The morning call., 1893-10-02
A ROUGH CRUISE.
The Rangers Return
From Bering Sea.
HER CREW DISSATISFIED.
They Were Under Too Much Ex-
pense for Food and Clothing.
Bad Weather Throughout.

The United States steamer Ranger. Com
mander E. Longnecker. which left here
April 20 for the Bering Sea, arrived yester-
day eleven days from Unalaska. and is
anchored in the stream. When she left
September 20. the following vessels were
at anchor there: The United States ships
Mohican and Petrol. the revenue cutters
Bear and Corwin, the Alaska Commercial
Company's steamer Bertha and the Amer
lean bark John ID. Brown. The Mohican
expected to leave for Sitka on the 18th
ult., upon arrival Of the mails, and take
he inside passage to Puget Sound. The
halls, however, were late, and the M ohl-
ccp's sailing was consequently delayed.
lie Petrol was to leave to-day for Sitka,
OF they schooner c. G. White, which the
Petal seized near Shumasin Island. The
Corvin was bileted to leave the same day
Tor Ssn Francisco.
OILERS and men aboard the Ranger are
more han glad to get back to civilization.
ana except for the matter of money there
was qufe as much discomfort on the quar-
terdeck S IN the forecastle. The cruise
was slmpy six months of fogs and stormy
weather. That was all. When the weather
wasn't thhk, it was rough, often reaching
half gae, and the temperature never
once rose I. degree Of warmth appro ach-
Ing Comfort. Said one of the lieutenants to
GAEL reporter: There is no service in
the United States navy SO trying to all
hands as thlt Berng Sea patrol. The
monetOny OF Gisagreeable weather. with =
out bright Incident, and the isolation.
were were most trying to the spirits Of all
One cause Of great dissatisfactio among
the men aboard the Ranger, noted a few
days ago by THE CALL, was not the rigid
discipline so muchas the lack OF fresh food
and the inability OF many seamen to save
anything out of their wages. From inter-
Views with the men it is learned that part
of the ships supplies would scarcely pass
strict examination before we'll regulated
city Board of Health In order to SECURE
change from the unpaiatable food 1t was
| the custom of half of mess to commute
| their rations for cash, the allowance being
| 80 cents day per man. However. all ar
tlcles of fresh food are so high in Bering
| Sea that 80 cents day would not nearly
| Even. DO atOes cost four times as much as
| the market price here.
I On account of the prevalent fogs and
| rough weather the men had to wear blu @
| flannel all the time. This is expensive
and the regulations require avery seaman
climate the men could have worn in sum-
mer white duck, which costs about 81 a
suit and is quite as durable as flannel.
'1fyou Inquire in the forecastle or OF
the pavmaster," said an Intelligent sea-
man, 'you will find quite number of men
who have not cent coming to them for
their six months cruise, and some of them
are actually in debt to the ship; and the
men used the money they have drawn only
for necessary food and clothing"
No blame is placed on the officers of the
Ranger. The hardship is simply the re-
suit OF circumstances. If the steamer
were ordered back to Bering Sea nine
ten this of the crew would be ready TO de-
sert and more than one officer would ask
for leave or use his friends influence for a
transfer.
The Ranger brought news of an explo-
sion aboard the Mohican, September Is.
1t seems that seaman went close to a
barred Of coal tar with lighted lantern.
Gas from the tar ignited. the lantern burst
and the man was burned, but not seri-
ousiy.