The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-26
ANOLDSAILOR' 'SYARN
A STORY or HARDSHIP AND DEATH
IN The ANTARCTIC OCEAN

Island ana NeA NaAAN1 -
uusortunates 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 70 start OF from
some New England port in a sailing YES
sci which would return only after yoy-
age Of two or three years. During those
lengthy and tempestuous bufetings with
the sea Captain Eldridse saw much that
was Of interest. Some Of this ne has told
with a quaint marine candor worthy OF
being exactly reproduced. He says:
I saw in The World where three men
were left on an island IN the Arctic. This
reminds me Of q 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 a prospecting gOyage-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, 30 miles away,
where they expected to find the bark
Nile, for il was expected she would SAL
on the 18th day Of March for New Lon
don. They arrived there on the I4th, and
she had sailed on the 18Th, as It appeared.
Now what were they 70 DO without
clothes OF fuel, 10 provisions or shelter,
and a very, cold winter Of nine long,
dark monthss As i Is 80 far south the
summer Is short-say three months, and
winter nine Inonths-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 degs.
latitude, south.
Well, the season was so far gone that
the few seals. or elephants, OF other AMI
mails that iHhabii this part OF the globe
had gone into the sea for winter. But,
however, they did manage 10 get few
seals and elephants and secured their
oil, and on this they lived until spring.
For a 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 10 30
back to Cape Sheriff and kill all the
seals they could before the vessels be-
gan 10 arrive. Then they would make
some bargain to take home the skins.
So. without any provisions, they started
back, but on going ont the straits they
got jammed in the ice ard had TO go
lack over the ice - Porters cove. They
would haul their boat from one cake or
block Of ice 10 another, and launch
when necessary. Wei. they got back
at last where they started from nearly
dead frcm cold and exposure.
But. hove, cr, another trial. -Four re
fused % 90, but three Of them took an
other boat 1vi;ich kai been left by some
other ship and started again without
any food. for there was none 10 be got
at so early in the spring. Nevertheless
they arrived then ut Cape Sheriff. After
ward they killed 2,200 seals and spread
their skins on the snow TO keep them
from heating. but what became Of them
will never be known. II was supposed
that they undertook 10 cross the straits,
but could not manage the boat. How
ever. they were lost. Now about those
four that stayed az the Coye-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
one ly 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 We're nothing but
skir and bones anyway, and be 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 ne went
on board OF the schooner 4. p. Simons
and came 10 New London, where he
sailed from. He sued the company, but
finally he gave it up and cleared out-no
one knows where.
Now, VIII give you all the informa-
ton can as to why they were left there.
Ii 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 10 some men?
Now, viii give you some idea of the
place. II Is in from 81 10 60 degs. south
latitude and the land Is Of volcanic
origin, sprung up ont 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 viii grow on the rocks.
Yes. there Is a sign OF vegetation; what
is known as crimson snow. But If you
take a handful and look at Il without
the aid Of a microscope you viii see moth
ing but a little red On the snow, but with
the aid Of a microscope you can see the
fine roots IL the snow. SOFT Is 4 Yegeta-
bic.
There are no shellhsh on the rocks-it
Is perfect desolation. But IN the summer
the birds Of all kinds-that is. birds Of
high lattude-are here TO breed their
young. There are the sea hen, the Mother
Cary's chicken, which Is found all over
the world, and penguin, several species
Of them. And to see these pengain as
the march from their nests to the sea
and back in single file and stand so erecti
They do not fly. They have Just merely
a small fin TO swim with while in the
water. They just make hole in the
snow, lay two eggs and sit on them as
any bird, right IN the snow. But nature
provides way ont Of all these scrapes.
as it were. Their eggs are d good substi-
iutc for hens eggs-New York World
A Troublesome Name in Chicago.
The many variations as 10 the pronun-
citation Of the name Goethe street cause
some queer misunderstanding and 10
dicrous situations A policeman who
was standing on the corner Of Wells
street and chicago avenue was asked II
he knew where a man lived.
''Shure, an he's sfther Lyin on Goatee
sthreet," he replied.
Where
'GOatee sthrest."
"How do you spell its7
"Pfwhy, l spCse like g-o-a-t-y, same
ss 4 goat"
But the man was still in the dark. so
he stepped into a corner drug store and
asked the question he had put TO the po-
hceman-
Mr.. j lives on Geety street"