Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-06
MAINE DISPATCHES.
FROM PORTLAND.
Hardships and Sufferlngs of Shipwreck.
ed Crew in the Arctic Seas-A Thrilling
1aIe.
PORTLAND, Jan. )


A sailor named Charles Stevens, recently
came to Portland from St. John via Bangor,
and obtained assistance from the Seamen's
Bethel. Stevens was one of the crew of the
whaling brig Isabella, Captain VIM Lew es.
which was lost at HudsOn's Straits. Stevens
was mechanic and resided in New Bedford,
but having heard many stories of the good
luck of whalers, he resolved to take trip
himself, aud shipped on the brig Isabella,
nearly two years ago. HudsOn's Straits were
reached and nothing of incident occurred
Two whales had already been taken, and
there was much promise OF good luck ahead,
when suddenly the crew of the Isabella found
themselves surrounded by fields of floating
ice. This was in North Bay. All effort was
made to steer clear of the ice but to no avail.
The vessel caught and was held fast.
1t was at once obvious that the vessel must
be abandoned or everybody would go down
with the brig, for the ice was closing fast and
the greatest danger was threatened. Proyis-
ions were placed in boat and the crew
watched to see if the impending rush and
closing of the ice would take place. New
hope soon came. Apparently the two fields
OF ice were drifting apart. Provisions and
clothing were then returned to the vessel and
preparations made for immediate departure
from the vicinity of the ice. But hardly had
the change been effected when il was OBJ
served that the great stretches Of ice were
again coming together. Indeed they were
approaching one another more rapidly than
before. Instructions were again given to
prepare to leave the vessel. The men work ed
Tor their lives, for the icy masses were crash
ing and breaking on all sides. Hardly fifteen
minutes time transpred before the threatened
collision occurred. at was like the coming
together OF scissors said the sailor. "Firs
the bow was caught and crushed in and ther
the whole hull was cut" The debris was
visible for few moments and then the ice
parted again and all that belonged to the brig
sank, after which the ice closed together fol-
the last time.
The men were left fifteen miles from lanC
and the hardships and sutierings with which
the journey was attended were very severe
Three days were occupied in reaching the
shore, it being necessary for the men to make
their way over snow and broken ice. Tn,
boat was taken with them. The natives O
the island upon which the crew of the Isabel
la landed were Esquimaux, there being a
that place snow village of 300 souls. They
were very hospitable and did much for the
comfort of the shipwrecked men. When the
vessel was abanded sufficient biscuit were
taken {" last two months at shor
allowance. But the biscuits were soon con
sumed, and for the remainder of the time
nothing but fish and raw meat was obtainable
The fishing was done through hole which
made in the ice about three miles from
the village. All winter long watch wa,
kept but not vessel could be seen In tn,
spring the snow houses melted, and they wer,
obliged to sleep in huts made of skin. A
noon of spring day the weather would b.
quite mild, but at night it would be as cold a
thirty-six degrees below. During this perioc
seven of the crew died of the scurvy. Ii
June 1885 the schooner Era happened to pas
the island and she was signaled and the mel
taken off When the Isabella left for tn,
Arctic regions, her crew all told numbere,
twenty-seyen men.