Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-06-23
UNITED STATES.
Full Particulars Of the Burning Of the
Relief Steamer Rodgers.

onA AoNNoLND, W. L.. June Il.
The steamer Idaho has arrived
from Sitka. The following is full
report of the burning Of the United
States exploring steamer Rodgers in
St. Lawrence bay, and the rescue of
her crew. The revenue steamer
Thomas Corwin arrived at Sitka
on June 3, with the officers and crew
of the Rodgers. The officers landed
at Sitka are Master ID. S. Warning,
executive officer; Ensign G. NJ. Sto-
rey, passed assistant surgeon; NJ. D.
Jones, passed assistant engineer; A.
V. Zane and Assistant Surgeon J. d.
CASTILLO, and 26 men, all in good
heath, the latter comprising the
same crew that sailed from San
Francisco, all told.
Lieutenant r. NJ. Berry, COM
mander of the Rodgers, accompanied
by Ensign H. J. Hunt, left St. Law
renee Bay on the 23d of December to
sledge the Siberian coast in search
of the Jeanette. May IS, 1882, the
master received a letter through the
natives from Berry dated at keoyma
river. April 1, stating that he had
heard of the loss of the Jeanette
and the landing of her boat, and
should on his return search for the
survivors; that he should not re-
turn by way of the eastward, and di-
recting Mr. Warning to take his
party and make the best Of his way
to San Francisco and communicate
with the Navy Department. The
point where the letter was dated was
about halfway between St. Law
renee Bay and the Lena river.
At the time the Rodgers was
burned she was lying OFF shore about
mile and a half. The fire was re-
ported at about SAT Il. IN. Every
thing was done to save the ship.
The fire was in the lower hold for
ward, and it's probable cause was
spontaneous combustion, and the
place where it originated was so sit
uated that it was next to an impos-
sibility to get a stream of water on
it. The officers and crew fought the
flames to no purpose. The fire
gained so rapidly that it became cv-
idcnt to her commander that all at
tempts to save the ship would prove
fruitless, SO about 3 p. IN. the ship
was headed for the beach, in hopes
that by scuttling her sufficient pro-
visions might be saved to subsist
the party until saved. Although
from six to eight feet Of water
rushed into her fire-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 $50 feet from the
shore, surrounded by soft slush 20
inches thick-too soft to land upon
it, and yet too firm to force the boats
through under ordinary circum-
stances. Fortunately the ship was
provided with bidavki, by means Of
which the men were enabled to carry
a line ashore. At 10 p. IN. the
flames had proceeded so far aft that
it was determined to abandon the
ship.
Up to this moment the whole COM
pany was engaged in fighting the fire,
making a jcttison of combustible
cargo, breaking out the boat, provis-
ions, etc. But little success was,
however, had in securing the latter.
The condition Of the ice was such
that it took until 2 a. m. of the fol
lowing day to land what could be
saved. The boats were hauled up
and the whole party encamped upon
the beach for two days before any
attempt was made to communicate
with the natives, who came down in
few sledges to assist the party to
their village, distant about seven
mi4es. Three barrels of -four and
one of beans, one of sugar, one of
tea, one of coffee, about 800 pounds
Of pemmican, 25 Of tobacco, eight
Remington rifles, 5000 cartridges,
some trade articles, and all five of
the. boats, with a complete outfit,
were loaded.