The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-28
GOLD BUT NOT RELIGION.
MRS. ANNA J. JOHNsoN's IMPRESS
sIONs OF NOME CITY.
ChnpeI-word Picture of the Evils
of Main street-Rough Miners
Kind and Gave Her Assistance.

Nome is not prolific field for Christian
mission work but simply a camp in which
the rough-clad masses are eager in their
pursuit for gold or recreation in the ways
of the world. This. in brief is the opin-
ion OF Mrs. Anna j. Johnson, OF New York.
who for thirty years past has been en-
gagged in evangelistic work in the United
states, and is known throughout the
country as lecturer and writer.
Mrs. Johnson is past the middle portal
OF life. Her hair is white as snow. but her
face bespeaks kindness and tenderness in
every line. She left here for the far
North July 81 last. intending TO conduct
a gospel mission at Nome. but returned
on the last boat satisfied that she could do
no good. Her impressions of the great
gold camp. however are from her own OBJ
servations. In an interview at the Raj
nier-Grand yesterday she said:
They have not time for religion in
Nome. IL is a sad sight to witness the
many orgies going on nightly and realize
you can do nothing.
when l landed there could not find
a place to locate i'm. Finally Thomas Lane,
son OF c. d. Lane. gave me building near
his warehouse on the Anvil Creek rail-
road and opened up But could not get
an audience. The thrifty men work eigh-
teen hours n day and need the balance
OF time for sleep. while the improvident
street and have no thought OF the future.
I'm a great gold camp suppose It can
not be expected otherwise, but 1t is sad
sight TO go down Main street for two miles
in the evening and see the hundreds OF
saloons crowded with men and women. l
felt like getting out In the street and talk
ing TO them. but there were several young
men already engaged I'm that work and so
l did not.
There Is no hope for much being done
In religious work just now. 1t makes mo
unhappy to think Of the thousands there
who, to all appearances, have lost the de-
sire to be saved Women and men by the
score are losing their souls and bodies in
the overwhelming haste TO satisfy The lusts
of the flesh, I was told that women were
paid $50 night to sing In the saloons, but
after their turn they must 20 down
among the men and induce them TO buy
asked her II her mother knew the level to
which she had fallen, and l feel happy in
the knowledge that she has left Nome for
ever All night long the hideous cries OF
revelry can he heard.
yet notwithstanding this condition. as
I walked back and forth on Main street.
any OF those rough-looking miners offer
me insult. In fact. they were very re-
spectful. They were ready TO take my
hand and assist me across the mud or over
an uneven piece OF ground. They showed
me every kindness and courtesy. and there
was nothing to offend me except those
terrible evils on Main street
There Ii a church service conducted
every Sunday in the building 7 was COM
PEELED to abandon, owing to Inability
to get an audience. by Rev. Hall Young,
of the PRESBYTERIAN denomination.
II made trip up the railway to Anvil
mountain and saw them pan out gold I
saw restaurant man there who had been
n church. worker In the United States. He
had gone North and invested all his mon
ey. but was not doing any business and
was discouraged He told me he thought
OF going into the saloon business. as sa-
on-keepers were making all the money.
and he did not believe God was paying
any attention to Nome. talked with him
and changed his resolve so say there Ia
no telling what the fruits Of my labors
will be,