New-York tribune., 1882-04-22
AMONG TIE POLAR RACES.


is telcgraphed to The Herald from lrkutsk,
tends to relieve anxiety in regard to the crew
OF the Rodgers. The ship was burned on the
first day Of the year, but the men were safely
landed, and when the courier left them they
were in good health and spirits. Three
months provisions are sad to have been
saved from the ship, but unless this stock
had been landed beforehand it is not easy to
understand how it could have been snatched
from the flames, when the young ice
could not bear mans weight. If these
supplies were rescued from the ship and
carried across country to the headquarters
of the sledging party. the whole ships COM
pany would have food enough to last until
June, even if they were unable to add to the
stock by purchase and by hunting. 1t seems
more probable that the provisions referred to
had been landed at Tiapka the liberal allow
ance for six mems wants during a twelve
month being estimated as frugal supply for
thrty-six men during three months. In any
event there was no risk of starvation, for the
natives were kindly disposed, and some sup
plies were to be sent to them from Kolymsk,
which is a regular market for barter with the
Polar races.
Secretary Chandler has wisely reconsidered
his plan of dispatching the IroquOis to the
assistance of the shipwTecked crew. She is
not fitted for service on the Siberian coast
and would probably be seriously delayed by
the ice in the straits. The revenue cutter
Corwin has landed twice at the very spot
where Lieutenant Berry is awaiting succor,
having once been there as early us May 81,
II Gl,,
tainy reach st. Lawrence Bay by the last of
next month, and ought TO be able to work her
way along the coast to Cape Serdze some time
in June. There may be a fortnight's delay
in carrying the party across the strait into
some port where they can be transferred to
the steamer st. Paul on her return to San
Francisco The Vega, which was frozen in
about sixteen miles west of Tiapka, was not
released from her ice berth until July 49, but
during that season where the ROdgers'S men
now are there was open water as early as the
last week in May, and by the end of June
there was smooth sailing all the way to the
East Cape. Even if the condition of the ice
be peculiarly unfavorable, so as to involve Sc
rous delay in effccting the rescue there will
be no danger of starvation i'll midsummer, as
there viii be an abundance of seal to eat, and
the island opposite the encampment swarms
with hares.
The scene of Lieutenant Berrys midwinter
adventures is sharply outlined IN Professor
Nordenskiold's volume. From Koynchin Bay
to Cape Serdze there is series of broad
lagoons with narrow coast line of sand bank
rising above the water. From Pitlekai, where
the Vega wintcred there are as many as six
small settlements before Tiapka is reached.
A drawing of this village, with idlidia Island
and the great lagoon OH either side, is repro
duced in this book, the settlement being
made up of a dozen tents pitched on a mar
row line of icc-blOcks. A more desolate
wintering- place can scarcely be conceived,
the prcciptOus sides Of the island
making almost the only break in the
monoonous level. From Tiapka eastward
there are no settlements until East Cape is ap-
preached. Here there is a group of villages
stretching to the entrance of StLawrence Bay,
and it is probable that Lieutenant Bery's
party procured assistance from these natives
after the loss of his vessel. He may have
driven across country through the villages of
the Reindeer Chukches, but it is more likely
that he followed the shore. When the Vega
kept open house on that coast sledges were
frc quently driven from Bchring Strait over
the frozen lagoons to Pitlekai. The ship
wrecked crew could easily have effected a
junction with its own sledging party.
Mr. elders sledge journey across Northern
Siberia must be regarded as a very brilliant
but by no means extraordinary achievement.
Starting sometime in January, he reached
KOlymsk in the latter part of February, and
traversed the remainder of the distance to
Verkhoyansk in company with courier in
thirty-four days. Having learned there that
Engineer Melville was searching for De Long
in the Lena delta he set out for Bolun to rem
der aid, sending his dispatches to Irkutsk by
q special courier who reached his destination