The Nome nugget., 1959-03-11

editorial writer for the Portland Journal of Con- since 1911. He probably best known for his column "The Journal Man, which also headed Fred Lockleys Impressions"
 By FRED LOcKLEY
 There may be more "wanderlust" in my blood than is good for Possibly the blood of remote ancestor, some hardy Norseman or adven- turous Viking, is cropping out. Certain it is, how ever, that travel and adventure have fascination for me. "Nome,' there magic in that name. It a word to conjure with. What dreams of treasure and adventure it called forth.
 A telegraphic request to the Postmaster Gen eral secured for myself and brother letter carrier a ninety days leave of absence from duties as letter carriers at Salem, Oregon, which later renewed for additional ninety days.
 A score or more residents of Salem, formed a society which we called the Salem Nome Society. The object of this Society to help each other if need arose, and need did arise various occasions.
 On the 26th of May, 19OO vessel the Nome City, cast loose from the wharf at Portland, steamed down the picturesque Columbia, and next morning, crossing the bar at Astoria, headed northward for Cape Nome the shore of Boring Sea-
 During our trip to the Far North, our vessel caught in the ice and spent day after day trying to find leads that would guide to open water We numerous WalruS and seal; also polar bear with its cub the ice. On way north, rescued the crews of vessels-the Hunter and the Eclipse, of them having been wrecked Cape Romanoff Finally made way to where the Roanoke, "The Treasure Ship" was trapped in the ice As it was a larger vessel than the Nome City, it broke it's way through the float ing ice and followed in it's wake.
 Twenty three days after leaving Portland eagerly scanning what looked like heavy blocks of ice the shore In a few hours that with the naked eye could distinguish unbroken line of white upon the beach near the waters edge. Speculation rife. Some thought it surf; others quite positive it ice piled up along the shore. An examina- ton with glasses disclosed the fact that it nothing more or less than line of tents, several deep, extending up and down the beach for many miles. Toward the center of the camp frame buildings to be seen, but in all other direc- tons it city of tents. There thousands of them and they made a not often wit messed, and to be forgotten A furry of snow brought to us the realization that this was the land of "cold' well as the land of gold"
 We cast anchor about mile off shore in the midst of large fleet Vessels of every description were here from the humble schooner to the huge eighteen-knot steamer. Next day lighters put out to the ship and most of the passengers taken ashore Our vessel, soon after its arrival, became very shorthanded most of the crew quitting work to try their fortunes the beach. In consequence, our baggage and freight much delayed in getting ashore Men, whose tents and other camp equpage in the hold, had to sleep the damp sand of the beach, in many for week or ten days before their freight was landed which resulted in their contracting severe colds.
 To one who has never witnessed mining stam- pede it is hard to convey a correct impression of the conditions We stepped from the row-boat to the lighter, from which plank led to the shore. Along the water front for mile the freight piled from ten to twenty feet high, the pile fapt of tha pSoQ and extending 40 50 yards back towards the tundra. It reminded of some gigantic anthill, and how the human ants swar1ned the pile. Lighters were being unloaded by long lines of wearing rubber hip boots who waded out to the loaded barges, staggering back with heavy loads. Others were sorting over the vast accumulation of freight of every description in search of their helongings. The narrow strip of sand between the