Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-21
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
The Burning Of the Rodgers.

PORT TOWNSEND, June 20;h.-The follow
ing is report of the burning Of the United
States exploring steamer Rodgers in ST. Law.
renee Bay At tile time the Rodgers was
burned she was lying off shore about mile
and half distant, with two anchors down,
20 fathoms on each chain, in ten fathoms OF
water. lying head to strong north west wind.
The fire was reported at about S:45 A. NJ.
All preceded at once to the fire quarters,
and everything possible was done to save the
ship. The fire was located in the lower hold
forward, and its probable cause was sponta-
neous combustion. The place where it
originated was 30 situated, being near the
coal bunkers, that it was next to an
impossibility to get stream of water on it.
The officers and crew battled manfully, and
vigorously fought the destroying element
almost with desperation, but all to no pur-
pose. The fire gained so rapidly that it be-
came evident to her commander that all at
tempts to save the ship would prove fruitless,
so at about P. NJ, as a last resort, the chains
were slipped, sail made and the ship headed
for the beach, in hopes that by scuttling her
sufficient provisions might be saved to
subsist the party on until rescued.
The scuttlipg was done by opening the out
board delivery. Although from six to eight
feet of water rushed into her fre-room, yet
owing to the coal and timbers being choked
the water did not flow forward to the seat Of
the fire. The ship at this time lay about 25O
yards from tie shore, surrounded by soft
slush twenty inches thick, too soft to land
upon, and yet too heavy to force boats
through under ordinary circumstances. For
tunately the ship was provided with BIZ
dark, by means of which the men were en-
abled to carry lina ashore. At 10 P. NJ. the
flames proceeded go far aft that it was de.
termined to abandon the ship, all hope OF
saving her being ended. From the time she
was scuttled up to this moment the whole
company was engaged ia fighting the fire,
making iettison of the combustible cargo,
breaking out boats, provisions, etc. But
little success was however had in securing
the latter, The condition Of the ice was
such that it took until A. NJ. OF the fol
lowing day to land what could be saved.
The boats were hauled up and the whole
party encamped upon the beach TOR two days,
before any attempt was made to communi-
cate with the natives. who then came down
with few sledges to assist the party to their
village, a distance of about seven miles.
Thirty barrels of -four, one Of beans, one Of
sugar, one of tea, one OF coffee, about three
hundred pounds of pommican, twenty-five OF
tohacco, eight Remington rifles, five thousand
cartridges, sorne trade articles, were saved,
and in all FIVE boats with a com.
plete outfit, were loaded. The trip from
the boats to the village was very iaDorlous In
the exhausted condition of the ships COM
pany, it being over hills with snow four feet
deep, taking from 10 A. NJ. until P. VI. to
travel the seven miles. The village is known
by the name of North Head, 30 called by the
whalers, aud consists of eleven huts. The
tribe are the Tchanketchis, which inhsbit all
that portion of northeastern Siberia. The
officers and crew were distributed among the
different habitations, according to the capacity
of the latter, where they settled down for
long winters siege, knowing well that res
cuing party would not approach until the
following spring, adapting themselves to the
best of their ability to the manners and Gus.
toms of savage life.