The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-03-11
Arctic Horrors.


The Norwegian journals publish an in
teresting account by Captain Mack, who
had been sent in the IsfJord in search Of
eighteen sailors who had been forced to
abandon their vessels in the ice and Win
ter on the northern side of Spitzbergen.
The writer states that he arrived at the
island on the 10th of June 1872, but be-
ing unable to reach Mitterhuk, the point
of Cape Thorsen, at which are established
the magazines where the men were snp-
posed to have taken refuge, he lowered a
boat and pushed on by that means. On
the 18th he got to the place referred to,
and found the neighborhood of the build
ing strewed with clothing, blankets, furs,
ETC., but all the men were dead. The first
object the new corners examined was a
wooden framework covered with pitch
ed canvas. Under it were five corpses.
The various apartments composing the
magazine were then examined.
In the room on the right were three
bodies horribly disfgured in that on the
left were three more on the beds, and
fourth on a box, dressed and having
fur cap and white wool gloves on. Three
others were found near. They were all
buried by the crew of the IsGord. Two
could not be found, and are supposed to
have been inferred by their comrades be-
fore the snow fell, which was still on the
ground. The eighteen men expired be-
fore the party reached Mitterhuk. On re-
turning to the habitation, it was found to
contain abundance of provisions of all
kinds, such as well-preserved meats, dried
vegetables, potatoes, firewood, etc. Never
were ship-wrecked mariners better provid-
ed for residence in northern climate,
and their deaths can only be attributed
to inaction, carelessness, and iniudicious
hygenic arrangements. A journal was
found which had been kept by the suffer
ers, and it comes down to the end of April,
that is to say, probably to the death of
the last man who could write. The pas
sage from Craabuk to Mitterbuk was eff
fected in two boats, from the 8th to the
18th of October, with the thermometer at
from 8 to Is degrees Reaumur below
freezing point IA Fair. to 2 under zero). |
During the rest of that month they were
able to hunt and killed two bears, two
foxes and some reindeer.
In the early part of November, they
were obliged to discontinue their excur-
sions on account of the obscurity. All
went well until December, when, on the
Sd, one man fell i'll, a second on the 10Th,
and by the 2lst nearly all were attacked.
The sick were placed in a room by them
selves, with two men III health to watch
them night and day. The temperature
varied from Is to 30 degrees of frost (6
% Is below Fahr.) and fell on the 18th
IF January, to 26 Reaumur (27 Fair. be-
ow zero.) On the 10th two men died.
Until the Dist of February each metereo-
ogical observation is accompanied by the
words, " No change in the malady," but
IN that day another death occurred. On
he 22d the handwriting is changed. The
everest cold was on the 2Sth of February,
When the glass marked 81 Reaumur (3s
Tahr. below zero.) The weather grew
gradually milder until the 4th of April,
when the record ceases. Ten more deaths
ad been successfully noted down to that I
late.
Finally, the last is registered on the
9th April, by fresh hand, supposed to
e that of the man found lying ON box, t
4 his clothes.