The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-09-06

North Sydney, NJ b, Sept. 5.-The
Schooner Rigel, of Gloucester Mass,
Captain G. W. Dixon, arrived here to-
day, having on board the crew and pas
sengers of the steamer Miranda, which
left New York July with DR.. Cooks
Arctic excursion. All parties are well.
August 9, the Miranda struck a rock
near Sukkertoppen, West Greenland,
and was abandoned in a sinking condi-
ton on August %, in Davis strait,
latitude about 81 degrees is minutes,
longitude IS, 40.
The particulars Of the expedition and
its disastrous termination are as fol-
lows:
After repairing the damage sustained
by the iceberg collision on July II. the
Miranda left st. Johns, N. F., on July
20, and proceeded directly to Greenland.
Much ice and fog were unexpectedly
encountered off Cape Farewell. AT one
IL the vessel came near being nipped
in the foes, the rising of fog dis
closing ice all around Considerable
apprehension was felt by the officers
and visions of the fate of the Jeanette
and the Proteus expeditions arose
among the passengers. The Miranda
was totally unfit to cope with the ter
rors Of Arctic navigation. But fortu-
nately a thin place in the floes was
found and the ship driven through.
The southwest coast of Greenland was
so blocked with ice that no landing
could be made until August l. when
the expedition reached Sukkertoppen,
in latitude 1925.
Struck Hidden Reef.
T I,;e,
the 9th for Disco, the vessel had pro-
ceeded about seven miles at full speed
when she struck with tremendous
force on a hidden reef. Everything
loose went flying forward. A party 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 f1oated off great ex-
cltement prevailed as the vessel was
soon seen to be settling. The boats
were swung off, and everything made
ready to abandon the steamer. 1t was
found, however, that the main injury
was beneath the ballast tank, which
filled SO rapidly that the pumps could
not control the inflow. But the water
tight bulkhead protected the other COM
partments. The situation of so large a
OOQy VI S&CuISlOulSl vi lIlS luuOSpltd-
BILE coast was not encouraging, especial |
ly when it was found that the Danish
steamer which regularly visits the set
Element had been stove in by ice and
would not arrive this year. 1t beganI
to look as if the expedition might have
to winter in Greenland, and short ra-
tons were served in anticipation of |
such a catastrophe. 1t was learned, |
however, through the Danish governor. !
hat several American fishing sehooners
were on the halibut banks near Hol- |
12O miles north. To secure |
one of these vessels, DR.. Cook, with /
Messrs Rogers, Porter and Dunning
and four Eskimos, started for the
banks in an open boat After a stormy |
voyage, lasting ten days, they found |
the Rigel and brought her to the as
,istance of the people on the disabled |
steamer, and the passengers were |
transferred to the Rigel.
Bounded Like Balls.
The Miranda then took the Rigel in
.ow. and left Sukkertoppen in August. |
Intending to proceed directly to st. |
Tohns N F. All went well for two DAYS.
put heavy sea the second night weak
,ned the top of the ballast tank on which
In enormous pressure was exerted, and
t gave way at 1890 a. m. August 23
rhree blasts of the whistle gave warn
ng to the Rigel to stand by. The night
vas cold, dark and foggy and the vessels
like balls on the pillows
On board the Miranda all was confu-
ion. The fremen, leaving the boiler