The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-07-18
ALL ABOUT NOME CITY
A BREEZY INTERVIEW WITH A RETURN
ING VICTIM.
UneIe Billy Wright Tells What He saw Up
There, And II Was Anything But Gola
...clad to Be Back In oregon.

VIM. wright-better known TO every
man, woman and child, and dog IN
Salem, as "Uncle Billy" has returned
from Cape Nome, and to say that he is
happy wouldn't half do justice to the
lob. He smiled clear aronnd to the
back Of his neck, and almost cried for
10y as he related his wonderful tale J
IT'S a plain unvarnished tale, by the
way, that will interest everyone who
wants TO know the facts about the new
North country.
The party had a good trip up on the
steamer Nome City. 1t was crowded,
but treatment was pretty good every.
thing considered. They were three days
IN the ice, "the finest refrigerator | ever
saw, and cooler atmosphere than | ex-
pect 10 find either side Of eternity" re-
marked the facetious Billy. The steamer
rescued two wrecks going up, and en-
joyed the privilege Of being rescued from
a similar fate on her return.
Billy only spent nine days at Nome,
"long enough, toe" as he expressed 1t.
At home by the way, Uncle Billy spends
his time grinding scissors, selling horse
radish, and otherwise sharpening up
the tools, wits and appetites OF the ma
tives. He regretted very much that he
didn't take along good suuly Of horse
radish, for it was about the only thing
there wasn't plenty Of unless it was
gold, and his fortune would have been
made. The beach is lined with white
tents for sixteen miles, the length OF
Main street, and as much further as you
care to imagine. All the way up the
sailors and men employed on the steam
er talked up the wonderful god pros.
pectsso enthusiastically that the sailors
and other employees we're worked mp tC
fever heat to get grab at it, and all
decided 10 quit, but most Of then
learned so much in a few days there
that they were glad 10 be taken bach
for return trip. Billy says he looked
with all his might for nine days for op
portHnity TO improve his fortunes, anC
then was glad TO be able TO get return
passage without having to mortgage
his shirt. As the Nome City was about
to pull out on her return trip, Billy ac
costed the captain.
cap, I'm here without money and
want to get home"
"Just put on your truck and come
along" was the unexpected response
and Uncle Billy worked his passage
home, as wiser II not wealthier man.
When he left the steamer at Seattle the
Captain bid him good bye, and teld him
II he were ever about when the Nome
City was about to take a trip to consider
his passage as good as paid. Mr.. Wright
is about 1925 out, but thinks the expert.
enee was cheap.
He says there are thousanes of the
best people in the world up at Nome,
and some that are not 30 good, There
is good order everywhere, unless you go
into the tough neighborhoods, and there
they register about murder day. The
better class there help each other like
saints and try to make the best Of their
luck. He estimates that fully million
dollars worth of machinery Of all sorts
is piled up on the beach that will never
be used for anything, and that II will
eventually sink in the sand.
He estimates that over a hundred
preachers are up there, but very few Of
them are making any use OF their rehg-
ion, or working at their trade, as it
were. He says that he needed all that
he had, and brought back what he had
left. When asked "What did you learn,
Uncle Billy" he responded: al learned
that was a d--d fool, and that's worth
a good deal to man, but you cont use
II 10 feed the babies"
He says the water is fairly good in
summer, very cold, right Off the ice, but
they claim it is poisoned by the moss
roots as soon as the rains begin.
He reports the Salem boys doing as
we'll as the average, but that is mighty
poorly. He saw John Kaiser out with
his pan working few hours before he
left, we'll and happy. Gus Kaiser had a
touch Of fever. Thomas Holman was
we'll. He had just taken a sea bath, the
coldest on record, and said he enjoyed it.
Holman will return this fall. Charley
Wolz was fat as ever. John Moreloc k
had been sick but was well when Wright
left. Mrs. ID. l.. Fiester was in good
spirits, and expected to make fortune
in the restaurant and laundry business.
Mrs. Nichols hospital has a good loca-
ton, and some patients.
Mr., Wright is convinced that there is
gold all over that country, but not in
paying quantities for the common miner.
The beach has been worked and "a