The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-02
The Perils OF the Seal Hunters-Six Sail
srs Sent Ashore and Then Deserted
SplendOr of the Southern Skies.
FoR1Y.1HaEE DEGREES RELcw ZERO !!
The Burial of the Portuguese-The Vast
Mountain Ranges of Frozen Snow-The
Loss Of All Companions Saved!
"WIIILE THERE Is LIFE THERE is HOPE"

1t is probable that the whole range OF history
fails to AFFORD parallel to the narrative OF the mod
ern Selkirk, James A. King, who was left on the
South Shetland Islands, among the snow and ice by
vessel which visited that almost unknown region
In search of furs. For nearly sixteen months, part
Df the time with helpless companions and part Of
the time alone, he batred against DEATH without
any tangible hope OF rescue with the most horrible
Dfdeaths staring him in the face he lived and re.
turned to the civilized world. The story OF those
months OF hopeless life, OF hunger, privation cold
and despair would be worthy the pen OF a De Foe
Simply as showing how much man can endure
and yet live, the narrative is deeply interesting;
but when we try to realize the terrible solitude OF
this lone man, in region where the very sun him.
self seems frozen to the Polar cliffs, the mind
wanders and the senses refuse the bidding of the
viii. The narrative OF Alexander Selkirk, Mariner
as well as the idealization of the same under the
form Of "Robnson Crusoe,n falls far short Of this
story OF a New York boy who went to the South
Seas in New London schooner. Il is merely a
new rendering OF the motto-ssTruth is stranger
than fiction"
The survivor Of the six unfortunate sailors who
were, through wilful neglect or careIessness left
TO starve or freeze to death an almost unknown
island, returned to this city, where he was born
and raised, few days since. King is strong
muscular man, of more than medium height and
with great breadth OF chest. His hands are almost
blue from frequent frosng, and his face indicates
long and continued exposure. He dresses neatly
In citizens clothes and has very little OF the
swagger or importance OF a sailor about him. He
has visited Washington and his case has been laid
before the general government. 1t is stated that
suit will be at once brought against the captain OF
the vessel to which he attached for neglect in
allowing the men to perish The narrative given
below, stripped, as 1t Is, OF any verbage, is sub
Btantialy as IL came from the lips Of the only man
saved from the unfortunate boats crew who went
ashore at the South shetland Islands from the
schooner Franklin. in May, 1871.
THE SURVIVORS, NARRATIVE.
shipped in this city July &c, 1870, as boat
steerer, and was sent on to New London to COM
plcte the crew of the schooner Franklin, which was
then fitting out in that port a tender to The bark
Peru then in the South Seas. The Franklin Can
tain James NJ. Holmes, sailed a few days after,
and, after being nine days out, she was forced to
put back for repairs, having sprung aleak. She
was put on the ways and repaired. The Franklin
sailed again on August 20 of the same year, and
sighted the Falkland Islands. after hundred days.
voyage. We met the bark Peru. Captain George ID.
Eilderdale, about one hundred miles or the Fax
land Islands, and her commander thinking it wise
Tor us to go TO Cape Horn for wood and provisions
we ulu So our stay tnere was characterized by
the utmost despatch in getting our stores ON
board, after which we sailed for the Shetland
islands, reaching there after voyage of eight
days. Running into Potters Cove we found the
schooners Francis Allen and Golden West, After
coming to anchor the stores were put ashore. The
bark Peru remained In port while the Franklin
went
IN SEARCH OF SEA ELEPHANTS.
Remaining twenty days at South Beach and
Island, leaving two boats crews at this place
one under command OF Captain James Hone, and
the other under J. M. Buddington second mate OF
the Peru Owing to heavy northeast gale which
sprang up soon after we We're blown or shore. so
that we could not come to their rescue for twelve
days. We were forced III the meantime, to put
into Desolation Island. When we returned to Pen
guin Island we found board stuck up by which
we were informed that the two boats crews had
left Tor Potter's Cove Captain Gilderdale decided
TO leave two men at Desolation Island. and de-
tailed third mate Townsend and an Indian named
Charles Pierce, of Groton. Conn. The Franklin then
RAN INTO YANKEE STRAITS,
ana finding humpbacked whale. we lost twenty
two days IN getting him cut up and on board.
Upon our return 10 South Beach Third Mate
Townsend came on board and reported that he mad
found seal rookery on the other side Of Living
ston Island, known TO whalers North Beach.
This was the first instance Of the finding OF seal at
that place since the time OF Wardell's visit, about
lS4S. The following SIX named men were ordered
to go ashore James A. Walsh, alias King, OF New
York: Edward Townsend. of Glen Cove H. l. !:
Charles Gardner, North sIonington, CT; Charles
Pierce, OF Groton, Ct; Pedro Montaro. OF Bravo
Island, cape dc Verdes; and William Hess, of Cam
den, Nj. A wnaleboat was launched ana these men
lett the ship TO get seal Five OF them. IL alter
wards transpred, lett the vessel forever. Nor
timer II. Cassidy, second mate Of the schooner
Franklin, and James NJ. Buddington get COO skins
which had neen left by Townsend ana took them on
board. The schooner was then lying at anchor in
q bay called Rugged Island Cove. The vessels sent
the men who had been on shore-l was one OF the
number-turned over l.767 skins.
DESERTED BY THE VESSELS.
irovlsions iof SIN days were then put on shore,
after which Captain Gllderdale promised me to re-
turn IN ten days at the lurthest We were then
at a place known as Window Island, and re-
manned twenty-five days awaiting the return OF the
bark Peru. AZ the end OF that time, neither OF the
vessels having returned, we started to go TO Pot
ter's Cove, which we knew TO be a general rendcz-
yous for the fur-gatherng vessels Before leaving
we stack up Reg on Window Island, saying that
Mi the time we had lost our reckoninr az time az
cannot be exactly certain as TO the number OF
days that we waited. Arriving az Potter's Cove
and Franklin had gone. We were then utterly
alone.
THE HORROR or OUR SITUATION
was then fully realized We were beyond all hope
Di rcei from stray vessels. for we were out OF the
usual track, and there was no likelihood OF any
vessels, 0hly those TO which we were attached,
WISHING The place. The terrors Of the Antarctic
winter were also before us. We found a self-fegis-
tering thermometer at Patter's Cove and the an
nouncement that II had been left by George ID.
Glider and James N Holmes. The date was given
az May o. 1871. We had landed on MAY 10 az nearly
as could calculate that the vessels had been
gone eight days we found two OF bread left by
Captain Benjamin Rodgers, Of the schooner Golden
West. These provisions had been left because the
schooner had 1000 sealskins on board which were
much more valuable cargo than bread The finding OF
these casks alayed our immediate fears of hunger
as we knew this would sustain us for some tIne
with proper care The weather was terribly cold.
our clothing although OF the heaviest furs was I'M,
sufficient TO Keep Us warm. Out OF some boards
which we found hut was built, and we began XIII.
ing sea dogs for fuel. We also LAID in stock OF
penguin and sea leopard for food. These we found
IN the snow. In all whaleboats there carried
Under boxes with steel ana twelve Hints.
THE TERRIBLE WINTER
had now begun In deep earnest. The snow soon
fell 70 such depth TO bury the hut entirely, and
80 as TO necessitate our digging way out from the
door This we did in zigzag direction, as 10
exclude the wind. The men took turns IN going
out after the provisions. We had q quantity OF
blnbber in the nut which furnished us with a