The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-08
HISTORIC SHIP
IS WRECKED
The Vessel That Saved Greeley Suffers The
Fate of the KearSage.
OFFICIAL NOTICE NOT RECEIVED
While on Voyage to the Behring Sea
the Gutter Strikes a Rock in the
Harbor of Sitka-Hcr Loss May De-
prive the Protectors of Our Seals
of Food.
SAN Francisco. lima Z


Bear is almost total wreck,
aud possibly by this time Is bat
u tered to pieces. That informa-
tion was received in San Francisco last
night from tho Dispatch of tho officers
of the we'll known vessel, which says
she is fast on the rocks at the entrance
TO the harbor ut Sitka.
The steamer was plowing her way
into the harbor ut GOodspeed on the
night of May 20 when she struck on
rock. and all efforts to get her relief
were unavailing, She went on at high
water, aud the officers state in their
brief dispatch that they have very lit.
tie hope of getting her off. Her
stern was the part to suffer most. and
the dispatch says that her rudder, pro-
peller and sternpost was gone, and in
sea the vessel must surely break up, as
it would be impossible for hsr to
stand any amount of pounding on the
jagged points OF the rock on which she
rests.
The Bear left San Francisco about
six weeks ago to join the Bshring sea
fleet to protect the seals. In her hold
she had about 200 tons OF freight for
the naval supply stations at Point Clar-
ence and Point Barry, aud if it is lost
the cutters will necessarily be short OF
supplies unless another vessel is sent
with the necessary cargo No lives
were reported lost.
RECUED GREELY.
The Bear is three. .masted steam
vessel, of not particularly graceful
lines. Her services in rescuing Lieu
tenant Greedy made her famous. In
1883 new commission was appointed
by congress to consider plans for new
expedition for the relief of Lieutenant
H.W Greely and his party of observers
at Lady Franklin Bay. The secre =
tary OF the navy made arrangements
for the purchase of two Dundee sealers,
the Thetis and the Bear, the vessel that
ns cutter Of the United States Reve-
nue. Marine now lies wreck at the en-
trance to Sitka harbor, Alaska. The
Bear was purchased at st. Johns, N. F.
The third ship Of the expedition was
the Alert, presented unconditionally
by the British government, The
leader of the expedition was Comnau-
der Winfield s. Schley Of the United
States navy. The fleet was fitted out
at the Brooklyn navy yards. The Bear
was the advance vessel and loft for st.
Johns April 33, sailing from there on
May 8, closely followed by the rest OF
the little fleet. The Thetis and Bear
rescued Greedy and some of his COM
panions on June 90 near Cape Sabine
in Smiths sound. The relief ships ar
rived again at st. Johns Oct. II, 1884
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION
WASHINGTON, June up to the
closing hour OF the departments no
official Dispatch had been received
either by Secretary Carlisle or Captain
Shepherd. of the revenue marine SER
vice, under whose immediate control
the revenue cutter Dsar is, OF by the
navy department. confirming the very
circumstantial reports of the wreck OF
the vessel telegrnphed from San Fran
cisco.
The nearest telegraph station TO
Sitka is Departure Bay. British Col.
umbia, from seven to ten days steam
ing from Sitka. Captain Shepard, who
formerly commanded the Rush in
these waters, however, is unable to ac-
count for tho presence of the Bear at
Sitka at this time. The last report
from Captain Healey, dated Sitka,
May IA, stated that when the Rev.
Sheldon Jackson had completed the
object Of his visit, which would
oo on the following Saturday,
welther permitting tho Bear would
sail pursuance of department iustruc-
tions received at Port Townsend.
These instructions directed the Boar TO
visit Prince Williams Sound, Cooks
inlet, Shuniagin islands, en- route to
Unalasks, the Sea island aud Port
Barrow. The fact that from Captain
Hsaley's report the Bear should have
sailed from Sitka on May 10 makes her
presence in the harbor on May 90 unex.
plainable.
Captain Shepard said today that the
waters at Sitka harbor are OF sufficient
depth to admit vessels Of any draft,
but that the channels are narrow,
crooked and bsset with many sunken
lodges, and for these reasons en-
trance is hazardous In his last
report Captain Healy said that the
Bear experienced very heavy weather
on the passage up from San Francisco
in which her lower sails were dam
aged. and that the davils were bent so
that new ones were necessary. The
weather about Sitka. the captain said,
was the most severe since American
occupation, and the snow fall had been
the heaviest on record during that pc.
riod.