The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-06-26
Steamer Portland Caught In lee
Pack and Carried Into the
Arctic Ocean.
OVER A HUNDRED PASSENGERS IN PERIL
Ship That Was En- Route to Nome
May BE Crushed to Pieces by F1oes
n-Capt. Healy Starts the Thetis to
the, Rescue-Returnine steamer
Brings Story.


Commercial company's fleet, was, on
June 4, caught in the ice pack and is
being carried up Behring straits to the
Arctic Ocean at the rate of from two
to three miles an hour. The Nome City
came near being caught in the same
manner, but when she found lead
and bucked through the pack to the
westward the Portland could be plain
~ seen drifting northward past the
Diomede islands. Three whalers were
also in sight but they were in the lee
of the islands and in no danger Of be-
ing carried into the Arctic by the float
ing-pack.
Vessel Sent to Rescue.
When Capt. Daniels brought word to
Nome that the Portland was in such
peril the Northern Commercial COM
pany officials, who had friends aboard,
were greatly worried and as soon as
the Thetis arrived a petition was pre-
sented to Capt. Healey requesting him
to go to the rescue. The Thetis left
the same evening. If any one can rem
der the imprisoned ship any assistance
Capt. Healey is theman.
There is some danger of the ship be-
ing crushed in the straits. If she got
through the straits and failed to find
lead to eastward or westward by
which she could get clear of the pack
she will be carried into the Arctic
ocean and, failing to get clear of the
ice, may ultimately be wrecked by
heavy foes furthernorth. In the event
of her not getting crushed she will be
greatly delayed and no doubt will run
short of supplies and fresh water.
Ship Has 10 Passengers,
The Portland sailed from Seattle
for Nome April &c with 40 passengers,
46 of whom were from San francisco.
Many of the most prominent operators
in the Nome district were aboard the
vessel. ,a ; 5
The Portland is owned by the Alaska
Commercial company. She formerly
was the steamer Hayt ten Republic.
Nome City's Battle with Ice.
Seattle, Wash. June 23.-The steam
er Nome City has arrived here with the
record of being the first steamer to
reach Nome and also the first one to
return from there out ofsa fleet;of 80
vessels. The ship bears many evil
dences of the fierce battles with the
ice in the north, butts not materially
injured. The north-bound trip,was an
exciting one. From May 4 until =
month later the ship was fast in; the
ice, being stopped short by foe fully
eight feet thick. The ship tried buck
ing her way through for two days, but
when within 65 miles of Nome it was
again hemmedin. Es
IT, Drifted North several Day. $50
The packin which the Nome City was
caught was drifting to the5northwest
For several days the vessel dTrifted
around the island of St. Lawrence and
on May IA was raised clear out of the.
water by a sudden jam. The iron
sheathing put on at Seattle. before
starting was all that saved the vessel
from being smashed to pieces. The
rudder head was twisted and the ship
was badly shaken. Fortunately lead
opened on the morning of June 4 and
Capt. Daniels gave the signal to go
ahead at full speed, the ship bucking
her way through theice' to openwater.
andsto Nome. 40 IN VIM
* The Nome City brings $500, 700 gold
dust and 20 passengers. ss =
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