The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-10-21

THE sketches under this head are prepared
especially for the COURIER, and win he con-
tinued III these columns from time TO time
may devote TO the revision Of the notes lottcd
down during tho years covered by his advcn.
lures, --Ep. COURIER.
NUMBEIt ~.
In the Straits of Magellan.
In the early part Of the sixteenth
century the brave Portuguese naviga-
tor Magellan, emerged from the mar
row straits which bear his namo into
the calm, smooth waters of tho Pa
ciic ocean. His voyage from Eu.
rope had been across stormy seas,
his wonderful passage through tho
Straits had been lfaught with peril,
so that when he saw the placid wa
tiers of an unknown sea before him,
promising immunity from sunken
rocks and from tho frightfhl storms
by which tho mariners OF the South
Atlantic arc always tossed, he named
the ocean "E' Gran Paeifcoo" The
sailors Of today who round Cape
Horn have reason to be glad that its
waters are yet free from storms, that
its bosom is tranquil and pacific"
that leaving the Horn behind they
may with safety spread all their sails
to the gentle breezcs which watt
them lazily to their Ravens. The
South Pacific has ever been free from
heavy winds; it isnot until tho equi-
noctial line is crossed, or, it the voy-
age be to the westward, till the 16Oth
degree is reached, that those furious
typhoons break upon the mariner, in
the midst of which so many brave
scamcn have gone down leaving no
trace no vestige of their fate.
Magellan was hugging the coast of
tho South Atlantic seeking for tho
"lndia passage" when his search led
him into the entrance of the strait
Ho kept on exploring tho coast as he
went, anchoring at night under the
lee of the rocks, until, after weeks
had elapsed, he emerged from tho
narrow channel in safety. The pas.
sage Of the strait is never attempt
ed in modern times by sailing YES
sells; their captains prefer to brave
the dangers Of rounding the Horn
rather than to encounter the perils
which beset even the steamships
venturing upon the passage with
tho view Of saving time and dis
lance in their voyage to and fro. It
is almost impossible to handle a sail
ing vessel Of average tonnage in the
straits whilo steamers are compelled
to anchor as soon as darkness shuts
out tho view j--sometime in the win
ter season, lying still twenty hours,
then taking advantage of tho four
hours Of daylight to steam on past
the rocks which frown down upon
them from either hand, which keep
their vigils in solitude and gloom
A thousand miles arc saved to steam.
crs by taking the short cut; two clear
days are gained by passing through
this canal which nature has cut from
sea to SEQ.
A small colony has been establish
ed at the Pacific end of the strait
The colonists exc out scanty SUBJ
sistence by selling stores to vessels
passing through, and by assisting to
coal those which may nced fresh
supply of fuel. The coal is brought
there from the mines OF Chilli, and
the station is maintained at the Joint
expense of tho United States and
British governments, for the purpose
OF relieving distressed vessels whose
fuel, by unlucky detention, may have
become exhausted in tho straits.
In the winter of 1864 the u. S.
steamer Wateree, on her voyage
from New York to join the Pacific
squadron, found her coal bunkers
empty, before her passage through
tho straits had been half accomplish
led. 1t was at season Of the year
when but few vessels attempt the
passage. The monthly line to Eu-
rope had not then been established,
and the situation of the Wateree was
precarious. She carried no soil to
speak Of, and with swift tides and
currents to contend against it seemed
as though she could not be saved
Through the superhuman efforts OF
her crew she was finally brought to
under the lee of a large rock, and
her men were started out in squads
in search of fuel. Ten miles from
the water they found in tho ravincs
a few stuntcd, craggy pines. These
were cut and carried to the ship on
the shoulders OF the sailors; the men
worked with n will for six long,
dreary wceks-in darkness seven
eights of the timc--threatened by
savagcs and frost bitten by cold-un-
til every twig within thirty miles was
slowed on board the ship. Steam
| was raised, the energies were set in
motion, .thevessel made head way five
hours, and again the word passed up
"no fuel" Sixty miles were gained
as the result of six weeks labor Of
two hundred men! Again they sal.
lied forth on land; few gnarled
trees were found as before sticking
in the crevices of tho mountain sides
they were cut and placed on board
the ship. Forty miles were gained.
A party started overland to the
''station' for succor They never re-
appeared. Whether they were kill
ed by the Patagonians, whether they
were frozen to death, or whetherthey
lost their way and died by slow star
walton, is Gully u matter of coniect-
ure. Food was giving out and the
men were placed on allowance-with
starvation staring them in the face
they worked with the energy of des-
pair. The frozen surface was secured
for thirty miles around,-every little
thing that would engender spark
was carefully collected and placed in
the bunkers on board the ship. The
situation daily become worse. The
crew and officers were becoming raw
cnous. They became wild and bag
gard in appearance. They moved
about pale and wan like ghosts
Many died and were thrown into tho
waters,-othcrs were attacked by the
until evory cot in the sick
bay was filled. Once more they got
the vessel under way they hoped
this time to reach the station. Steam
went down and left them, by obser-
walton, sixty miles from the colony
sixty miles from the gates ofparadisc.
Half-a- dozen men were equipped and
started over the glaciers for relief
The cutter was manned by twelve