The New York herald., 1871-11-16
PERILS OF THE SEA
Herald special Despatch from
San Francisco.
WRECK OF TEE WHkLE SHIP JAPAN.
Captain Barker's Narrative Of
the Disaster.
INTENSE SUFfEaINGS or THE CREW.
~~>~~>~~>~~~~>-~>~~>~~>>~
Eight Men Frozen to Death in Attempt
ing to Gain the Shore.
TWELVE MONTHS In NORTHERN ALASKA.
a Dreary Winter-Christian Char.
ity OF the Savages.
"A Series of MisfOrtunes-
Home at Last.
TWELVE MONTHS In NORTHERN ALASKA.
"A Dreary Winter-ChriStian Char
ity Of the Savages.
"a Series of MisfOrtunes--
- Home at Last.

Captain Barker, commander OF the American
Whaler Japan, wrecked in the Arctic ocean II
October, 1870, who recently arrived in this city
furnishes for the HERALD the following acc0un
u the disaster and the incidents which subse
quently befel himself and crew during the many
weary months which elapsed from the wrecking O.
his ship and final deliverance from the horrors o.
We frozen seas.
CAPTAINS BARKER's NARRATIVE.
Ny ship the Japan. was as good q craft as evel
entered Behring's Straits She was well found II
svery respect; the crew was as good, noble set Of
men as ever stuck whale, and everything tended
70 make our voyage pleasant, comfortable and pro-
stable. We had q most favorable run through the
Straits, and entered the Arctic Ocean March
10, 1870.
wHALTs WERE PLENTY,
AND VIC had very profitable season, ffling mp rap
dly and all hands joyous over the prospect OF
IN early release from the North Sea and seasons
pleasure at the Sandwich Islands. All went pleas
antly with rs until the 9th OF September, when we
scft Point Barrow, the most northern point of our
newly acquired possessions the Arctic Ocean, be.
ing situated about seventyfour degrees north latl-
sude. The season had been 80 fine and the fishing
70 good that we had put OF our return through the
straits rather late. The cold becoming intense
ana ice had formed along the coast rendering nayI.
CATION every day less pleasant ana more difncult
we commenced working to the southwest wien
SSlck weather set In. We met with nothIng unusual
u our course for several days. and Oh the "a OF Oc
toOer We were OF Cape Lisburne, near Rendezvous
Bay latitude 6S degrees, whence we worked TO the
nortnwardsiH order to give the Leadlands and cur.
sones "ide berth while passing through the Straits
nto the Kamtscnatka Sea. On the ath or October
90 ships were In sight, when it came on 10 blow
seaVy gale, which continued till the 9th.
II THE DAY OF THE WRECK.
From The time OF passing Cape Lisburne the
weather had been too thick for to lake an obser.
saron, and consequently could only gncss where
We were. The gale continued without iatcrruption
increasing In violence every day. The waves
Almost literally rolled mountains h2h,n aud during
AJ my experience on snipboard never before saw
such seas or witnessed such fearful storm 1t
appeared as II the ship would founder every mo-
nient aud neither Inor my men expected 20 be
slave to-day 10 relate. the story Of suffer-
nRs and miraculous escape. On tie sth
ve sighted the snip Massachusetts, Captain
dtchei OF New BEDFORD, Mass, last from San Frau
isco. and made signals for her TO keep company
v1th us, knowing fnl well that we could not
weather. the storm and fearing that our end would
come before other assistance could reach us. Next
norning the gale blew harder, II possible, attended
sith such a terrible binding snow that we could
ses esr ea snd saGa "eTs
10 the southeast as well as we could, having, as
kuppOsed. made sufficient northing since leaving
nnG Ilsbnrne 10 rive Us plenty vi sea room. Near
soon, The weather siill continuing very thick, We
BREAKERS on THE LEE BOW,
lose aboard. The ship had been running under
wer opsas ana storm ss ugs o%x sce 10 e
me helm was put astarooard and praced up sharp,
men we rnssyrRs uls.gv1s" orr THE WEATHER Bow,
hose aboard. Just then. 10 ado 70 our norrors
.ugc wave swept over the ship, taking or all the
and Ss; s%scr1E ae Sesh @ stared US IA Ss
hce. should the ship go to pieces where etnen
we're every soul would Se os,. NO No man codin .S
s and dashed with such fury upon the cragS, which
Tore but biscuits throw from our deck. the snip
ers: inc vessel careened so that footing could
Be retained only by holding on TO the naly ards nna
aoment increased our danger and what was 70 %
zone must he done quickly But one chance remained
or our hves and mat MAS 70 run me snp VOWS % On
sem waa put hard aport and the ship answered
lobiy. A dangerous point was safely passed and
ar as ihe eye could reach, that offered the slightest
hhance OF our feachng the shore 10 sslety. INC
peas aa and Va had about given up al 6ops
Tnen another sea struck Us Sld sent ns
E. BR0ADslDE on THE BEACH.
7 n ever a happy crew trod ships deck is
vas that Of tne Japan. Our rescue was almost
miraculous, and the revnlsion OF Ieeing from
Eas ab,c TO move; but CONSCIOUSNESS quickly re-
rne and & rn sa wT S" All All e me crew
panaged to reach dry land In safety. J, however,
vent beiow TO try and save my chronometer ioS,
sOok ship'5 papers. 6t., and some PROVISIONS, !
'ccured Several OF thc articles wanted. but %
jsS con,ng up through tho hatchway the decks
slJ ,sr csnsins nus 20 drop what had in my hands
md tie papers &C., were carried ART over, G
sss S.D s sussssJ ny . Fsn Fsan rle s0
vas most Intense ihe wafer lreezing everyinng
touched While ID 'ee eenaop cspo my 81 n9 y poas mas
rev. who were then thrown pennlless homeless
ma almost naked upon me shores OF InS oASn ses.
Sanapf tcn Knew sney could not long survive upon
hal cold shore unless they could procure cnanse
S'o'a,%s cnnsooneniiy amu renamed below decks
snree hours aer the snip slruck seaIomnH M .,,n
clothing ,9vSnis a.a sopea ana nat in the ne s
he vessel would be washed higher MP on the beacn,
wSSS snasr Ss Ssr wrsss far Tor ST
cScas"malIy sSsS''Is would look toward the shore,
ana saw several OF my seamen s'Iuggnms nls
few eihnSs which had nosted towards the shore.
Finally determined TO JOIN my men WIZ sueS ,vW
had been aoie TO ssSSTs Mep M INT aaapea ise oe
mast Tne mizzcnmast Was broken sh9,e es Oh aus
backs,ays still holding. Making nsc o. ne,e say n,,
lei SsIp iS nanss jsst ashore which succeeded u
reaching In safety. was met ny come haures o :
.Saxss SoSss and Sas sonseyea % me- 70 e
some distance from the beach, passing on 'ne way
lthe p0dies oil
sAiIoRs FROZEN TO DEATH,
The slr was piercnGly cold ami, as ieaieu, ses a
cra Of my men, being unablc to dry their ciothes
nAa fallen oy the waysidc and died. 10 me ~ ap
neared hard mat these poor fellows, after Dhttlni
the storm 50 many days, undergoing such suffering
and facing death III so many forms, should b
sfricken down ~ the very moment when they ha'
l peemipgly secured their own safety aud taus b
srozen 10 death within tue light Of the very fire
Inch the natives had lit for their succor arrives
] lst Inc iNlc paiive village conpletely ovcrpowere
~ the intense cold, nnd on recovering my senses
hound that out OF o crew of thirty stout, stalwai
!, sO'' rroHr MEN HAD FRozRN TO DEATH.
lurne ylcims were my thnd mate, steward carper
r. L. aud Ave aeamen--etgbt ~ good men as eve
Ls,,"t wnalc. roe natives are called "savages,
An, iol me .ell lae readers Of the HERALD tnSt p(