Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-22
FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH.
Twenty-Five Sailors Escape u Horri-
BILE Fate in the Arctic.

Dlt Att inc AECttC,
Sr. JOHN, N. f., Nov. tS.-The fortu-
nate interposItion OF the Newfoundland
whaling steamship Eagle prevented
repetition OF the horrors OF starvation and
death so mournfuliy associated with the
Greedy Arctic expedition. The Eagle ar
rived here yesterday and brought twenty
five PeteThead whale men, who abandoned
their vessel on the eastern side OF Davis
straits. The following account is CLEANED
from the officers and crew OF the lost
whaler:
THE WRECK OF THE CATHERINE.
On March Is the whaling ship Cath
crime, Capt. Benzie, we'll equipped ana
manned with crew of twenty five men,
sailed from Peterhead. Scotland, tor Cum
berland Gulf and Davis Straits to prose-
cute whaling and sealing. On the voy-
age westward as tar as the neighborho0d
OF the fishing ground storms aud turbu-
lent seas characterized the voyage. The
ship rolled and strained and labored
heavily. Early In May the Catherine
rounded Cape Farewell and was headed
for Davis Straits.
The weather was most unpr0pitious
for the prosecution of the voyage and no
work was accomplished down to Septem-
Der. On the 30th OF this month the Cath
esSary 10 beach the ship and accordingly
she was stranded on the eastern side of
Davis Straits. She had not been beaohed
long before she fell over on her starboard
side. Under the impact Of heavy sea
her bottom and side we're pierced and
crushed by the rocks OF the reef and be-
fore evening she was a complete wreck.
TAKING TO THE BOATS.
Meantime tho boats were disengaged
from the wreck. Some provisions and
clothing, charts and other nautical ins tru-
ments were saved and placed IN the boats
and departure taken Tor the northward,
the most probable route TO cross tue
hOmewArd bound track Of any late Scotch
or Newfoundland whalers. Two hundred
miles of rough water were traversed by
the whalers with sails and oars. Ten days
and nights were occupied IN comprising
this distance.
The crew suffered terribly from contin-
nous exposure. The clothing was mra-
gre, and they had no fire. Their limbs
were crampsd from being Imprisoned In
the small space available in a little boat,
and very dismal prospect loOmed before
them. AT length about sunset Black
Head island was reached, and the whaieis
landed and hauled up their boats on this
Island. There they found "A station house
established and owned by Williams Il
sons, OF London. IL was very sparsely
prOVisioned, and was controlled by Rus.
sian named Frederick sherman, assisted
by q German gunner and an Italian
cook. Here the Peterhead whalers were
| treated with barbar0us inhospitaliCy
fortunately rare among civilized men.
The shlp@recked sailors were denied
shelter under the station house roof
Their clothes, dripping with sea spray,
were lelt outside to freeze, and the fisher
waits were constrained To seek refuge in
the tooplks Of some nOmadic EsqulmauX
who had pitched their camps Tor the sea
son on Black island.
KINDLY ESQUIMAUX.
These warm-hearted people divided
with the Peternead wnalers the meagre
sleeping space of their wigwams and the
warmth OF their camp fires, their bear
steaks and their seal ana walrus blu bber.
Four days were passed under these con-
ditiOns. At length, after much suspense
and gloomy forebodings about noon on
the 18th welcome sail was sighted. Sig
mails were Immediately hosted and the
vessel proved TO be the steamship Eagle,
of st. johns, n. +.
She bore down upon the island, and in
a snort time had transferred the wnalers
from the shore TO the ship. There were,
at the time of the rescue, not more than
eight or nine weeks provisions 10 meet
the demands OF the permanent residents,
the EsquimauX and the new CONTINGENCY
Of wRalers. The Eagle was the last ship
In the Arctic, and without her provlden-
tial iuterp0sitlon there must have been
terrible loss of human life. Landed yes
terday from the Eagle, the shlpwrecked
whalers were comfortably lodg ed by the
Shipping master at st. John.