Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-06-24
DRIFTING TOWARD POLE.
Steamer Portland Caught in Ice
Pack and Carried Into the
Arctic Ocean.
OVER A HUNDRED PASSENGERS IN PERIL
Ship Tint Was En- Route to Nome
May BE Crushed to Pieces by FlOes
Capt, Healy starts the Thetis to
The MISUNDERSTANDING Steamer
brings story.

Nome, June z, via Seattle, June 23.-
The steamer Portland, Capt. Lind
quist, the pioneer of the Northern
Commercial company's fleet, was. on
June 4, caught in the ice pack and is
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
ly 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
dng 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 petition was pre-
scented 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
n 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 further north. 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 40 Passengers.
= The Portland sailed from Seattle
for Nome April 26 with 40 passengers,
46 of whom were from San Francisco.
Many of the most prominent operators
in the Nome district were aboard the
vessel.
The Portland is owned by the Alaska
Commercial company. She formerly
was the steamer Haytien 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 of a fleet of 30
vessels. The ship bears many evil
dences of the fierce battles with the
ice in the north, but is not materially
injured. The north-bound trip was an
exciting one. From May 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 IS miles of Nome it was
again hemmed in.
Drifted North Several Days.
: The pack in which the n ONE City was
caught was drifting to the northwest.
For several days the vessel drifted
ground 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 a lead
opened on the morning of June and
Capt. Daniels gave the signal to 90
ahead at full speed. the ship bucking
her way through the ice to open water
and to Nome
The Nome City brings 5000 900 in gold
dust and 20 passengers.