Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-07-30
s1.5o PER ANNuM.

outcome depended most upon skillfuI
steering and maneuvering Until 12
O'Clock at night the race kept up. now
one vessel securing a slight lead. and
then another, and rarely We're they
hall mile distant from each other.
AT o'clock the hills back of Nome
were in sight, and a narrow opening
| in the ice few miles ahead pointed
what seemed to be a clear route to the
Nome beach. We headed for II at full
| speed, and the Senator started for the.
same point at about the same time.
| She was leading us few rods. hut had
to swerve a trifie to dodge some ice.
Our captain climbed the rigging and
held the old Centennial straight ahead.
The Senator lost her slight advantage
by the detour and we lined up about
one hundred yards apart. neck and
neck, both headed for the same mar
row channel in the ice where only one
might enter. For quarter we held
our own. neither gaining or losing,
while the third steamer, the Roanoke.
plowed heavily along behind. 1t
seemed impossible to gain an inch un-
I'll, as we were almost into the ice, we
gave little spurt, almost beyond the
power of our engines it seemed, and
gained just few feet But the Sena-
Tor would not give up but held dogged-
~ to her course. Whoever entered
first was the winner, for the other
must drop astern. Our lead did not
exceed twenty yards. Our captain
measured the distance anxiously--
tangled some bells down in the en-
Sine room, shouted orders through
the speaking tube and held her
straight ahead. Still the Senator held
for the same spot and as the vessels
ncared the gateway the nearer we
irew together, until scarcely fifty feet
If water separated us. The closer
We drew alongside. however, the more
apparent became our lead, slight
though it was We cheered our cap
tain. we cheered the crew, we jeered
At the Senator passengers, who were
80 close we could easily converse And
he vessels raced like mad with the
safety valves tied down and the fur
lace fires fed with grease
Leaning over the Senator's rail, as
Interested as any youngster. was John
ny May. shouted greeting to him.
Within hundred yards of the ice
he Senator gave it up and backed
water.
Our vessel, the Centennial entered
the lead first, but the Senator after
railing us few miles tried a short
cut around a foe and beat us to an
choraGe, plotting the Roanoke in with
her. We We're all at anchor off the
Nome beach at o'clock in the morn
ing of June 10th The passengers
| were landed as soon after breakfast as
possible from all three vessels, and
he narrow streets of the little gold
camp thronged with the many new.
comers The Oregon. we found, had
beat us in two days and on her arriv-
al the village had gone mad in cele-
batting the breakup of winter and the
change of winter timed meats for
fgrsh eggs and produce The mer-
chants who received their consignment
Of eggs on the Oregon sold them over
The ships side for $50 case
In place of the Colorado Tender
foot" newcomer in Alaska is "Chee-
cbaco;" one who has seen the ice come
in and go out Is Il Sour Dough- and
TO travel 20 miles inland Is to "mush
the tundra" for that distance. My
next letter will be the experience of
"A Cheechaco in Alaska"
Il. l.. VINYARD