The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-17
TT is III miles from st. Michael
i across Norton sound to Nome,

TT is III miles from st. Michael
l. across Norton sound to Nome,
where we arrived in rough wealth
er on the morning of July 20. 1t was
not so rough we couldn't land, but
rough enough to involve some danger
and afford the senatorial committee
a practical demonstration Of the need
of better landing facilities. The peo-
pie of Nome seemed, somehow not to
regret very cordially that we had some
adventures in getting ashore. Nome,
it will be remembered, has no harbor.
1t stands on the open sea, exposed to
the storms that sweep northWard
across Boring sea over an unbrOken
stretch Of over 700 miles. The loca-
ton of the town was determined not
by any regard for natural landing
facilities, but by the discovery of the
gold bearing beach sands. Boring
very gradual; it is impossible for sea-
going ships to go within less than a
mile of land. Passengers and freight
must be taken off on lighters and it
often happens that ships cannot I'M
load either passengers or freight or
even the mails for several days after
arrival. The only shelter on that
bleak and dangerous coast is that af-
forded by a small island ten or fiji
teen miles away, behind which vessels
are sometimes obliged to retreat to
avoid dragging their anchors and be-
ing dashed to pieces on shore. And
our experience with the risks and de-
lays incident to landing and embark
ing, were not confined to the difficult
ties we encountered on arrival We
were obliged to wait thirty-six hours
after the intended date of departure
till th0 sea had quoted down so that
we might venture out to our ship,
and were observant during that time
Of the arrival of two ships outside,
neither of which could land single
man till the storm subsidized. One of
them, mail ship from st. Michael,
was forced to carry passengers and
mail back again-maii that we were
particularly anxious to receive as it
was supposed to contain letters for
our party, and, as a matter of fact,
did, as we afterwards learned.
IT HE first glimpse Of Nome, OBJ
tanned by the aid of our field
glasses, showed a low, treeless
coast, and along the waters edge for
a mile or more stretched thin line
Of small frame buildings, some two
stories and few more pretentious in
height, crowded so close to the
waters edge as to suggest danger
from the waves, if it were not
known that the sea is very shallow
for a mile or more from the water
line. e.- e..
Our vessel came to anchor about 9
o'clock, and a small steam tug was
presently observed coming to meet
us, while further in we presently dis
covered a dory mounting one wave
after another and bringing the quar-
antineS officer. The tug could not
come along side, but stood off and
sent a dory to. convey us over to it.
| The second load consisted Of Sena-
tors Nelson, Dillingham; and Burn
ham and the transfer from the dory
to the tug was attended with so much
difficulty, and the tug itself seemed
such an unsafe dependence as it
rolled and tossed about that the sena-
tors elected to stay in the dory and
be towed ashore. That soon proved
to be impracticable and extremely
dangerous; the line was cast off by