The New York herald., 1873-10-01

had to get fuel from her and material for making
our boats Tor our summer journey SOUTH
PASSING THE WINTER.
We spent the winter months OF November, De-
cember and January in household duties-gettlng
ice or melting purposes, supplying galley anu
house stoves with coal and keeping passage ways
TO and from the house Tree from snow; A great
many foxes were shot, We were visited continu-
ally by the natives who were suffering great deal
from cold and hunger, several OF the families
made their residence with us Tor the most OF tne
winter, building snow huts Tor themselves, whare
they slept. We supplied them with share oil the
provisions we had, but still they had TO XII great
fresh meat. Two families In particular reduced
their team OF dogs to one and another family 10
two. Some OF our people had
SLIGHT ATTACKS OF ScURyY,
principally in the gums but in general the health
OF our party remained good. The month OF
February brought us daylight. On the 18TH the sun
was seen or the first time since its disappearance
on the 10th november We had now 10 consume
the bowsprit masts and rigging Tor iuel these for
tunately having been landed. The only material
for building boats the ceiling OF the alleyways
and aiter-cabn-the house on deck being used as
fuel. The following months were occupied IN
BUILDING BoAls FOR OUR JOURNEY.
Shooting parties went out occasionally out, WIN
unsuccessful. There was one deer Killed during
the season, but great many were seen. Although
the natives had lett US some time Tor their respec-
tive settlements and hunting grounds, they stlll,
however, continued TO visit us, and as II 10 remind
us OF our lormer kindness TO them when sney ap-
peared TO have appreciated. kept bringing 10 us
quantities OF
wALRUS LIVER
which made great Improvement In the health OF
our party l mad suitable bags made out OF the
foresai, and hled them with provisions for our
square lumber Tor the Etah natives. which VIII be
great acquisition 10 them in sealing and getting
eggs rom the islands. BY the 2oth May all our
preparations were made. must compliment Mr..
Chester, who superntended the building OF these
boats. They are credltable scows-ar better
structures than | thought could have been
made ont of the material we had. They
are hatbottomed and carry considerable
line @ close up t to our house our provisions and
what limited clothing were 10 take with US were
brought down to the waters edge to be IN readi-
ness ior embarkatlon, There stil renamed with
Us two native families, and during the winter and
spring we were visited by nearly all the natives
EsouiMAU LIFE AND DEATH
There were during this time three deaths and
was Myonk, who was one OF the first to visit US
after our vessel got on shore. had intended
starting on the lst OF June but that day being sun
day postponed our departure until the following
day. 1t was then blowing gale OF wind ana we
could not start with safety.
In the meantime we deposited several boxes con-
tanning books, scientific instruments, three-box
chronometers and the pendulum, on the north side
OF Llieboat Cove, and covered them with rocks.
At A. NJ, on June 8, | called all hands, got
hasty breakfast, and lett our house for the last
time, dividing our party into two equal parts
WE LAUNCHED OUR BOATS,
two in number, placed our provisions and clothing
In them, and lett Poaris Point and the scenes OF
our long winter stay for Melville Bay and Uperna-
vik. Having made a halt at the settlewent of
reached Hackenyo Island late on the even
ing OF the attn, meeting with but little
obstruction from ice, gale OF wind and pack
ice prevented Us leaving until the Stn. We then
landed on Northumberland Island west side)
The ice impeded our further progress. At eight
p NJ. on the 10th. having previously made three
unsuccessful attempts to get forward, We entered
lead that extended across the whole sound
toward Cape Parry, our intended route. We were
met by a heavy body OF pack ice which completely
closed US IN. We were compelled hastily to haul
our loaded boats on the Ice to keep them from
being crushed. We driited with the pack all
that night and the morning OF the 11th found
us abreast OF our former encampment We
were then about four miles from the shore
There was small lead or water along the land
We had to go to 1t or go adriit in the pack. We
ana boats over the pieces OF roe Alter great
deal OF exertion and labor finally succeeded
IN getting a landing, at $50, the morning oil the
1lth, in the same place we left the evening before.
on the 18th there was good opening in the ice.
We started at 10 $50. and with good breeze we
Parry, and halted on Blackwood Point south OF
Cape Parry and near Fitzclarence Rock. On the
evening OF the next day we
LANDED AT DALRYMPLE ISLAND.
From this point we met with " various obstructions
in getting past wolstenhom Island, Cormlde Rock
| and Cape York. We afterwards entered Melville
Bay, meeting with various obstructious from ice,
which In some places we had 10 haul our boats and
effects over from the one lead to the other.
SHIP AH0Yl
We were thus proceeding on our journey south
until the morning OF the 23rd. We saw a steam
ship beset about ten miles south. AS to US
were then about twenty-hve miles southeast @ OF
was completely blocked with ice Afew hours pre-
vious TO this my boat got stove, having been
cauglt between the noe and land ice; but we had
it repaired with canvas and tacks brought for the
purpose At this time fuel was very scarce
not having more than would last q week. For
some time we had but
| ONE NOT MEAL IN TwENTY.PouR HOURS
reser1ng our iuel for melting snow for drinking
| water, as we we're unable to procure any on the
Zoe. sent two OF our party TO the vessel to let
them know Of our situation. Before reaching the
! vessel, however, they were met by party OF
| eighteen men from the shlp-these latter having
recognized party on the noe-who had come
power rA to what they Supposed was the crew crew
| OF shipwfecked whaleship. With the ex-
ception OF two OF the party, who went back TO
their vessel with an account OF us, the rest came
/ back TO the boats with the men whom had sent.
made immediate preparations to get on board the
| US with our personal effects. We started at seven
+. NJ, leaving our boats, provisions, &c, behind,
and arrived at twelve meridian on board
THE WHALING SHIP RAyESsCRAIG,
4 Kirkcaldy, scotland, William Allen, master, bound
/ Tor the West Coast on whaling voyage.
| | cannot express myself in terms sufficiently
adequate OF the kind reception got from Captain
| Allen, VINO Immediately opened his own wardrobe
| Tor our benefit The surgeon OF the snip Mr. A. ID.
| Soutter, was most assiduous his efforts TO pro-
mote our com iort-indeed, all the officers and crew
| We'd with each other in their efforts to make US
| SAVED ONLY IN TIME
We had at the time we were rescued only Just
| commenced the difficult part OF our Journey, and
| had yet to make some 800 miles of hard travel
before we could get to a place OF comparative
safety. Captain Allen expressed his qualification in
falling In with us, as he and his officers expressed
their undoubted conviction that IL would have
been utterly Impossible or us'to reach the settle
ments IN our boats especially II we had In store for
US anything like the ice which the Ravenscraig en-
countered the previous three weeks. II was very
evident that our boats would not have stood haul
ing over the ice, and to have abandoned them and
attempted TO make the journey on foot was simply
not to be entertained a single moment Ii was
therefore, lucky that the Ravenscraig fell in with
us. AS may say with safety ii was the saving OF
our lives We were surprised and greatly reoiced
TO hear OF the safety OF our fellow-explorers who
had got adriit from us
Statement by Captain Allan, Of the Ra-
venscraig.
The following is a statement OF Captain Allan,
OF the Ravenscraig who picked up the remainder
OF the crew OF the Polaris In Melville Bay