New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28
ENCLOSED IN ARCTIC ICE.
THIRTEEN WHALING VESSELS IN PERIL.
FIVE HUNDRED OFFICERS AND MEN DRIFTING
WITH THEIR BARKs TO THE
SIBERIAN COAST.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO rHr rnrnrxE.,


San Francisco, Oct 27 (SpeciaD.-The news
that thirteen whalers, with 500 men ON board
have been caught in pack ice in the Arctic Ocean
was brought here to-day by the whaling bark
J. A. Howland. Unless favorable weather sets
in every one Of these vessels will be crushed
and the loss of life will be great The ice was
drifting steadily westward toward the Siberian
coast, carrying the unfortunate vessels with it.
The craft all following the drift which the
bark Napoleon followed three years ago. Only
one man escaped with his life from the Napoleon.
The survivor was two years in getting back to this
city, and suffered terrible hardships. The YES
sells that were in the ice September 10, when
the bark Rowland left Seashorc Island were the
barks Eliza, Hidalgo Hunter John West, Sea-
breeze and Pisano, of San Francisco, and the
barks Andrew Hicks. Lancer, Mars, Ocean, Ohio.
Second Reindeer and William Bayliss of New
Bedford The vessels hemmed in about
twenty miles from Herald Island, near where
the Jeanette was first caught in the ice. Cap
tain Shackland, Of the Rowland says:
The season was poor, and the whalers took
desperate chances. The feet had a narrow escape
from the great storm in August. In September
the feet was driven steadily southwark by ad-
vancing ice and still the luck was poor Occa-
sionaly barls would run up an opening in the
do not know which bark was first caught, but
heard of it early in September Then word
went around that more and more were getting
into trouble. The others did what they could
to succor their unfortunate fellows, and in many
instances food and other supplies were pushed
over the ice to aid the men still on board
The chances of these vessels are slim. The only
opportunity they have to get away is the posi-
bility of wind springing up to enable them to push
off and beat the ice on its drift to the West. 1t
will take good, strong breeze to do this, but
usually the first wind of winter comes in howl
ing Arctic storm and this makes chances still
worse. AS for the men, they may be saved. The
whaling feet captains have organized a party for
the of the if the prospect of saving the
vessels becomes hopeless. Up to September % not
one captain had ordered his vessel deserted, and
this action shows that they are not going to get
out until everything possible is done. On that
day as the j. A. Rowland was about TO depart, re-
lief party, with food and clothes was sent north
from Fox Island The oil and bone were taken
from the steamers Jesse H. Freeman and lhrasher
and these vessels were loaded down with sup
plies sufficient for 500 men for voyage from the
Arctic Ocean to San Francisco Sufficient clothes
also taken along to make up detclences
What the outcome of this expedition is can only
be coniectured; None of the barks had enough
food and clothes on board to carry the crew
through the winter, and if the men have to re-
main all winter in the Arctic region their chances
for survival small.
1t has been suggested that the government at
once send relief party to Fox Island to render
assistance, if any can be given at this late day
When the Amethyst's fate was still uncertain,
the Richard Rush was sent in November, to
search for her. The Government has vessels in
port available for the trip and they may be of
service if sent within the next two weeks. The
imprisoned whalers had made fair catches and
with their cargoes represent value OF over
s5CC,J00. No information could be gained in
relation to the Okots< feet although it generally
reaches this port ahead of the Arctic feet, AS
showing how quickly the ice closed
in on the thirteen vessels, 1t is reported
that when the vessels reached the grounds they
had n clear space of at least one hundred miles
or more in diameter, and in two days this was
reduced TO forty-fve miles.
When the Ilowand started for this city no
one had any idea where the whaling bark Rein
deer was She was last spoken early IN the
month and hcr catch was not known then. Her
captain j. Baker, taking advantage OF
breeze TO run up between two ice-ffoes to get
at whale 1t is believed that she was caught
with the Others, if not crushed outright. Her
chances are small, but she may yet appear at
Fox Island She was owned by Aitkin N Swift
and had forty men on board. Great anxiety Is
felt here bv the owners of vessels and by rea-
tivcs of the officers and men,