The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-04

Soid by Pacific Coast and Russian jew
eIers
Nome, with ten thousand inhabitants,
has celebrated its third birthday. and ex-
poets TO have many more during coming
centuries. for il claims 10 be town that
has come to stay.
Nome has schools. churches, an electric
light plant steam fire engine from
New York, a water works system, float
ing cold storage plant, good hotels, re-
splendent cafes and plenty Of frontier
gambling-the games running wide
open along the principal streets Mr.
Cutter says it's the most democratic city
m the world All men are truly free
and equal there. They all meet on COM
mon ground Every man is a gentleman.
and clergymen shake hands with gam
blers. and strange 10 say. very few men
carry arms In fact. Mr.. Cutter says that
things are so quiet there you can hear
a pin drop in the snow.
The theatre has an entire gallery OF
private boxes. II seats fifteen hundred
people and has firsr-cIass plays and
speeialties." After the evening perform
ance the orchestra shake hands with the
prominent men Of the town. then take
drink. while the mana ger weighs up the
box Office receipts. chiefly gold dust mug
gets and now and then a watch or a
45-ealibre revolver
Then begins the feature OF the evenings
entertainment \ part OF the six months
Of night is given over 10 dancing. There
are dancers from every part of the world
men and women from Australia. New
Zealand. China, California and the Trans
wal Everybody who is respectable is
expected to join in the festivities. from
the mayor TO the sIittering barber OF the
swell hotel
When all is ready the leading citizens
with the bellies of Alaska line up for the
opening waltz There are plenty OF wo-
uaen in Nome Every man has a partner.
and the theatre company joins in the
dance. giving professional touches 10 the
Alaskan quick step. the polar bear hoe
down, the blub6er waltz. the sealskin ma
zurka-in fact all fancy dances Of the
Arctic North
Citizens used TO handling sacks of raw
gold find relaxation in swinging their la
dies 10 the wild measures of the Behring
Straits Band. Talk about Montreal, Talk
about the wonderful gyrations of the Que
bee beauties as they glide into a half
breed dance, In Nome whale oil per-
vades the air. Every joint is in working
order, and even the Indians are Won
derful on their feet. swinging their limbs
TO the inspiration of Russian vadka only
diluted with 20O-proof alcohol
\ word for the churches-there are
two in Nome. and the country swarns
with missionaries. Up in the Kougrok
mining district they tell how a preacher
announced his coming. The miners sent
word that no clergyman could preach
in that country and live One Sunday,
however. the missionary appeared before
two hundred miners in the principal hail
OF the camp. IL was a tent. frozen stiff.
The congregation wore red shirts and
rubber boots. and were armed 10 the
teeth with pickaxes and revolvers. but
the clergyman was not frightened.
Looking over the picturesque assembly
he opened q walrus hide gripsack and
proceeded TO lay things on the pulpit
which. by the way. was a soap box nailed
10 a stake.
He said:
Put have a contract to come into these
eiggings and spread the Gospel and 1
propose to do it.
He opened his Bible and turned to an
appropriate passage in Revelation. Then.
putting his hand on another package as
large as a six months grub stake he
said:
If I am not allowed to preach I have
still another eontract-opening UP this
canyon with dynamite, which, by the
way. I have here in this package. Take
your choice-Gospsl or dynamite. Just
say the word and III begin operations
right here now.
One of the leading churches in Nome
is the Roman Catholic The edifce is
surnounted by an immense cross. blaz-
ing with electricity. It serves as a light
house for miles Up and down The coast
II can he seen from all parts of the coun-
try. and il is not only beacon of safety
To boats and ships at sea. but TO the
miners coming to town or returning from
the mountains This wonderful light has
saved many an unpleasant adventure in
the wilderness Many man would have
been lost in the storm and frozen 10 death
but for the guiding beams OF this unique
Iemp Of salvation.
Mr. Cutter says the output OF gold in
the territory of Alaska. for which We paid
seven and one half millions is rapidly
increasing. and he estimates the total
clean up on gold for the coming year
at from forty 10 ifty millions.