The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-06
COOK PARTY A WRECK
The Miranda Strikes q Rock Off
Greenland's Shore.
RESCUED BY A FISHING VESSEL.
All the Inssrumenss and Specimens Of
the Explorers Lost. aud They Are
Glad 90 save Their Lives

Copyrighted. 1854. By the Associated Pres.
MOTH SYDNEY. Nova Scotia, Sept 81
| The schooner Rigels Of Gloucester, Mass,
| Capt. G. ". Dixon, arrived here today,
having on board the crew and passengers
| of the steamer Miranda, which left New
York July with DR.. Cooks Arctic ex-
| cursion. All parties are well. On August
| 9 the Miranda struck rock near Sukker-
| topper, West Greenland, and was aban-
| doned in n sinking condition on August
| 3 in Davis strait. latitude about 81 deg.
| Is min, Longitude IS deg. 40 min.
The particulars Of the expeditions dis
sstrous termination are IS follows: After
repairing the damage sustained By the
iceberg collision on July IL the Miranda
left ST. Johns. \. T.. on July .. aud pro-
ceeded directly TO Greenland. Much ice
and fog were Unexpectedly encountered of
Cape Farewell. At one time the vessel
came near being nipped in the tioes. the
rising OF q fog disclosing 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, for the Miranda
was totally unfit to cope with the terrors
of Arctic navigation. But fortunately a
thin place in the foes was found, and the
ship was driven through 10 the southwest
coast of Greenland which was so blocked
with ice that no landing could be
made until August /, when the
expedition reached Sukkertoppen in Iati-
tude So Is. 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 tremendous
force on hidden reef. Everything loose
went flying forward. 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 prevailed. as the vessel
was seen to be setting. The boats were
swung off, and everything was made ready
to abandon the steamer. Ii was found,
however. that the main injury was be-
meath the ballast tank. which filled so
rapidly that the pumps could not control
the inflow. But the water-tight bulkhead
protected the other compartments.
The situation of so large q body OF ex-
cursionists on this inhospitable coast was
not encouraging, especially when IL was
found that the Danish steamer which reg
ularly visits the settlement had been stove
in by the ice and would not arrive this
year. 1t began to look as if the expedi-
ton might have to winter in Greenland,
and short rations were served in anticipa-
ton of such a catastrophe. Ii was learned,
however. through the Danish governor.
that several American fishing schooners
were on the halibut ban Ks. 100 miles north.
To secure one of these vessels, DIR. Cook.
with Messrs Rogers. Porter, banning and
four Esklmos started for the banks in an
open boat. After stormy voyage lasting
ten days they found the Rigel and brought
her to the assistance of the people on the
disabled steamer, and the passengers were
transferred to the Rigel. The Miranda
then took the Rigel in tow and left Sax
kertoppen on August ., intending to pro-
coed directly TO ST. Johns, n. F.
All went well for two days, but heavy
sea the second night weakened the top of
the ballast tank, on which an enormous
pressure was exerted, and it gave way
August o. Three blasts of the whistle
gave warning TO the Rigei TO stand by.
The night was cold. dark and foggy, and
the vessels bounded like balls on. the
pillows. On board the Miranda all was in
confusion. The firemen left the boiler
room without permission and cut loose
the iifeboat, which was Immediately
dashed TO pieces against the ships side.
They were only kept in submission at he
point of the captains revolver. The car
penters tried in vain to stop the leak with
blankets and mattresses. and at Daylight,
as the water was invading the coal bunk
ers and storm was threatened. the ship
was abandoned. The crew was taken
aboard the schooner. IL was fortunate
that the passengers were already on the
Rigel. as q transfer could hardly have
been effected under the trying conditions
without loss OF life.
Nothing except the sailors bag. were
saved from the Miranda. The passengers
lost all their baggage. excerpts the clothing
worn when they went on bosrd the Rigel
al Sukkertoppen. Many of them lost ex-
pensiye scientific instruments and hunting
equipments. Ali the botanical and geo.
logical collections and the photographs.
probably the finest ever taken in Green
land, were lost With the Miranda. Prof.
Diesch lost fine lot of Labrador and
Greenland birds. The journey forward
was without interest other than the adj
verse winds and insufficient provisions,
only ten DAYS supplies tor forty men hay-
ing been placed on the Rigel, and the ad-
difion OF the Mirandas crew made ninety
one persons on board this little craft. The
passengers slept in the hold on top
of the salt and fish. Gulls and other
sea birds constituted the only fresh
meat of the party for the last ten days.
Too grea. credit cannot be given TO Capt.
Dixon and the crew of the Regel for their
efforts IN behalf of those whom they had
rescued. The party viii have = banquet
at South Sydney before leaving, at which
time a handsome testimonial will be pre-
sented to Capt. Dixon.
The lost ship Miranda was built In 1884
for the ST. John and Nes York trade. She
Is famous as the vessel which lost the cele-
brated Leary timber raft of Long Island
sound. She 10 said TO have been insured
for 500, GO.
The knights or PythIAs.