The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08

A. Ass,aorea Nsv-rsu.sis-a whai.r D, th.
Zee OF Bnrnu's Isay.


toyreh $685. NJ cAatt., n E.,si.j
The last trace ever had OF the Scotch whaler
Jean McLaren. which was cruising in Baffln's
| Bay In the year 1859, came from an American
whaler which encountered her of NCobourg
Island. at the entrance OF Jones's Sound, Just
as the first Ice was beginning to make. The
American was on her way out OF polar waters,
knowing that winter was close at hand. while
the scotchman. having been told by natives
that there was every sign OF an opon season.
was hanging on to fill her casks. Two days
after the American spoke her there was a
heavy gale ccompanied by snow and followed
by cold weather. and It has always been be-
lieved that the McLaren went down with all
| hands. She was q large. new ship. and or her
| first cruise. and among her crew were two
| sons OF the owner. At the end OF two years.
when 1t could be no longer doubted that the
ship was lost ana that II any OF her crew were
still living they were cast away on the bleak
shores OF the north. tho bark Relief was fitted
out to make search. She did not carry full
| crew as whelor, but was to hunt for whales
and seals while she prosecuted her search.
Our starting point was Cobourg Island and
We arrived there with the opening OF the sea-
| son. From some fishermen we learned that a
ship supposed to be the McLaren had been
driven to the north By tho gale spoken OF. and
| they had heard that she had been lost, but
we could get no Trustworthy Information.
We worked to the north, however. instead OF
going through Jones's Sound. and did not give
up the quest until we anchored Off John Ross
Mountain. We intercepted dozens OF kyaks
and landed ut least twenty times on capes
AMI islands. but we found no relics and got no
information from the natives. During the
summer the McLaren was in the bay there
were half dozen other craft OF her rig there
a a and thu pattyoa Iid
from the other. Before we started on our re-
turn to the south We had made fair catch.
and though the summer was waning the
Captain determined to run through Jones's
Sound and beat up the islands off tho east
coast OF Grinnell Land While we were provI-
stoned and equipped for winter in the polar re-
gions. he had no intention Of being caught
We had squally weather and furries Of snow
S.S hs
nights were making ice; At New Kent we got
our first trustworthy information of the miss
sci answering her description. which had been
considerably damaged alo!t, had been sighted
a gale gale which lasted several days. 4 craft
which could not reach the shelter Of the island
hard hit As we had heard Of no other r miss H
Ing shP In thofs seas we hfS to that
There was hope that we might, learn some
thing more definite by going to the northwest
set sail every man aboard was satisfied that
we should have to spend a winter in the ice.
tives that a ship hal been cast ashore on
North Lineoln Island. across the great bay to
en
Of an interpreter. Conversation had to be
carried on by signs entirely and no doubt we
misunderstood the people In many instances
We crossed the bay in q gale which brought
winter down upon Us: and on reaching Lincoln
found her frozen fast within ten hours The
Captain announced to the crew that he hoped
set n and II Il he Toud rum
New Kent. hut all looked upon 1t as a forlorn
hope: In three days the ice was fifteen inches
so cold that the decks were roofed over. stoves
set up. and everything made tight and snug
the weather settled down so that it was deemed
safe to send out exploring parties. The island
Bay. and to this date has 40 perman ent popu-
latlon. 1t Is mountainous and sterile. and one
" nss the 70
north and south Of our harbor as far and as
thoroughly as possible. and happened to be
Williamso n. the first mate. Wetook with US a |
tent, sheet-iron stove. two blankets each; |
carpenter had made couple OF sieds. but stll |
each man had fair load to carry on his back. |
aud q COURSE we had to Keep IN sight q the
beach as much as possible: It was rough |
route TO travel. the sled having to be unlOaded |
some distance BY hand, but we made distance
Of fifteen %es tie first DAY WITHOUT great
miles day We found no wreekase save a
oarrled away by some storm far at sea ON
the p second Day day out out we found dead whale
In him BRANDED "H1nter" and ' one 20" Of them
We cut out and carried with US as a relic. The
NJ m va M rd narfa fpa
that the time between striking the whale 100
miles away and our ilnding him on tho beach
been dead for, some time was evidenced BY tho
state Of the body, which the birds and wild
-, The mate was determined to push ahead for
five days. as instructed by the Captain, but
a to- close % % had fay osS se s
and extended inland a long way. when three or
at our feet. The first thought was that ,wo
Relief but the second glance showed us that
this craft was full-rieeed brig. and the bay
and s
highly elated as we hurried along down the
So ce as h9s @
until We were close upon her. The. bay was
but q cove not more than an acre in extent
cove at all. but among the rocks on the shore.
Atty feet from water She lay with her head
70 the uOrln anu only u sllkuJ llhL TO port |
Her looks aoft told us the story as We came to
y halt: Her sails had been furled and slowed
as II the work had been done in gale. None
had blown away. but all were rotting on the
yards. As We stood looking up gust OF wind
brought cloud Of black dust down in our
Iaces: Here and there loose. rope wac
by the tail to limb but the rigging as u whole
was in fair shane,that is. it seemed to be. But
ater on we found every rope ready to part at
The slightest pull. Masts and yards had been
weather beaten until they were gray white In
.olor and here and there n speces OF fungus |
had attached itself to all woodwork.
she's an abandoned whalsr +. whispered the
he looks Of her she's been here for years. and
She looks to me like Russian. One Of you 60
lstern and see II you can make her out"
We had come upon her broadside. One Of
he men walked down to her stern and stared
md blinksd for Ave minutes before he could
race the faded letters and make out Emily
benson. St Johns; N F." She wasn't Rus:
sian, then. but a Newfoundland whaler and
,ealer. Not boat was In sight on her davits.
While her ruader had been carried swey end
IS We stood there. and II was decided to put UP |