The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-07-22
Lost IN THE ARCTIC.
Fate Of the Mt. wollas.oa and .vigii
8. r. Chronicle, 18th.

| t#, h 3 r. Chronicle, 18th.
/ The whaler "Thomas Pope, Capt. willard,
, arrived yesterday afternoon, twenty five days
from Plover Bay. Through her officers the
sad intelligence of the loss of the whaling
ships Mount Wollaston" and "Vigilant,"
with all on board, Is received. The vessels
belonged 10 the whaling feet of 1879, and the
last authentic information as to their where
abouts was received by the bark "Sea Breeze" !"
which arrived here on the 9th of November,
1879, which reported as having left them on
the whaling ground on the nth Of October,
on which date the "Sea Breeze" sailed for
home Siuce that date various have been tie
theories and surmises as to the fate Of these
vessels, the popular theory being that they
were, shut In by the ice, and, failing to get
down, had drifted northward toward Wrangle
Land, where, finding safe shelter, they had
anchored, and 1t would be only matter Of .
short time until they would be succored by
other whalers or by the Arctic search-ship
"Jeannette." Last year the United States
Revenue Cutter "Corwin" was dispatched
north fitted out as relief ship to search for
the aJeannette and tho missing whalers.
After Q cruise Of several months the "Cor-
win" returned without having discovered
any trace Of them. Capt. Kelly, chief officer
of the "Pope," was called on at the Russ
House last evening by Chronicle reporter,
sad, In reply to . question, said There 10
no doubt In the world that the "Vigilant'
and g Mount Wollaston" are lost. While we
were ct Cape North on the Asiatic side some
natives came aboard and informed US that
last November they had discovered q ship
partly under the ice and full of water, drifting
about at the mercy of wind and wave.
TERRIBLE SCENES.
On going aboard Of the vessel they found
her deck strewn with whalebone and three
dead bodies, while In the cabin were the re-
mains of others who had perished, in addition
to bomb-guns, lances, etc. A bag Of Amer
lean silver coin was also found, which, with
q bomb-gun, portion of box of bomb
lances and broken spy-glsss, the natives
brought ashore with them. They also spoke
Of the end Of the flying jibboom being orna-
mented with . pair Of deer antlers, which
proves conclusiveiy the fate Of the "vlgilant,"
as she was the only vessel Of the whole feet
which was ornamented with antlers, trophy
which was won BY her hardy crew in some
rowing match. The bodies found on deck
we're very much swollen, and had fallen out
Of what the natives termed boxes, but what
We think must have been berths built OH the
deck. Heavy weather had evidently been
encountered ~ the mizzen mast had been cut
away. To the westward of the "vigilant"
about eighty miles drifted another water
logged vessel, which was beyond doubt the
Inflated Mount Wollaston," which accom-
panied the "Vigilant." This vessel, the ma
tiyes also visited, and the same sad scene of
death and desolation greeting them, they
departed for land, intending to
visit both ships aeain the following day, but
> wind sprung up and drifted the vessels far
M fa.s THE "JKANNErrE-"
In regard to the "Jeannette," Capt. Kelly
says: /: "Akhough We bring no tidings of her,
/ DO not hessaae 70 assert tha. she 10 safe. 1t
Is Is too early YET to expect news from her,
although In al my twenty-eIght years expe-
Renee In the Arctic I have never seen sea-
son when the ice was lighter or the sea more
open, or Q lighter current setting In fiom the
NORTH Even admitting that anything had
happened to the vessel to prevent her getting
out this year, the crew will cross opt to Her
aid island and fall In with the whalemen, or
else they can cross the Ice and fall In with
one Of the numerous tribes of natives. sin
cerely believe that Capt, Hooper will find the
" Jeannette, for although he has had = linn
ited experience In those waters, never saw
his. superior q Arranging . ship IN the Ice.
Above Ployer Bay he had the misfortune 70
break bis rudder In the heavy ice; but rig
ging . drag he returned 70 Piovef Bay and
had 1t spIiced, and proceeded ON his way
north, after towing us out. The seasons
catch for the feet has been very good, each
vessel ayaraging four whales" l.'-