The Republican journal., 1899-11-16
Rough Experiences on the Paclfic

SEATTLE, WASH, Oct. 81, 1899. That
''all is not gold that glitters'' has been
well said. While the amount of gold re-
ceved in Seattle from the far north now
new revelations from Cape Nome are
again setting the world ablaze like unto
the first discovery of gold in the Klondike
country-yet the season is now here when
tales of disaster and hardships may be
expected and have already been brought
to notice. Behring Sea is a ''nasty bit Of
water in winter time, and the Pacific
ocean is little less unkind to the adveutur-
GUS goldseekers.
The news of the rush to Nome only
reached Seattle late in the season, but
with her usual enterprise steamers and
sail vessels were soon dispatched with
lumber, coal and supplies 50 much needed
in the long winter on that barren Cot all
save gold) bit of seacoast OF the ''relief
ships" the steamer Laurada, heavily
laden, has become a total wreck and her
cargo nearly a total loss. But no lives
were sacrificed
Little will be known before spring
concerning the conditions Of Nome for
the winter, or the amount of supplies
received-whethe1 adequate or otherwise.
The return from Nome has apparently
been undertaken by as many as nave been
able to obtain accommodations those
who had any desire to come-and yet it is
believed more people will remain than
can be assured proper facilities for passing
the winter in comfort. St. Michael will
naturally hold many for the winter, who,
like those wintering in Seattle, will return
to Nome at the earliest opening of spring.
The, rush back to the States has called
into use every available craft, even to
small schooners, and these, with 100 to
POO men on board have had varied and
trying experiences. OF the hundreds of
miners who have arrived from Nome dur
ing the past few weeks, apparently not
| one has come without a portion of gold
dust From one schooner over 121 de-
posts of dust We're made at the assay
office in one day, aggregating about $780,,
00O Two days before, 6, 500 ounces were
deposited by passengers on the schooner
Nellie G. Thurston.
| The 200 passengers who arrived on the
oath, on the schooner Hera, 2S days from
Cape Nome, had an experience which they
will not care to repeat, even though all
on board we're we'll supplied with gold
seas and worse-she ran short of provisions
and water, and, because Of adverse Winds
lay off the coast several days, unable to
enter the straits. A passing steamer
brought word of the Hera's distress, and
the revenue cutter Grant and an ocean
tug went to her rescue. Two deaths had
occurred on the vessel, and one man was
insane because of lack of food and other
deprivations.
The Hera's passengers were nearly
famished when they arrived in Seattle,
and not much like the passengers of a
schooner which arrived a few days ago
with 200 on board, who, as they neared
the shore joined in singing Home, Sweet
Home,'' and as they swarmed upon the
deck many danced for JOY, because of
their return to civilization.
The condition of the Hera had been
reported in Port Townsend and Seattle by
the Alaska liner Lakmo, and the Grant
and the Sea Lion had been at once fitted
out with provisions and fresh water and
sent out to the rescue 1t was a race
between the two boats as to which should
first sight the distressed schooner. About
9:3O O clock Monday morning, the Grant
made out the Hera forty-two miles off
Cape Flattery. In their search the tug
and revenue cutter sailed westward, five