The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-26
a WOMAN AT CAPE NONE.
Miss Ella Courtney Writes of Life
in the Gold Camp.

! COLUMBIA. S C., March 25-Miss Ella
Courtney. young woman of adventurous
/ spirit the daughter of DR.. ]. B. Courtney
| Of Edgeield County, has written a letter
! to friends here from Cape Nome. Alaska.
| 1t gives some insight into the troubles OF
pioneers So far as known Miss Courtney
is the only Southern women who has reach
ed Cape Nome She went with a family
from Chicago. She writes: TO the COM
FORTHCOMING America of modern type this
sort of Siwash existence has its draw
backs Life in a wigwam under some con-
ditions might seem novel and Interesting
but on this bleak shore of Behring Sea, we
would gladly dispense with all the novelty
for a few of the home comforts. In sleet.
snow. rain and wind the weather Of Cape
Nome cannot be eXcelled. However we
have determined TO take our medicine
cheerfully.
We have no time for prospecting
work: we are kept fully occupied with
such petty details as fire building. re-
plenishing. etc. to say nothing OF time
spent hanging around the stores, like
poor yagabonds. trying to obtain outfits
of provisions lumber, etc, for the winter.
Two members of the family started out on
our arrival to secure lumber, a scarce
article. but finally gave up the pursuit,
deciding to await the return of the
Roanoke which was to bring lumber
from St Michaels. Then began the chase
for business quarters. Clinching business
arrangements in Nome is somewhat like
catching an eel-as soon as you have made
up your mind. the other man has changed
his. At last everything was settled with
us; the lease signed and the owner of the
premises speeded on board a southbo1nd
vessel. The villain in this case was a
partner who had gone to Cape York, pre-
sumably for the winter. In genuine viii
lain style he came upon the scene and we
were ousted-and are still searching for
quarters.
Wages have Ieaped TO $3.50 an hour
/ suppose many of our grievances are but
imaginary, and incidents in the lives Of
all pioneers and what are the odds since
the soil is rich in gold? | have never been
enthusiastic on the subject of the Yukon
stove. which pest has found its way even
to Cape Nome. II Is a fieDd at best. but
when forced into use on Behring Sea- with
brine-soaked driftwoOd as the only avail
able fuel, the result is that state OF mind
which is, indeed, eloquent.
TO add to the penetrating dampness OF
the atmosphere We have been endeavoring
to dry out some brine-s soaked goods ever
since our arrival A bundle containing
some fur rugs an eiderdown robe. a lot of
pillows, blankets, etc, had been precipi-
tated into the sea in transit from steamer
to shore and was consequently thoroughly
soaked. We draped these articles all
around the walls of the cabin, hoping they
would dry by next day; little pools of salt
water formed on the floor. but the goods re-
NAMED wet. Then We hung them out in
the air during the one day of sunshine,
but all to no purpose. We have tried &c
wash the salt out in fresh water, but can't.
''Stampeding to Cape York continues. and
the most skeptical are convinced. Many
claims have been staked there by power of
attorney. \ mad rush to Siberia may be
the next move. as much interest is being
manifested in that country already. En-
thusiasm over the vast wealth of this re-
gon has not diminished one iota. As high
as 500 TO the pan is reported on good au
thority to have been found in the timber
adjacent to Nome"