The Nome nugget., 1925-01-17
"REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY DAYS AT NOME
From The Pathfinder of Alaska
 By Volney T. Hoggatt

at Nome. The memories of those wild days and the friendships growing out of them shall always be most precious thousand times I have wished again meet three four the old time friends like George Love, Big Mike" Sullivan Billy Mizner . Rex Beach, Albert Fink and Senator Pittman and few others like them up in a good saloon Medler Way The memories of those old days furnish many pleasant hours look back on them
 If accomplish anything in the world I shall always point with pride the fact that had the opportunity to organize in Tex Richards .'The Ornery and Worthless Mems Club of the World" It is unlimited association and God knows in His providence have much material from which to recruit.
 It my custom to take walk through the camp every winter morning and on my return would drop into Tex Richards saloon to get warm and to chat with my old friend Pete Chambers. who was the barkeeper of the early shift. Standing by that great white-heated stove of Tex's placer mine~ who had just arisen from his bed under a billiard table, and backed up against the great roaring stove burning two cords of wood. On him bear skin overcoat. and along the back of the coat. ming from the bottom to the neck where the fur had worn of. as they all do when buy them from the Jew. Pete noticed trickling flame running up this and immediately jumped the bar knocking down three four roulette tables. grabbed him and told him he ire The placer miner said, "1 don't dam if am. I'm going to get warm.' And then and there Pete and I conceived the idea of this great club. "The Ornery and Worthless Mems Club of the World" We put this in Image Bearer. and since then have been adding to wonderful member ship. This Image Bearer, time later and about the time the placer mining opened up pulled of his boots and of his socks. hide and all He certainly made good member. We made him the Reinforced Concrete Image Bearer Class A. of the World.
 The next day took in another member, the bar fly who habtually telling his troubles and political ambitions. and emphasizing each state ment by jabbng you in the breast with his fore finger, invariably jabbing at one given joint He never varied from it, in the morning you would think bedbug had bitten you that particular spot it
 I landed in Nome the Charles D. Lane" the 1oth of June. On landing I walked up the main street with my valise and the first man met and will never forget was Wilson Mizner All the old timers of Nome know the big. brave pioneer that Billy I Nome a mile of saloons every and as I trudged across the street and got on the sidewalk, happened to stop in front of Tex Rick ards saloon. blandly turned and asked Wilson. whom did not know, if he could direct to saloon My God, man. right here is one" That first conversation that first day Tundra Street in Nome The next time met him he said Well. Boss, you certainly put it me, the first son-of- a-gun of cheechaco that got me-
 Everybody called Judge in Nome from the fact that coming up the Charles D. Lane," we had a mock trial buck and wing dance and many other demonstrations including guessing game the boat and we made him the boat marshal He would bet $500 that he could within pound of mans weight. He would pick out the big. burly placer miners to work Ed would feel their muscles, then get their attention at tracted toward me, then proceed to pick up a big slab of wood get behind the victim and give him terrific slap It took all my influence to keep fros having hundred list lights and knockouts. But 1t was to the buck and wing dancing stunts that really owe my title of Judge They appointed ma as Judge these terpsichorean stunts and in Nome I never denied that not judge.
 think the funniest thing that happened to me in Nome when was City Attorney. There who took it into his head that he wanted the main street of Nome planked, claiming that with the gested traffic, and the mud. that the streets practically impossible. The abutting property own era were such that each would be required pay