November 5, 1910 Tsunami: Nome, AK, United States

Floods Extraordinary--Tidal Wave in Alaska--Settlement Wiped Out, November 5. The flooding of Nome, in Alaska, has been of a most extraordinary character. Solomon, a small settlement east of Nome, has been completely wiped out by terrible surf, which was accompanied by neither wind nor rain. The flooding of Nome is inexplicable. It is now announced that no storm occurred there, but that the flooding followed on a rush of the tide. It is probable that a volcanic disturbance took place in the seabed miles distant from Nome, and thus the abnormal tide was formed. In the rush of the tide schooners were driven ashore. If icebergs had been as far southward as usual they would have dashed against the buildings of the streets on the waterfront. (reference #7596)

Much Property Destroyed and Many Lives Lost [?], Nome, Alaska, November 5. A violent submarine earthquake or volcanic eruption is thought to be the cause of a great tidal wave which swept the Nome coast, flooding that city and causing heavy damage to shipping. Although there was no loss of life, 90 residents of the lowlands along the beach saw all their belongings swept away, and barely escaped with their lives. Great waves swept away the frail structures along the beach and carried many small coasting vessels far up on the beach. The flood came without warning. There was complete calm at the time, but the waves were of a giant size, as though raised by a hurricane. No reports of earthquakes have been received, but for several months Mount Bogosloff and Mount Shishalden, near Unemak pass, have been spouting fire and lava at short intervals, and the Bogosdloff lands have been undergoing peculiar contortions. Reports are anxiously awaited from other points along the coast. (reference #7595)

...I was born in Nome Alaska December 29th, 1904 on the Sand Spit. We lived in a small cabin outside of Nome which was between the Bering Sea and the Snake River... Our father worked in a gold mine in Alaska. He was injured by a falling bucket in the mine December 2nd, 1904 and died the next day. Because of permafrost the body could not be buried deep and when a tidal wave came years later the graves were washed out and his body was found. There was a write up of a dance hall girl in a well known magazine about her body being washed up and recognized. (reference #7615)