Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-07-18
AN ALASKAN WELCOME.

| THE AMERICAN few months ago. The
many friends Of the captain in Hancock
county viii be interested in the following
sequel TO the story, rs told recently in the
Seattle Post Tnteltigeneer.
In all the annals Of the Paeiac coast aud of
the seafarers on It's beautiful and sometimes
treacherous waters, none is more remarkable
than the tale of the little steamer Dora, whose
eventful voyage last January is still fresh in
memory. The most remarkable part, how
ever, was never toid--the reception accorded
To the Dora when she returned fresh from
Seattle to the regular run between Alaskan
ports, when her captain. "Zim" Moore. and
crew were hailed a. herpes-sS indeed they
we're. The following account was written by
]. f. Thwaites, postal clerk on the little
steamer.
The little steamer Dora, whose terrible ex-
/ peyience Of last winter caused 50 naueh anx-
ieiy among owners Of the ship and friends
of the crew. recently returned to Alaska and
resumed her regular trips.
Her regular route is from Valdez. Alaska.
to unalaska and Dutch Harbor, Alaska. max
ing one round trip per month. The work OF
the crew in the summer is unusually pleas
ant, the sea being smooth and delightful.
Most Of the freight. It is true, hes to be
landed BY means Of small boats, in the surf,
but in the beautiful long summer days this
serves as n diversion for the sailors and Of
acers, while the magnificent panorama OF
wild, barren rock coast, with lofty. snow-eiad
mountains rising way above the clouds in the
background. presents an evcr-changing pict-
ure during the entire 200 miles Of her course.
Numerous glaciers, valleys covered with
cottonwood hills clothed with spruce. with
vast fields Of snow beyond, please the eye for
the first half of the journey. Leaving Kodiak
island, however, all trees are left behind.
Bold, rocky headlands, often dropping hun
dreds of feet. yes, thousands Of feet in some
cases, straight into the sea- little islands, like
haystaeks in shape, dot;ing the waters In
many localities; volcanoes, with their slender
columns Of smoke lazily floating skyward;
whales disporting themselves about the ship,
and a thousand other things combine to make
life one continuous round Of pleasure.
But when winter approaches, all lie changed.
The landscape remains with its trees, its
mountains and its islands; so also do the
rocks remain. Things Of beauty In the quiet,
sparkling waters Of summer, they become OBJ
jects of terror on a winters night when the
wind screams through the rigging and blind
ing SHOWS Ellis the air.
Such was the condition when the Dera was
blown away from the coast by a hurricane
January i, her engine disabled, decks loaded
deep with ice and her sails frozen in,
Happier were the conditions when. after
nearly two long, cold wintry months, the
stauneh little vessel sailed proudly, though
slowly, into Puget sound, Just eighty-nine
days from the time she started from Valdez
and hfty-four days from the time she was
blown from her course.
Four months after leaving Valdez for her
from Valdez to finish her voyage and deliver
the freight and passengers with which she
started out.
The trip was attended by many interesting
incidents, chief Of which were the receptions
of the ships crew by the people =, the differ
ent ports along the way.
The people along tho route had. for the
most part, given the Dora up for lost, espee-
tally after the steamship Santa Ana and the
United States steamship Rush had returned
after their unsuccessful search for her.
AT Kodiak the people had made prepare
tions for grand ball, but on hearing that
/ their fayorite little ship was supposed 70 be
lost, all festivities were called off, prayers
were offered in the church In behalf Of the
crew, and for weeks the town wore an air Of
mourning
News Of her safe arrival had preceded her.
having been carried by the steamer Faralion.
but although the Dora reached Kodiak in the
night and it pouring down rain. nearly
the whole town ioeked TO the wharf To bid
the crew welcome, and to congratulate them
on their return.
All sorts of manifestations of emotions
were to be seen Some greeted their old
friends in a hilarious manner with shout
and hearty slap ON the shoulder as they
shook hands, others silently elasped each
others hands, the expression Of their coun-
tenanoe being far more eloquent than words.
At Uyak, Chignio and other places where no
news had been heard OF her, the people looked,
rubbed thsir glasses and looked again. by
George, that ship looks like the Dara~
"Dora nuthin', Gimme the glass" Must be
} the Excelsior" says another. "No, boys, it's
either the Dora or her ghost" well, I'M be
d." Thank God they were not lost, after
all" And SO the specuIatiops would run until
the boat cast anchor or tied up to the dock
| Unalaska was reached about noon The
whole town was in holiday garb. Flags we're
flying, the people all hocked to the wharf, and
the children, native and white, all carried
flags.
Long before the lines were made fast, men
leaped over several feet of space boarding
the ship in their eagerness 10 clasp the hands
of those they thought lost.
Even there IL was found that the news had
travelled ahead OF the ship. fishing
schooner from San Francisco, her way to
the Boring sea, had called at Dutch Harbor,
reaching there three or four days ahead Of
, the Dora.
1t was early in the night when she made the
harbor. After making things fast the officers
went up town and reported at the custom
house, etc, after which the conversation
dritted from one subject TO another for per-
haps an hour or two.
Some one then asked about news from the
outside world. The captain replied to the
!. effect that there was not much to relate.
After speaking of q few items of ordinary
. interest, he casually spoke of the arrival of
the Dora in Seattle and the excitement it pro-
duced.
j ''The Doras'' they shouted. is she safer"