to have witnessed
the crime and said that one of Wright's partners was also killed, though
he lived for two weeks and was cared for by them after he was shot. The
murderer disappeared immediately over the hills.
Mr. Shaffer also said that somebody had engraved
Wright's name, age, place of residence and date of death on a stump
which stood at the head of the sled upon which the body lay, though who
it was he did not find out.
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NARROWLY MISSED DEATH.
E. R. Simmons, of the Anvil, returned a few days
ago from Cape York, after two weeks' absence. He reports that four men
who had sat out in a small boat from Kotzebue Sound for the mouth of the
McKenzie river, were blown out of their course, and at length landed on
King's Island. They were out 30 days, during which time they were
reduced to the borders of starvation. One took the scurvy. For the last
three days they lived on citric acid. They finally managed to get to
Cape York, where they are now recovering.
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TO WED A NOME BELLE.
Dick McArthur, it is Stated, Will Marry Miss
Mary Corliss on Christmas.
The Wealthy Mine Owner's Partner to Vacate the
Residence Near Belmont Point.
The story is out that is Mary Corliss, of the
Butte restaurant, known as one of the belles of Nome, and Dick McArthur
are to be married on Christmas. When the young woman is spoken to in
reference to it she says "g'lang," or "what are you talking about," but
Dick is more candid. He gives it out as a fact that the ceremony is to
be performed on that day.
Lon Cooper first astonished the town by telling
the story. At that time the marriage was to take place on New Year's
eve. Cooper is the next door neighbor to McArthur on the bluff near
Belmont point, beyond Snake river. "They are to be married in Dick's
cabin," said Cooper, "and we are going to have a high old time."
In the absence of McArthur from his abode
yesterday, his partner, G. E. Harmon said in reference to the story that
the marriage was to take place:
"That's what Dick says. He told me and Lon
Cooper and others several times, and I guess it is going to occur. The
date set is Christmas. I'll leave the cabin when the thing occurs. That
was the agreement when we moved in, that when the first one got married
the other was to get out. I didn't think then it would be me, for I
figured I had a better chance to get married than Dick, and agreed to
it, but now he has done me up. Mr. McArthur and Miss Corliss were old
friends at Dawson. Mr. McArthur is the owner of good tundra property and
of No. 2 above discovery on Anvil creek, a very valuable placer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUIT OVER A VALUABLE LOT.
Suit was brought by Chas. Hoxie before Judge
Rawson recently against Mrs. Jennie Nodine for possession of the lot 25
by 100 feet on Front street, occupied by her for some months past a
lodging tent. Hoxie alleged that it was his ground, it being a part of
the 150 by 350 feet on which Hoxie & Earp's saloon and the Hunter
building are situated. Mrs. Nodine testified she bought the lot from
Berkel & Dickman on July 17, that they had located it June 23, when they
found no stakes. The jury disagreed, standing four for Mrs. Nodine and
two for Hoxie. Clark & Green were for Mrs. Nodine and E. W. Beeman for
Hoxie.
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