American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-11-04
ICE-BOUND.

ICE-BOUND.
The Arctic Whaling Fleet Surrounded
by Icebergs and Twelve Vessels Aban-
doned-Particulars OF the Disaster.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21.-The whal-
ing bark Florence arrived this afternoon
from the Arctic Ocean with 100 men on
board, being part of the crews of the
Arctic whaling fleet, twelve of which
she reports lost in the ice with por-
ton of tEeir crews. The remaining
survivors lave gone to Honolulu on the
bark "Tlree Brothers, The follow
ing is a synopsis of the
WRITTEN REPORTS
of the master of the fleet. On arrival
in Behring's Sea found plenty of ice
and extreme weather, and but few
whales we're taken in the first part of
the season. Commenced taking wal
ruses on June 1 the ships engaged
soon got-an they had casks for. Be-
---oAn ths- an---vf outy ar1d tho lot of
August-ffs ships worked over to the
east shoe, and SO north toward Point
Barrow as fast as the ice opened. The
bark Arctic was crushed by the ice July
7th, off the Sea Horse Islands, eighteen
miles from land. The crew escaped to
shore, sid finally were taken on board
by the bark Onward, and subsequently
distributed among the feet, Capt. Whit
ney going on board the bark Rainbow.
About tie LIST of August the fleet, four
teen in lumber, reached Point Barrow.
The Northern Light and Norman staid
at the S,uth, walrtising, and
ESCAPED THE DISASTER.
Those that followed had to stand from
Point Barrow several times, owing to
the ice standing on shore. On August
IA breeze from the north and north
west broke up the ice. Whales made
their appearance, and soon all the
ships we're actively engaged northeast
of Point Barrow; wind half from west
to northeast, until the night of August
10, when it began blowing fresh from
the eas-northeast. All the ships stood
in shore and anchored to avoid drifting
ice. On the afternoon of the 18th the
wind Increased and hauled to the north,
bringing the ice on shore, and we all
run under the south side of Point Bar
row, where we found a lee for four
hours, but the next morning were
obliged to run South as far as Cape
Smith. The "Rainbow" and "Three
Brothers. remained at Point Barrow
for the next three days. Whales we're
off Cape Smith, and the ships
were busy taking some. Meantime the
wind set from the west, causing an
UNEASY FEELING.
The space occupied by the ships ex-
tended seven or eight miles off shore,
along by land south. This
kept steadily closing. On the 23d,- the
wind freshened from west-northwest,
and an the ships except the Rainbow
and the Three Brothers, which were
still anchored at Point Barrow, sur
by drift ice, beat to the south
west. In the afternoon the wind began
hauling south of west, but still we hoped
before the ice closed on us to reach the
open sea, or at least the Sea Horse
where we could find shelter.
At sunset the ice stopped our progress.
On the morning of the oath thick fog
yet in. At this time the heavy ice
packed and reached along the whole
coast about two miles to leeward. The
hips were all lying with open strips of
water between that and shore. The
Clara Bell lost her rudder, ran near
Ihore and anchored. The ice closed
sround her, and a large berg grounded
outh-of her and formed breakwater,
behind which she lay. The bark Flor
nee drifted up to Cape Smith and got |
lnder the lee of grounded iceberg,
which
PROVED HER SALVATION.
The ships Josephine, st. George,
5orneliusl Rowland, and barks Ca
nile, James Allen and Onward were
nclosed by pack-ice, during the after
loon, and drifted rapidly to the north
'ast between Woody and Refuge Inlets.
The ship Marengo, under all sail, got
within three or four ship-lengths of open
vater, and then the ice closed on her.
Is we neared Point Barrow the current
and for two days we drifted
lowly. The Rainbow and Three Broth
rs, under Point Barrow, lay in COM
'arative safety, witnesses of our dis
ress, but unable to render assistance.
The Marengo, st. George, and bark
Acers Barnes, each sent a boat ashore,
to follow with others contain
ng provisions and supplies in case of
isaster, but owing to the
Ice STARTING AFREsH,
7ere unable to do so. On the Goth the
rst officer of the Three Brothers, with
boat'screw, took the wife of Capt.
[ackmott off the bark Acers Barnes to
is ship for safety. The next day the
t. George men attempted to haul the
oat ashore over the ice, but they were
aught in fog. Thirteen of them got
n board the Rainbow and Three Broth
rs. The others gained the ship, ex-
ept one, who persisted ont The ice. Next