Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-28
THE SEARCH IN THE ARCTIC.
The Obstacles Encountered In SIbe-
ria by LIeuBenanr Harder - His
Futile Efforts 80 Secure a Steamer
LIeEeunanG Berry's Account OF the
Loss OF Master Putnam.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Walker ha
received communication from Lieutenant
Giles B. Hsrber, United States Navy, dated
at Viska, near Viteem, Siberia, June IL
1882, as follows:
''On Thursday, April 13, ST gned the con
tract pertaining to the steamer Genera
Simluikoff, copy Of which was translated
and sent to you the same day. Immediately
after, l started north, accompanied by Mr..
Thornam, interpreter, and T. E. Manson
seaman. As l anticipated would be the
case, we had great difficulty in getting
horses without being exorbitantly cheated,
and had 1t not been for the Governor Gen.
erals strong orders which l carried and the
interpreter, 1 would have been greatly
delayed. The snow had gone from the
ground and the rivers were breaking I'D so
the roads were nearly impossible. How
ever, we reached Yiteem on the 2Sth of
April, after experiencing every variety of
conveyance and all kinds of weather Three
hundred and fifty versts were made in post
wagons, over 800 versts in sleds, nearly the
whole of the latter being through mud and
water, except when crossing mountains of
considerable elevation, where we got snow;
and nearly 250 versts were made on horse
back. Once only did we experience any
danger, and that occurred just as we had
crossed river by swimming our horses,
while our baggage was taken IN a small boat.
When the opposite bank was reached, won
derful noise from up the river caused
the natives to hasten up the river bauk with
horses and parcels, and at once the water
rose some six feet (Derpendicular heighD In
three minutes, and the river itself was filed
with immense masses of ice, in which no
boat could live. We escaped being caught
In this by ten or fifteen minutes. When |
yad ct VffnoVr1 +
the men who had come with him all well,
Mr.. Scheutze, in accordance with instruc-
tions had sent, had made the Journey to
VoronzOfsky harbOr. He had seen the
steamer had chartered subj jsct to my in
Spection. He gave an unfaVorabe account.
The same day came to Vska, a settlement
consisting of the workshops, houses.
and people employed by Bazonoff q
Co., and from the acting Director l
learned that 1t would be nearly impossible
to get to Voronzofsky. Though only ITO
versts distant, it was through country in
which no person lived. The only route ever
used-the riveT-Would no longer be safe.
and to go by land would neccessitate going
through unbroken forests, over a contipu-
GUS series OF mountains, and there were q
number OF streams to cross, which could
not be crossed on the ice, nor were boats
to be obtained. l was told. further
running order and wouli be ready as soon
as the river was open. AS nothing could be
gained, therefore, by attempting to 90 to
NoronZofskV, concluded to wait here until
the river broke up, and in the meantime TO
have two dOries built. l also found a boat
5O feet long and nearly ten feet beam, which
could readily be made into schooner sufi-
ciently large and strong to do work along
the coast outside the Delta. | accordingly
purchased 1t and commenced repairing If So
as to put it In order.
Not until the 25th of May was | able to 90
up the Voronzofsky. The steamer General
S1m1nikoH had gone up the river the dav
started from Vlska and did not get back
until the night of the 26sh. Mr.. Scheutzs
aud went on board of her and returned 10
Viska. During the trip down the river / In
spected the hull and engines and measured
the amount OF wood she burned. The result
was we found her quite unfit for our pur-
pose, and, in accordance with article of
the contract, l declined to accept her. To
the Director here gave the following rea-
sons:
First, considering the length of steamer
and the large surface of bull exposed to the
action OF waves, we do not think the steamer
Stminikoh has longitudinal or vertical
strength TO encounter with safety such
weather as would undoubtedly be expe-
rienced even within the Delta of the Lena.
Second. the amount Of fuel burned per dav.
(abOut 10 to Is sachin) is so great that verv
little steaming would be done in the Delta
without returning to Belun frequently, thus
losing much time. Besides, to supply fuel
on the return trip would require SO much
time that we would be compelled to start
on the return early. We think, therefore.
that on account of fuel alone we would be
obliged to commence our return at an ear
lier date than would enable us to comDlete
the work we anticipate.
Further particulars are recorded In nv
journal. | at once sent dispatch inform
ing you OF my decision, and also stating
that we would start without boats in ten
days. l thought, indeed, had made suf-
fcient allowance for the extraordinary
slowness with which these people work, but
1t seems had not. Now, however, all is
ready and we leave at once. l still hone to
reach the Delta by July1.
The news that De Long and party have
been found dead, and that the Rodgers has
been burned, has been sent us from Irkutsk.
but full particulars are vet wanting. The
exact nature of our work will be determined
when l meet Melville. l go prepared to
search the Delta, and from Olensk to Jana
should 1t seem advisable. The money sent
for charter is in the Bank of Siberia. sub
ject to my order. We have received every
attention from the agents of the steamship
company. They have placed us all in clean,
airy rooms, which are gratis, and the charge
for board is very small
GILES B. HARBER.
Lieutenant United States NAVY.
A communication, which has been partly
anticipated by telegraph, was also received
from Commander &. M. Berry, of the
Rodgers, dated Nishne Kalymsk, Siberia.
April 4, 1882. in which he reports the proba,
BILE sad loss of Master G. E, Putnam, whom
he considered an excellent officer and cour-
teous gentleman. He had gone down to 81.
Lawrence Bay with provisions and clothing
for the officers and crew, and having per- |
formed that duty was returning to Eeieot- |
law, near Serage Ksmer, when the partv
was overtaken by one Of the driving snow
storms common in those regions.
After remaining out all night they found |
1t impossible to proceed, and started TO re-
turn to the village of Mittassimoni, on the
south side Of st. Lawrence Bay, but Mr..
Putname sled became separated from the |
others, containing Passed Assistant Fnpi- |
neer Zane, Ensign H. T. Hunt, DR.. ]. d.
Castillo and three natives, who reached the |
village In safety. Mr.. Putnam passed close |
to the village and ran out upon the ice in the |
bay, which broke adrift by the force of the |
wind and was swept out into the /
strait, carrying him with It. Two |
days later, January 1S, he was seen
Of, and near the mouth of, the bay, without |
his sled, but surrounded by his dogs. An |
attempt was made to reach him by the ma |
tives in canoe, but after launching it they |
could not force it through the Young ice |
which lay between him and the shore, nor |
could they pass over 1t. A westerly wind |
drove the ice still further from |
shore, and he had not been since heard from |
up to January %. Lieut.. Berry was at
Eeleotlaw at the time of the occurrence.
but Messrs. Hunt and Zane, upon their ar
rival. reported that diligent search was be-
ing made along the coast, and that Mr..
Waring had gone to the southwark to look
for him. Lieut.. Berry left Eeleotlaw Feb
ruary 8, In company with Eusign Hunt
and native guide, poorly provided
will. dogs, and with but one sled
for the two and for the provisions. At the
village near Cape Wankarem he learned
from the natives that some of them had
visited a ship which came down from the
Ice In August or September, 1880. and took
some articles from her; also, that the
Thomas Corwin had visited that place in
the summer of 1881, and taken some of the
articles away. They described the
wrecked vessel as dismasted, broken and
filed with ice, having dead bodies on
board, and with deer horns on the fvipp
jibooom. At the village of Dtrouck. about
70 miles east Of Jakan, q second vessel
was visited by the natives, about the same
time, and articles were brought from
her on shore. None had marks by which
the vessel could be recognized. They de-