Volume 42, No. 1 • Whole No. 217 1sth Quarter, 2006 • Pages 1–XX · 2010. 8. 7. · 4201 Folker St., Unit C102 Anchorage, AK 99508 HeLP WANTeD: I am looking for information

The

Jo

urna

l of t

he A

lask

a C

olle

cto

rs C

lub

• Am

eric

an P

hila

telic

So

ciet

y A

ffilia

te N

o. 2

18

Volume 42, No. 1 • Whole No. 2171sth Quarter, 2006 • Pages 1–XX

Want Ads ..................................................................................................................page 3

Vice President’s Message ............................................................................................page 4

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report .......................................................................................page 4

Election Results .........................................................................................................page 5

ACC Financial Report ...............................................................................................page 5

“What Is it?” .............................................................................................................page 7

Gold Nuggets ....................................................................................................... pages 7,8

Alaska Pacific History Project ....................................................................................page 9

Member Questionnaire ...........................................................................................page 11

Alaska First Free Mail Delivery ................................................................................page 12

Auction ...................................................................................................................page 19

Auction Bid Page .....................................................................................................page 25

Want Ads ......................................................... page 3

Vice President’s Message ................................... page 4

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report .............................. page 4

Election Results ................................................ page 5

ACC Financial Report ...................................... page 5

“What Is it?” .................................................... page 7

Gold Nuggets ...............................................pages 7,8

Alaska Pacific History Project ........................... page 9

Member Questionnaire .................................. page 11

Alaska First Free Mail Delivery ....................... page 12

Auction .......................................................... page 19

Auction Bid Page ............................................ page 25

OfficersPresident .................................................... Jim ZuelowVice‑President ....................................... Angela WatsonSecretary/Treasurer ......................................Eric KnappDirector ................................................... Caye CarufelDirector ..................................................... Bob SpaugyDirector ............................................ Dirk van Geldren Director .................................................Nelson Gnirke

All Alaska Collectors Club business, including editorial matters for this journal, should be directed to the Sec‑retary/Treasurer and Editor: Eric Knapp 4201 Folker St., Unit C102 Anchorage, AK 99508 E‑Mail Addresses: [email protected] or [email protected]

Membership information and sample issues of this jour‑nal are available from the Secretary/Treasurer. Price of a sample issue is $2.00 (stamps OK). Membership levels are as follows:Regular Membership ......................................... $15.00Contributing Membership ................................ $20.00Sustaining Membership ..................... $30.00 (or more)Overseas Membership .........................$5.00 additional

The Alaskan Philatelist is published four times a year by the Alaska Collectors Club, a society dedicated to de‑veloping a wider interest in the study and preservation of Alaska’s Postal History. Submissions for publication are always welcome.

Permission for reproduction in whole or in part is granted to other philatelic organizations for internal non‑profit use provided that credit is given to The Alaskan Philatelist and the authors of the reproduced material. A copy of the publication in which material is reprinted is requested.

Opinions expressed here are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of the ACC, its’ officers or members.

© 2006 The Alaska Collector's Club

The Journal of the Alaska collectors clubissN #1096‑5963

Table of ConTenTs

1st Quarter 2006 • The Alaskan Philatelist • Page 2

susTAiNiNg MeMbers—2006

Anchorage Philatelic Society ...............Norman AndersonRussell Bartlett ........................................... John J BeirneDr. Steven J. Berlin......................................Caye Carufel Ronald Chaikin .............................................Carl DitschHarold Ford ......................... Gastineau Philatelic SocietyFern Grumbine ..............................................Stuart HallDuane Heverling .....................................Thomas KinzerEric Knapp ....................................Warner T. “Bud” MayDavid McCord ............................................Gary Phillips John D. Roberts .................................Julius Rockwell, Jr. David Schwantes .......................................Wayne Selmer Michael Senta, M.D. ..................................... Terry Shaw Bea Shepard ............................................. Robert Spaugy Fred Smith ......................................................Ted SwemPeter Tompkins ..................................Dirk van GelderenAngela Watson ..............................................Jim Zuelow

AWARDSColopex 2000—Silver‑BronzeColopex 2002—Silver‑BronzeSTaMpsHOW 03—Silver‑Bronze

TAP DeADlinesissue DeADline

1st Quarter ............................................February 1

2nd Quarter .................................................May 1

3rd Quarter ..............................................August 1

4th Quarter .........................................november 1


Alaska Philatelic Cover CatalogVolume 1 & 2

Volume 2 of the Alaska Phila‑telic Cover Catalog, covering the Alaska Collectors Club, the Gastineau Philatelic Society and the Northern Lights Stamp Club is now available.

The catalog features illustrations of all major and minor covers is‑sued by the three clubs.

The catalog is 8 ½ x 11 loose‑leaf format punched for a three ring binder.

Prices:Volume 2:$25.00Volume 1, Revised Edition: $25.00Original Volume 1 Update: $3.00(All prices are postpaid)

For orders or more information, contact:

Eric Knapp4201 Folker St., Unit C102Anchorage, AK 99508

HeLP WANTeD: I am looking for information about the Anchorage Contract Station 11. I never found anything about it and I do have the numbers 10 and 12 and the existence of Number 11 is then logical. Dirk van Gelderen, Voorkade 74, 2771 ZB Boskoop, Netherlands. Email: [email protected]

WANTeD: Any old postal cards or covers from the Chitna, McCarthy, Kennecott area, 1890 ‑ 1950. Please send list to: Thomas Kinzer, P.O. Box 107, Chitna, AK 99566‑0107

HeLP WANTeD: I am looking for mint and used postcards depicting ALASKA LIGHTHOUSES. Russell Bartlett, 5 Saint Clare Street, Braintree, MA 02184‑8239

WANTeD: Any era postal cards (government preprinted stamps, not picture) used in Alaska. No philatelic, please. Don Glickstein, 1300 Uni‑versity St. #9G, Seattle WA 98101. Email: [email protected]

WANTeD: Censored civilian mail from Alaska and Western Canada from World War II. Eric Knapp, 4201 Folker Street, Unit C102, Anchorage, AK 99508. Email: [email protected]

WANTeD: Mail from the gold rush era Alaska forts. Eric Knapp, 4201 Folker Street, Unit C102, Anchorage, AK 99508. Email: [email protected]


Vice President’s Message

by Angela Watson ([email protected])

Secretary-Treasurer’s Report

by Eric Knapp

Club members want to hear YOUR story (don’t be shy!)

Take the form on page 9 and fill it out. Send it along with a photo and a color copy of your favorite philatelic piece to Angela Watson, 5519 E. Mezzanine Way, Long Beach, CA 90808.

Well, it’s official! We have purchased the domain names AlaskaPostalCollectors.org and AlaskaPhilatelic.org. For those members who might not know what a doman name is, it is the name that is purchased by an individual or entity to name their website. Actually, it is a string of numbers that the interenet recognizes, but through the wonderful world of technology, those numbers are masked by easier to remember names, such as nike.com or usps.com. It’s also official that I am the acting new webmaster. Which, if you knew how many websites I have actually put together, would be pretty scary. But the good news is that we have purchased a website assistance program through our server provider, which features a number of templates that we can utilize and (best of all) 24 hour tech support! We will use AlaskaPostalCollectors.org for the primary website and purchased the other one so that we might reserve for possible use in the future. The Board of Directors approved this expenditure Both President Jim Zuelow and myself have been lobbying hard for us to have a dedicated website, where we could have some design elements as well as a place to post information important to club members. We also wanted to have a website that would come up first when someone typed in Alaska Postal History into a a search engine (Google, etc.), because what comes up now is a dealer in Las Vegas who has some very negative things to say about the current state of Alaska philately. We both felt that was not the real representation of the state of the hobby and we really wanted to come up first when those search criteria were requested by the average web user. Jim has committed to providing copy and I am going to take care of the graphical side of things. As the website develops, we will post previous issues of TAP, some limited auction items, philatelic news and some other features considered too timely to wait for traditional publication in TAP. We are hopign that the initial few pages of the site will be functional in about 60 days or so. We would invite each member of ACC to visit the webiste and see what’s new.

Kind regards,

Firstoff,Iwanttoapologize.IlookedovermylastcoupleofreportsandsIrealizedthatIsoundedabitdown.Ihavehadaverybusyandstressfullast6monthsorsoandhavefeltmorethanalittlebeatup.Thingsaregettingabitmorenormalnow.SpringiscomingandIamchangingjobsatworksoitshouldhelp.Therestillwillbestress,butadifferentkindofstress. IhadanidearecentlythatIamgoingtopursue.IamgoingtocontactseveralofthehistoricalsocietiesinAlaskaandseewhatwecandoaboutworkingtogetherandsharinginformation.Fora long time postal historians and “regular” historians have notinteractedmuch.Thecurrentbusinesstermisthatwehavebeen“inourownsilos.”ThisisstartingtochangeandIhopetopushitabitandseewhatkindofcooperationwecandevelop. Theclub electionwentwell. Thankyou to everyonewhoagreedtorunandeveryonewhovoted.TheresultsareelsewhereinthisissueofTAP. The following members have made donations above andbeyondtheirnormaldues,CayeCarufel,RobertSpaugy,MichaelSenta,WayneSelmar,GastineauPhilatelicSociety,JohnBeirne,JimZuelow,andPeterTompkins.Thankyoutoallofyou. WehavealsoreceivedsixnewmembersintotheAlaskaCol-lectorsClub.Thankyoutoallofyouforjoining.

New Members: Welcome!683 • Joe & Barbara Miller, Orland Park, IL Interests:AllthingsAlaska

684 • Victor Schwez, Downey, CA Interests:notreportedyet

685 • William Kucher, Colonia, NJInterests:Postalhistory,Aerophilately,First/LastdayPP,GeneralHistory

686 • Alice Fitzgerald, North Stonington, CTInterests: Postal History,Territorial, Statehood, APOs, FPOs,DogTeamMail,First/LastdayPO’s,MaritimeMail,Expeditionsandexplorations,ArcticMail,FDCinAlaska,YukonTerritory,GeneralLiterature

687 • Thomas Tonozzi, Spring Valley, ILInterests:DogTeamMail,ExpeditionsandExplorations

Untillater,Eric


Back issues of TAP1959 ‑ 1973 Computer scanned and edited copies

1976 ‑ 1984 quality photocopies

1984 ‑ 2001 originals and quality photocopies

$10.00 for six issues or calendar year.

$2.00 for single issue

Shipping charges: $2.00 for first 6 issues, $1.00 for

each additional six issues or portion thereafter, $5.00

maximum on any order. Limited quantities available.

Refunds for those not available. Donations of back is‑

sues appreciated.

2006 ACC Election Results

by Eric Knapp

The results of the club election are in. Thank you to everyone for voting.

Office/Candidates Total votes

PresidenTJim Zuelow .........................................................31

Vice PresidenTAngela Watson ...................................................31

direcTornelson Gnirke ....................................................31dirk van Gelderen ..............................................29Bob spaugy ........................................................30eric Knapp ...........................................................1caye carufel ........................................................1

starting Bank Balance ................................$5,878.45

Incomedues & other contributions ........................1,993.07Auction Profits ................................................661.99Total income .................................................2,655.06

ExpensesTAP production costs ...................................1,090.56Advertising ......................................................126.00sustaining Member cover expenses ................36.28secretary Treasurers expenses ...........................7.38Literature exhibit entry Fees ............................50.00

Total expenses .............................................1,310.22

ending Bank Balance .................................$7,223.29

2005 AuCTiOn RepORTThere were three Acc auctions whose results affected the 2005 financial results. The totals for all three auc-tions are as follows:

Total receipts .............................................$4,411.75Total Paid to members .................................3,749.76Total mailing expenses ......................................85.25 Total profits to club .........................................661.99

2005 ACC Financial Report



What Is It?(Editor’s Note: Club member Don Glickstein has written in with the following questions.)I’vebeencollectingAlaskaforawhile—postalcardswithnon-philatelicuses—butIwaswonderingifanyAlaska Philatelistreaders could shed light on some longstanding questions Ihave: 1) I see a lotof covers that are “emergency” airmailordogsledroutes.Sincethecoversseemphilatelic,howdoesacollectorknowexactlywhenanemergencyrunisgoingtobemade?Arearedog-sledroutesandemergencyairflightsreallyjustfantasycovers? 2)Alotofcoversthatclearlyaren’tphilatelicwithAlaskacancelsareaddressedtoWestCoastLumbermenandtheAlas-kaSportsman.What’sthestoryonthese,andwhosavedthemforposterity?Anyinfocanbeforwardedto:DonGlickstein1300UniversityStreet,#(GSeattle,WA98101-9823email:[email protected]

Follow-uptoquestionfromlastissue(Editor’s Note: John Spicer shares this letter he received from Hal Vogel on his questions form the last issue.)DearMr.Spicer: Relative toyour inquiry in the currentTAPconcerningyourRogers/Post commemorativeflight cover, Iprovide thefollowingaboutwhatprecipitatedthiseveni.e.memorialerec-tionanditsdedication)fromtheentryIhavepreparedforthePolarflightsectionofanupcomingvolumeoftheAmericanAirmailCatalogue.1935, August 15: Post-Rogers Arctic Flight Crash. RecordaviatorWileyPostwithpassenger,financial sup-porterandentertainerWillRogers,killedincrashAugust15ontake-offafterastopatWalakpaLagoon,nearBarrow,Alas-ka,duringaplannedflightfromSeattletoEuropeviaSiberia.Pleasure flight also supposedly had commercial Arctic routesurveyflightobjective.ModifiedLockheedOrion9E(#195)

withpontoonsdepartedSeattle,August7,flyingviaJuneau,Alaska(August7),Dawson,YukonTerritory,Canada(August9),Aklavik,NorthwestTerritories,ArcticCanada(August10),HershchelIsland,N.W.T.,andFairbanks,Alaska(12August),diversiontoAnchorageandPalmer,Alaska(August14)beforereturningtoFairbanksforthefatalcontinuation(August15)toBarrow.GroupfromHillsboro,Texas,USA,arrivedBar-rowAugust3,1938,toerectmemorial,dedicatedAugust15. No flown mail known. Number of telegrams sent enrouteandpossiblysomemailedcommunications.Varietyofcommemorativememorialcoverservicings,includingJuneau,November 4, 1935, July 28, 1936 and Barrow, August 15,1953.MemorialmonumenterectionpartysponsoredprintedcachedcovercancelledBarrow,August15,1938,andprint-edtwo-page“WillRogers-WileyPost/MemorialExpedition”headedexplanatoryenclosure. Itrustthiswillenableyoutobetterunderstandandap-preciatethatpieceofAlaskaandpolaraerophilatelythatyouarefortunatetohave. FYI:Wiley Post already was a famous pioneer-era avia-tor,whoalreadyhadflown several significant recordflights,includingsomewithapolarelement.Hispassengeronthisfatefulflightwasanequally famousAmerican,WillRogers,whowasconsideredoneofthemostwellknownindividualsintheUSAthen,beingoneofitsmostpopularentertainers.TheentertainingcowboyfromOklahomahasawarm,deprecatinghumorthatappealedtomostwhoexperiencedit. Theirlossduringthisflightwasanationaltragedy.

At the height of the gold rush, a gang of con men oper‑ated in Skagway under the leadership of Soapy Smith. Just as the Skagway promoters used the avalanche to their advantage, Dyea civic promoters used stories about Soapy and his gang to encourage stampeders to bypass Skagway.

One of Soapy’s best cons involved his “telegraph of‑fice.” Recent arrivals were greeted by men who offered to send telegrams to their families for only $5. Most people did not look behind the “telegraph office” to notice that the wires ended a few yards out.

Gold Nugget


What Is It?

“Klondikers” Many of the early stampeders were tragi-cally ill prepared for their dangerous odys-sey.Theycarried few supplies andbrushedasidewarningsofdoom.Sadly,someofthepoorlyoutfittedvoyagersdiedofexposureorstarvation.TheNorthWestMountedPolicerespondedtothatlossoflifebyinsistingthateverystampederwhocrossedthepassesintoCanadabring ina tonof supplies--enoughtoseehimorherthroughayearintheYu-kon.

Whatwasinthattonofsuppliesstampederscarried over the mountains? They broughttents,stovesandcookingutensils,ropeandsaws,blankets andwarmclothing,medicalsupplies and food.Merchants andnewspa-pers published lists of suggested supplies.Amongthefoodsindividualswereadvisedtobringwere350poundsofflour,100poundsofdriedfruits,50poundsofsalt,50poundseach of rolled oats, corn meal and coffee,100poundsof sugar,25poundsofevapo-ratedpotatoes,25poundsofdriedbeef,and50poundsofsaltpork.

Everyonewantedtomakemoneyoffofthestampeders. Merchants were quick to ex-ploitthename“Klondike,”Theword,soonsynonymouswithunimaginablewealth,wasslapped on every product imaginable. Ev-eryday supplies such as blankets or boots,oncestamped“Klondike,”quicklysoldout.Thestampedersalsotookholdofthename,proudlycallingthemselves“Klondikers.”

Gold Nugget

TheAlaskaPacificExpressCompanywasincorporatedin1896andsoonbecameinvolvedintransportingexpressgoodsassociatedwiththeKlondikegoldrushinTheYu-kon.ThatactivitywasfollowedbytheirparticipationintheNomegoldrushattheturnoftheCentury.Through-out its existence this company expanded its express ser-vicesintomanytownsinAlaskasouthoftheArcticCircle,inYukonTerritoryneartheYukonRiverandtributaries,andinthewesternpartsofBritishColumbia.TheAlaskaPacificExpressCompanycontractedwithmanydifferenttransportationcompaniesduring its existance—railroad,steamship,stageline,anddogteam—tomovetheircon-signedexpressmaterialoverapproximately15,000milesofAlaskan,BritishColumbian,PacificOcean,Washing-tonState,andYukonlandandwaterroutes.Inearly1911theAlaskaPacificExpressCo.,wentoutofbusinessanditsofficesandrouteswerereplacedbyWellsFargoandCo. Relatively littlehistorical informationhasheretoforebeenwrittenabouttheAlaskaPacificExpressCompany,butthislackofpublisheddataisabouttoberesolvedandsupplied.WearecollectingscansandphotocopiesofAlaskaPacificExpressartifactstouseinareportbeinggeneratedaboutthehistoryofthiscompany.Contemporaryitemsacquiredsofarthatshowthisexpresscompany’snameinvariousformatsincludestaterecords,postalhistorycov-ers, express labels, office building photographs, window

Alaska Pacific Express History Project

© 2006 Bruce H. Mosher

call cards, complimentary passes, express receipts, officeletters andmemos, gold shipmentphotographs,waybillrecordlogs,expresscarriersandroutes,andmagazineandnewspaperarticlesandadvertisements. Ofparticularinteresttothisauthoristhegoaltopro-videaninterestingdiscussionwithillustrationsregardingthis express company’s postal history. This topic will bedividedintothreecategoriesofcovers.First,thosebear-ingtheAlaskaPacificExpressCompanyenvelopefrank.

Second,othercoversthatcontaincompanycornercards.Andhopefullylast,coversthatarespecificallyaddressedtotheAlaskaPacificExpressCompany,ofwhichnonehavesurfacedtodate. TheonlycomplimentaryfrankwasinitiallyissuedbytheAlaskaPacificExpressCompanyin1898andisshowninFigure1.Thisfrankwasprintedongovernment,two-cent stampedenvelopes (SC#U311) for thepurposeoftransmitting letters or papers of no particular value, byexpress.

Figure 1. 1898 envelope frank (enlarged).

Figure 2. Alaska Pacific Express envelope frank used in 1899. Courtesy Bob Collins


An1899frankedexpresscoverisshowninFigure2.PatronswhousedthisfrankedenvelopewerecautionedbytheAlaskaPacificExpressnottousethemtoforwardmon-eyorvaluables.TheFigure2coverhasaS.S.Humboldtship’s cancelon the frank that shows itwas transportedbyanAlaskaFlyersteamerfromitsoriginalconsignmentlocation(perhapsSkagway)toSeattlewhereitwasplacedintotheU.S.MailfordeliverytoSanFrancisco.

ThetabulationinTableIrecordstheotherAlaskaPa-cificfrankedcoversthatarepresentlyknowntotheauthor.Note that Census Item 5 is illustrated in Figure 2. Wehopethatmoreofthesefrankedcoversare incollector’shandsandifreported,theycanberecognizedbyaddingtheircharacteristicstothistablepriortofinalpublication.ItisalsoalsohopedthatcompleteillustrationsofmanyoftheCensuscoverscanbeobtainedforpublication. The only recorded, corner card versions of AlaskaPacificExpresscoversareshowninFigures3and4.TheFigure 3 coverwas sold inRichardFrajola’s, September10-11,1988,Auctionandonlythecatalogimageispres-ently known to the author. The Alaska Pacific Express,bluerectangularlogowasusedforthecornercardonthis“EXPRESS BUSINESS” envelope that was canceled inSeward, Alaska on December 10, 1905. The illustratedcoveristruncatedalittleacrossthebottom,andthepres-enceof anymarkingson thebackof this cover areun-known.

TheFigure4coverbearsamoreconventionalcornercard in the formofa returnaddress to thecompany inPortland,Oregon.ThiscoverwascanceledinPortlandonFebruary16,1900.

ThecompletereportaboutthehistoryoftheAlaskaPacificExpressCompanyisslatedtobepublishedintheWestern Express upon completion, or soon thereafter.Subsequenttothat initialdeclaration,thereportwillbeofferedtotheTheAlaskanPhilatelistforpublication.ThepurposeofthisshortarticleistoapprisetheAlaskaCol-lectors’Clubofthestatusofthisprojectandtosolicitcan-didatepostalhistoryinformationabouttheAlaskaPacificExpress Company from the membership for use in thereport. Also,anyotherrelatedhistoricalinformationconcern-ing theAlaskaPacificExpresswouldbegladly received.Pleaseemailyourrelevantinformationasa200dpiscan(minimum),[email protected],sendcolor(ifpossible)pho-tocopiestoP.O.Box33236,Indialantic,FL32903.Allhelp is gratefully appreciated, contributions will be ac-knowledged and contributor’s material, if used, will becredited(orwithheldifdesired)withinthepublishedre-port.Thankyouinadvanceforyourvaluableassistance.


Alaska Pacific Express History Project (continued)

Table I. Census of Alaska Pacific Express Franked Covers.

Figure 3. Express business envelope used in 1905.

Figure 4. Company envelope with the General Manager’s corner card. Courtesy Bill Sammis

state Postal History registryThe National Postal Museum’s state Postal His‑tory registry is up and running. The Alaska collectors club is listed as primary contact for the Alaska part of the site. The registry is lo‑cated at:http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/statepostalhis-tory/index.html


Member Questionnaire for Newsletter ArticleWe’re going to try a different tack with this feature. Here is the questionnaire, so now everyone can fill it out and send it in for publication in the newsletter. Please take a few minutes and send this in. We’d love to feature all our members in the newsletter. This is an especially important feature in a club with no regularly scheduled meetings. We will need three things from you:

1) this sheet with you filled in answers (add other sheets as necessary), 2) a recent photo of you (prefer clear, well‑ focused and good contrast photos), and

3) a color photocopy of your favorite piece of Alaskan Postal History.

Please drop all those things in the mail back to me at: Angela Watson • 5519 E. Mezzanine Way • Long Beach, CA 90808. Thanks!

1. Please list your name place of residence and age: _____________________________________________________________

2. What is your occupation? ______________________________________________________________________________

3. How did you become a stamp collector? ___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What about Alaska Philately interests you the most? __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What specialties within Alaska Philately do you collect? _______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What other countries or areas do you collect? _______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What other philatelic study groups or organizations are you a member of?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Tell us about your favorite piece of Alaskan Postal History (include the color copy so we can scan and add to your article).

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Anything else you want to tell us about yourself (other hobbies, interests, favorite curse word, etc?)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alaska’s First Free Mail Delivery: circa 1900


Getting to Nome Theremaybemore“wanderlust”inmybloodthanisgoodforme.Possiblythebloodofsomeremoteancestor,somehardyNorsemanoradventurousViking,iscroppingout.Certainitis,however,thattravelandadventurehaveafascinationforme.“Nome,”therewasmagicinthatname.Itwasawordtoconjurewith.Whatdreamsoftreasureandadventureitcalledforth. AtelegraphicrequesttothePostmasterGeneralsecuredformyselfandabrotherlettercarrieraninetydays’leaveofabsencefromourdutiesaslettercarriersatSalem,Oregon,whichwaslaterrenewedforanadditionalninetydays. AscoreormoreresidentsofSalem,formedasocietywhichwecalledtheSalem-NomeSociety.TheobjectofthisSocietywastohelpeachotherifneedarose,andneeddidariseonvariousoccasions. Onthe26thofMay,1900,ourvessel,The Nome City,castloosefromthewharfatPortland,steameddownthepicturesqueColumbia,andnextmorning,crossingthebaratAstoria,weheadednorthwardforCapeNomeontheshoreofBeringSea. DuringourtriptotheFarNorth,ourvesselwascaughtintheiceandwespentdayafterdaytryingtofindleadsthatwouldguideustoopenwater.Wesawnumerouswalrusandseal;alsoapolarbearwithitscubontheice.OnourwayNorth,werescuedthecrewsoftwovessels,The Hunter andThe Eclipse,oneofthemhavingbeenwreckedonCapeRomanoff.Finally,wemadeourwaytowhereThe Roanoke,“TheTreasureShip,”wastrappedintheice.AsitwasalargervesselthanThe Nome City,itbrokeitswaythroughthefloatingiceandwefollowedinitswake. Twenty-threedaysafterleavingPortland,wewereeagerlyscanningwhatlookedlikeheavyblocksoficeontheshore.Inafewhoursweweresonearthatwiththenakedeyewecoulddistinguishanunbrokenlineofwhiteuponthebeachnearthewater’sedge.Speculationwasrife.Somethoughtitsurf;oth-erswerequitepositiveitwasicepiledupalongtheshore.Anexaminationwithglassesdisclosedthefactthatitwasnothingmoreorlessthanalineoftents,severaldeep,extendingupanddownthebeachformanymiles.Towardthecenterofthecampsomeframebuildingsweretobeseen,butinallotherdirectionsitwasacityoftents.Therewerethousandsofthem,andtheymadeascenenotoftenwitnessed,andnevertobeforgotten.Aflurryofsnowbroughttoustherealizationthatthiswasthelandof“cold”aswellasthelandof“gold.” Wecastanchoraboutamileoffshoreinthemidstofalargefleet.Vesselsofeverydescriptionwerehere,fromthehumbleschoonertothehugeeighteen-knotsteamer.Nextdaylightersputouttotheshipandmostofthepassengersweretakenashore.Ourvessel,soonafteritsarrival,becameveryshorthanded,mostofthecrewquittingworktotrytheirfortunesonthebeach.Inconsequence,ourbaggageandfreightwasmuchdelayedinget-tingashore.Men,whosetentsandothercampequipagewasin

by Fred Lockley

thehold,hadtosleeponthedampsandofthebeach,inmanycasesforaweekortendaysbeforetheirfreightwaslanded,whichresultedintheircontractingseverecolds. Toonewhohasneverwitnessedaminingstampedeitishardtoconveyacorrectimpressionoftheconditions.Westeppedfromtherowboattothelighter,fromwhichaplankledtotheshore.Alongthewaterfrontforamilethefreightwaspiledfromten to twenty feethigh, thepile commencingwithin twentyfeetofthewater’sedgeandextendingfortyorfiftyyardsbacktowardsthetundra.Itremindedoneofsomegiganticanthill,andhowthehumanantswereswarmingoverthepile.Lighterswerebeingunloadedbylonglinesofmenwearinghiprubberboots,whowadedouttotheloadedbarges,staggeringbackwithheavyloads.Othersweresortingoverthevastaccumulationoffreightofeverydescriptioninsearchoftheirownbelongings.Thenarrowstripofsandbetweentheseaandthefreightwasthrongedwithmenwithstretchersorpackstraps,carryingfreightandbaggage.Dogteams,consistingofeightortenHuskieorMalemutedogshitchedtandem,werestrainingattheircollarstodragtheircartsthroughthesoftandyieldingsand.Menwithpushcartsweregoodnaturedlycontendingfortherightofway;andhereandthereateamofhorsesandwagonwerecoiningmoneyfortheownerbycarryingtrunksat$2each,orhaulingfreightat$10anhour.Addedtotheconfusionwerethehoarsecommandsofthelighterbossestotheirmen,andthe“Gangwaythere,”or“Mushon”ofthedriversofdogteams. GoingfromtheturmoilofthebeachuponeblocktoNome’sprincipalstreetyoufoundyouhadgottenintoconfusionworseconfounded-anarrowstreet,tenortwelvepacesfromstorefronttostorefront,socrowdedwithhumanitythatonecouldonlymakehiswayalongwithconsiderabledifficulty.Itwaswortha long journey to see the eager thousandswho are feverishlyhurryingby:HereaFrenchcount,CountJacquesdeGarrets,


lookingasthoughhehadjuststeppedoutofafashionplate,iselbowinghiswaypastacoupleofEskimoscladinreindeerparkeesandsealskinmucklucks;thereanoldsaltwithhisrollinggait,therea“SourDough”justinfromthehills.Minersfromallovertheworldarehere.Twodark-eyed,swarthy-visagedGreekspass, talking in theirnative tongue.Thedelightfulbrogueofthe“EmeraldIsle”mingleswiththegutteralGerman.VerilyitisaTowerofBabel.ButGreekorIrish,“Cheechacer”or“SourDough,”broadclothorbuckskin,allarecrowdingthroughtheswingingdoorsoftheinnumerablesaloons.ThequalityofmuchoftheNomeliquorwasenoughtomakeanardentprohibitionistofaconfirmeddrunkard. WecrossedSnakeRiver,spreadourblanketsonthesandintheleaofthewreckoftheJoeMathews,andgotafewhours’sleep.Thenextdaywewentdownthebeachafewmiles.Wemetsomefellow-townsmenwhotoldustheywereonlymak-ingfromtwodollarstothreeandahalftothemanaday.Thisdiscouragingreportwasconfirmedbydozensofothers.“Thisbeachisa‘hasbeen,’”saidone,“undoubtedlyitwasrichatfirst,butithasbeenworkedandreworkedseveraltimessincethen,andnowweareonlyrockingthetailings.”Withinthreedayswediscoveredthatwewouldnotbeabletomakewagesonthebeach.Agreatmanyothershaddiscoveredthesamefact,andwereapplyingforworkunloadingthelightersatadollaranhour.Menwerebeingrefusedforlongshoreworkbythehundred,soweconcludedourshowtherewasratherslim.

Lockley’s Idea Wewentuptothepostofficetogetourmail.Wetookourplaceatthefootofadoublelinemorethanablocklong,andduringtwohoursthatwestoodinline,Ilearnedthatbusinessmen,notbeingable tospare twohours toobtaintheirmail,wouldpaysomeonetostandinlineforthem,ordowithoutituntiltheycouldsparethetime.Asuddeninspirationcametome.Howitwouldshortenthatlongline,andhowgreatlyitwouldlessenthecongestionofthemailifabusinessdeliveryofmailwereestablished.Isuggestedittomypartner,buthetoldmeitcouldnotbedone,asNomewasonlyafourth-classpostoffice.However,Ithoughtitworthtrying,sowewalkedaroundtothebackdoorofalittleshantythatwasdoingdutyasapostoffice,andknocked.Ourknockwasansweredbyakindly-eyed,gray-hairedgentleman,JohnClum,whoinresponsetomyinquiry,toldme thepostmasterwas in theStates,but thathewas inchargeoftheoffice.TohimIstatedmysuggestion,namely,theestablishmentofafreedeliveryservice.Heinvitedusin,askedusafewsearchingquestionsrelativetopostalwork,ascertainedwewerelettercarriersonleaveofabsence,andtoldustoreportfordutyassoonaswehadeatendinner. Onourwaytoourcampwehadtopass severalalluringsignswhichdwelt on themerits of thedinner servedwithinatpricesrangingfromtwodollarsandahalftofivedollars.IrememberonewhichquotedT-bonesteakatthreedollarsandahalf;another,springchickenatfivedollars.Weresistedtheir

blandishments,andatepork,beansandcoffeeatourowncamp.Wehadeachbroughtanolduniform,thinkingitwoulddotominein,so,puttingonouroldgraysuits,wewentbacktotheoffice. Mr.Clum,duringourabsence,hadpreparedforeachofatypewrittenletterasfollows:

Post Office Department, Office of Post Office Inspector. John P. Clum, Inspector. A system of free delivery has been established in connection with the Nome Post Office, which will be inaugurated on a portion of Front Street and extended as conditions will permit. The bearer (Mr. Fred Lockley, Jr.) has been appointed a clerk in the Nome Post Office, and is authorized to take the names and addresses of persons who may be entitled to service within the pre-scribed district. Only those who are unable to obtain boxes in the post office will be served by the carriers.

JOHN P. CLUM, Post Office Inspector. Nome, Alaska, June 21, 1900.

Taking our notebooks, we started down Front Street togetthenamesofourpatrons.OneofthefirstplacesIenteredwasarestaurant.Istatedmyerrand.Theproprietor,awoman,lookedincredulous,andasked,“Howmuchareyougoingtotaxmetobringmymail?”Itoldheritwouldbeafreedelivery,andnochargewhatever,astheGovernmentwaspayingmefivedollarsadayformyservices.“FreeDelivery!Nowwouldn’tthatparalyzeyou!”sheexclaimedincredulously.“Goingtobringusourlettersaroundfornothing.WellGodblessUncleSam.Thatis theonly thing Ieverheardof in thiscampthatwas free.”Almostwithoutexceptionthepeopleofferedtopayforhavingtheirmaildelivered,andcouldscarcelycreditthefactofhavingservicerenderedwithoutcost. TheinspectorhadtoldusoftheconditionthatexistedatDawsonintheearlydaysofthestampedethere,whereonewasalmostcompelledtoshowthecolorofhismoneytogetatten-tion.“Forthecreditoftheservice,boys,wewantnograftinghere,”he said, and Imay say righthere thathis requestwascompliedwith.Notonlythat,butitsohappenedthatneithermycomrade,BenTaylor,normyselfsmokedordrank.Thisfactwasaconstantsourceofastonishmenttoourpatrons.Wehaddozensofsaloonsonourroutes.AssoonasIhadtakenthelistofnamestobedelivered,orlater,wheneverIwouldbringthemail,theinvariablequerywouldbe,“Well,whatwillyoutake?”“Thanks,Idon’tcareforanything,”Iwouldrespond.“Takeacoupleofcigarsthen,”andthebarkeeperwouldproduceaboxofhisbest.“What!youdon’tsmokeeither,”hewouldexclaimin astonishment as I declined theproffered cigars.OnemaninsistedthatItakesomething,andfeelingalittlethirsty,andnotwishing toappeardiscourteous, I said, “Verywell, Iwill

Alaska’s First Free Mail Delivery: circa 1900 (continued)

takeadrinkofboiledwaterifyouhappentohaveonehandy.”Thelookofscornthatcameoverhisface.Hepaused,studyingme,evidentlytoseeifIwasinearnest,andthensaid,asthoughloathtobelievetheevidenceofhissenses,“Didyousay‘boiledwater?’Suchstockasthatontheshelvestochoosefrom,andaskforboiledwater!Say,Ihaverunupagainstallsortsofpeopleandafewothersortsinmytime,butyou,youmorethantakethecake;youtakethewholebakery.However,it’suptoyoutonominateyourpoison, soboiledwatergoes,” andhepouredmeabeerglassofboiledwater.Ididnotrepeattheexperiment;thatwasmyfirstandlastdrink.Thereafter,Ikindlybutfirmlydeclinedallliquidrefreshments.Ididnotwantthepopulationtoturnoutenmassetogazeuponmeasafreak,ifnotofthefirstwater,atleastofboiledwater. Wespenttheafternooningettingthenamesandlocationsofourpatrons,andinarrangingtheminnumericalandalphabeti-calorder.Nextmorningwereportedatthepostoffice,andweregivenseveralpouchesofletterswhichhadbeentakenfromthecasestomakeroomforlatermail.Breakfastwasjustoverinthelittlebackkitchen,soweclearedthetableanduseditandtheflooruponwhichtosorttheletters,andgetoutthosebelong-ingtoourpatrons.Chairsbeingaminusquantity(theywerepressedintoserviceintheregisterandmoneyorderdepartmentwhennotinuseinthekitchen),weimprovisedseatsfromrollsofpaper.Wehadtoabandonthetablepresentlytoallowdinnerpreparationstogetunderway.Inalittleroomabout12x12elevenclerkswereworking.Itwasacaseofstandingroomonly.Thiscondition,however,wassoonremediedbytakingoutthepartitionandremovingthekitchentoatent.Wefoundlettersforsomeofourpatronsthathadbeenthereformonths.Someindividualswouldhaveadozenletters.Thepapermailhadnotbeenopened,astherewerenofacilitiesforhandlingit.Inconse-

quence, several tons of second, third and fourth-classmatterhadaccumulated.Weworkeduntil11p.m. looking throughtheaccumulationsofold lettersandgettingoutmail forourrespectiveroutes. Improvisingcarriers’sacksfromcanvasregistersupplysacksandvalisestraps,androutingourmailasbestwecould,westartedoutnextmorningonthefirstfreemaildeliveryevermadeinAlaska.

The Service Begins ThefirstestablishmentonmyroutewasaboatanchoredinSnakeRiver,The Minneapolis,whichwasusedasaprivatehospitalandboardinghouse.Itwasoneofseveralothersimilarbusinesslocationsonmyroute.Thehighcostofbusinesslots,buildingmaterialandlaborcausedboatstobepressedintoserviceforbusinesspurposes.TheQuickstepRestaurantandHotelwasconductedonboardaboatattachedtotheshorebyagangplank.ThePacificColdStorageCo.employedthesteamer,Lotta Talbot,astheirplaceofbusiness. Theappearanceofauniformedlettercarrierdeliveringmailascalminginthemidstofalltheconfusionasthoughhomewasasightthatstoppedtrafficalmostasquicklyasafightwouldhavedone.Menbentbeneaththeweightofaheavypackwouldstopamoment,shifttheirpackstrapsandlookatme.“ThatisthemostnaturalthingIhaveseensinceIleftDenver,”saidoneonlooker.“Blamedifitdon’tmakeamanfeelasifhewasinGod’scountry,andthatAlaskawaspartoftheUnitedStates.UncleSamisabrick.Ialwaysdidthinkso;nowIknowit.”Theywouldgivenaapprovingnodandthen“mushon”outoverthetremblingtundrainsearchoftheelusivegold. Beforewehadgoneablockweweresurroundedbyaneagerthrong,givingusorderstodelivertheirmailtothisandthatplace.Wehadtoestablishtherulethatonlythoseactuallyen-




gagedinbusiness,eitherasproprietororasemployee,couldhavetheirmaildelivered,orwewouldhavehadhalfthepopulationgivingorderstohavetheirmailleftincareofdifferentbusinessfirms.Iamafraidthattherulewasmorehonoredinthebreachthanintheobservance,however,forwewoulddelivermailatsomesaloonsforascoreormoreofpersons.WhenIinquirediftheywereallemployeestheanswerwouldbe,“Ohyes.Theyareworkingforusallright,butjustnowtheyareoutononeofthecreeks.” Youoftenreadofthepostmanbeingasanever-welcomevisitor.Ineverknewwhatthatmeantbefore.Welcomeisaverymildtermfortheenthusiasticreceptionwefrequentlyreceived.Onemanonmyroutewassoworriedbynothearingfromhomethathewasalmostreadytopullupstakesandleave.Hehadnotheardfromhiswifesincehisarrival,andhefanciedsomeonewithasimilarnamewasreceivinghismail.Itookhisname,andnextdayhandedhimfivelettersfromhiswife.Welcome!Well,rather. Speaking of persons with similar names reminds me ofPeterPeterson.Therewere threePeterPetersonswhohadnomiddleinitial,andseveralofthatnamehavingamiddleinitial,eachofwhomthoughthiscorrespondentsmightbyaccidenthave omittedhismiddle initial.When anyoneof themanyPetersonscalledforhismailhehadtotelltheplacefromwhichheexpectedit.Ifhecouldnottellthepostmarkoftheofficeordispatch,hehadtowaituntilthevariousotherPetershadhadanopportunityofidentifyingitastheirs.ThisruleledtothevariousPeterPetersonstodosomewildguessingastowheretheirlettersmightbefrom. ThegeneraldeliverywassaidtobethelargestintheUnitedStates,andIpresumeitwas,asinlargecitiesmostofthemailishandledthroughcarriers,boxesorsub-stations.IntheNomegeneraldeliverythealphabetwasdividedintooversevenhun-dreddivisions.Forexample, itrequiredseventyboxestocasetheletter“B.”Themostcommonnameswereassignedoneormore boxes. The “Johnsons” required five separations, beingdividedontheirinitials:boxoneconsistingofJohnsonswhoseinitialswerebetweenAandJ;thenextJandM;MtoP;PtoS;andStoZ.Somenamestherewerewhichwerenotapttobeduplicated:forexample,suchnamesasthese,whichIcopiedfromlettersinthegeneraldelivery:Ole,Yonassen,StensfjeltandG.E.Tyszkiewiez. When the system of free delivery had been in operationseveralweekswewere looking through sevenpouchesof let-tersjustreceivedbythesteamerRoanokefromthe“outside,”as“God’scountry”wasalwaystermed.Afterlookingthroughfivepoucheswetookaresttogetoursupper.DuringourabsencetheinspectorandactingpostmastercountedthelettersIhadgottenfromthemail formypatrons.Therewereone thousandandseventy-four,andfromtheremainingtwopouchesIgotseveralhundredmore.UponseveralsteamerdaysIhadtakenoutonmyfirsttripmorethantwelvehundredletters,gettingfromthe

samemailoneortwohundredadditionalingoingthroughthegeneraldeliverycases, lookingupmypatronsnamebynamefrommyroutebook.

Inside the Nome Post Office Thepostofficewasopentothepublicfrom8a.m.untilmidnighteachweekday,Sundayhavingsomewhatshorterhours.Aswecouldnotlookthroughthecaseswhiletheywereinuse,wewouldreportat12o’clockatnightandlookthroughthegeneraldeliveryuntil6a.m.,whenwewouldgotoourtent,prepareandeatourbreakfast,andat8o’clock,orlater,startonourdelivery.Wewereusuallythroughbynoontime.Wefrequentlydidnotgettosleepuntil8or9o’clock,thusgettingonlythreeorfourhours’sleepoutofthetwenty-four,sothepostmastertoldusnottoreportuntil4a.m.Thenightforce,whosedutyitwastoworkonthelistsof“forwardedletters,”“returnedtowriter,”and“advertised”letters,workedastheyfoundopportunityonourbooks,gettingoutmailforourpatrons. Whenmorethanonemailsteamerarrived,astheyfrequentlydid,onthesameday,orwithinadayortwoofeachother,wewouldputinlonghours.Forinstance,wereportedonemorn-ingat4o’clockatthepapertent,forafterthefirstfewweeksalargetentwasputupnearthepostofficeinwhichthepaperswerecasedbyanightcrew,adayforcebeingondutytohandthemout.Weworkedoutseveralsacksofpapersfromthecasesbetween4a.m.and6.Wespenttheforenooninmakingaletterandpaperdelivery;atnoon,themailwaslandedfromasteamerwhichhadarrivedfromSeattle.Weworkedallafternoonlookingthroughthenewlyarrivedmail.Beforewehadfinishedallthepouchesof“outside”mail,The DorafromSt.Michael’sarrivedwithseveralsacksoflocalmail,thatis,Alaskamail,includingDawson and otherYukon River points. By the time we hadcompleted the “Dora’s” mail it was supper time. The actingpostmastertookbothcarrierstohisboardingplace,andservedusaregularbanquet,includingicecreammadefromcondensedmilk.Wewentbacktotheoffice,routedourmailinthepapertent, andat10:30p.m.we startedonourdelivery.Wewerethroughbymidnight.Itdidnotseemsooutofplacetobemak-ingamidnightdeliverywherethedaylightwascontinuous,andwherethestreetswereascrowdedatmidnightasnoonday,asitwouldseemathomewherenight-timeimpliesdarkness.From4a.m.untilmidnight--awork-dayoftwentyhours.Ofcourse,thiswasexceptional,althoughonseveraloccasionsweworkedeighteenortwentyhours.Usually,however,fromtentotwelvehoursconstitutedourday’swork. Whenever we had leisure on account of the non-arrivalofmailsteamers,wewouldgotothepapertentandworkoutpapers.Webuiltadeliverywagonfromapairofbicyclewheelsmountedonanarrowsteelaxle,surmountedbyalargedrygoodsbox.Puttingseveralhundredpoundsofpapersroutedinbundlesofconvenientsize,wewouldmakeapaperdeliveryseveraltimesaweek.Irememberonedaywhentherainshadcommencedandthestreetswerekneedeepinmud.Wewerebothpullingthecart




whenitgotinamudholeuptothehubs.Weweretuggingawaytoextricateitwhenaman,probablyanewspapercorrespondent,cameuptousandsaid,“Holdonjustamoment,boys,IwanttogetapictureofNome’sfreedeliveryboggeddown.”HecalledtotheproprietoroftheArcticPharmacywhotookasnapshotofus. Weoftenwishedourcomradesintheservicecouldtakeaglanceatusasweroutedourmail.AstherewasnoroominthepostofficewetookittoourtentacrossSnakeRiver.Inlieuofatableandcasewesatcross-leggedonthesandandgravelfloorofourtent,andwouldusegoldpans,boxesandothermakeshiftsassubstitutesforacase.Foraroutingtablewewoulduseourcots.Ifonemadeaninadvertentmovethecarefullylaidpilesofletterswould,withoneaccord,slidetowardthecenterofthecot,andIwouldfindthemailfortheCustomHousegeniallyfraternizingwiththatoftheGoldBeltDanceHall,ortheS.Y.T.Co.gravelyinterminglingwiththemailfortheYukonSaloon. Ittookbutadayortwofortheknowledgethatafreede-liveryhadbeenestablishedtobecomeknownandappreciated.Ordersforthedeliveryofmailpouredinbythescore.Wehadto“book”them,placeeachnewnameinourroutebook,alpha-beticallyarrangeandverifytheaddressgivensoastoplaceitinitsproperpositiononourroutemap,andthengettheirmailfromthegeneraldelivery.Wesoonhadabouttwelvehundredpatronsapiece,and,inadditiontorememberingtheirnamessothatwecouldtakethelettersforthemfromtheincomingmailaswerapidlyglancedateachletterbeforewepasseditontotheboxclerk,orcasingclerk,wehadtokeeptrackofthechangesofaddresswhichwereconstantlyoccurring.

Serving a Fluid Population

Whataddedmateriallytoourworkwasthefactthatnotonly the individuals and firms were in constant motion likethebitsofglass inakaleidoscope,but theplacesofbusinessthemselveswerelikewisenotexempt.Tentsgaveplacetoframebuildingsovernight.Whenwepresentedourselveswithmailfortheminingbrokerwhoseofficeonthepreviousdayhadbeenatent,wefoundhehadfoldedhistentandquietlystampededtosomenewlydiscovereddistrictorlikelycreek. One such instance comes to my mind out of dozens ofsimilarexperiences.MycomradeintheservicereceivedorderstodeliverthemailfortheRedCrossPharmacy.Itwasacanvasandframe-workaffairlocatedonthenorthsideofFrontStreetneartheAlaskaExplorationCompany’sstore.Hebookedtheorder,deliveredthemailafewdays,whenthewholethingdisappeared.NextdayIfounditonmyroutenearthe“GoldDigger”office.Wemadethenecessarycorrectionsonourbooks,andItookhismail,whenheagaindisappeared,movingtoanewlocationonmycomrade’sroute,andtakinghishousewithhimlikeasnail. MypartnerbookedtheorderandIeraseditfrommybook.Wesoonlosthimagainandfoundthathehaddiscoveredamorefavorablelocationonmysideofthestreet,andresumedhisresi-dencethere.Whereonewouldseeatentintheforenoontheremightbeabuildingsiteforsaleintheafternoon.Thatnightalargeforceofcarpenterswouldbeputtowork,andbynextdayaframebuildingwouldbealmostreadyforoccupancy,clothtackersandpaper-hangersfollowingthecarpentersclosely.Atbesttheseasonwasbutshortandeverymomentmustbeutilized.Mostofthestoreswereopendayandnight,beingrunbytwoshiftsofclerks. A man called me into his



tentonemorningandaskedmetodeliverhismail.NextdayIreturnedwithmailforhim.ImaginemysurprisewhenIcouldnotevenlocatetheplacewherehistenthadstood.Irubbedmyeyes,lookeduptheorder,gotoutmyroutemap,andfoundtheplacewherethetentshouldhavebeen;butinitsplacewasaframestructureuponwhichthecarpenterswerestillatwork.Agrocerwasarranginghisstock.Iaskedhimwherehispredecessorwas.“Oh,hehasmushedon,”washisresponse.“Buthetoldmetobringhismailhere,”Isaid.“Well,thatisallright,butthatwasyesterday,”heansweredasthoughdiscussingancienthistory.“Iboughthimoutyesterdayafternoon,hiredagangofcarpentersandranupthisbuildinglastnight,andweputourstockofgoodsinthismorning.ThemanyouarelookingforpulledhisfreightforCouncilCitythismorning.Iguessyouhadbetterforwardhismailthere.”Icouldmultiplyinstances,butIwillonlyciteonemore. Ideliveredthemailforasecond-handmanathistentop-positetheNorthAmericanTrading&TransportationCompany’sstore. As I passed along the street opposite the Barracks oneforenoonsomeonehailedme.Itwasmysecond-handman.Hesaid,“Leavemymailhereafterthis,Isoldmybusinessoutlastnight.”Hehadputinastockoffruitsandfancygroceries,chang-ingnotonlyhislocationbuthisbusinessovernight.ThatsameafternoonIpassedhisway,whenheagainhailedme.“Holdmymailforafewdays,”hesaid.“Whatisupnow?”Iinquired.“Igotaleaseonthisbusinesssiteforfiftydollars,”heanswered.“ThisnoontheBabcockUndertakingCo.offeredmeonehundredandfiftydollars,soIsolditandamonehundreddollarsaheadofthegame.Iamgoingtoauctionmystuffoffthisevening,ashetakespossessiontomorrowmorning.”Hehadownedanddisposedoftwobusinessenterpriseswithintwenty-fourhours,andmademoneyonbothtransactions.

Faithful Carriers Itwasremarkablewhatabsoluteconfidencethepublicreposedinus.Ienteredasaloononeday,deliveredthemailtothebar-keeperandtothemenwhowererunningthevariousgames,suchas“BlackJack,”“StudPoker,”“Roulette”and“Craps”andthe“WheelofFortune.”Anoldgray-beard,astrangertome,calledtome.Iwentovertoseewhathewanted.“Here,son,”hesaid,ashepushedoverapileoftwentydollargoldpieces,“Ihavestartedalittlegameherethatispanningoutprettywell.GetmeamoneyorderforonehundreddollarstosendmywifeinLosAngeles.”Iwrotedownhernameandaddress,pocketedthegoldandnextmorningbroughtthemanhismoneyorder.Thisisnotanisolatedcase.IsupposeIhaveboughtadozenormoremoneyordersformenwhoweretoobusytoattendtoitthemselves.Theywouldhandmefiftyoronehundreddollars,throwdownasilverdollarandsay,“Thatwillcoverthecostoftheorderandpayyouforyourtrouble.” WhileonmywaytothepostofficeonedayIwentupasidestreetnotonmyregularroute.Amancametothedoorofhistentandmotionedtome.Hetriedtospeakbutwastoosick.

AspellofcoughingseizedhimsothatIhadtosupporthimtokeephimfromfalling.Hiseyeswereunnaturallybright,andIcouldseethathewasaverysickman.Asbesthecould,inter-ruptedconstantlybyseverespellsofcoughing,hetoldmethathehadnotbeenabletogethismail.Hewassickandalone.Hehadtakenhisplaceinthelineand,afterkeepingithalfanhourandhavinggottennearlytothedeliverywindow,hehadbecomeweakandfallendown,andthuslosthisplace.Noonewasal-lowedtoaskformorethanonepersonatatime.Ifhewishedtoaskfortwopersonshemusttakehisplaceatthefootofthelineandworkupagain.Thesickmanhadnofriendwhomhecouldasktostandinlineforhim,andwasveryanxiousforhismail.Poorfellow,Ifeltverysorryforhim.Sick,alone,possiblydyingandunabletohearfromhome.Iwentbacktothepostofficeandgothimhishomelettersofwhichthereweremorethan30.WhenIreturnedhewasinbedandinahighfever.HedidnotseemtobeabletorealizewhatIwanted.Iproppedhimupinbed,showedhimhis letters, toldthemtheywerefromhomeandlefthim.MuchtomysurpriseandpleasurehelivedtogettotheStates. AmanstoppedmeasIwasgoinginthebackdoorofthepostofficeonedayandsaidhewouldpaymewelltogethismail.Isaidthatinjusticetothosewhohadtostandinlinewewerenotallowedtoreceivemoneytomakeany“side-doordeliver-ies.”“Well,justnoticeifthereisanymailforme,andifthereisnotIwillbesavedthebotherofstandinginlineandwaitingforit;ifthereisIwilltakemyplaceandgetit.”LaughingathispersistenceIaskedhimhisname.AssoonasIhearditIrecog-nizeditasthenameofamanwhohadmarriedayoungladyofmyacquaintancewho,whileonaprotractedvisittoanadjacentstate,andmetandmarriedhim.WhileIhadneverseenGrace’shusband,Ihadoftenheardofhimthroughhiswife’srelativeswholivednotfarfrommyhome.InamomentortwoIcameoutwithaletterinGrace’sfamiliarhandwriting.“Well,Gracedidnotforgetyou,”IsaidasIhandedhimtheletter.Iaskedhimseveralquestionswhichshowedathoroughfamiliaritywithhisbusinessandtheaffairsofhisfriendsandacquaintances.Ilefthimspeechlesswithamazement,soastonishedinfactthathedidnoteveninquiremyname.IpresumeheisstillwonderinghowIcouldtell,bylookingatthehandwritingontheoutsideoftheletter,hiswife’sfirstname,thenatureofhisbusiness,andtheaffairsofhisfriendsandrelatives.AsIdonotthinkhiswifeknewofmytriptoNome,Ipresumehisnaturalcuriositywillforeverremainungratified. TheNomePostOfficedidalargebusinessinthemoneyorderdepartment.Itistheonlypostoffice,tomyknowledge,intheUnitedStatesthatacceptedgolddustinpaymentformoneyorders,theusualpriceallowedforgolddustbeingfromfifteenandahalfdollarstosixteendollarsperounce.Onedayamancamein,producedhis“poke,”pouredoutaquantityofgolddustonthescoopandpresentedanapplicationforamoneyorder.Thegolddustdidnotlookquiterighttothemoneyorderclerk,sohecalledInspectorClumandtheassistantmoneyorderclerk

toexamineit.Theydidnotlikethelooksofit,either,soalittleacidwaspoureduponittotestitspurity.Instantlyheavygreenfumesarose,showingthatitwasbogusgolddust,composedofbrassandcopperfilings.Lateraman,Ithinkthesameone,wasarrestedforattemptingtopasssomebogusdust. SpeakingofgolddustremindsmeofalittleinstanceIwit-nessedonthestreetoneday.Amansteppeduptodealerandmadesomelittlepurchase,payingforitwithgolddust.Thedealershookoutmoregolddustinthescoopthanwasnecessary,andaf-terweighingouttheproperamountinpaymentforthepurchase,heattractedthecustomer’sattention,atthesametimeholdingthescooptoonesideandpouringoutabouthalfateaspoonofgolddustontheground.Then,takingthecustomer’spouch,hepouredintheremaininggolddust,scrupulouslyshakingineveryparticle.Ifhehadanopportunitytorepeatthatoperationmanytimesduringthedayhewouldhaveagoodclean-upatnightfall,ashecouldreadilyscoopupthedirtatthesideofhisstandandpanitout.

Final Thoughts Byeverymailthepostmasterreceivedlettersfromanxiousmothersaskinghimtotellthemofthewhereaboutsoftheirboys.Someoftheletterswereverypathetic.Anotherclassoflettersthathereceivedwereverymuchtheopposite,theywerelettersfromforlornandanxiousdamselsenclosingtheirphotographsandrequestingthepostmastertokindlyhandittosomerichminerwhowascontemplatingmatrimony. Attimestherewouldbenoopportunityofsendingaremit-tanceofsurplusmoneyorderfundstoSeattle,andthesafewouldcontainfiftythousanddollarsormoreatatime.InviewofthisfactGeneralRandall,attherequestofthepostmaster,stationedaguardatthereardoorofthepostoffice.NightanddayoneofUncleSam’s“boysinblue”pacedbackandforthguardingtheoffice. Itspeakswellfortheservicethatsolittlemailwentastrayorwaslost.Greatcarewastakentopreventlossordelay.WereceivedonelotofletterswhichhadoccupiedseveralmonthsintransitfromtheStates.Theywereinadamagedcondition,andwereendorsed“delayedanddamagedbyaccidentatsea.”Uponanotheroccasionwereceivedseveralpouches,thecontentsofwhichwerewater-soaked.Thepouchesof lettershadbeendrenchedbythesurfingettingthemailashore.Thelettersmostdamagedwerelaidbythestovetodry.Thestampsslippedfrommostoftheletters,andmanyoftheenvelopeswereunsealed.Manyoftheaddressesweredimandalmostillegible.Thosethatwerepartiallyobliterated,or indangerofbecoming so,wererewritten.Letterswhichwereabouttopartcompanywiththeirenvelopeshadrubberbandsplacedaroundthem. TogiveanideaoftheamountofbusinesstransactedIwillquoteafewstatementsfromtheinspector’sreportforthemonthofJuly:• “Twenty-threeclerkswereemployed.Thisnumberincludes

thedayandnightgeneraldeliveryforceatthepostofficeproper,aswellasat thepaper tent.Alsotheregisterand

moneyorderdepartmentandthecarrierforce.

• Atrifleover$136,000inmoneyorderswereissuedduringthemonth,the largestday’sbusinessbeingonJuly23rd,when$9,252.65representedthecashreceivedfrommoneyorders.

• Fifty-onepouchesoflettermail,fourteenpouchesofreg-isteredmail and threehundredand seventy-two sacksofpaperswerereceivedduringthemonth.

• Wedispatchedforty-sixpouchesofordinaryandregisteredlettermailandeighteensacksofpapers.

• 1,230registeredletterswerereceivedand1,290registeredlettersdispatched.

• $1,051.50worthofstampsweresoldand$1,293.91repre-sentedtheamountofcancellationsduringthemonth.”

InadditiontotheunusualsightsofNome,thesound,alsowere very different from those of an ordinary city. Probablythemostinsistentsoundwasthepop,pop,popofthegasolinelaunchesandtugs,whichwerealwaysinevidenceonthewater-front.Thentheceaselesshigh-drawnwailoftheEskimodogswasneverlackingfromthemedleyofsounds.Dayandnightonecouldhearthecry,“Cigars,gents,twoforaquarter;”“Here’syourfreshkay-ow’smilk,onlyfourbitsaquart;”“Mincepies,hotmincepies;”“Here’syourlatestoutsidepaper,the‘P.I.,’[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]onlyaquarter.” Onewhowandereddownthestreetwithhiseyesopenwouldrunacrossmanyfamouspeople:HereLuckyBaldwinwithhisstrongbronzedface;thereCaptainJackCrawford,thepoetscout,withhislonggraylocksandfringedbuckskin.AcrossthestreetStampedeKate,famousthroughoutAlaska,withhershortskirtandhighlacedboots. ThoughthedaylightduringJuneandJulywascontinuous,noondaybeinglittleifanybrighterthanmidnight,yetthesunwasoutofsightforafewhours,settingabout11p.m.andrisingathalf-past2inthemorning.IfindthisnoteinmyjournalforJune30th: “At1:30afainttingeofpinkappearedintheNorth.Gradu-allythetingedeepenstosalmonandrose.At2:27theNorthissuffusedwithatremblingplayofcolors,andthesunrisesoverthelow-lyinghills,lighteninguptheanvilonAnvilMountain.Nowitfloodsthewholescenewithaprodigalprofusionofnature’sgold–sunshine.TheBeringSearespondstoitscaress,tremblingand sparkling in its robeof seagreen andmolten silver.Thestatelyshipsnodandbowastheyrideatanchorintheoffing.Faroutcanbeseenaplumeofsmokemadebyasteamerbearingdisappointedtreasure-seekerswhosemotto,‘dustorbust,’hasturnedouttobethelatter,andwhoarenowasanxioustosighthomeasafewshortweeksagotheyweretosightNome.”Fred Lockley was a postal clerk in Nome in 1900 and was also a correspondent for the NomeNuggetnewspaper. Later, he continued his writing career with the Oregon Journal, New York Herald and London Globe. He passed away in 1958.



Documents

Volume 42, No. 1 • Whole No. 217 1sth Quarter, 2006 • Pages 1–XX · 2010. 8. 7. · 4201 Folker St., Unit C102 Anchorage, AK 99508 HeLP WANTeD: I am looking for information