CHAPTER XXXI 
THE RESCUE FROM WRANGELL ISLAND 
On August 30, at half past seven in the evening, 
we anchored off Nome. Early the next morning 
a lighter came alongside with coal but a fresh south¬ 
west wind sprang up while we were loading and we 
had to put to sea, leaving about five tons of coal 
still aboard the lighter. By eleven o’clock the 
wind had moderated and we were able to come back 
to our anchorage again. I paid a call on Mr. 
Linderberg, who was financially interested in the 
company supplying us with coal, and he took pains 
to see that things were pushed forward as fast as 
possible. Just before dark another gale sprang 
up and we were forced to put to sea again. By 
noon the next day, September 2, it was safe for us 
to return and the lighter was soon alongside. We 
finished with her by four o’clock the next morning 
but on account of the fact that in the blow several 
lighters loaded with coal had been driven aground 
on the beach and the mail-boat Victoria , from 
Seattle, also had to discharge freight and needed 
lighters, there was no other lighter of coal to take 
the place of the one with which we had just finished. 
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