The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-11

sells from that port to engage in the seal fishery
ut the South Shetland Islands, which situated at
about ten days sail to the southwark Of Cape Horn,
In latitude "a. After an uneventul voyage Of four
months the vessel arrived at its destination.
The following day the Captain ordered q boats
crew OF five men, under the orders of James A.
King boat steerer, to proceed to the shore and
commence killing seals at window Island OF which
place the vessel was anchored. In the boat were
placed provisions for seven days and big club for
each Of the men, with which to Kill the seals by
hitting them on the head. Captain Holiness In
tetructions were
sKil all you can, and we will be back for you
within week.n
The
then sailed away, and the men commenced slaugh-
tering all the seals they could find, and 80 success
full were they that at the expiration Of the th day
they had killed and skinned 1000 SEALS comprising
whips tthe males), klapmatches 1.-THE females) and
pups. When these skins were piled on the rocks
ready for shipment the seal crop was found to be
exhausted, and the men, after holding consulta-
tiOn resolved. with their remaining provisions, to
sst out for St. Georges island, which is situated in
the immediate vicinity OF Window Island, where
they would carry on the against the seals.
on q small piece Of board,
1--WE HAVE LEFT FOR ST. GEORGES ISLAND.
Call for there" The rich booty Of seal skins
left on the beach. and the party departed for the
island, where its members safely arrived and COM
menced operations.
Meanwhile the Franklin returned from o cruise
. to Livingstone Island (where it had made large
haul Of seals) to window Island, expecting to find
her five men there, take them on board and sail for
home. boat was accordingly sent ashore to
bring them on board but OF course, they were in
4 I'M a
along the rugged shore the pile OF sealsklns 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 becoming
bOisterOus and cold, and was found impossible to
take all the sealskins on board ship. They were,
consequently, abandoned, and the Franklin pro-
ing men, who, the Captain judged, II not relieved,
would soon perish. For several days the vessel
constantly studying il with his glass, but in vain,
10 see If he could perceive any sign OF human life.
THIS group Of Islands is totally uninhahited, and
IDLE Of March that the so-caed Summer reigns
Nothing could be seen of the boat or OF the mer,
but in spite Of this guns were fired constantly fog
horns were blown, and at night rockets were sent
fup; but no response OF any kind came from the
ashore, and the Captain of the Franklin seeing the
Mutility OF his EFFORTS, forced to abandon the
men to their fate, and sailed for home. No boat
ON ACCOUNT OF THE BREAKERS
aud the ice which had already formed. After
tough passage the Franklin arrived at New Lon
{ Aronlcled in the HERALD.
IN AUGUST LAST YEAR
n Dew London sealing feet left Tor the South Shet-
la III ISLANDS, and IL was mutually agreed that the
ca piains OF the vessels should do all In their power
TO discover what had become or the five lost men.
VII en- the bark Nile. commanded by Captain Will
lian ", came 10 an anchorage OF Potter's Cove, -,
Geo Ue's Island, the Captain and number OF his
men Nent ashore 70 see what iad happened 10 Tue
men. The Captain expected owing TO the fright
fnl &C VII OF this region oi perpetual ana ice,
that zone OF them would be alive.
ENG DISCOVERED IN A HUT.
wall ung along the beach for some distance the
explor hg party were astonished to find small
Woodei hut, from which projected a stovepipe,
situate, al about two SHIPS lengths from the
shore ! a.e door was pushed open, ana, a corner
Of the nj q, man, with a long red beard and mat
ted hair was found last asleep. His clothing con-
sisted of vaalskms. ON his ieet for a substitute
for shoes, were penguin Sandals made by remov-
ing the be " OF tue animal and using the skin and
'ea THE STORY or KINGS rrLrvERANcE
James RI tsdaIl boat steerer Of the Nne, who
was in this city YESTERDAY, at the Whalemen,s
HeaGquarters, q Shipping Office situated on south
street, made tIse following statement 10 a HERALD
reporter and Captain Morris, the proprietor OF the
was among the first VINO discovered Kings hut.
1t was made OF boards. ieathered and gro6ved,
placed there 10y tine vessel Francis Allen, In Gaze Ii
might be needed TO erect the hut Tor the sailors
who might be detained ashore during the sealYug
season The boards and stove We're fonnd by the
difficulty in getting AL IN place Well We WOKE
up King wh6was soaSd 70 see rs tina, he could
eral DAYS and>was In q somewhat benumbed con-
diflon This is-what King told us:
1--WE managed to live 1pon pelican flesh and some
bsscrits which had been leit behind by boats
crew. We:lrade clothes "a well as could out OF
seal SKINS The cold was Intense In spite CT the
stove. in which we burned seal blubber We man.
aged lose account OF time dnrfng the year which
we have passed here, and knew that Summer had
come again by its being warm. our 5alng cup
from.onf boat was very useful.
DESERTED BY HIS COMPANIONS.
About 1orfRght ago, as nearly as e2f1 make
OUT said King, ''three OF my mates took Che boat
and said Ney were going back TO window Island.
TO say, Portuguese from the Cape de Verde
Islands, had died from weakness and lrostbites
several mOntsls back and we buried him In the
snow near the sea. The three survivors included
Townsend, the thlrc mate who was native of
ShinHecOck, Long Island, and was the head OF tine
movement IN breaking up our hut establishment
I demonstrated with him and told him IL would he
foolishness TO leare after undergoing such priva-,
TO the end. l also stated that II they lett me
shouA be without any fire, as the mate had the
only flint and steel among the party, and we had
no matches
However. they left, and bsped them to launch
"A cir boat / don't know what has happened TO
To I'm. - 1000. .o,,r,.,.-
n the Franklin, which went out again last year
n. WI New Londen, reported subsequently that
"a. 3pr'scost and portion OF the boat in which the
fhr We men embarked was found on the beach near
can Sheriff. about thirty miles distant from me
INT IN which the men had passed their dreaTy year,
ana " ia therefore to be concluded that the men
were drowned in the breakers and never reached
Elbow Island.
Ss>' DECLINE OF THE SEAL FISHERIES
n IA reported tEat the seals are now almost en-
ssrev isified on these South Shetland Islands, and
sew era years L9nst eiapse before any further
expedisscns HxII be sent ont from the United