The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-09-18
SHORTAGE Of FOOD
IMPERILS CITY IN
WAKE OF DISASTER
Citizens Plead for Help from
United States; Red Cross
Rushes to Aid
LOSS IS OVER $1,000, 600
Two Dead, Numerous Injuries
As City Continues to Battle
Raging Flames

Nome, Alaska, Sept. is. - ~
Alaska's famous city Of gold lay In
smoking ruins. Tuesday with two dead
and . property loss estimated as high
as 100000.
Faced by q definite food shortage
and an early winter which will lock
the citys roadstead with Ice. Nome's
homeless citizens pleaded for imme-
date aid from the States.
I'VE must have help from outside,
speedily" said Dr.. Rex NJ. Swartz. the
city's phystcian-mayor.
The federal government, Red Cross
and American companies promptly
promised to rush aid in an effort to
beat the winters ice into the harbor.
Starting from spark on the roof Of
the Golden Gate hotel Monday,
flames reared through the wooden
town, leaping from building to build
ing, and then from block to block.
Efforts Of firemen, aided by men.
women and children were futile.
Federal buildings, the Miners and
Merchants bank, every grocery store
and restaurant, all Of the hotels but
one fell bfore the flames.
Two Darned 10 Death
Two Eskimos were trapped by the
flames. They burned to death.
George Maynard, publisher Of The
Nugget, MONIES daily newspaper and
Associated Press correspondent and
his son, Russ Maynard, sent the story
of the destruction Of their city and
newspaper while their property burn
ed to the ground Monday.
Father and son struggled to rescue
parts Of their equipment in the burn
ing plant between trips to the signal
corps station at the outer edge Of
the city to send dispatches to the
Seattle Associated Press bureau.
Buildings were dynamited as the
blaze raced Tuesday toward Front st.
A number of white persons were In
jured. At the hospital-one Of the
few buildings to escape the fire-phy-
sicians said several were in serious
condition.
Most of the city's food supply was
consumed by the fire-a dire predic-
ament for city Is isolated Is Nome
which must import all that 1t eats.
Food and material to rebuild the city
must be brought in by boat over long
rough water journeys from SOUTH
eastean Alaska or Seattle before ice
freezes out all ships six weeks hence.
Food may also be flown in by airplane
from Fairbanks, half way across
Alaska. Dog sled journeys from Fair
banks take months under normal
conditions.
Hundreds Of Nome's summer popu-
1ation Of 1000 were utterly homeless.
In winter time the city has about l.
500 residents.
Severe Cold Threatens
The temperature Is near the freez-
Ing point.
Already new supplies are on the way
aboard the liner Victoria due In Nome
q week hence.
The coast guard cutter Northland
was ordered to put out from Dutch
harbor-nearest Alaska city by water
and speed from the Aleutian Islands
to give what aid 1t could.
Nome, magnet OF the world during
the great Alaskan and Yukon gold
rushes, became Z colorful page In his
tory in 1893 when placer miners dis
covered the yellow metal near the
town that was just . collection Of
shacks.
More than 81 900 came out Of
this district in one month In the days
before gold mining became scientific,
and 1t still Is one Of the centers Of
gold production.
In those days dance halls and sa-
looms, gambling halls and similar
rough hewn palaces Of pleasure sprang
up like mushrooms. That was the
heyday Of such characters Is Robert
Services Lady Known as Lou" Dan
McGrew." Sam Mc0ee." and the rest
OF them.