The sun., 1900-10-07
THE GREAT STORM ATNOME,
DAMAGE or MORE THAN mar A
MILLION DOLLARS INFLICTED.
Tents and Houses swept Away The Monster
Barge skookum Left HiGh and Dry
Other Vessels wrecked - Much Mschln-
cry Damaged - Problem OF the Destitute.

NOME. Alaska, Sept 2O.-Thc damage In
Nome by the great storm that swept over Behr-
Ing Sea last week amounted probably to i5On,-
900. and possibly to sLOOO,OOO IL was the in
evitable that happened. and II haI os.-. ,..s-
dcted all summer by persons acquainted With
tho country that the nrst really severe storm
would sweep away hundreds Of the buildings
and tents on the beach An autumn storm In
Bohrlng Sea Il always something more than a
common storm and It is often a violent hurri-
cane. The dreary expanse OF water stretching
from the Aleutian Islands to Betring Strait
and from the western peninsula Of Alaska TO
the eastern coast Of Siberia ia very seldom in a
state Of calm, although there have been soms
days during the last summer when 1t presented
something Of the appearance OF waters situated
farther south. Probably there are more stormy
days In the course OF year In Behring Sea
than In any other body OF salt water In the
world except the South Atlantic in the violn-
ity OF Cape Horn and one or two other remote
regions In the Arctic or the Antarctic.
Early In September moro violent storms than
usual are looked for In Behring Sea This year
the flrst great storm began on Wednesday a
last week. It did not subside for four days.
During that time at least a dozen vessels were
blown ashore and damage amounting 20 thou
sands Of dollars was done to property by the
enormously high tides and the enoroaohmsnt
Of water blown In by tho southwesteEly gales.
The locality known as the Spit, the sandy necR
Of land between Snake River and the ocean, was
swept away nearly as far west as the bridge
and perhaps one-tenth Of the dwellings Of
Nome were wiped out in few hours The
coast line along the beach at the western cad
Of Nome has been altered In a dozen places. go
that II Is hardly recognizable. The pier OF tho
Alaska Commercial Company was swept away.
and tho beach warehouse Of the same company
was partly destroyed with large amount OF
merchandise The loss to the company was
something like t60OOo Other transportation
companies and large merchants suffered almost
a. much and some suffered more.
When the storm began on Wednesday NOM
ing there was great effort 70 save rs much
as possible Of the lumber and merchandise
lying on the beach. but the water rose so fast
that large amount Of II was swept away.
Many thousands OF feet oflumber are now drift
ing miles out at sea- and boxes OF provisions
OF various kinds have shared the same fate.
A great part Of the coal supply Of Nome was
lying In bags on the beach not far from the
water. Naturally this could not float away.
but good deal Of IL has been buried In sand.
Such machinery as was lying tho beach.
and there was n large amount OF II, has been
rusted and broken that II can never be used
All the ships in port began to drag their
anchors early In the day on Wednesday. and
on Thursday morning several Of them weie
lying on 'he beach. broken up by the waves.
Crowds Of people lined the shore throughout
the town. Some of them we're making des-
perats efforts 10 save their property, moving
tents or small wooden houses. OF carrying
away their smaller personal effects Others
were there merely as spectators. The storm
grand sight. Great waves twenty feet
high rolled over the beach with a force that
carried them nearly into the middle Of the main
street Of Nome before they rcceded. taking
tents boxes boats and lumber with them. The
grelte't interest was at the mouth of the Snake
River Within twsnty-four hours the time
the storm began the Spit had been wiped out
Of existence and the people who had lived
there In their tents OF cabins were seeking
shelter in other parts Of the town. While the
Spit was being swept away at least tive good
sized vessels were being blown up on the shore.
and the wrecks, some Of them. are now lying
in few feet Of water In the places where hun
dreds Of dwellings stood a week ago in ap.
parent security.
One OF the most remarkable sights Of the
storm was the wreck of the Skookum. This
craft was an immense barge which arrived
in Nome early in July with s,OOoOO0 feet OF
lumber on board besides large general cargo
including several hundred head OF horses
and live stock She attracted IA great deal
Of attention at the time she left Seattle for
Nome from tho fact that she was believed
by many persons TO be unseaworthy. II was
said that she was overloaded and the predc-
tion was made that she would 20 to the bot
tom before arriving in Alaskan waters. She
unloaded the Skookum waited 10 take out
a load Of passengers. Her owners had
scheme for taking out 1000 semi -desttutes
this fall at $40 head The fare was TO in
cude full payment for passage. berth and
mea. She was regarded with suspicion
IA n death trap. but the proposed price OF pas
sage was low, and IL was considered n good
joke In Nome to ask man how he had pros
pered and then 10 inquire II he expected 10
go home on the Skookum.
When the storm broke last Wednesday
everybody looked for the Skookum To blow
ashore The expectation was realized In
few hours She was soon seen TO be in a help
less condition and the few persons on board
managed 20 get ashore in the nick OF time.
The barge il something like $50 feet long and
had a house built on her main deck that gave
her n nondescript appearance The height
OF the water ana lilf power bl Nllt hN'ill 'hh
be realized when II Is said that tho Skookum
Is now lying almost high and dry on the beach
Small boats without number we're either
smashed up or swept out 10 Rea by the storm.
Sailing craft that happened to be lying at
anchor on shore were rule unable 10 get
out to sea and were wrecked, All tho large
steamers put 10 sea MS soon as the storm do
yeloped 20 a dangerous point and remained
there riding out tho storm.
The revenue cutter Bear had left here a few
days before for a cruise in the northern part
Of Behring Sea and along the siberian coast.
She was lying az anchor on St Lawrence Island
when the storm began, While the wind at
Nome was from the southwest the gales en-
countered by the Rear at st. Lawrence Island
were from the north The ship had just COM
pleted the landing OF some reindeer that had
been carried over 20 the island from Port Clar-
ence where the Teller reindeer station 10 stn-
ated II was found necessary TO put 20 sea.
and although the vessel was in no danger shs
had an exceedingly rough time Of IL. The
Bear put across toward the siberian coast
and was within thirty miles Of the mountainous
country around rloyer Bay for three days.
within the last two weeks probably 1000