The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-25
A STORY OF THE SEA.

Nhat Owen Bascom, a New England
Fortune Hunter, Experienced
|! Alone In the Mid P~aciflc-Thes Dis.
tressing Chronicle of a 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 n exciting tales
ofthe sea. For some time his aged par
ents made earnest efforts to lind their
t1aapt son, but although his father spent
large portion of the ~hard-earned saw
ings of many years Of honest toll as q
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 vas their sur
prise and qualification when he turned
up here to celebrate his re-
turn to America and to comment
orate the anniversary Of his birth.
He tells a thri ling tale
of his experiences since he left home.
lie went to New York on leaving Water
brrv and stayed there for some time,
knocking about town and picking up any
odd jobs here and there, put always
watching for a grand chance for adven-
tnre with o prospect of riches as a re-
ward. His chance Gid not come before
his funds were exhausted and he was
finally compelled to ship before the
native was too much for his pride to
permit. He knocked about on board
ship for months, running into nearly all
the principal foreign ports and getting
all tue adventure he wanted, but not
with the anticipated alloy of pleasure he
had looked forward to.
Cne day, when he was in Calcutta, he
rect, with a party of dyenturers. vino.
ike himself, wer6 looking for fortunes.
He hobnobbed with them all day and
got mellow with them at night, listened
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 III his few
effects and quietly deserted. The Nellie
cleared for Nicolaexsk early in the fore
noon, intending, after getting a full
store of supplies, to prospect for gold
along the coast of China or Siberia.
Nicolaevsk was reached without incident
and four or five days were spent there
in Lying In stores for the expedition.
The men COMPRISING tile party and crew
Thomas Thompson; Captain Philip
Brown, Jonson Emery, the mate OF h
Nellie and two Cinnamon.
Great Shantar, or Sugar Island. liesof
the coast OF Siberia, in the western part
ofthe Okhotsk Sea, in a bay of the same
name Here indications of gold were
found by the prospectors, and they con-
eluded TO make their headquarters at
this point, Accordingly they made a
permanent landing there on September
II, 1876, and on the goth began the GREG
ton of log rancho. This was COM
pleted and moved in to ON October s.
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 off across the
bay on a prospecting tour Alter q cruise
of so days, during which time the par
,ty put into many little coyes ana inlets
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 rockj JUST Opposite their place
OF habitation. She ven 10 pieces and
the men had great difficulty ~ getting
hoilDIS. Drown ives IahoA dir oSsoOSa
Rl8, and one OF the Cinnamon became ill
two or three days after.
Matters began to look very gloomy for
the little party, and . few days after ward
Bascom, who was feeling in much better
health than any OF the others, went in a
whaie.boat, which was thrown upon
shore after the wreck, to get assistance
md. obtain medicines for his comrades.
He Mas caught III q severe storm and, In
spite Of his most strenuous efforts, was
blown ont to sea. For days he was
tossed about In his little boat and al
though be ate very sparingly his small
supply nf prov isions son gave out. Ats
days and was about to give up in despair,
Bascom saw q sail. With adesperate eff
tort he attracted the attention Of the ves-
30 and was taken on board. It WAS q
! native Chinesa craft. on r e .hinu crnise.