The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-18

V0luHteGTS IFOIl tue Clly anu IkOili l nearby mining camps to check them. Even dynamite failed to halt the wild advance. Burned to Waterfront The fire burned every structure
 from the Golden Gate hotel to the waterfront, then, with the wind
 dying down, the flames spent them selves and the fire-fighters ob- tained control, only one hotel and
 one warehouse remained un- touched.
 The cause of the fire has not been determined.
 Several persons were burned during the day but none suffered
 serious injuries, so far as could be learned.
 Residents eagerly awaited the arrival of the coast guard cutters dispatched with needed medical
 supplies. The coast guard cutters Chelan, Shosone, and Northland raced here from Unalaska with food and medical supplies. The food short- age was acute. The flames spread so swiftly merchants had no time to remove stocks of groceries. Suffering of Homeless Freezing tenperatres caused suf- fering among the 1900 homeless. The first efforts of the town were to provide shelter.
 The few structures left standing were converted into temporary barracks. The government radio station, one hotel, a warehouse and a group of homes on the north side alone survived,
 | The fire broke out yesterday af- ternoon. Fire department head quarters was among the first build ings destroyed. A a4-mile an hour wind added to the handicap under which volunteer firemen worked. Dynamite was used in an effort to halt advance of the fire but the ex- | plosions only scattered sparks to other buildings.
 Most of the destroyed buildings
 were wooden structures, standing since gold rush days when Nome was at its height with a popuia- tion of 12,000 and a fame that its wealth and its unique pioneer | characters made worldwide Its present population is about 1,500. l Most of the residents were on the fire lines during the long struggle to check the flames. Bus mess was suspended and ordinary activities were paralyzed. But it was not until the wind died down | last night that the fire was brought under control. Federal Buildings Gone All federal buildings except the
 army's radio station were destroy ed.
 The postoface, the bank, grocery | stores. provision wareheuses' | homes schools and small factories, all were leveled. The coast guard cutters dis | matched from Unalaska had orders to make immediate provision for | the destitute and to determine l what amount of food will be re- uuired until steamships can brins l in fresh supplies from the states A steamer Is due the middle o1 next week.
 Red Cross headquarters on the
 Pacific coast advised authorities
 here that preparations were being l made to send relief.
 Nome is situated on Norton
 Sound, an arm sof Boring Sea. The nearest harbor Is at Port Clarence 80 miles away. The Seward Pen insuIa on which the town is sit. uated contains much gold-bearins ore and the settlement derives its
 existence from the mines. It also is the northwestern terminus o1
 the government cable system.
 It was impossible to determine
 the extent of the damage, although
 some authorities believed 1t woule
 exceed $1.000.00
 In The older Days
 l Tn 1900, during the gold rush
 Nome had a population of l2,4Ss
 officially and an estimated 20.00t
 population part of the year. Th'
 census of 1880 showed, this figur'
 had decreased to 1,21S.
 Following the finding of gulci
 gold on Anvil Creek near Nome II September. 1898. and the frs
 working of riggings on the ocear beach In July. 1899. stamped occurred. Hotels. banks and store. sprang rp. The town. located oi , the shore of Seward Peninsula, III l z- .