The morning call., 1894-10-23
Overtaken by an Arctic
Blizzard.
EXPERIENCE OF HUNTERS.
One Died and the Other Was
Badly Frost-Bitten.
REPORTS FROM THE WHALERS.
Arrival of the Steam Bark Narwhal
From Herald Shoals-The Sea-
sons Catch.
REPORTS FROM THE WnALERs

The steam whaling bark Narwhal ar
rived yesterday from Her Id Sh oalS after
an absence from civilization since March
IL, 1892. The Narwhal has spent two sum-
mers aud three winters in the icy northern
seas and has returned with the record OF
having made the largest catch of whales
ever scored to a "blubber hunter" The
first season the ship caught nine whales,
the second the unbeard Of number of fifty
five. and this last season only five.
Captain Smith said that he had very lit
tie to add to the history Of his vessel that
has not already been received here except
the adventures Of two OF his men who
went out on a hunting expedition last
April. One of the poor fellows lost his
life and the other had both feet so badly
frozen that the toes of each had to be am
putated. The sufferer was sent TO the
Marine Hospital from the Narwhal yes
terday. The particulars in the case of the
hunters were then narrateu.
William Hassley and John Riggan were
sailors on the Narwhal. They volunteered
to take a sled and provisions enough for a
week and 60 after deer, fresh meat being
needed on the bark. They started out one
afternoon in the early part of April,
worked their way in a northeasterly di-
rection over the low ground and hills.
They did not have as much success as
hunters as desired. so after journeying for
about sixty miles from the ship they de-
cided TO turn back. When only about
twenty-five miles from the vessel terrific
snowstorm, accompanied by high win0
came up.
The travellers were making their way
over an extensive track of level ground
when the storm arose. They came to a
halt and took shelter beside the sled, their
backs toward the wind. hoping to keep
warm until the sleet ceased to drive.
1t grew colder and colder. The blizzard
had full sweep of a vast stretch of plains
and swoeped down upon them with in
creasing fury. The snow piled up on the
sled and almost buried the two men be-
meath its white covering. 1t was then that
the two men hurriedIy unpacked their
traps, unstrapped their tent and pitched it
during temporary lull in the storm. 1t
was impossible to keep their oil stove lit
beneath the roof of the canvas house. how
ever, and the cold gradually crept upon its
victims.
The wind veered few points and blew
even more iercely than before. The tent
was whirled away, leaving the hunters
exposed. Their clothing froZe stiff. and it
was with great difficulty that they man
aged 10 move about sufficiently to cause
their blood 10 circulate.
Riggan commenced to suffer fearfully.
First one of his feet. then the other, was
frozen hard and stiff. His left arm also
had become powerleSs. He writhed in
pain, cursed, prayed and screamed in his
agony, until the cold seemed to master
him entirely; then he sank numb and un-
con scious TO the ground. It was only the
matter of few hours when he died.
Rassley bore I'D bravely. He removed
some of the dead mans clothing and
wrapped himself in it. The fatal drowsi-
ness nearly overcame him. but be fought
it with all his will, managing to master
his feelings, though the deadly frost bite
had already nipped the toes of his left
foot.
The storm partly ceased. The sleet did
uot drive so fiercely and the sharp arrows
of ice that assailed the face and hands Ii ke
sharp needles. such as the Lilliputians shot
at Gulliver, melted into a nebulous vapor
of fog.
Hassley and the Narwhal, but he bravely
determined to tramp that distance, drag
ging the sled with Riggan's dead body or
il, aided by his dog team.
Every step was an agony, for the mois
sture had got into the mans snoes and
frozen at the toes of both feet. How he
reached the ship he scarcely knows him
self.
Captain Smith did everything to allay
the sufferers agony. Captain Tilton o.
the whaler Newport offered to perform
the necessary surgery, and Hassley's in
jured members were amputated. Tiltor
made a very fair job of the undertaken q
and probably saved the mans life.
When removed to the hospital yesterday
Hassey was feeling In good spirits, ant
it is expected that he will pull through al
right.
Coming down the coast the Narwha
found rough weather. She passed throngl
the gale that had been raging off the north
ern coast and was damaged somewh b,
the blow.
The catch of whales for the balance Of
the feet is reported as follows: Baieana
5; Orca, 3; Belvedere, 8; Mermaid, l
Alice Knowles, 1; Triton. /; California. 3
hbuio" hlShoi d, DeluBd, Il OIampuS,
jeanette, /; Karluk, 5; Rosario, 2
Thrasher, 2; Wanderer. 2.
This is small catch, but it may be Jus
as well for the bone dealers and oil mel
that it is. had big catch been reporte,
this season the price of bone would hav
dropped 40 per cent. Bone will now com
mand a better figure than it was though
that IL would.
An Englishman known as Count d
Sayille is expected to come to this city OF
the jeanette. He has been wintering fo
four seasons near the Mackenzie River,
THE use of DR.. Prices Baking Powde
stamns aYarv Wnman Mhn nsas il az