Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-10-04

IecC tnelf trall habitatiOn and make
more comfortable. Their arrangement
were 50 complete, that no visit to th
ship was necessary before January 9th
when they went for a supply of wood
fresh water was obtained in abundanc
by collecting pieces of icebergs an,
melting them. Toward the end Of tn
winter, Chester suggested that som,
means be agreed upon to extricate tn,
party from their perilous position. The
provisions gradually diminishing, anc
fuel, OF which only six tons had beer
obtained from the ship, was nearly ex
hausted. The Polaris was still avaiIa
BILE for materials, and it was now pro
posed to build two boats. A survey by
Chester, showed that the lining of the
cabin conld be used, and this was
accordingly stripped off.
During the spring months, with the
thermometer at 90 degrees below zero,
and often in binding drift, the build
ing OF boats went on. The situation
grew daily more discouraging, but work
relaxed and the courage of the men
never failed. Advancing steadily, the
crew was ready to depart by the end of
June, and determined to push south
ward. Just at this moment, when every.
thing was in readiness, they were alarm
ed by the appearance of scurvy. Hap
PLY, however, the attack proved slight,
and plentiful supply of walrus liver,
which they obtained from the Esoui
maux, enabled them to avert disease.
When the boats were launched they
leaked good deal, but the men deter
mined to trust them, and slowing aboard
all their remaining provisions and am
munition, they said farewell to Life
boat Cove. If not perfectly tight, the
boats proved themselves excellent sail
ers and remarkably easy to row, and on
the first day the voyagers reached Son
tag bay. After remaining there short
time to regain their strength, the party
made for Hakenyt island, where the ex-
pedltlon was brought to a stand still by
tremendous gale, which blew for three
full days, with continuous fall of snow
for all that time. Immense focks of
auks, bird of the penguin species,
were encountered here, however, and
the men could easily take up guns and
kill ten of them at a shot. There was
a plentiful supply of fresh provisions,
which were very thankfully received
Occasionally their tiny crafts were
sadly beset, and it was feared they
would come to grief, but they were
among the ice and there was nothing to
be done but to force n passage south |
ward, at all hazards. After enduring
many privations and encountering perils
from which their escape seemed almost
miraculous, they succeeded at last.
through great exertions, in reaching
Cape Parry. An encampment was made
every night, and when the labors of the
lay were over, their boats were hauled
upon a foe and everything taken ont
md the only hot meat of the day pre-
pared. The apparatus employed in
cooking was of the most primitive kiud.
Each boat carried a quantity of rigging
rom the Polaris and a can of oil, and
ire was made in the bottom of an old
bucket. Tea was the only thing that
'ould be made with such an apparatus.
They state that the privations they suf-
cred were serious. The life was rough
md laborious, but though dangers oc-
asionally presented themselves well
calculated to inspire greatest fear, no
erious accident occurred, and on the Dist
VI June the boats reached Cape York in
afety. Here they were again close be-
ct with ice. On the 23d their troubles
anne to an end. A whaler was deserted
few miles off, and the whole party was
t once in a turmoil of excitement. A
-reat fear seemed to take possession of
hem at once that the ship might get
way before they could make themselves
cen, and they put forth every effort to
ush through the ice with the least pos
ible delay. The vessel proved to be l
he Ravenscraig of Dundee, Capt Al
IN. She soon saw their signals and 1
,apt. Allan sent crew to their assis-
,nce and took on board their effects
nd one of their boats, the others being
,ft behind. Capt. Allan treated them,
hey all say, in the kindest and most ]
pnarOus manner /