The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-27
LOST IN THE ICE.
Frightful Experience of
Harry Wells.
Seven Awful Days on a DesoIate
Island, Where the Frost Manned
His Hands and Feet.

a hardy fisherman arrived in port yes
terday from the Boring Sea sickly and
disabled man from the frightful experience
he endured while Oh a desolaie island.
The tale he told last night in his old
time haunts and to old companions on the
water front was narrowing, even for those
Arctic sailors accustomed to.hard ships aud
painful incidents of voyaging amid ice
bergs. lie was lost il the ice foes with
nothing but an open boat and little food,
without clothing TO keep him warm or any
prospect of rescue from horrible fate.
Fortunately he was discovered by acct
dent seven days after going astray, though
more dead than alive, and utterly unable
to help himself any longer. Even now.
months after the awful ordeal, his left
hand is withered, aud his right hand and
his feet are 50 badly injured by frost he
can do but little to earn a living.
He is Harry Wells, fisherman on the
cod-fishng barkentine Fremont, that left
San Francisco last April for a cruise in
the Boring Sea. The Fremont returned
yesterday after voyage of twenty-four
days from the northern sea. She had 1884,
600 Goldfish aboard, and was towed to Cali
fornia City TO discharge her rich catch at
the fish canneries and warehouses. Her
crew came ashore on the tug Active and
scattered over the water front. Wells
went to his bOardiDg -house on East street.
near Washington, where he was soon sur
rounded by friends, who listened 10 his
pitiab!e story.
mont to fish," said he, beginning the
thrilling narrative. land got too far off.
So when night came on the barkentine was
out of sight and / could not tell which way
to 90. L cruised around before it got
dark, hoping to sight her, but not sign OF
her was anywhere, nor boat to be seen.
1t was getting colder, with sharp, frosty
Well, l lay to for the night. keeping of
st. George Island.
when next morning came / sailed
around searching for the Fremont, but she
was gone. Then it made me feel kind of
lonely like and deserted and | began to
think whatever would become OF me ii
the Fremont would not come round nv
way again. Well, l gave up fishing and
! fell to thinking, aud thinking hard at tina t,
! but somehow l felt it that the boys woul Id
sail over the Arctic before giving me up
| Then l made for the island and landed.
My matches gave out and there l wa;
without ire or anything TO eat except
J raw fish and what little was left in the
dory. [ thought I'd die over and owe
again from the cold. How / pulled
through is something I've been trying
to make out since they picked me up.
| COI S0V6D GdyS WAS On lUdL iSIduu
half crazy most of the time. The frost a t
tackled my hands and feet and froze them
until they were dead. That was toward
the last. when | was sure it was all III
with me and l couldn't eat, drink mol
| sleep.
SAT least don't remember everything
that happened until they carried me
aboard. For long time after that lay
in my bunk as sick as any man ever felt,
and / couldn't work for months"
Wells displayed his manned hand. II
was shriyeled and discolored, and APP
peared as If nothing on earth could re-
store its vigor.
From others of the crew 1t was learned
that Wells was the victim OF one OF thos
accidental occurrences which 100 Otter
bring disastrous results at sea. The Ere
mont and her boats searched the sea fol
six days and finally reached the island
| where searching parties went 10 rescul
the lone fisherman. They found him dyini
from exposure to the frigid northern
climate and the snow and Ice, and savet
his life by judicious treatment and tn,
proper of use of stimulants.