New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-22
BURNING OF THE RODGERS.
AFTER THE LOSS OF THE VESSEL.

OFFICERS AND CREW KINDLY TREATED BY NATIVE
MASTER PUTNAM BRINGS PROVISIONS AND
LOSES HIS OWN LIFE-REsCUED BY WHALEH-
ARRIVAL OF The CoRwIN. ,
SAN FRANCISCO June 21.-The following d'sPa ave,
has been received from Port Townsend Nashins-
ton Territory:
Tho steamer Idaho has arrived from Sitka. She
brings fnI reports of the burning OF the United
States exploring steamer Rodgers In 81 LaNrouoo
Bay. and the rescue OF her crew Inc reNea a
steamer Corwn arrived OF SItka on June Win the
officers ard crew of the Rodgers. me o hcois
landed at Sitka Master ID. 5. Warning; executive
Surgeon NJ. ID. Jones. Passed-Assistant Engineer "A;
v Zane and Assistant Surgeon !. d. Costelio anu
twenty-six men, all in good health, the iatter com
or1sing the same crew that sailed from San Fran
cisco, all told Lieutenant A: NJ berry, coiiu S
of the Rodgers, accompanied by Ensign H. D. nun,
along the siberian coast in search of the Jeanette
On May 13. 1882, Master warning Icceieru
a letter through the natives from Ll eurI
Berry, dated at Keoyma River, ApiI =,
stating that he had heard OF the loss OF the ;Iead
uette aud the landing of her boat; that he shouId
not r. turn by way of the East. He directed Mr.
Warrug take his party and make the Dest 81 us
way TO san Francisco ana COMMUNICATES tho Ictt@r was
Navy department. The point where me lS ~ "
dated was about half way between the o. Law"
renee and the Lena Rivers.
After giving the details of the burning Oh 'no
Rodgers, the dispatch continues as follows:
The trip from the boats TO the village was very
laborious in the exhausted condition OF the ships
comnanv If neing over Hills, with snow four feet
deep The village consists OF eleven NUS, hmu INC
tribe are the lehanketcDis, who lnhaDlt an .l t
portion of oriheaStern Siberia The Oncers anu
crew distributed among different hapiIaIios'
where they settled down 1or long "ihIeI 10
adaDtuQ themselves to the customs Oh savage ilo'
IL soon became evident That the supply OF Wauus
meat of the natives insufficient 1or such dIBc
party and a redistribution Of the men became
necessary among the different villages along me
coast, which was done within range OIL aoou'
thirt live miles. l
ing the supply depot al Cape Serge harmeh,
arrived at the village with fo;r sedges Loaded wlth
pemmlcau and other provisions loI tue sllipMl -
party, he having heard OF the loss oI the snip
through natives. lie started on his return "Trip W
| the depot III bad weather and was oVertaheh ny a
terrible gale OF wind, with uTftlng snow When tWo
DAYS ont ana was iged to turn back. ana IN MS
eudeayor to reach the village on the southern sIue
| of ~ Lawrence Bay about twelve niles from NOrtn
Head he became separated from his native escort
and not being able TO see ten feet ahead OF him. o
carried out 40 sea an icc-hoc Later III the uay
he was seen about miles oil shore, abreast Vi
| the village. vigorous attempt was Inhuo "
rescue him by four OF the Rodgers crew anu two na
tIves in canoe, but owing to the intervening ice
they were unable 70 reach nun, anu 49, Hpoe
| IN les from the shore. ms "9S ..o
| last ever seen of Putnam. Master Warrng'
leaving the ships party III charge OF Ensign STORY
nr,cured "a sedge guido and dogs, and searched the
entire coast 10 Indian Point ami thence 10 rover
Raw and found not trace OF tine unfortuna oihctr'
On the way down the coast tour dogs were iue I
| fled as belonging to Putnam's sedge. One OF theln
had a wound through his neck as II mace Ny
| pistol bullet, under CIRCUMSTANCES "hi0n "i0 ~
! countable. ., 90 bo
excellent, and their hospitality proluse Ineu PIo
visions of warus and sea- were at times very scarce
and they often went without IOod themselves 10 a.
| ford re 10 the whites. The Rodgers party SUD
sisted entirely upon native 1000, penlcan uoas
the principal thing reserved Ii oeing Iouhd heccs-
sary 10 take II TO the boats Tor preservation OhI5
one notable ius ance of I-behavior upon lhe par
of the natives is recorded. During the absence OF
MIR Warning ON tho Putnam search turbulent chleI
with a oand OF followers IRON nelShooIIns M NJ
llge demanded the white mems PIo'isona, no
situation was critical one but OWING 10 Inc Skill
and decision with winch Ensign Story hahuleu INC
| case a collision was avoided, aud the Harauulne
party sent OIL hungry No INDICATIONS o. sur
Wy made their appearance until iate i'll feoruaIys
when several officers and men the subjects OF
" hen at Ployer and Marcus Bays, Warning left
with the natives a letter to be delivered to any
whaling vessel which might visit these places IN,
forming 1t of the condition OF the smpwreSSkf tti
| crew. Captain Owens, oil the steam whaier Noith
S letters Oh and G'"f Forced bis ship through
| tbe ice opposite St Lawrence Bay, reaching there
| on Nav s. and jammIng his ship on the outer edge
of the ice not 10 De carried 10 lhe hoI
by the large foes OF ice floating by. On the aiier-
noon OF May Ii, when the party had saIely UoaIuei
the Nor,h Star before leaving, Mr. Warning issued
to the natives all the uneXpehded TRADE goods pro-
visions. rifles, ammunition and 1oals, as a Iecoil-
pcnse for Their KIND treatment ILls was eunnently
sAtls, actory 70 these harmless creatures, SO That
| should a party of wrecked mariners ever AGAIN be
cast III that VICINITY lnCy CdI IcsI dSSu4ou VA
| a friendly reception. it'll,
| The officers and all unite in speaking highly
| of the generous efforts OF Captain Owens
| in etiecting their rescue. Previous TO their
| beng transferred TO the COIwln he Oh
| cred to land them at Fort 1T. MlchaePs
| Alaska or san Francisco. On the night Of the l4th
being clear of ice at midnight the CorNln put ia All
appearance, and all hands were immediately trans
| ter Ell 10 her.
| Master Charles f. Putnam, whose loss is re-
ferred to the above dispatch native OF Illinois
lie entered the Navy in 1869 and became a master in
| 1880 When the Rodgers ready for in June,
1851 her departure delayed By the temporary in
| capacity OF Master William f. Iasey. Master Putnam
was that time attached TO the Coast Survey steamer
Hasser after twenty four hours notice he ready
TO take Master Hascys place. and the Rodgers thus
enabled TO sail June 16. He a valuable addition
TO the ship. being good astronomer and having had
much experience in the handling OF scientific nstru-
ments When the Rod gers sailed southwark from Herald
small island about twenty miles west OF Cape Serdze.
and left Master Putnam in charge OF small party IN
Mr. Glider, who brought ho news OF the loss OF
| the Lena Valley, with IL stTuctOus TO
search with dogs and seds during the winter tor traces
OF The j. Jeanette.
| REPORT OF LIEUTENANT BERRY. :.
| GALLANT AND DETERMINED EFFORTS To SAVE THE
| suIP-FINE CONDUCT OF THE CREw-ORIGN OF
THE FIRE UNKNOWN-LOsS OF PROPERTY, But