New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-23
EPISODES or 4 JCINTEETNG.

The VutcTing Of the Rodgers crew was h"o
without its tragic episode. Master {. +. Put
nam, who had been left in charge OF the sup
NV dcpot near N0rdensliold's winter quarters
hastoncd to Tie assistance OF the NAN party
rs soon as he received tidings OF the burning
of the vessel With a native escort ana four
sledses loaded with pemmican he succeeded III
reaching the village where they were lodged
but on his return trip he was oyertaken by
terrible storm and carried out To sea on an ice
foe. His companions caught glimpse OF MN
seven miles from shore, but were unable
70 rescue him. This melancholy incident re-
calls the fate of Joseph Rene BellOi gallant
officer of the French Navy, who, after winning
the cross of the Legion of Honor While he was
only nineteen, volunteered to accompany one
of the Arctic expeditions sent out by Lady
Franklin, and discovered the singular STRAIT
which bears his name. Returning to Barrow
Strait with Captain Inglcfcld in 1858, he per-
isbed while making n slcdgc journey over the
ice. being separated from his companions
CAUGHT bv q violent gust of v nd and driven
into n deep gulf of open water Putnam, like
Belot, was a singulmly brave and unself,h
officer. and possessed scientific talents Of
high order.
Only one instance Of hostility on the part of
the Polar sayages occurred during this winter
ing Of the Rodgers crew. While portion OF
the naval force was searching Tor Putnam body
the remainder were attacked by turbulent
chief and band of followers. Provisions were
scarce. and the maraudug party demanded the
white mems supplies. Ensign story seems to
have acted with commcndabe decision, and to
have saved the scanty store Of pcmmican.
At all other times the natives were both
ucaceable and hospitablc, sharing their
food and huts with the whites, and wit
Messing their departure with regret. These
amicable relations had been promoted by
Nordenekiold's hospitality during his So
iourn among them. In his book he describes
the Vega as the only public house open on the
| Siberian coast, for his tent-cOvcred deck,
| where soup was served every day, was re-
| cepton-room not only for the 800 natives of
| the ncighb0lho0d. but also for distant settle
ments as far as st. Lawrence Bay He found
| the Chukchcs 80 honest that throughout his
| winterlng he left a large supply OF provisions
| stored on the beach and covered merely with
| oars and sails, and nothing WIS ever
| stolen. The morals of the natives have
evidently deteriorated, for de Rodgers men
boats and to be on their guard against pller
! inc. While the Chukchcs were denied their
| share Of foreign penmican, they freely
! offered their guests such food rs they bad, but
expected them to cat it ont of a trough
Probably the visitors did not acquire a perna-
| ncnt taste for the native regimen Of rotten
waIrns raw seal and snow grass. Captain
| Hall became so accustomed to eating raw meat
| during his wanderings that when he returned
10 the civilization OF lower ATTITUDES lie used
TO slip out of a dining-roOm and secretly egale
| himself with uncoOked i'd bits. lie had en-
dured more than one Arctic wiEtering, and his
taste for raw meat was highly educated
Lieutenant Berry, the commanding officer of
| the Rodgers did not remain with his men I'M
! til a rescue was effected. Having sent the
pay-clerk with dispatches across northern
Siberia to Irl1utsk, he set out himself, on
| February 10, accompanied by another officer,
on the same road in quest of tidings of the
Jeanette. On the day before the whaler APP
peared in the harbor the officer who had been
left in command of the crew received a letter
from him, written in Koymsk, announcing that
he would not return, but would 20 on to the
Lena delta and take part in the search for
| De Long. 1t seems to us that Lieutenant Berry
| would have done better to remain with his
men, rather than TO seek new adventures across
country Although he had lost his ship he was
| responsible for the men under his charge. He
should have sent his subordinate officers along
the coast in search OF the Jeanette, and re-
NAMED with his men to maintain discipline, TO
look after their health and safety, and to effect
their dehverance as early in the season as pos
sible. His original plan had been to have one
of his officers explore the coast. Why should
that plan have been changed after the loss OF
his vessell The Rodgers Lad been sent out
] 10 search fo: the Jeanette, but lie had been