The New York herald., 1876-10-22
WRECK OF WHALERS.
Twelve Boats Lost in the
Arctic Ocean.
A TERRIBLE STORY OF ICE-BOUND CREWS.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, oc. 81, 1876.

part Of the OF tho Arctic whaling aect twelve OF
which she reports lost in the with portion OF the
crews. The remaining survivors have gone to Homo
lulu on the bark Three BrotherS
The following is synopsis OF the written report OF
the masters OF the nect:-on our arrival in the Beh-
rings Sea we found plenty icc and extreme weather,
and but few whales taken in tho first part Of
the season. We commenced taking warus
Juno l, and the vessels engaged got all they
had casks Tor Between the Goth OF July and the s Of
August the ships worked to tho shore and
north toward Point Barrow fast as the ice opened
The bark Arctic was crushed by the ice on July Z OF
the Sea Horse Islands, eighteen miles from thu bend.
cRBw.
The crew escaped 10 the Shore and finally taken
board by the bark Onward, and subsequently, dis
tributed among the fleet, Captain Whitney going on
board the bark Rainbow.
About the lst OF August the feet fourteen in num-
Der, reached Point Barrow. The Northern Light and
Norman remained south .walrusing and escaped the
disaster that followed. We had TO stand from Point
Barrow several times owing to tho ice standing on
shore.
August IA breeze from the north and northwest
broke up tho ice. Whales made their appearance and
all the ships actively engaged northeast OF
Point Barrow The wind held from the west to north
east until tho night Of August 16, when it began blow
ing fresh from east northeast
DRIFTING WITH THE IcR.
All the ships stood in shore and anchored to avoid
drifting Ice On the evening of the 10th the wind In
creased and hauled to the north, bringing tho ice on
shore, and We all ran under the south side OF Point
Barrow, whore found lee for four hours, but
the next morning obliged to south far as
Cape Smith
The Rainbow and Three Brothers remained at Point
Barrow for the next three days. Tho whales werc
numerous at Cape Smith and the vessels busy
taking them.
In the meantime wind set in from the west which
caused an uneasy feeling The space occupied by the
vessels extended seven eight miles or tho shore,
running parallel with the land south This kept
steadily closing. On the 23d the wind frcshened
from west northwest, and all the vessels except the
Rainbow and Three Brothers, who were still anchored
ut Point Barrow surrounded by drift OF ice and
beat TO tho southwest In the afternoon the wind
began hauling south OF west, but still hoped before
the ice closed to reach the open at least
the seahorse Islands, whore VIC could hnd shelter At
sunset the ice stopped our progress.
On the morning OF The 24th thick fog set in. At
this time the heavy ice packed and reached
| along tho whole coast About two miles
to leeward the ships all lying In an
open strip OF water Between that ana the
shore the Clara Bell lost her ruddcr when she ran
near the shore and anchored. The ice closed around
her, and a large berg grounded south OF her and
formed breaKwatcr behind which she lay.
Tho bark Florence drifed up Cape smith and got
under the lee Of tho grounded iceberg which proved
her salvation.
Tho ships Josephine, St George, Cornelius Howand
and barks Camilla James Allen and Onward were on
closed by pack ice during the afternoon and driiled
rapidly to northeast between tho Woodyard Refuge
nlcts.
The ship Marcngo, under all SAIL got within three
four OF open water when the ice closed on
| her
AS we ncarcd Point Barrow the current slackened
| and for Two days drrted slowly.
The Rainbow and Three Brothers, under Point BAR
| row lay, in comparative safety, witnesses of our
distress, but were unable TO render any assistance
The Marcngo st. George and bark Acors Barns each
sent boat ashore intending to follow with others.
containing provisions and supplies of Disaster
but owing to the ice starring aresh unable TO do
On tho Goth the nrst officer Of tho Three Brothers,
with boats crew. took the wife of Captain Hackmott
on the bark Acors Barns to his ship for safety
FOURTEEN MIN LOST.
The next day the St Georges attempted TO haul
boat ashore over the ice, but caught In a fog
Thirteen them got board the Rainbow and Three
Brothers and the others regancd the ship except enc
who perishc Next day tho thirteen men tried TO get
back to tho ST. George, but never reached here
Eleven rescued by Captain Owen, OF the Three
Brothers. tho others frozen to death on the ice
Tho prospect was now very gloomy, tho ships being
held hclpessly in tho ice and drifting rapidly TO tho
northeast
August 2s reached tho end OF the bank and the cur
rent changed east Tho ships at Point Barrow were
no longer visible, and the situation was worse than
over the only hone being an enstcrly cale
August 20 found ourselves on Point Targcnt The
crew of the Marengo attempted get ashore but re-
turned unsuccessful.
COUNCIL HELD
The next day the masters held a council
on Dtho Java, and concluded there was
no further hopo Of saving tho ships some OF which
we're already badly ripped by the ice This was
only touch OF what might be expected. The
ships altogether had about three months provisions
not enough to last through the winter. Ancr full
discussion, and seeing no way out Of the dinicuty
was decided that tho only way the lives OF all
reach tho land before escape became Impossible
September The day chosen for starting
Tho ships were twenty thirty miles from land and
abreast OF the west head Of Smiths Bay September
s. all being ready board tho q. Holland
St George, Marcngo, Desmond James Alien
Acors Barns and Onward, the signal for
departure was given The boats had been put in tho
best possible condition. Tho baggage consisted OF
twenty-five days. rations OF bread and and
change OF clothing and blanket for each man.
Everything clso but guns and ammunition was left on
board. The main hope TO find open water enough
inside OF tho ground ice 10 gac the boats SOUTH
ward and reach the two SHIPS which supposed
TO be outside OF the pack.
We lett at three O'clock p VI. We would first carry
the baggage half mile or ahead, then return and
avayt hoafs The ica ouohi
many holes which would bear the weight ofsa
man encountered. Many of the men fell
through and suffered much from cold. Tne
first night we campcd on the leo about
four miles from the ships The next morning we rc
sumed the march in binding storm from The
northeast The prospect most discoursgng Sew.
erol the deserted and returned toward the ships