River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-01-24

" hat Owen Bascom, New England
Fortune Hunter, Experienced
Alone in the Slid Pacific-The Dis
tressIng Chronicle of a Log Book.

Fortune Hunter, Experienced
Alone in the aIid Pacific-The Dis
tressIng Chronicle of Log Book.
Owen Bascom was born at Waterbury,
Conn, thirty-six years ago. He suddenly
left the city, having conceived a passion
for adventure through constant reading
of thrilling romances and exciting tales
of the sea. For some time his aged par
ents male earnest efforts to find their
iruant son, but although his father spent
a large portion of the hard-earned saw
ings of many years Of honest toll as
carpenter, no trace of Owen could be
discovered and after many months all
hope was given up, his father and
mother finally concluding that he must
be dead or they would have had some
word from him. Great was their sur
prise and qualification when he turned
up here to celebrate his re-
turn to America and to commem-
crate the anniversary OF his birth.
He tells a thri ling tale
of his experiences since he left home.
lie went 10 New York on leaving Water
brrv and stayed there for some time,
knocking about town and picking mp any
odd Jobs here and there, put always
watching for grand chance for adven-
@s;Ie with a prospect of riches as re-
sssard His chance Gid not come before
rs funds were exhausted and he WAS
finally compelled to ship before the
mast or return home, which latter alter
native was too much for his pride TO
permit He knocked about on board
ship for months, running into nearly all
.,1 nj t-aatt
all the adventure he wanted, but not
with the anticipated alloy OF pleasure he
had looked forward TO.
Cne day, when he was in Calcutta, he
rset with party of dventurers. VINO.
ike himself, were looking for fortunes.
tie hobnobbed with them all dav and
y)t mellow with them at night, listened
10 their seductive schemes for acquiring
wealth and finally concluded TO JOIN
their expedition. As their vessel, the
Nellie was to sail the next morning
Bascom went on board the vessel to
which he belonged, gathered MP his few
effects and quietly deserted. The Nellie
cleared for Nicolaevsk early in the fore
noon, intending, after getting full
store of supplies, to prospect Tor gold
along the coast OF China or Siberia.
Nicolaevsk was reached without incident
and four or five days were spent there
in laying In stores for the expedition.
The men comprising the party and crew
when it left Nicolaevsk were: Captain
Thomas Thompson; Captain Philip
Brown, Jonson Emery, the mate OF the
Nellie and two Cinnamon.
Great Shantar, or Sugar Island, lies of
the coast of Siberia, in the western part
of the Okhotsk Sea, in bay of the same
name. Here indications of gold were
found by the prospeetors, and they con-
tluded to make their headquarters at
this point Accordingly they made
permanent landing there on September
IL, 1876, and on the Goth began the erec-
ton of log rancho. This was com
pleted and moved in to on October ,.
The next day one of the Chinese sailors
was left in charge of the cabin and sup
plies while the remainder of the party
took the Nellie and went Oft across the
bay on prospecting tour. Alter Il cruise
oftwo DAYS. during which time the par
ty put into many little coves and lnlets
in quest of the treasures of the earth,
they started back. A storm came up
and a terrible gale blew the Nellie upon
a sunken rock Just opposite their place
of habitatiOn. She went TO pieces and
the men had great difficulty IN getting
ashore. Brown was taken sick October
Is, and one of the Cinnamon became Ill
two or three days after.
Matters began to look very gloomy Tor
the little party. and a few days aiterward
Bascom, who was feeling IN much better
health than any of the others, went In
whale boat, which was thrown upon
shore after the wreck, to get assistance
and obtain medicines tor his comrades.
He was caught in a severe storm and, IN
smile of his most strenuous efforts, was
blown out to sea. For days he was
tossed about in his little boat and a.
though he ate very spaTlngly his small
suDply of prov isionS soon gave out Al
ter he had been without food for three
DAYS and was about to give up in despair,
Bascom saw 81 sail. With desperate ei-
fort he attracted the attention OF the YES
sci and was taken on board. 1t was
native Chinese craft, on fishing cruise,
and il Was many weary weeks before he
was landed at Hong Kong. During all
this time he had. ct course, heard moth
ing of his comrades and was extremely
anxious to render some assistance TO
them. For long time no opportunity
offered until finally one day he succeed
Oh in finding a vessel bound for the Ok
hotsk Sea and secured passage on her;
His supply of money contributed by
his fellow explorers had dwlndled pretty
low. bat was replenished to some extent
by charitable people to whom he has
told his story The vessel in which
B6 ;comb secured passage was the
schooner Hannah Rice, owned by firm
of traders, Dinholm & Co, OF Wadin-
stock, and was on her way with supplies
for new station Just established at
Mungur or Shanta Bay. When the party
under Bascomb's lead reached the spot
where his party had set up its cabin
they were startled to End lying few
wards from the door the detached bones
ofa Mau. Pushing open the door an
overpowering stencl. greeted them
They fell back prec: pitately, out finally
mastering COURAGE again advanced. 4
horrible sight n ct their eyes. Just over
the threshold la docomposed body
and in DUNK built in the
side was another. They were
entirely unre cognizable. There was
a small store of salt beef. nard bread
tea, molssses, tobacco aud two rifles
three old rusty sabres anu some ammu'
n;tiou. In the bunk with the body was
+he log. Parts had been torn out pre-