The evening world., 1894-09-05
LAST EDITION,
COOK PARTY
ALL SAFE,
Its Members Arrive at South
Sydney, Cape Breton, on
the RiseL
ARCTIC TRIP A FAILURE.
Steamer Miranda Was Abandoned
in q Sinking Condition
at Sea.
MANY HARDSHIPs AND PERILS.
4 New York Boy Of Thirteen the
Youngest One Of the
Excursionists.
MANY HARDsHIPs AND PERILs.
Copyrighted. 1894. by the Associated Pr.ss)

NORTH SYDNEY, C. B., Sept. 5.-The
schooner Rigel, of Gloucester. Mass,
Capt. g. w. Dixon, arrived here to-day,
having on board the crew and passen-
gers Of the steamer Miranda, which left
New York July Z with Dr. F. A. Cooks
Arctic Expedition. All the party are
well.
On Aug. 8 the Miranda struck a rock
near Sukkertoppen, West Greenland. and
was abandoned in a sinking condition
Aug. g. in Davis Strait. latitude about
61.15. longitude $40.
The particulars of the expedition and
its disastrous termination are as fol-
lows: After repairing the damage sus-
tanned by the iceberg collision of July
II. the Miranda left st. Johns. N. F.. on
July %. and proceeded directly to Green
land. Much ice and fog were unexpect-
eddy encountered off Cape Farewell. At
one time the vessel came near being
nipped in the foes, the rising of a fog
isclosing ice all around.
Considerable apprehension was felt by
the officers. and visions Of the fate of
the Jeanette and Proteus expeditions
arose among the passengers. as the iron
built Miranda was totally unfit to cope
But, fortunately. a thin place in the
foes was found, and the ship driven
through.
The southwest coast Of Greenland was
30 blocked with ice that no landing
could be made until Aug. 7, when the
expedition reached Sukkertoppen. in lat
itude 65.25. Leaving this port on
the morning of the 9th for Disco. the
vessel had proceeded about seven miles
at full speed when she struck with tre-
mendous force on a hidden reef. Every
thing loose went flying forward. The
steward, Joseph Farrell, was struck by
a trunk and slightly injured. 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 a crash
that shook her from end to end. When
she fioated OFF. great excitement pre-
vailed. as the vessel was soon seen to
be settling. The boats were swung on
the steamer. 1t was found. however.
that the main injury was beneath the
ballast tank. which filled so rapidly that
hut 9he
the other compartments and Eskimo pi-
lots having at length come Off in their
kayaks. the steamer was gotten safely
AS it was considered unsafe to pro-
coed further with the damaged vessel,
the situation Of so large body OF ex-
not encouraging, 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. 1t began to look as II the expedi-
tion would have to winter In Greenland.
and short rations were served In antici-
patlon OF such catastrophe.
:, 1t was learned, however through the
Danish Governor, that several American
fishing schooners were on the halibut
10 secure one of these vessels DR.; Cook,
with Messrs Rogers, Porter and Dun
hhlng and four Eskimos. started for the
voyage. lasting ten days, they found the
Rigel and brought her to the assistance
TI the people on the disabled steamship
iRigel. The Miranda then took the Rigel
IN tow and left Sukkertoppen on Aug. q,
Intending to proceed directly to St.John's
! n, F. All went well for two days, Ia: a
theavy sea the second night weakened the
sop or the ballast tank. on which an enor-
anS hydrostatic pressure was exerted,
T Thu II gave way at 1890 A. NJ, Aug e.
,hhree blasts OF the whistle gave warn
,us 10 the Rigel to stand by; The night
VAS VAS cold. dark and foggy, and the vessels
'I09 ON like balls on the pillows.
fusion. The firemen leaving the boiler
ICON ICON without orders, cut loose the best
ttteooat (Which was Immediately dashed
No pieces against the ships side) and
were were only kept In submission at the
poInt OF the captains revolver. The car
pg,n,Iters tried In vain to stop the leak
%Mith blankets and mattresses. and at
uaynght as water was invading the
N;Oai bunker and a storm was threaten
me, the steamer was abandoned The
ere" We're taken up by the schooner
~ was fortunate that the passengers
r mere already OF the Rigel. as a transfer
,,Suid hardly have been effected under
me trying conditions without loss OF
H,e, Nothing except the sailors bags
s Mas saved from the Miranda. The pas
tsengers lost all their baggage except
v ne clothing worn on board the relief
Ioessei at Sukkertoppen. Many OF them
b, se expensive scientific instruments and
hunting equipments. All the botanical
s seeSSiogieal and chronological collections
fnaa all the photographs. probably the
dn'st ever taken in Greenland, went
pmn with the Miranda.
los,r ot' Dyke, of Kansas University.
lost isSt fine lot Of Labrador and Green
C Sda siris: Prof. Wright. Of oberlln
shd1se' was able to make interesting
tonnes q the glaciers near Sukker-
'pen' out otherwise the expedition