The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-05
COOKS PARTY.
Particulars Of the Disaster
Which Overlook 1t
While Cruising in Arctic Waters-Anx-
iOus Days and Nights Spent.

having on board the crew ana passengeis
OF the steamer Miranda, which left New
York July with DIR. Il. Cooks Arctic ex-
cursion.
All the party are well. On August y
the Miranda struck a rock near Sukker-
toppen, West Greenland, and was aband-
oned in sinking condition, Aug 20, IN
Davis Strait, latitude about 81 degrees, 10
M, longitude 5s degrees, 40 m.
The particulars OF the expedition and
its disastrous termination are as follows;
After repairing the damage sustained
by the iceberg collision OF July IL, the
Miranda left ST. Johns, N. H., on Jnly
29th, and proceeded directly TO Greenland.
Much ice and fog were Unexpectedly en-
countered off Cape Farewell. At one time
the vessel came near being nipped in the
foes, the rising of fog disclosing ice all
around.
Considerable apprehension was felt by
the officers, and visions of the fate of the
Joannette and Proteus expedition rose
among the passengers, as the iron built
Miranda was totally unfit to cope with the
terrors of Arctic navigation. But
fortunately thin place in the
foes was found and the ship driven
through The southwest coast oil Green
land was so blocked with ice that no land
ing could be made until Aug. z, when the
expedition reached Sukkertoppen in lati-
tude 65 degrees 25 m. Leaving this port
on the morning of the ninth for Disco, the
yessel had proceeded about seven miles
at full speed when she struck with tre-
mendous force on hidden reef. Every
thing loose went flying forward. A passy
at breakfast found themselves piled
up with dishes and viands at the
end OF the cabin. Three times
the high waves lifted the ship and
let her down with crash that
shook her from end to end. When she
fioated of great excitement prevailed as
the vessel was soon seen to be settling.
The boats were swung off and everything
made ready TO abandon the steamer. IL
was found, however, that the main injury
was beneath the ballast tank, which
filed so rapidly that the pumps could
not control the inflow. But the water
tight bulkheads protected the outer COM
partments and Eskimo pilots having at
length come off in their kayaks the
steamer was gotten safely into harbor.
As il was considered unsafe to proceed
further with the damaged vessel, the situ-
aticn of SO large body OF excursionists
on this intospitable coast, was
not encouraging, and especially
when 1t was found that the
Danish steamer, which regularly visits
the settlement had been stove in by ice
and would not arrive this year. II began
to look as il the expedition would have to
winter in Greenland and short rations
were served in anticipation OF such ca
tnstrophe.
1t was learned, however, through the
Danish governor that several American
fishing schooners were on the Halibut
Banks near Holsteinberg, 120 miles NORTH.
To secure one OF these vessels, DIR.
Cook, with Messrs. Rogers, Porter, and
Dunning, and four Eskimos started for
the banks in an open boat. After
stormy voyage lasting ten days they
found the Rigel and brought her TO the
assistance of the people on the disabled
steamship and the passengers were trans
ferred TO the Rigel. The Miranda then
took the Rigel in tow and left Sukker-
topper on Aug. n, intending to proceed
directly TO st. John, N. II.
All went well for two days, but heavy
sea the second night weakened the top OF
the ballast tank in which the enormous
hydrostatic was exerted, and IL gave way
at II 80 a. m, August %. Three blasts of
the whistle gave warning TO the Rigel to
stand by. The night was cold, dark
and foggy, and the vessels bounded
like balls on the pillows. On board the
Miranda all was confusion. the firemen
leaving the boiler room without orders,
cut loose the best life boat (Which was
Immediately dashed to pieces against the
ships side) and were only kept i'm sub
mission at the point OF the captains re-
volver.
The carpenters tried in'vain to stop the
leak with blankets and mattresses, and at
daylight, as water was invading the
coal bunkers and "A storm was threat
ening, the steamer was abandoned. The
crew were taken up by the schooner.
IT was fortunate that the passen-
gers were already on the Rigel, as a
transfer could hardly have been affected
under the trying conditions without loss
Of life. Nothing except the sailor bags
were saved from the Miranda.
The passengers lost all their baggage
except the clothing worn whom they were
on board the relief vessel Mt Sukkcrtop-
pen. Many OF them lost expensive
scientific instruments and hunting
equipments. All the botanical, geologi-
cal and chronological collections and all
the photographs, probably the finest ever
taken in Greenland, went down with the
Miranda. Professor Wight OF Oberlin
College was able TO make interesting
studies of the glaciers near Sukkertop-
pen, but otherwise the expedition
was failure from the scientists
standpoint, as it was also from
that from the sportsman. The journey
home was without incident. Only 10 days
supplies for 40 men had been placed on
the Rigei and the addition OF the Mirandas
crew made 81 persons on board this little
craft OF lo7 tons. The passengers slept in
the hold on top OF salt and fish Gulls
and other sea birds constituted the only
fresh meat OF the parry for the last 10
days Too great credit cannot be given TO
Captain Dixon and the crew of the Rigei
for their efforts In behalf OF those whom
they had rescued. The party will have a
banquet at South Sydney before dispers-
ing, at which time a handsome testimo-
nlsi will be presented 10 the captain.
The lost steamship Miranda was built
in 1854 for the st. John and New York
trade. She is famous as tho vessel which