Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-22
THE RODGERS.
Full Particulars OF the Burning of the
Inflated Exploring Steamer in
st. Lawrence Bay-Ar-
rival OF the
Officers and Crew at Sitka-Profuse
Hospitality of the NatiYes-Mas-
ter Putnam the Only
One Lost.

PoRT TOWNSEND, June 21.-The steamer
Idaho has arrived from Sitka, bringing the
following full report of The burning OF the
United States exploring stesmer Rodgers in
st. Lawrence bay, and rescue of the crew:
The revenue steamer Thomas Corwin ar
rived at Sitka June Sd with the officers and
crew of the Rodgers. the officers landed at
sitka are: Master D. Warning, executive
officer; Ensign G. NJ. Storey, Passed-Assist-
ant Surgeon NJ. ID. Jones, Passed-Assistant
Engineer A. n. Seanund, Assistant Surgeon
J. ID Costello and twenty-six men, all in
good health. The latter comprise the same
crew that sailed from San Francisco, all told.
LIEUTENANT R. NJ. BERRY, COMMANDER OF
THE RODGERS,
accompanied by Ensign Fl. J. Hunt left ST.
Lawrence bay on the 2Sd OF December to
sledge the Siberian coast in search of the
Jeanette. On May Is, 1882, the master,
received letter, through the natives,
from Berry, dated at Kedyma river, April
4th, stating that he had heard of the loss of
the, Jeanette and the launching of her boats,
and should his search for the survivors sue
coed, he should return by way of the east
ward, and directing Mr.. Warning to take his
party and make the best way to San Fran
cisco and communicate with the navy de-
partment. The point where the letter was
dated was about half way between ST. Law
renee bay and the Lena river. At the time
THE RODGERS WAS BURNED
she was lying off shore about mile and
half. The FIRE was reported at about 8.45
o'clock am. Everything was done to save
the ship. The fire was in the lower forward
hold, and its probable cause was spon-
taneous combustion, aud the place where it
originated SO situated that it was next to
m GET STR of
The officers and crew fought the flames TO no
purpose. The fire grew rapidly it became
evident to her commander that all attempts
TO save the ship would prove fruitless, 20
that about O'Clock p m the ship was headed
for the beach in hopes that by scuttlipg her
SUFFICIENT PROVISIONS MIGHT BE SAVED
to subsist the party until rescued. Though
from six to eight feet of water rushed into
her fire-room, 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 yards from shore, surrounded
by soft sush thirty inches thick, too soft to
land upon it, and yet too hard to force the
boats through under ordinary circumstances
Fortunately the ship wss provided WITH a
bidarka, by means of which the men were
enabled 10 carry a line ashore. AT 10 O'Clock
pm. the flames proceeded 80 far aft that it
was determined to abandon the ship. Up to
this moment the whole company was
ENGAGED IN FIGHTING THE FIRE,
getting out boats, provisions, etc.; but little
success, how ever, was had in securing the
latter; the condition of the ice was such
that it took until 2 m. the following day
to land Whist could be saved. The boats
were hauled up and the whole party en-
camped on the beach for two days, before
any attempt was made to communicate with
the natives, who came down with few
sledges to assist the party to their village,
distance about seven miles. Three barrels OF
-four and one of beans and sugar. one tin of
coffee and about 300 pounds of pemmican,
seventy five pounds OF tobacco, eight Rem
iugton rifles, 5000 cartridges, some traders
articles, and in all five boats, with complete
outfit, were loaded. The trip from the boats
TO the village
WAS VERY LABoRIoUs,
in the exhausted condf ion of the ships
company, il being over hills with snow four
feet deep. The village consists of eleven
huts, and these are Tenankitchis, which
inhab bit all that portion of Northeast Siberia.
The officers and crew will be distributed
among different Installations, where they
will settle down for long winters siege,
adapting themselves to the customs of savage
life. Ii coon became evident that the supply
of the wolves meat of the natives was in
sufficient for such large party, and the
redistribution of the men became necessary
among the different villages along the coast,
which was done within the range of about
thirty-fve miles. On the 4ih of February
MASTER C. F. PUTNAM,
commanding the supply depot at Cape
Serdige Karmeu, arrived at the village with
four sleds loaded with pemmican and other
provisions for the shipwrecked party, he
having heard of the loss of the ship through
L. Il. II L
depot in bad weather, and was overtaken by
aterribe gale of wind with drifting snow
when two days out and was obliged 10 turn
back, and in an endeavor to reach a village
on the southern side of St. Lawrence BAY,
about twelve miles from the north head he
became separated from his native escort and
not being able to see ten feet ahead of him
he was carried out to on an ice foe.
Later in the day he was seen about seven
10 lies off the shore abreast of the village
A VIGOROUS ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESCUE
by four of the Rodgers crew and two ne
tives in canoe, but owing to the interven
ing ice they were unable TO reach him, and
put back after being three miles from shore.
This is the last that was ever seen of Put
nam. Master NJ. Warning, leaving the
ships party in charge Of Ensign Storey,
procured a sledge, guide and dogs and
searched the entire coast and Indian Point,
and thence to Plover bay, but found not
trace of the unfortunate officer. On the way
down the coast four dogs were identified as
belonging TO Putnam's sledge, one of them
having
A WOUND THROUGH HIS NECK,
as if made by pistol shot, circumstance
which is unaccountable The conduct of the
natives is reported excellent and their hum
bic hospitality profdse. Their provisions of
walrus and sal was at the time very scarce
aud they often went without food themselves
10 afford relief to the whites. The Rodgers
party subsisted entirely upon native food,
the pemmican being principally reserved, it
being found necessary to take ii to the boats
for preservation. OnIy one notable instance
of unbehavior on the part of the natives Is
recorded. During the absence of Mr.. War
ring on the Putnam search a turbulent
chief, with band of followers from a neigh
boring village, demanded the white mems
provisions.
THE SITUATION WAS A CRITICAL ONE,
but owing to the skill and decision with
which Ensign Storey handled the case all
danger of collision was avoided, and the ma
rauding party were sent off hungry. There
were no indications of scuTvy until
late in February, when several officers
and men were subjects OF slight attack.
When at Plover and Maray bays
Warning left with the natives letters TO
be delivered to any whaling vessel which
might visit these places, informing them of
the condition Of the ship and wrecked crew.
Captain Owinss, OF the steam whaler North
Star, of New Bedford, got one of these let
tiers. and forced his ship through the ice OPP
pesite ST. Lawrence bay, reaching there on
the Sth OF May, jamming his ship
ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE ICE,
80 as not to be carried northward by the
large foes of ice floating by. Ga the after |
noon Of the 18th the party safely boarded |
the North Star. Before leaving Mr.. |
Warning issued TO the natives all the |
trade goods, provisions, rifles, !
ammunition and boats, as a recompeuse for |
their kind treatment, which was an immense !
TO these harmless creatures So |
should party of wrecked mariners be ever !
cast away in that vicinity they can rest IS
sured of friendly reception. The officials |
and men all unite in speaking of the gene
rosiiy and trouble taken by Captain OSens |
in effecting their rescue. Previous to being |
transferred to the Corwin he offered to land |
them either at Fort st. Michaels, Alaska, or
at San Francisco. On the night of the l4tb,
being clear of ice, the Corwin put in an APP
pearance and
ALL HANDS WERE IMMEDIATELY TRANS |
FERRED.
The Corwin left San Francisco on the 23d Of |
n