Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-23

the pile of sealskins was discovered by
the crew, and also the notice written
by King, to the effect that the party
had left the island
By this time the weather was becom-
ing boisterous and cold, and it was
found impossible to take all the seal
skins on board ship. They were, con-
sequently, abandoned, and the Frank
lin proceeded to St Georges Island in
quest of the missing men, who, the
captain judged, if not relieved, would
soon perish. For several days the yes
sci cruised in the vicinity of the island,
the captain constantly studying it with
his glass, but in vain, tosee if he could
perceive any sign of human life. This
group of islands is totally uninhabited,
and it is only from the middle of Janu-
airy until the middle of March that the
so-called summer reigns.
Nothing could be seen of the boat or
of the men, but in spite Of this guns
were fired constantly, fog-horns were
blown, and at night rockets were sent
up, but no response of any kind came
from the shore, and the captain of the
Franklin, seeing the futihty of his ef-
forts, was forced to abandon the men
to their fate, and sailed for home. No
boat was sent ashore
ON ACCOUNT OF TIE BREAKERS
and the ice which had already formed.
After 4 rough passage the Franklin az
rived at New London, and the loss Of
her five men was duly chronicled.
IN AUGUST LAST YEAR
a New London sealing fleet left for the
South Shetland Islands, and it was
mutually agreed that the captains of
the vessels should do all In their power
to discover what had become of the
five lost men. When the bark Nile,
commanded by Captain Williams, came
to an anchorage Off Potter's Cove, ST.
George Island, the captain and q num-
Der of his men went ashore to see what
had happened to the men. The cap
tain expected, owing to the frightful
cold of this region Of perpetual snow
and ice, that none of them would be
alive.
KING DISCOVERED IN A HUT.
Walking along the beach fer some
distance the exploring party were as
tonished to find a small wooden hut,
f ION which projected a stovepipe, sit
uated at about two ships lengths from
the shore. The door was pushed open
and, in a corner of the hut, man,
with long red beard and matted hair,
was found fast asleep. His clothing
consisted of sealskins. On his feet for
substitute for shoes were ''penguin
sandals" made by removing the body
of the animal and using the skin and
feathers of the beast.
THE STORY OF KINGS DFLIvERANCE.
James Randall, boat-steerer of the
Nile, made the following statement
was among the first who discov-
cred Kings hut. It was made of
boards, feathered and grooved, placed
there by the vessel Francis Allen. in
case it might be needed to erect the
hut for the sailors who might be de-
tanned ashore during the sealing sea-
son. The boards and stove were
found by the five men, and they sue
ceeded after considerable difficulty, in
getting all in place. Well, we woke
up King, who was so glad to see us
that he could hardly speak. He had
been without a fire for several lavs.
and was i'll q somewhat benumbed cor
ditiOn. This is what King told us a:
1--WE managed to live upon pelican
flesh and some biscuits which had been
left behind by a boats crew. We
made clothes as well as we could out
of seal skins. The cold was intense,
in spite of the stove, in which We
burned seal blubber. We managed to
lose account OF time during the year
which we have passed here, and knew
THAT summer had come again by its
being warm. Our baIing cup from our
oat was very useful
DESERTED BY HIS COMPANIONS.
"About fortnight ago, as nearly as
[ can make ont, said King, ''three of
my mates took the boat and said they
were going back to Window Island
One of our original number OF FIVE I
had forgotten TO say. Portuguese from
the Cape de Verde Islands, had died
from weakness and frostbites several
months back, and we buried him in the
snow near the sea. The three sIlrviv-
ors included Townsend, the third mate,
who was Il native of ShinnecOck, Long
Island, and was the head of the move
ment in breaking up our hut establish
ment. L demonstrated with him and
told him it would be foolishness to
leave after undergoing such privatiOns
together, and that we had better fight
1t out to the end. [ also stated that if
they left me I should be without any
fire, as the mate had the only flint and
steel among the party, and We had no
matches"
THREE OF THE PARTY LOST IN TIE
BREAKERS.
However, they left, and I helped
them to launch their boat [ don't
know what has happened to them.
Captain Buddington, the present
commander Of the Franklin, which
went out again last year from New
London, reported subsequently that :;
sailors coat and portion Of the boat in
which the three men embarked was
found on the beach near Cape Sheriff.
about thirty miles distant from the hut
IN which the men had passed their
dreary year, and i. is therefore to be
concluded that the men We're drowned
in the breakers and never reached
Elbow Island
DECLINE OF THE SEAL FISHERIES,
It is reported that the seals are now
almost entirely killed OFF these South
Shetland Islands, and that several
years must elapse before any further
expeditions viii be sent out from the
United States
An Ex-COnfede crate Cavalry Officer