The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-11-18
AN OLD SAILORS YARN
A STORY OF HARDSHIP AND DEATH
IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN.

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Island and Not Called For-Six of the
Unfortunates Finally Lost Their Lives.
Some Idea of the Place.
Captain Eldridge, of the steamer Cath
arine Whiting, is one of those breezy,
old time tars who used to start off from
some New England port in a sailing YES
sci which would return only after voy-
age of two or three years. During those
lengthy and tempestuous buffetings with
the sea Captain Eldridge saw much that
was of interest. Some of this he has told
with quaint marine candor worthy Of
being exactly reproduced. He says:
saw in The World where three msn
were left on an island in the Arctic. This
reminds me of boat crew that was left on
an island in the Antarctic ocean in 1871 by
the schooner Franklin, of New London,
Captain James Holmes, master. They
were landed on Cape Sheriff to kill what
seals they could while the schooner went
on prospecting voyage-that is to say.
looking for rookeries or places where
seals travel up on the beach to rear their
young.
Well, they were to stay there until
the schooner returned. which would be
in ten days at most. So ten days pro-
visions were given them, and when ten
days had expired the men did not know
but the vessel was lost. So they took in
their boat the carcasses of seals and
started for Potter's cove, $50 miles away,
where they expected to find the bark
Nile, for it was expected she would sail
on the 10Th day of March for New Lon
don. They arrived there on the 18th, and
she had sailed on the 18th, as it appeared.
Now what were they to do without
clothes or fuel, no provisions or shelter,
and a very, cold winter of nine long,
dark months? AS it is so far south the
summer is short-say three months, and
winter nine months-and summer is as
cold as our winter here, but has the ad-
vantage of being all day, while the win
ter is all night. They were in 63 dogs.
latitude, south.
Well, the season was so far gone that
the few seals, or elephants, or other ami
mails that inhabit this part of the globe
had gone into the sea for winter. But,
however, they did manage to get few
seals and elephants and secured their
oil, and on this they lived until spring.
For shelter they got an old try works
which had been left there by some ship
and covered this with snow to keep out
what cold possible, and with snow for
blankets they lived the winter through.
In the spring they concluded to go
back to Cape Sheriff and kill all the
seals they could before the vessels be-
gan to arrive Then they would make
some bargain to take home the skins.
So, without any provisions, they started
back, but on going out the straits they
got jammed in the ice and had to go
back over the ice to Porter's cove. They
would haul their boat from one cake or
block of ice to another, and launch
when necessary. Well, they got back
at last where they started from nearly
dead from cold and exposure.
But, however, another trial. Four re-
fused to go, but three of them took an
other boat which had been left by some
other ship and started again without
at so early in the spring. Nevertheless
they arrived then at Cape Sheriff. After
ward they killed 1900 seals and spread
their skins on the snow to keep them
from heating, but what became of them
will never be known. 1t was supposed
that they undertook to cross the straits,
but could not manage the boat. How
<>,,4 IL.
four that stayed at the Cove-I remem-
Der two of their names, but have for
gotten the others. One was an Indian
from: Long Island, some place near Mon
tauk-his last name was Garby-and
ono by the name of James King, who
was eventually the only survivor of the
seven, and his tale of suffering was ter
rible He had to kill and eat the other
three men. They were nothing but
SKIN and bones anyway, and he could
not have survived more than one day
more had we not found him as we did.
We buried the remains of the others
in the snow. King then went on board
of the bark Nile, and from her he went
on board of the schooner q. P. Simons
and came to New London, where he
sailed from. He sued the company, but
finally he gave it up and cleared out-no
one knows where.
Now, will give you all the informa-
ton can as to why they were left there.
1t was late in the season and the winds
would not permit of the schooner getting
back to them. So she sailed for home.
What are seven mems lives to some men?
Now, will give you some idea of the
place. 1t is in from 81 to SO dogs. south
latitude and the land is of volcanic
origin, sprung up out of blue water and
hiding in the clouds with thousands of
feet of snow ON top. The rocks are of
soapstone appearance. There is not the
first sign Of vegetation on them-not
even moss will grow on the rocks.
Yes, there is sign of vegetation; what
is known as crimson snow. But if you
take handful and look at it without
the aid of microscope you will see moth
ing but little red on the snow, but with
the aid of microscope you can see the
fine roots in the snow. So it is vegeta-
BILE.
There are no shelltish on the rocks-it
is perfect desolation. But in the summer
the birds of all kinds-that is, birds of