The morning call., 1893-10-01

astronomical location IS Gu De-. IL min.
north and 172 deg. min. east of Green
wI"b. The only other information given
on the chart is that it sis barren island
infested by polar BEARS" This informa-
ton, while lacking somewhat in detail, is
stlll an official cnrroboration of part of
the story that first turned the attention of
Arctic vOyagers to this speck on the north
ern sea.
In 1868 tho whaling bark Mount Vernon,
Captain Lawrence of New Bedford, while
cruising in the Boring Sea in search of
whales. sighted the island Of st. Matthew
and sent two boats crews ashore for a
supply of fresh water. At that time moth
ing was known OF the island beyond the
bare fact that il was an isolated and prob
ably barren piece of land directly in the
course of whalers homeward bound from
the Arctic. and therefore a place to be
avoided The point where the boats
crews landed was probably at that part Of
the southern coast near the eastern end of
the island, where WATERFALL is marked
on the map.
Upon landing soma of the men began
filling the watercasks, while others wan.
dered up small stream which flowed
down through a dimiuutive canyon 10 the
coast. While exploring this canyon they
wero so unfortunate as to disturb several
polar bears. These savage brutes resented
the intrusion of their domain by chasing
the jacktars to the beach, where all hands
were compelled TO take TO their boats and
desert the half-fiIled watercasks 10 their
four-footed pursuers.
These facts were duly chronic in
Captain Lawrence's logbook and are TO-
day matter of record. But what did n OF
appear in the ships record was the fact
that while ashore the men picked up many
curious pebbles and hits of rock from the
bed OF the little stream, some of which
were given to Captain Lawrence.
When the Mount Vernon finished her
cruise and returned to San Francisco her
captain showed these bits of stone to
some friends as souvenirs of the Northern
seas. One Of these friends CHANGED to be
mining man. and he Immediately pro-
nounced the stones to be pieces OF quartz
very rich in free gold. live stigation
proved his judgment 10 be correct, and
what the sailors had thought to be pretty
crystals were shown to De pieces of quartz
rich In the precious yellow metal.
Captain Lawrence related the facts to
other whaling captains, and little bv little
the story spread until il became generally
known among members of the whaling
fleet. and many longing glance was cast
toward the rugged outlines Of st. Matthew
by the ships crews returning home from a
long cruise among the Arctic ice-felds.
La 1887 the revenue cutter Corwin made
some soundings along the noIthern coast
of the island and found a good anchorage
in nine fathomS of water in one of tine best
sheltered indenta,ions of the northern
coast line. No attempt as made to explore
the interior as the rugged nature of the
land and the great numbers of polar bears
that populate the miniature valleys made
it an extremely dangerous undertaking.
The island has an area of about 40 square
miles, its extreme length from Cape Up
right at the eastern extremity to Glory
Cape on the western end being twenty
eight miles. while the mean width is not
more than Eve miles.
Not until last year was any attempt
made to organize a search for the gold
fields accidentally discovered by the sailors
from the Mount Vernon 80 years ago, and
the result proved so disastrous to the men
Immediately engaged in it that 1t is doubt
full ifanother attempt will ever be made
except by large party of we'll armed and
thoroughly organized hunters and miners.
In May, 1892. the sealing schooner Mat.
tie T. Dyer landed at the island for the
ostensible purpose Of putting a party
ashore to hunt for bears. but in reality to
make search for the tabled gold fields.
A strong hut was built of driftwood on
the shore not far from the anchorage sur
viewed by the Corwin.
This was stocked with provisions suffi.
Gent for the needs of three men for a
period of six months Only one day was
required to perform this labor. and the
Matte Dyer sailed away on her cruise,
leaving the three men who were to prose-
cute the search for G. Id to reconnOiter the
land that was to be their dwelling place
for an indefinite period.
just what occurred during the following
months will probably never be known, as
the sole survivor of the Inflated trio had
his reason shattered by the terrible expe.
rirnces through which he passed and can
only give partial and unsatisfactory ac-
count of what happened after the schooner
sailed away.
In the latter part of the following An
gust the Alaska Commercial Company's
steamer st. Paul passed close down to the
northern coast OF the island and her lock.
out made out white flag floating
afrom the roof Of the little driftw cd
hut near the beach. A boat was
lsent ashore, aid short search revealed
me of the three prospectors-Jobp Cum
nings - barricaded within the frail
| Eucture. He appeared to be in half
| temented condition. and could give no ac-
cunt of his companions
| as no trace OF them could be found in
tina immediate vicinity, Cummings was
taiAn aboard, and the ST. Paul steamed
aw'f to Sitka. After q few days Cum
mnAs recovered somewhat, and told that
sonn\after the departure Of the Matte
DyerAthe bears discovered the presence of
the cAbin on the beach. and swarmed
aDousit in such great numbers that tine
ives ofthe Inmates were in constant peril.
! a number OF the fierce brntes were shot,