The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-04
CAST = BY THE SEA.
America Sailor Saved From
D4th by Esquimaux.
pR,s,NER IN AN ICY LAND.
nee of Carved Wood Tells of His
syhereabouts-The Government Re-
wards His Heroic saviors.

The return OF the revenue cutter Dear
two weeks ago from Northern Alaska with
the fifteen shipwrecked sailors of the
schooner Premier brings to memory the
story Of the wreck of the bark Napoleon on
the shores of Arctic Siberia six years ago.
The tale of that vessels fate and the death
of all the crew but one, was never pub
lished in detail.
One of the crew of the iucklcss Premier,
who returned to Seattle on the Bear, knew
OF the Napoleon before she went down.
and also was acquainted with the only
sailor, one Vincent, who escaped. While
in Alaska on the Premier last month this
sailor saw Vincent and talked with him.
He is now mate of a whaier bound for the
whale fields, due northwest from Point
Barrow.
Six years ago the bark Napoleon, while
cruising in the Arctic ocean, 5000 miles
from Sitka. Alaska, went on the ice of
Cape Navarin, on the Siberian coast.
Twenty-Five of the crew, among them Vim
cent, manned dory and attempted to
reach shore. After days OF privation and
suffering the dory finally reached Indian
point, 800 miles from the place where the
bark went on the ice. When the Esqui-
maux pulled the boat ashore all the sailors
were dead but three. Two of them could
not survive their frozen limbs and died
after being several days on shore. and VIM
cent was left alone in strange, ice-bound
land, where the people had queer ways
and spoke a foreign tongue.
Indian point is seldom visited by vessels
of any kind and at the end of six months
Vincent despaired of ever reaching his
native land. No writing materials
were to be had and so the sailor cut his
name in piece of wreckage from his dory
and, having learned to speak the language,
told his story and where he belonged. The
board was passed along the coast north,
given To bands of Esquimaux. on hunting
expeditions. and was transferred from
camp to camp until finally it reached a
northern limit and the story went with 1t.
One day whaler in distress on the ice,
near the Siberian coast, was spoken by
several Esquimaux. The whaler got out
of the ice without damage and took the
natives on board They did some trading
and the board with vincent's name carved
upon it was given to the captain OF the
whaler, who listened to the story of the
natives of how it came into their posses
sion.
The natives we're dropped over the rail
into their skin boats, and the whaler con-
tinued north in search of the monarchs of
the deep. At the close of the season the
vessel, returning south, made landing at
Port Clarence, nearly opposite Indian
point, on the Alaskan coast. The captain
left the tell-tale piece of wreckage and the
carving on 1t with the government agent
and came away. This was two years after
Vincent was cast ashore, and the sailor
had become almost a savage man. A few
weeks later the Bear. on her annual north
ern trip, put in at Port Clarence to look
about, the place being the most extreme
northerly station, and consequently a
great rendevouz for whalers entering and
returning from the hunting grounds. The
government agent gave Captain Healy, of
the Bear, the wreckage and the name
carved upon it, and he was told the sailors
story. When the cutter was prepared to
leave port Captain HeaIy directed
the course of his vessel west instead of
south, and after run of $50 miles made
anchor at Indian point, and Vincent was
taken aboard.
Vincent had become thoroughly accli-
mated and would not return further south
than Sitka. He made up his mind to re
main in Arctic waters the rest of his life,
and now comes this shipwrecked sailor OF
the Premier with the story that Vincent is
at present en- route TO the whaling grounds
as mate on a firsf-class whaler.
When the Bear reached San Francisco
Captain Healy. in his report TO the depart
ment al Washington City. told the whole
story. and the result was the government
appropriated 81 600 to be used in buying
presents for the wealthy old Esquimaul
chief at Indian point as a reward for hi.
kindness in caring for aud fostering Vim,
cent, and also to encourage hin
10 treat other American sailors kindl,
saould they fall in his hands in a similar
manner. Many presents were bought
and last year the Bear made special trir
from Point Borrow To Indian point. Can
tain Healy gave the presents to tn,
chief IN behalf Of the United States, ans
of course the humane barbarian was NOR
than delighted.
On that trip to Indian point Captain
Healy went ashore as the old chief
guest and took look about the village
He found that the chief owned immens,
AtNANs ~ ANAAANtSks anu was ttAN NtdAtilAcS
Esquimaux in that portion of Siberia
The sight of the reindeer tired Captain
Healy with ideas of a new and unthought
Of enterprise, which may some day become
an important question.
In Western Alaska, where once flour
ished in great numbers the walrus. tn,
Polar bear and the whale, the game ca,
no longer be found. No walrus are 10 b.
seen. The bears have taken TO the impas
sable interior, and the few that are left ar
so shy that the willy native canno
capture him, and the whale, frightene,
from the shores, have taken TO the hisl
seas hundreds of miles north, and now tn
poor Alaskan Esquimaux are IN son
straits for staple article of food. Las
year they were in worse condition thar
ever before, and Captain Healy expect
TO be able to reduce the natives wants an,
in time make them as fourishing as thei
brothers of the Siberian coast.
On this trim to the Arctic the Bear vii
steam TO Indian point aud will take Oh
cargo Of reindeer and transfer them :,
Western Alaska. He thinks the reindee
can be- successfully introduced in Alaska
for they certainly flourish in Siberia ant
will make a splendid article of food 70
the natives.
wONANsS MISSION IN npxxro