The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-10-25
THE VERY LATEST FROM
THE ARCTIC FLEET!
Thirty.Three Ships Lost !
1000 Shipwrecked Seamen

By the arrival this morning of the Hawaiian
whaling bark Arctic, Captain Trip, we are in
receipt Of truly dishearening news from the whal-
ing feet lately cruising in the Arctic Ocean. The
greater portion Of the feet numbering over thirty
vessels, has been caught in the ice and hopelessly
crushed or held fast so that they had to be aban-
doned. Fortunately, the weather was such that
all the crews were safely got on board the vessels
which were outside the pack, although in some
instances the utmost expedition had to be used to
save life. In the case Of the Roman rs described
to US by one Of her company, the sight must have
been fcarfully interesting. The foe caught the
ship on each side, and lifted her up bodily, keel
out. Relaxing its grip for an instant, the ship
settled between the icy jaws of the foe, when
coming together again, she was crushed like an
eggsbell, into atoms, and as the spasnodic relax
alton again occurred, she disappeared, leaving not
vestige of the lately noble vessel in sight, forty
FIVE minutes from the time the ice first closed up
on her.
1t is an open question as to whether any of
these ships will be found on the return of spring,
in a condition to be saved. 1t was considered
probable that in the first northerly gale, they
would all be destroyed by the moving heavy ice.
Besides, the natives, who are numerous in the
neighborhOOd, would, without delay, strip them
of everything movable.
For the following circumstantial and highly in
teresting account of this great disaster, the effects
of which Will be severely felt in the homes and
business circles of the East, as well as here and
in San Francisco, we are indebted to Captains
Trip, of the Arctic, Kelley Of the Gay Head,
Allen, of the Minerva, Bliven, of the Els S,rifi,
Loyeland, Of the Reindeer, Nye, of the Eugenia,
and Newbury, of the Pdiea.
About the 1st Of May, 1871, the whaleships began
to arrive at the ice south of Cape Thsddeus. They
found plenty Of ice snd closely packed that they
made but little Roadway to the north The wind
Slew strong from the northeast most of the month Of
May About the LIST Of June the ice opened some
and let the ships up in sight of Cape Navarine.
Hers kve or elk whales rrsrs talzsn good many
were heard sp0uting amongst the heavy ice, but
they soon left The fore part of June, the winds
were light and variable with a good deal of fog.
About the middle of the month the ice opened and
the feet pushed to the north A few whales were
taken and picked up in crossing the Anadir Sea.
By the time the ships got to Cape Bhering and
Plover Bay the whales had all passed through the
straits The bark 0riole was stove and put into
Plover Bay to try snd repair. The feet passed
through Bhering Straits between the 18th and Both
of June, some of them taking on board the crew Of
the Japan, which was wrecked at Cape East last
fall not seeing any whales and finding large quAnti-
ties Of ice.
The whole feet now engaged ia catching valrus
these were very shy and scarce in comparison to
former seasons the boats frequently geag Is or 20
miles in the ice to get them; there was good deal
of fog in June and July, while they were walrus-
ing and also large bodies Of ice The east shore
being unapprOachsble until the very last Of July
The latter part Of July they had some strong winds
from S E and y E This broke up the walrus
catching, and the feet now pushed to \. E for Icy
Cape. The ice began to disappear from the east
shore south of Cape Lisbnrne the fleet pushed on
to eastward, the main body Of ice being in about
the Lat Of 6s7 10 or Is; they followed the ice
into the east shore they found clear strip Of water
running to n E along the land In this clear water,
they worked up to within a few miles Of Icy Cape
and some Of them anchored, not being able to pro-
coed any farther on account Of the ice lying on
Blossom Shoals; at this time the wind vas blowing
strong from the n. E for several days
On the 9Th Of August the wind moderated snd the
ice started Of the shoals Several ships got under
way and passed the shoals, and in q few days the