 In 1900, Mery took a trip to Nome, Alaska, when there was placer mining on the beach at that town.He took four plants with him, one being a self-propelling dredger that could go up the stream.All this was packed with definite directions as to where it was to be unloaded; but the crew disobeyed orders and went on to the mouth of the Yukon River with the machinery in the hold.