Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-04
IN ARCTIC SEAS.
Progress Of the COrwin's Icy
Voyage.
STARVING POPULATION.
No News from the Missing WhaIers Mount
WaIlastOH and viglIants.

pOIJ VI bnb progress OF Jle united
States revenue cutter Thomas Corwin
to the Arctic seas as a relief ship to
find the missing whalers Mount Wal
laston and Vigilant has Just reached
here by the arrival of the Alaska
commercial company's steamship
Dora, which left Unalaska for this
port on the 18th inst. The CORES
pondent OF the Herald on board the
Corwin sends very graphic letters de-
scribing the cutters northward voyage
and experiences from Fur island to a
little north Of latitude sixty-nine de.
grees, and within one hundred miles
of Wrangell Land. The first encoun-
ter with ice was on the 18th of June
in Behring sea, where the Corgin got
thumped and squeezed, and was final
ly made prisoner in the icy grasp for
several days, and experienced ali the
unpleasantness Of the storm, snow and
,cicles of that vigorous winter eli
mate. The little steamer got on the
ice Of huge iceburg and anchored TO
it, thus riding out the storm. Large
leads in the ice we're discovered, and
following the openings with skill and
carefulness, the Corwin reached Mich
aeloviski, st. Michael's, on June 10 in
pleasant weather.
STARVING NATIVES.
To ascertain the truth or to obtain
a contradiction of the reported star
vltion Of the natives Of the St. Law
renee islands the Oorwin crossed
North Behring sea, and, on landing,
found the reports furnished about
eight months ago all too true. The
inhabitants had been in a starving
condition for two years. The first
village visited was entirely deserted.
The second, some miles distant, pre-.
sented frightful scene of desolation.
Not a living being was to be seen.
The dead lay unburied on the hill
sides and in their beds, just as they
had expired. Further westward, at
North Cape, similar spectacle was
witnessed. At first it was thought
there had been an epidemic, but there
is no doubt that there was sheer star
yation, from which from two hundred
to five hundred persons died. Hap
PLY whale was caught, and the lives
Vt the remnant of the settlement were
preserved.
NEWS FROMTHE WHALING FLEET.
a number Of whalers we're boarded
in the Arctic. On June 30, in lati-
tude 66. the whaling bark Pacific, Of
New Bedford, Knowles master, re
ports that they had struck ice on
April 20, off Cape st. Thaddeus; en-
tered the Arctic May 2l; has taken
500 walrus crossed eastward to Point
Hope, westward to Cape Serdge
heard nothing of the missing whal-
ers or Of the Jeanette, The capt lin
thinks that the whalers are lost and
that possibly they may have collided
in snow storm, which occurred just
after he saw them. He gives their
position 100 miles westward of that
formerly reported. He thinks the
Jeanette, if not lost, may possibly be
permanently ice-bound, but that the
officers and crew may escape. as they
are we'll provided with clothing and
all other necessaries. He says that
the season has been good for whalers,
the feet having already taken eigh-
teen whales. A number of vessels
had lost their gripes, and the expert
mental steam whaler Helen and Mary
and several others their cutwaters.
The steam whaler, he thought, was
not success, making no better time
through the ice than a sailing vessel.
1t is talked of as petty ship.
Boarded bark Rainbow on July 3
and Helen Mar on the 4th. Captain
Boulder was the last to see the Mount
Wollaston and the Vigilant on Octo-
Der 10, north of Herald island, with
open water northward. Neither be-
ing provided with winter supplies and
not being very seawoFthy, he thinks
they are lost, and so do all the whale
men with whom the Corwin had con-
versed.
CAPTAIN HOoPER'S DETERMINATION.
Mr.. II. Newman, agent of the Alas
ka commercial company at Saint
Michael's who has been several years
at that place, arrived with the Dora
last evening. He relates the story Of
the intercourse with Captain Hooper
and the other officers of the Corwin
on their FIRST arrival at St. Michael's
aud on their return from the Arctic
two days before he left. Mr.. Newman
speaks highly Of the commander Of
the Corwin and Of his determination
to do his utmost to render what
service he could to the absent
whalers or the Jeanette, should be
meet with either, He says that Cap
tain Hooper was to leave st. Michaers
again for the Arctic on the 11th Of
July, going as far north as was posi-
BILE, and cruising in search of thC
missing vessels, Though the winter
had been very severe and the isC
heavy, whalers thought, from the
early descent OF whales, that it would
be very open season in the Arctic
and that the Corwin could 90 as fal
north as it would be of any service
to go.
THE JEANNEFFE.
Mr.. Newmans conversation is en-
eouraging to those interested in tn,
Jeannette, as he thinks that Captain
DeLong would reach Wrangle Ian,
before the severity of the winter be
gan, and that they would be safe, a
, Captain Delong so intended. He wa
: fully provided for overland travel an,
! exploration. Mr.. Newman sees n
! reason TO anticipate disaster to tn
expedition.
. Our Foreign Commerce.