Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-17

any of the ships which might have got out of
the ice, or kept out, as it was known there
we're seven vessels to the south. The Arctic,
Progress, Midas, Lagoda, Chance, Daniel
Webster and Europa were found, and the cap
tains of these vessels at once expressed their
willingness to stay and wait for the crews OF
the distressed ships as long as their anchors
would hold them. On the night of the 9th Of
September the weather was calm and the
clear water around the ships froze over and it
was with great difficulty that u whale boat
could be got through it. The boats had to be
coppered around the bows to keep the ice
from cutting through the planking. No time
was lost in sending provisions by the boats to
the south, as they were apprehensive that
their retreat by the boats might be cut off, and
it might be that they would be obliged to
travel by land to where the ships were an
chored, as there were not provisions enough
to last over three or four months at the most.
On the 18th day of September another
meeting was held by the masters, the painful
fact having forced itself upon the mind of
every one that in order to save the lives of
their crews they would have to abandon their
ships, and the colors were accordingly set as
agreed-at the mastheads-to notify all the
ships companies to get ready to leave on the
18th of September. The masters of the dis
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the bad weather the chances were that they
would never get back again after being blown
off. Thus, although they were ready to stay
any length of time by their ships as long as
they could be sure of a ship to take them off
at the last moment, that time had now arrived,
and much as every one regretted leaving
their ships, still there was no other alternative
Starvation and death awaited them should
they be obliged to stay. Accordingly boats
were loaded with such provisions and clothing
as were absolutely necessary, and by four
7. NJ. every ships company had lett, and
were on their way south. As they made their
way down the coast they found the ice much
worse than they had any idea of, and great
deal of shoal water besides so, that even if
they had succeeded in getting the briggs over
the bar at Wainwright inlet they never could
have got them in the clear water south At
night they camped on the beach, and at day
light on the 10Th they proceeded on their way
to ley Cape. 1t blew strong from the south,
and when they came in sight of the ships they
found considerable difficulty in getting off to
them, as the boats were loaded deep and the
sea rugged. The barque Arctic, Midas and
Progress lost each an anchor in trying to hold
on to take them on board they were very
kindly received on board these ships The
boats were cut adrift as it was impossible to
save them, the ships being so crowded. On
the 10th the last boats crew were taken on
board, and, the wind blowing strong from the
northwest, they weighed anchor and steered
to the southwest, it having been agreed be-
tween the captains of the ships to proceed to
Plover Bay, and there get water and wood to
last them on the passage to the Sandwich
Islands. This was done by five of the ships,
the Arctic, Progress, Midas, Lagoda and
Europe, which arrived there on the oath, and
sailed again on the 25th. The distance trav
ersed by the boats after abandoning the ships,
before reaching the ships south of ley Cape,
was about seventy miles; the ice being in one
solid body all the way to Icy Cape, leaving a
narrow strip of clear water along the beach
the entire distance, but also very shoal.