Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-02-25
AN ARTIC EXPERIENCE.
sufferings of Party from the Steamer
Michigan.


evening from West Casco, a small vii
lage situated about six miles north of
South Haven, where they effected
landing on Tuesday evening after
perllous journey over the frozen lake,
with the thermometer at 10 below zero.
The details of the difficult retreat over
the sea of ice are as thrilling as some
of the records from the diaries of
ambitious explorers in Arctic zones.
The terrific gales which drove the ice
fields TO the southern part of the lake
shelved and piled the ice up in almost
every conceivable shape, and the prog
ress of the little band over the irregu-
lar hummocks was painfully slow. All
OF them suffered badly from the cold,
and were nearly exhausted when they
reached the shore. Clerk Kenny had
the worst experience, and came near
losing his life.
The Michigan left this port on Mon
day, the 9Th inst, to go In search of the
Oneida. When off Ludington she en-
countered gale and was hemmed in by
heavy ice. She drifted to the south
ward, experiencing many dangers, but
at no time being within twenty miles of
land. She finally got in compact
field, many feet thick toward the head
of the lake, but on account of the
drifting and turning they could not tell
their exact whereabouts. Sunday last
it was decided that, owing to short pro-
visions, half of the crew would have to
go ashore, as the food would last but a
week longer. Monday was very stormy.
Tuesday morning from the crosstrees a
rim Of land was sighted to the eastward.
Thirteen men were chosen to remain
and seventeen of the most hardy to
make the land. The mercury was then
10 below. at Z o'clock Joseph Russell,
first mate; David Martin, steward; ".
P. Kenny, clerk, and fourteen of the
crew started with days rations, axes,
pike-poles, blankets, ETC., expecting
they might have to be out over night;
as the land seemed thirty miles. When
about twelve miles off the boat Clerk
Kenny broke through the ice, wetting
his right leg to the knee. They went
on about six miles when they found
Kenny's leg frozen. All were badly
exhausted as the ice was very
rough and blocked into nearly impass-
able ridges many feet high and miles
wide. Each man went for himself,
knowing that life depended on his own
exertions. except Russell and Martin,
who helped Kenny. When off land
four miles Kenny could not stand, and
dragged himself along on his hands and
knees for two miles, when he was COM
pletely exhausted, and so frozen that he
could not move, and urged the others to
leave him and save themselves. Some
had by this time-5 o'clock-reached
the shore, and found few houses at
West Casco. They alarmed the neigh
borhood, and the farmers went out and
carried the brave but insensible Kenny
to the beach. The land there rises 100
feet almost straight. All hands worked
like heroes to throw off the insensibility
creeping on them and climb the steep.
Heaving lines were placed on Kenny,
and he was drawn up by those above
and carried to a dwelling. The men
were apportioned around among the
farmers, who willingly cared for them.
Kenny recovered at 10, and everything
was done for him that was possible.
The men were taken to Bravo yesterday
morning and reached here over the
Clerk Kenny received good medical
treatment and is much better to-day
He leaves for home tonight accom-
panied by Mate Russell and Steward
Martin. More than half of the men are
suffering from frost bite.
The Michigan is III no danger. The
men report that they left thirteen of
the crew aboard with rations for TWEEN
ty five days and supply of ninety tons
of coal. There was ice to the west
ward of the steamer as far as the eye
could reach. All aboard are well. The
steamer is headed west, three-quarters
south. There is no change in the stu
alton of the Wisconsin, off Black Lake.
The News in Milwaukee.
The friends of many of the Michi-
g2n's crew In this city, believe the
earlier accounts of their adventures in
walking ashore from the ice-bound
boat, to be very much exaggerated.
This belief was strengthened to-day by
the receipt of telegram, sent from
Grand Haven by Clerk W. P. Kenny to
his wife in this city: "I understand
sensational reports have been sent to
I1lC A111N6OhCC dA0 SAAOdSo PdRCAS
relative to my journey. on the ice.
Don't worry, for they are exaggerated.
and I will be with you Friday to prove
it." The following dispatch was re-
ceived at the company's Office in this
city last evening, from Agent Wallace, at
Grand Haven: "Tho Michigan is
about twenty-five miles off Sau-
gatuck. Kenny, Russell and Martin
just arrived here all safe" At a later
hour last night second dispatch was
received, as follows: "W. P. Kenny
says he left the Michigan yesterday
(Tuesday) morning, at A. NJ, with
seventeen men, and made land at West
Casco after dark. Considerablessufer
in the party. The Michigan is twenty
five miles from shore and abreast 'of
South Haven. Kenny will be home
tomorrow"
Agent Shackell, of this city, denies
the statement that the Michigan was in