New-York tribune., 1874-12-07


Ing blown the rocks when the anchor fouled and
engines for the instant refused TO obey the bell We left
American Bay In freshening gale, and we steamed
past Ship Bav, the place hoped TO land, we could
only look into II aud call 1t Tintaus Bay.
Tho wind had risen 20 one of its
usual gales We could only bert backwards ana
forwards The entrance is about 200 yards wide' ana
the bay itself merely U-shaped indentaton In the
southeast part Of the island where tho rocks have
glyen place slopng beach of 1ne sand 1t has long
been known TO whalers and the beach we could see
log and the sealers' kettles for boiling OIL Couu
a boat be handled through the surf 1t is probable
boats could have landed even in the gale blowing
But when TO he considered that lb tons OF COAL
with lumber hus, besides the instruments ana
stores to year, were TO b, landed ana
when looked at the sea and heavy surf 1t was mani
fest 1t could not be attempted at any time during the
day. We hoped that, as the day wore on, II we cou'u
hold our own under the lee of the island the gale
would moderate toward night. But II did no such thing
The wind blew harder and harder ui at night We were
forced Law to in the nercet gale had yet felt Sea
after struck the vessel, Taking her quver from
stem to stern. Rain. hail came In rapid alterna-
ton aud that In the morning the would be
running high that the chances OF small boat living
all would be small We tried TO Keep our position all
night The gale blew with unabaed 6erceness, and in
tho morning had drfed 30 miles from the island,
with the gale still blowing us of.
What was be donei 1t was clearly impossible to
land more than very small part OF the stores in any
Of the short spells OF good weather which might come
o week and If that part was landed 1t might De
three weeks before we could lana the remainder The
Swatara carries but ten days coal and saving IL as Des
they could the engineers had but Ave days coal left
after the struggle with the elements thus far IL was
upsofe TO economize bv banking the fires for we knew
not at what moment full power would he required
to keen our from being blown on some rock we
have coal for Kergneen and enongh 10 iast
the bay Hobart Town, where coal was TO be had Inc
only sensible thing to do was to give up the iand
ing of the Crozet party and the already
scant of coal for the Kerguelen landinc mat
very sensible thing DONE Let DO dscredit fall on
the naval service The E1gsh. in tho Challenger bad
not even effected stoppage there violent they fonnd
the sudden gales think the officers OF the swa'ara
would have stai there a month, in the face OF all the
gales in Chrtendom, rather than have 1t said that
American sailors could not land at CrOzet II they had
stali longer than they did. they wouid have mpered
the only OF all the southern parties hut also
OF northern because the northern observations are
comparatively valueess without those at the south
We could get before night in the face
OF the gale blowing; 1t was highly probable we would
be blown away soon We nearcd the coaS-so much
coal lost would be irreparable On the morning OF Sept
the order was given TO turn toward Kerguelcn That
night we had gale which made us glad there was a
hundred miles between Crozet and the Swntara one
OF the coming on board washed away the man at
the Wheel broke through the hatch and gave us in the
morning repetition of our experience In fishing for
slOcs and socks.
On Sunday, Sept g. barren, isolated. scraggy rock
against which the dashed spray 100 feet high
apueared on the port bow. Three hours aftcrward
KerCueen Island in sight. We stood away from
the coast that night, and the next morning steamed
steadily around the south side of the island Vertical
rocks for thousand feet stood boldly out in the water
sp of from the mountains which lowered over them
Puuacles arches. groocs cut in shape and SIZE
made restnG-paces for the immense number OF BIRDS
aud seaeephants lying in these waters. The grandeur
Of the island is in desOlatiOn. Not tree is to be
seem We followed the track Of the Challenger, ana
anchored IN delightfully."- snug harbor some miles up
ROYAL sound We found here American whaler from
NewLondou to whose officers and crew we arc indebted
for many acts OF courtesy Just the nearest shore
II grayeboards raised their white heads to bid Us well
come to this CHEEKY place. Seaers visiting the place
have brought their dead and buried them where they
Will not DO disturbed.
LANDING AT KERGUELEN.
The next Tuesday morning, bright and early. the
steam launch took the captain and the astronomers or
The Karguelen party They came back at night IN one OF
The whac-boats which the haler sent TO get the LAUNCH
out Of the kelp In which ii was helplessly wedged
RumOr said tEat Of our friends and the captain had
10 swim for it in trying TO .and IN small boat IN Inc
surf They had uavigated all day among the unknown
Islands in the upper part Of the sound and the night
came on them three miles from the vessel The heavy
a the certainty of rocks all sides the failure OF the
engine the gale which frcshcning every moment
cop.pired to render the position in the little launch
pcIious They had searched til tne last moment 1Ol
place suitable for the Obseryatorc, and had I0uh1 none
with fresh water in the vicinity. Fading themselves
suddenly plunged into patch o. keWlth 10 prO'pecto
reaching either the land the ship Til late at nGh the
CAPTAIN with Dr. p left the launch 70 BE- towedback
.tn cd sIl
kindness of the crew Of one OF the whalors boats. There
was certainly 10 place Tor the observations near by
re next day the wind blew such gale that al done
was TO hold our position, with steam Teauy at tue Del
tan I'm case we dragged anchors; and on THURSDAY
morning al the suggestion OF the captain OF the Whlef
We stood ont OF anchorage Tor Molly POlh' auou'
%, miles distant We reached IL III about two hours
and marty was Immediately sent ashore 10 select
snitalle place which they found BLUFF overlooking
stream emntying into the sOuud. At short intervals
turing the lauding Of the first bOaoad OF lumber the
les of wind and would seem terrifying; snow
blowing in horizontal lines, ana the sailors worHing III
waterup their armpi,s trying 10 save their boas ana
lumber They worked ult night Ia unloading The first
boaold and then the tide falling LEFT the boat on the
rocks where the sailors obliged TO abandon her
tn morning. after using the steam launch In The vain
endeavor to drag her from tie rocks.
Tie next morning, sept. H. found oil hands and boats
busy at work unloading stores and putHAg up teutS
and the frame houses on shore.
stroll OF a couple OF miles back into the country
showed only succession Of sn0wcdppcl peaks, sand
the brooks running from the mountain sides were all
frozen was rather Iich country for the hunter the
excellent land duck numerous. The gulls and
perels kept up incessant1ying about al! aong the
coast tho penguins lived hundred together in their
little villages There many aIbatroscs, the whalcrs
said further up the island The vegetation is scrvbby,
consisting Of a coarse moss (LyaIt), aud the wild
cabbage, which is somewhat paatable lPrinOca d,ii
scO1Lticd). The spot selected for the observations
under the lee of a knoll about feet high. The sides
OF this knoll comparatively well drained, aud the
observers viii able to establish their Instruments