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In The News
The Nome News
Nome, Alaska
Monday, October 9, 1899
Vol. 1, No. 1
Page 1.
Escaped and recaptured. New homer bird, the Anvik murderer, attempts flight.
A. H. Bird, who has been confined
in the guardhouse at Saint Michael since last June, on a charge of murdering two
companions named Herlin and Patterson, in September 1898, a few miles above and
that broke jail on Saturday, space September 30, and made his escape. He was
recaptured, however, a few days later about 12 miles from the post. When found
he was standing in a hole in the ground, which he had dug. He had blankets and
food with him. Bird effected his escape by cutting a hole through the floor of
the guardhouse, and it is believed he was aided by outside parties. The murder
of Herlin and Patterson is said to have been cool and deliberate, the men having
been shot down while at breakfast. Herlin was killed instantly but Patterson
died some weeks later. The deed is attributed by some to jealousy, the cause
being a woman who was in the party; by others it is claimed that bird is insane.
Bird organized a gold hunting expedition in San Francisco in the spring of 1898.
He is from New Orleans and has a wife and family in that city. Bird was taken to
Sitka on the bear, where he will be tried.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John F Collins, undertaker and embalmer, will erect a building of his own so
soon as lumber can be procured. In the meanwhile he can be found in the
two-story building opposite the recorder’s office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The tug Beaver went to the bottom of St. Michael Bay during the storm on Sunday
last
The schooner Marianne, Capt. Spencer, which left St. Michael for Nome last
Wednesday, was found by the bear flying a distress signal near Stewart Island.
The schooner had been beached, but she was subsequently gotten off and returned
to St. Michael.
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New tinshop, opposite side of street from post office, in shed, part of
two-story building,. Stovepipes, stoves, roof plates for Cohen and side of house
roofs. Repairing neatly done on short notice. Prices reasonable. John W
Schaeffer.
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A representative firm.
Young man coming to the front in the golden North land.
The news of the fabulous wealth of the great North land, sent out over the
world, has attracted the attention of hundreds of live, energetic young men, who
have come hither determined to rest a furniture a fortune from the pactolian and
streams that sweep their golden sands from the summits to the sea. These active,
nervy young fellows, the best blood of the older civilized communities of this
dates, are scattered all along the Yukon, from White Pass to St. Michael and far
up the sterile coast of the Bering Sea. There are many of them in Nome, and the
intense activity of the place is largely due to the spirit and untiring energy
with which they apply themselves to whatever business they take in hand.
As representatives of this element in Nome citizenship the firm of Ross, Morton
& Hayden is fairly entitled to rank as leaders in their chosen calling. Arriving
here early in July they were unable to secure many good properties, and are now
owners of a goodly portion of Nome’s guilt edge real estate. They have also
large interest in mines and an active law practice, embracing a most desirable
clientele. They started business in a small tent, but as soon as opportunity
offered they purchased lumber and erected one of the best business holdings in
the city, the ground floor of which they will occupy for offices.
Messrs. Morton and Hayden are practicing law and attending to the legal branch
of the general business. Mining in Admiralty has made up a large part of their
law practice this year.
Mr. Ross manages and is at the head of the real estate mine, mining and outside
business, including a large shipping trade.
The firm has associated with them in the mining business Hank Smith, one of the
best-known mining experts in the country and the man of large experience in
query ports and placer property.
The large scope of the firm’s business makes it necessary for them to visit the
outside this winter, and the affairs of the firm in Nome will be ably conducted
by Mr. AC Ross, brother of Mr. Ross of the firm.
W. H. Hayden was for seven years with Jay M Ashton and W. O. Chapman, formerly
Council of the N.P. Railway Company and remain with them when they engaged in
general practice in Tacoma. He studied law under their direction and was
admitted to the Supreme Court in 96. During that period of missed during the
period of Mr. Hayden’s connection with Mr. witness yours Ashton and Chapman he
had a large he had large experience in corporate law. Mr. Hayden’s headquarters
will be in Tacoma during the winter.
Mr. Ross came to Nome from San Francisco, where for a number of years he was
manager of the provision and city Department of Wellman, Teck & Co. He left
their employee June 1, 1898, to come to this country for the Alaska commercial
company. He was one of the originators and charter members of the polar mining
and development company, who now owns some very valuable mining property in this
district. Mr. Ross will make his headquarters for the winter at San Francisco.
Oliver P Morton, B.A., graduated from Stanford University in 1865 and was
admitted to the Supreme Court of California in Los Angeles, where he practiced
last year. He will be in Washington DC this winter with E. Chapin Brown, a
prominent lawyer there.
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The Creamerie.
Nome’s fashionable and popular dining establishment.
What Delmonico is to New York or the Palace Hotel to San Francisco, so is the
Creamerie to Nome. In establishing this handsomely and elegantly equipped dining
and resort, Mr. J .J. Carscadden was determined that it should have it should
lead all other like establishments in the manner of service and the quality of
violins placed before his guests with that laudable purpose in view, he spared
no expense in equipping the creamery in a first-class manner, supplying each
department with improved modern appliances and engaging an ample force of
scientific chefs of well-known ability and skill. The result is been that the
creamery took front rank from the very first of its career. Every delicacy of
the season is served as guest desire, while many a dainty creation of the chef’s
skill is they are to attempt the most fastidious appetite. Mr. Carscadden is
well and favorably known on the coast and deserves an unbounded the unbounded
success he is meeting with in the conduct of the Creamerie.
It is gratifying to Mr. Carscadden to know that the quick intelligence of the
people of Nome has responded to the commendable efforts he has made, as is
evidenced by the crowds that may daily be found at the well spread tables of the
Creamerie.
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NEWS NOTES.
Steamers Roanoke and Sadie arrived Saturday night from Saint Michael with large
passenger lists. Owing to the rough weather Sunday the passengers were not
landed until this morning.
Mr. John Parkinson, of the A. E. Company, and Miss Hannah Hibberd were united in
marriage on September 4, Rev. S. Hall Young, D. D., performing the ceremony
Francis P. King, M. D., a well-known Nome mining man formerly of New York, and
Miss Elizabeth Shirass, M. D., late of Hamilton, Ontario, were quietly married
Sunday evening by Rev. Dr. Young.
United States deputy Marshall Lee assisted by local police, rounded up 14 men
and deported them on the Bear. Most of them were well-known toughs.
Judge Wood, the energetic and affable president and Manor manager of the S. Y.
T. Company, is still in town looking after the interests of his large
transportation business.
William Weber, one of the proprietors of the Pioneer restaurant, died yesterday
of typhoid fever. He was a native of Wittenberg, Germany. The funeral will take
place at 3 o’clock this afternoon.
Mel Yates, manager of the reception, the most up to date place in Nome, is
making that place very popular with all Nomites.
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Carr vs. Kelly.
Curly Carr and Ed Kelly, well-known middleweights, are booked for a 20 round
glove contest, to a decision, tomorrow night, at Wyatt Earp’s saloon. It
promises to be a warm contest.
Carr recently defeated Billy Cooper, champion middleweight of the Yukon, at
Dawson, and 12 rounds. Kelly is well known locally.
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Page 2.
From Dawson to Nome.
The Nome News Pleasant Trip Down the Yukon.
The staff and mechanical force of the Nome news left Dawson on September 18 on
the steamer C. H. Hamilton, of the N. A. T. & T. Company, Capt. Sims. The trip
down the river was a pleasant one and everything possible was done by Capt.
Simms and the genial purser, J. T. Zook, to contribute to the comfort of their
passengers. That they succeeded is attested by the fact that of the 100
passengers few if any had any complaints to make. Capt. Simms is an old Missouri
River steamboat man, and the pilot, W. B. Edwards, is one of the most capable on
the Yukon. St. Michael was reached on September 30, the steamer having been
delayed by heavy weather and snow storms on the lower river.
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New order instituted.
Col. O. V. Davis arrived from Dawson last week and will engage in business here.
The colonel, as is well known, is devoted to secret societies, and while at
Saint Michael lately he organized the order of sour doughs, which he proposes to
implant at Nome.
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Temporary hospital.
Quarters for a temporary hospital have been secured in the library building, and
on Friday nine patients were admitted. Rev. Dr. Young's services have been in
constant demand in securing relief and accommodations for sufferers new to
surgeon Miller, U. S. A., has also been most indefatigable and many patients
have been admitted to the military hospital there being as many as 14 outside
patients in that hospital at one time. It is a matter of regret among Nome
citizens generally that Dr. Miller is about leaving the post in at this place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unexcelled facilities for job printing at the Nome news office located in
Marshall Lee’s new building near upper Perry.
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Page 3.
Jumpers Balked.
Newcomers attempt to acquire town lots.
Establishment of street lines furnishes the incentive - squatters arrested and
fined.
Much excitement maintain a lower front Street a few days since through the
active efforts of latecomers to acquire property on the thoroughfare by
“squatting.” The incentive was afforded by the appearance of the street of
municipal surveyor Glenn and staff, who proceeded to make a preliminary survey
and establish a temporary North line for the street, for the information of the
Council, which body recognized the necessity of establishing street limits at
once. The line ran for a considerable distance at or near the middle of the
street, those leaving a large area of unoccupied space running back to the
fronts of the lots and buildings, and the land seekers, thinking the line a
permanent one, thought they saw an opportunity to secure some of the choices
property in the city.
Accordingly, they made a rush upon the space and, with tents, frame foundations
and fences, proceeded en masse to capture the street. The original property
holders in many cases, saw themselves cut off from the street and that once
issued a just and vigorous protests. Chief Eddie was responded and ordered the
“jumpers” to vacate; many of them obeyed the Monday the mandate and others who
did not were summarily arrested, taken before Judge Rawson and fined.
The following day similar scenes were enacted and then caught, at the request of
the judge, the Council held a special meeting to take necessary steps for coping
with the exigency. The judge told the aldermen it was their duty to protect the
original property holder at all hazards, and intimated that if it were not done
the military authorities would feel constrained to take charge of affairs.
The mayor and council proved to be in sympathy with the remarks and lost no time
in taking necessary measures. First, an ordinance was passed temporarily
establishing six to a 60 foot street from a line to be drawn by the surveyor,
and then another ordinance was passed making it a misdemeanor to “jump” any of
the land line in the disputed territory.
In consonance with this action, chief Eddy swore in several extra men and went
after the “jumpers” with renewed vigor, as a result of which the excitement died
out.
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The death record.
Diarrhea, which has been prevalent at Nome for some time, resulted in the death
a few days ago of William Prosser a native of Haverhill, Massachusetts, aged 35
years. Deceased was a member of the so-called Wilbur Orimmons party, which spent
last winter on the clear-cut River, and he arrived at Nome but a short time
prior to his death. He was sedulously nursed by the company’s position, but
hemorrhage at the bowels set in and death resulted in a few hours later.
Deceased leaves the widow and two children.
Thomas O’Brien, a bartender at the elk saloon, died at the hospital last week
from the effects of typhoid fever. He was a native of Westfield Indiana, and but
30 years of age.
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News nuggets.
D. J. McKinney has secured a lot just south of the A. O. store on which he
proposes erecting a three-story hotel in the spring. The building will be
brought from Seattle in sections.
Mr. Beals, Dawson’s official dog keeper, has become a resident of Nome and a
front Street property owner. Mr. Beals brought down about a half hundred
canines.
The little steam launch nugget capsized just off the beach during the rough
weather of last Saturday. She was towed ashore much damaged.
Peter Buckley, a Dawson man, fell down and open hatchway on the boat at Saint
Michael and sustained a fracture of one of his ribs of, a few days ago.
The Martha Wilkes started for Nome a few days ago, but took fire when some miles
out and was obliged to return to Saint Michael.
Two men and a woman, supposed to be from Dawson, attempted to cross to Saint
Michael from the Yukon in an open boat a few days since and were drowned. Late
arrivals here say the boat of the woman was recovered on the beach.
The Hobo Kid is said to have celebrated his arrival from Dawson by winning
several hundred dollars at Faro and the threshing a fellow who insulted his best
girl.
Sam C. Dunham, who has been assigned to the duty of taking a census of the
northern division of Alaska, has appointed Mr. Becker to be the enumerator for
the district of Nome. The gentleman will come commence his work immediately
after the freeze up.
Petty thievery has been quite common of late the N. A. T. & T. Company were
obliged to employ a night watchman to stop put a stop to their losses. Coal,
lumber and provisions are articles most sought for by the gentry.
A celebrity known as Missouri Bill, who had previously made a fortune in the
Klondike, left for the states on the Portland with a big poke of Nome gold,
rocked by himself and partner Cummings from the ruby sand of the beach.
Attorney Rosener leaves for the outside in a few days to spend the winter in a
warmer climate. He takes out with him a large bottle filled with beach sand
arranged in a manner to represent the several stratas exactly as they exist from
the surface down to the bedrock and including the gold bearing seam known as
ruby sand. That it will prove a great curiosity on the outside and attract much
attention this way goes without saying. Mr. Rosener is one of the most popular
and energetic young men in Nome and his absence will be widely felt.
John’s Shartzer, special agent of the Treasury Department, is in town Mr.
Shartzer thinks that Nome will prove the banner camp of the world.
Judge W. T. Hume has gone to his old home in Portland Oregon to spend the
winter. And the judge is said to have a poke containing $20,000, the result of
his hustling abilities during his residence in Nome.
Dr. Renninger, of Dawson, has cast his lot with the metropolis of Bering Sea.
The doctor was at Sheep Camp at the time of the terrible snow slide and rendered
valuable service to the rescued victims.
A report that the Schooner Hera had foundered and gone down with all on board
circulated about town last week, but it appears to have had no foundation.
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Klondike murderer.
Arrested in Nome confesses the crime.
A Greek named Bellios admits that he killed his partner, named Sarga, near
Dawson in June last.
Chief of police W. M. Eddy has effected an arrest which will win him deserved
fame abroad and the confidence of his fellow citizens at Nome. Such
opportunities do not often present themselves to an official during the first
month of his service, and it is a subject for gratification that the chief was
equal to the emergency. The prisoner is a Greek named Louis Bellios, and his
crime was that of murder; the crime was committed 2000 miles away and no
official advices were sent here concerning it, yet the murderer is a prisoner at
Nome, while officers of the law are scouring the states for him. More than that,
the man has made a confession, a written copy of which is in the possession of
the chief.
Bellios, during the early summer, worked a lay at number six below on Bonanza,
in the Klondike, and he had for a partner a fellow Greek named John Sarga. In
the latter part of June they abandoned the lake, and on July 3 Bellios left
Dawson on the steamer ride out for Nome. Several weeks later the body of Sarga,
in an advanced stage of the decomposition, was found in the sands of the
Klondike about 2 miles above the mouth of Bonanza Gulch. There were plenty of
evidences that the man had been murdered and robbed, and suspicion fell upon
Bellios, owing to his absence and the fact that he had several times engaged in
quarrel with Sarga. It was not known that he had come to Nome and, upon the
supposition that he had gone to the states, efforts for his apprehension work
and concentrated there. A story of the affair got into the outside papers, and a
copy coming to Nome sealed the doom of Bellios, whose description was
recognized. Before making the arrest, chief Eddy learned that Bellios had left
Dawson with a large sum of money which he claimed to have one at gaming and a
good share of which he lost in games on the boat; he is also said to have
exhibited a sack of nuggets known to have belonged to the murdered man.
In his confession, Bellios says that after quitting their lay he and Sarga went
up the Klondike to get a raft of wood. On July 1 they were in camp a couple of
miles above Bonanza when they became involved in a dispute over a matter that
they had previously quarreled about. Sarga, who was a very large man, finally
assaulted Bellios, knocking him down and threatening to shoot him. Bellios, in
the scramble, caught Sarga’s pistol hand in his teeth and bid a piece out of it;
this caused Sarga to drop the weapon and Bellios, catching it up, fired a bullet
into Sarga’s breast. The man fell to the ground and Bellios emptied the
remaining chambers into his body. Bellios says further that he buried the body
in a shallow grave in the sand made with his hands, floated down to Dawson on
the raft they had built, and on July 3 left for Nome; he contends that he shot
in self-defense and do denies that he robbed to his victim. He seems to have
experienced much relief in the confession as the memory of his crime haunted him
constantly
Chief Eddy will send his prisoner to Sitka on the Bear, and arrangements will be
made there for his extradition to and trial at Dawson.
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A disastrous wreck.
Empire companies barge goes down at St. Michael.
A gale of wind which raged at Saint Michael on October 1 and two, cause the
entire wreck of the barge of number two belonging to the Empire transportation
company. The barge was loaded with a miscellaneous cargo and was anchored some
distance from the shore.
On Sunday afternoon, October 2, the barge showed signs of sinking and in a short
time it had been completely submerged, the valuable cargo going down with it. 23
men on the barge had a narrow escape from drowning and were only saved by the
efforts of the officers and crew of the steamship Lakme, which was anchored
nearby. The revenue Cutter Bear was also more near the scene of the accident and
her officers have been subject to considerable censure because it is alleged,
they made not the slightest effort to go to the rescue of the men who were in
peril of their lives, although the officers must have been cognizant of the
danger. A number of the passengers on the Lakme held and it didn’t indignation
meeting at which resolutions were adopted censuring the Bear’s officers, and the
resolutions were subsequently forwarded to the authorities at Washington.
Among the heavy losers by the wreck of the barge was Dell Clark, who lost a
complete saloon and restaurant outfit and fixtures, valued at $30,000. Messrs.
Geo. E. Story and Cole Burke, late of Dawson, who were on their way to Nome with
a newspaper plant, were also victims of the storm. Mr. Story had made the best
arrangements possible for the shipment of the plant to the city on the barge,
upon which he had secured comfortable quarters for the publication of the Nome
Nugget. His foresight, however, resulted disastrously for him and the plant went
down in the wreck. Mr. Story’s loss will amount to $2000. The a. E. Company also
lost 25,000 feet of lumber and there were also on board the barge 500 cases of
coal oil, 50 cords of wood and a bakery outfit.
The beach along Saint Michael Island was strewed with wreckage and many men
availed themselves of an opportunity to secure all the free whiskey and beer
they could drink, the waves having carried to the shore a number of cases of
whiskey and barrels of beer.
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Page 4.
Personals.
A. B. Brown, of the railway mail service, who has been on the steamer Hamilton,
on the Yukon River route, is looking over the city. Mr. Brown proved an
efficient and popular official and made many friends on the river. He goes out
on the Roanoke.
H. W. Everson, formerly of Dawson will open an office for the practice of law.
W. H. Bard, a well-known attorney and mining man of Dawson, has opened an office
for the practice of his profession it Nome. Mr. Bard had the distinction of
being the only American lawyer who practiced before the Yukon courts.
Hon. J. W. Ivey, collector of customs for Alaska, is in town. Judge Ivey is a
firm believer in Nome’s present and future.
As night captain of the Nome police force, D. Flaherty, ex-Mayor of White Pass
City, is doing efficient service in looking after Nome’s peace and quiet.
Dr. Kittelson will spend the winter at his old home in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
John DeBuhr, a practical mining man, will go outside in a few days to be treated
for an injury sustained recently to his right eye.
E. M. Walters, an old-timer in Nome, will spend the winter in Chicago.
C. A. McLennan, formerly in the United States customs service on Puget Sound and
a well-known transportation man, is now in the employ of the N. A. T. & T.
Company. Mac has many friends all over the west and south.
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Laundry burglarized.
Niel & Beiring, proprietors of the Tacoma laundry were received of about $2000
in cash and a quantity of jewelry on Thursday night. The laundry is operated on
board steamer Seig. The money and jewelry were placed in a buckskin sack under
the bed. This was probably known to thieves and they watch their opportunity to
secure the swag. Chief Eddy caused the arrest of George Welser sir, alias “Clear
Kid,” on suspicion of being implicated in the robbery.
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Municipal officers.
Mayor, T. D. Cashel; treasurer, James P Rudd; municipal judge, Alonzo Rawson;
municipal clerk, D. P. Harrison; health officer, Dr. Greg; attorney, Key
Pittman; surveyor, D. K. B. Glenn; chief of police, W. M. Eddy; chief of fire
department, W. J. Allen; councilmen, George N. Wright, W. Robertson, O. P. Dam,
A. J. Lowe, Charles Pennington, J. W. Donovan.
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Ball at Saint Michael.
An interesting social affair at Hotel Healy.
On Monday night last at Hotel Healy and impromptu ball was given, the prime
promoter and general manager being J. T. Zook, the well known and popular purser
of the steamer Hamilton. Mine host just off of the Healy also did all in her
power to make the occasion a pleasant one for the participants. The large dining
room of the hotel was decorated with flags and bunting and an excellent
orchestra furnished music for the occasion dancing was indulged in until about 1
o'clock in the morning, numerous vocal solos being interspersed between the
dancing program. Those present were:
Mrs. Duff, Mrs. Gephardt, Mrs. Tegtmeyer, Mrs. Rubens, Mrs. C. L. Vawter, Mrs.
Lynch, Mrs. Crane, Miss Smith, Miss Catherine E. Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Strong,
Capt. W. H. Simms, Lieut. Cochran, J. T. Zook, Dr. S. J. Call, F. W. Mettler, N.
E. Bain, John Schartzer, T. M. Crawford, C. H. Allen, G. T. Newcomb, S. R.
Davidson, J. W. Hall, A. B. Brown, Chas. S. Moore, William E. Mash, Orson
Chapman, Harry Leland, Sam C. Dunham, John A. Hunt, W. C. Statson, A. Hudson and
Mr. Englestadt.
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