Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-28
ANOLD SAILORS YARN
A STORY OF HARDSHIP AND DEATH
m THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN.


unfortunate- 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 of from
some New England port in "a sailing yes-
eel which would return only after voy-
nge Of two or three years. During those
lengthy and tempestuous buifetings with
tho sea Captain Eldridge saw much that
was Of interest. Some of this he has told
with a quaint marine candor worthy Of
being exactly reproduced. He says;
Isaw In Tho World where three men
were left oman 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 tho schooner wen.
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 DO
IN ten days at most. SO ten days pro-
visions were given them. and when ten
days had expired tho men did not know
but the vessel was lost. So they took in
their boat tho carcasses Of seals and
started for Potter's cove, $50 miles away,
where they expected 10 find the barb,
Nile, for IL was expected she would sail
on the 10Th day Of March for New Lon
don. They arrived there on the iith, and
she had sailed on the 18th, as it appeared.
Now whnt were they to do without
clothes or fuel, no provisions or shelter,
and worry, cold winter OF nine long,
dark monthsS As II is 10 far south tho
summer is short-say three months. and
winter nine months--and summer ia ~
cold us our winter here, but has the nd
vantage Of being all day, while the vim
ter is all night. They were in G3 dogs.
latitude, south.
Well. the season was 10 far gone that
the few seals. or elephants, or other ami
mails that inhabit this part of the globe
had gone into the sen 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 u 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 tho
seals they could before the vessels be-
gan to arrive. Thon they would mako
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 20
hack ovor tho leo 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
ether ship and started again without
any food. for there was none to be got
4, 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. It was supposed
that they undertook to cross the straits,
but could not manage tho boat. How.
ever, they were lost. Now about those
four that stayed at the Cove-I romem-
Der two Of their names, hut have for
gotten the others. One was an Indian
from Long Island, some place near Mon.
tauk-his last name was Garby-and
one by the name Of James King. who
was eventually the only survivor Of the
seven, and his tale OF suffering was ter
fible. 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 ono 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 z. p. Simons
and came to New London, where no
lailed from. He sued the company, but
hnally he gave IL up and cleared out-no
NE knows where.
Now, i will give you all the informa-
non can as to why they were left there.
Wwas late in the season and the winds
would not permit of the schooner getting
back 10 Thorn. SO she sailed for home.
What arc seven mems lives TO some men?
Now, will give you some idea of tho
place. 1t is in from 81 to % degs. south
latitude and the land is of volcanic
origin, sprung up out of blue water and
niding In tho clouds with thousands OF
iee' OF snow ON top. The rocks are Of
soapstone appearance. There is not tho
INST sign OF vegetation on them-not
even moss will grow on the rocks.
ies, there is a sign of vegetation; what
" known as crimson snow. But IL YOU
ake handful and look at It without
,he AID OF microscope you will see moth
lS ont little red on the snow, but with
sae ald OF a microscope you can see the
nhe roots in the snow. So is vegeta-
There AFRO no shelltish on the rocks-it
.pefieet desolation. But in the summer
,Ie BIRDS Of all kinds--that Is, birds of
n'sh iatitude-aro here TO breed their
G;ouhs' There are the sea hen, tho Mother
.atys chicken, which ia found all over
.se world and penguin, several species
VI hem' And to SEQ these penguin as
we march from their nests TO the sea
y. anu back in single file and stand so erect,
lucy lucy 40 not fly. They have just merely
S anall I'm to swim with while in the
"aer' They Just make n hole In tho