The morning call., 1890-11-20
LOST In THE ARCTIC.
Wreck of the Whaler Eliza at
st. Lawrence Island.
Officers and Crew Saved, but They Suffer
Greatly From the Geld Before Being
Picked Up-0a Their Way Here.

The whaling bark Eliza went ashore on
St Lawrence Island October 18th and is
total wreck. The officers and crew of the
vessel eacaped, but many of them were
badly frost bitten and some almost frozen
to death before reaching place of safety.
News Of the disaster was brought to this
port yesterday by the British steamer
Hounslow. Captain Norman, which made
the passage from Batavia, Java, in forty
four days, and brought cargo of Il, ss7
baskets Of sugar. When seen by CALL
reporter, Captain Norman said he spoke the
steam whaler Belvidere last Sunday morn
ing, and learned that the crew of the Eliza
were being brought here in that vessel He
was given no particulars in reference to the
wreck of the Eliza, but Captain Kelly gave
him letter to the agents and owners of the
vessel, which he supposed gave an accurate
account of the affair.
A ROUGH PASSAGE.
My own passage from Java" continued
Captain Norman, Twas about the toughest
l ever experienced. We sailed from Batavia
on October I'd, and experienced moderate
weather with a heavy northeast swell.
Der 18th, the Hounslow passed through
heavy typlioon. In which the
wind shifted from northwest to the
northeast and southeast in eighteen hours.
The following day we passed south of Cape
formosa, and, after experiencing strong
northeast monsoon, arrived at Simonasiki
October 18th. We rounded TotsiziO Isl
and on the 18th, having had heavy north
east gales. On November 4th, in latitude
AZ north and longitude 1877 east, we encoun-
tered severe cyclone with tremendous
cross sea, after which we had strong gales
and winds from the west tn tnh 15Dth
meridian west. Then there were strong
Southerly gales and heavy rains, which were
followed by light westerly winds and fine
weather. There were some minor mlshaps
on Board but no serious disasters during
our rough voyage.
1t was in latitude $50 north and longitude
1852 west that l spoke the New Bedford
whaier Belvidere, which reported having on
board the shipwrecked crew OF the bark
Eliza. All that could learn was that dur
ing terrible storm the Eliza went ashore
ON st. Lawrence Island at the south en-
trance to Behring Sea-"
NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH.
The letter which Captain Kelly of the
Eliza sent to Wright, Bovine 81 Co., the
agents and principal owners, did not con-
tain much definite information about the
wreck. 1t stated that the crew had es-
capped death from drowning. but they had
suffered greatly from cold and exposure dur
ing the seventeen days they remained on 81.
Lawrence Island before being picked up by
the Belvidere. One mans legs were badly
frozen and several others were severely
fTOSt-bitten.
The Belvidere has almost run out of coal
and is sailing into port. There was some
talk yesterday of cbartering tug and send
ing out to bring in the shirwrecked marin
ers. The catch of the Eliza up to October
9Th was five whales and the oil and bone
from these were valued at $4,000. The
bark was valued at $4,000, which makes
the total loss foot up 500, coo, as there was
no insurance upon the cargo or the craft.
The lost vessel was built ut Rochester,
Mass, in 1856 ard registered 295.51 tons
gross and 28lu net. She was 1863 feet
long, n feet in breadth, and 1872 feet
deep. She left this city for the cruise in the
ing officers: Z. Kelly, master; j. &. Blair,
first mate; Wallace Humpbries, second
mate; w. Swenson, third mate; James
Murray, fifth mate: Jacob A. Cole, cooper
and boatheader; Peter Nawaa, Ambrose Z.
Reade, Louis Antoine and A. kalua. boat
steerers; Jamas o. Sunde, steward; s. Gas
kin, cook; John PL.ntage, engineer and
blacksmith.
MANY CLOSE CALLS.
The Eliza had many close calls during her
voyage in the northern waters. and owing
to her narrow escapes was considered lucky
vessel. With thirteen other whalers she was
ninped in the ice two years ago and remained
in the lock until the flow broke up. The
most unfortunate part of the wreck is the
fact that the officers and crew were on the
way home with sufficient oil and bone to give
each handsome amount from their reSpec-
tive lays when the disaster occurred, cauS-
ing them much suffering and depriving them
OF Il years hard earned wages.