The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-07-24
AN ARTISTIC ADVENTURE.
Tho Thrilling Experiences of soottiah
Whalers-An Exciting Episode.
Glasgow Herald

lGlasgow Herald
The Danish and lcalandIc mail steamer
Thyra arrived yesterday morning at Gran
ton from Farce and Iceland, and landed
Captain Gellatly and four men, named Jo-
seph Ford, boatswain; Alexander Allen.
sailmaker, and Alexander Robertson, or
dnary seaman, all OF Dundee; and George
Smith, carpenter, Peterhead, all belonging
TO the Dundee whaler Chiettan, On the
10th Of May four boats crews left the
Chieftain In pursuit of whales, tho crew Of
one of the boats being composed ofCaptain
Gellatly and four men. After an exciting
chase OF several hours the boats came up
TO the school Of whales, and after consider
able difficulty three OF the boats got fast TO
one Of them, The fourth boat was sent
back TO tho ship with whale which had
been killed shortly before, The three
boats remained fast to the second whale
for fully ten hours; but q dense fog coming
on they were reluctantly compelled TO
abandon their prize and endeayorto return
TO their ship, 80 dense, however, was tho
fog, that they began 10 give up all hope OF
being able 10 reach their vessel, BY this
time the provisions were nearly consumed,
and the men were so much exhausted with
continuous rowing that II was considered
advisable 10 attempt 10 make for the near.
est land. The. boats were not furnished
with sails or charts, and thore was only
one compass among the party, SO the sea-
men very readily assented TO Captain Gel.
latly's proposal TO sot out for the nearest
land, which was computed TO be about two
hundred miles distant, Under the Cap
tain's guidance the crew started for leo.
land. For considerable time tho three
boats kept together, but strong gale
springing up the sea became so bOlstorous
that they were separated. While the boats
kept together the Captain directed the mon
In charge how TO steer, but just before one
of tho boats was lost sight Of tho
mon In the Captains boat observed that a
seaman named David Buchan, belonging
TO Peterhead, who was steering, had beon
washed overheard and drowned, For
nearly three days the mon had nothing 10
eat but the frozen snow which they found
on the Ice foes, and Captain Gellatly, who
had fallen overheard and beon rescued,
was for fifty hours sitting In crampod
position In the stern Of his boat steering,
while his boots ANA foot were one solid
block Of Ice From the morning of Fri.
day, the 3)th OF May, til the evening OF
sunday, lst Of June, ho made q run OF
about two hundred miles, aud arrived at
Langanas, on tho northeast coast of Ice.
land, In very exhausted condition.
When they arrived at u lonely farmhouse
not far from the coast Captain Gcllatly
aud his crew were In very pitiable
state. Owing TO their inability 10 speak
tho lcolandc tongue, they had recourse 10
signs % make known their wants. The
islanders received them very Hospitality,
aud the mon speak In terms Of tho high.
est praise OF tho manner In which they
were treated, They soon recovered from
the effects Of their long exposure. Cap.
tain Gallatly ontortains grave doubts as
TO the safety Of the two other boats, az ho
fears II would bo impossible for thom 20
reach land. II has always been a rulo
with the masters OF the Dundee scaling
and whaling feet that during tho Ashing
operations a sufficient number Of hands 20
manage the ship arc left ON board, In the
ovent of any casualty occurring, and as
this rule Ia likely TO havo boen followed
In this case therels good reason to believe
that tho ship Is safo. Tho Chloftaln, IL
will be remembered, loft Dundee for tho
Greenland seal and whale fishing on tho
Goth of March, having crow of twenty.
seven all told, She appears not 10 have
beon very successful AZ tho fishing, as
whom tho boats left tho ship only four
ash and sixty seals had boon captured.
The ChIcitain Is a throo.mastod schooner
of lGO tons register, Sho was built at
Lossiomouth In 1868, and purchased for
Dundee owners last year. This was hor
first voyage as whaor and during tho
winter months she was specially fitted up
aud fortified for tho now trpdo In which
she was TO bo engaged,