Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-03-06

I9Nsr sanntered down to
2e4I the water front to
sS inspect them. Later
on In the afternoon L was fortunate In
making the acquaintance of a young
captain, fresh from the ice fields.
Among the various experiences de-
tailed by him was an adventure which
occurred on the almost wholly mex
plored Island of ST. Matthew. This
barren spot is q long, narrow strip of
land IN the center of Boring Sea, is
about lao miles distant from the Alas
kan mainland, and is at least 100
miles from land in any direction. It's
location is sixty degrees eighteen min
utes north, and 10 degrees four
minutes~east of Greenwich.
. 1t is now quite four wears since n
whaling bark, cruising around here in
search of whales, sighted the island
and sent several boats crews ashore
for O supply of fresh water. Little
was known at that time of the island.
beyond that 1t lies directly in the
course of the whalers homeward bound
from the Arctic, and hence region
to be avoided. The boats landed on q
part of the northern coast near the
eastern end o6'Ghe island. Some of
the men began filling the water caske-
and others wandered up a small stream
flowing down through a diminutive
caRSw to the coast. They had not
1ASSAe far, however, when they were
met By large number of polar bears.
These savage brutes, resenting the
intrusion of their domain, at once cot
move" on the Jack tars for quite a
distance, when all hands turned and
endeavored to hold the monsters at
bay. Shots were fred from revolyers
and large stones hurled from rocky
PEAKS. but all in vain. Eventually
the men were compelled to take to
their boats and desert the water casks
In due course the whaling bark in
question reached her destination. The
adventure was related, and at the
' same time several bits OF stone.
brought from the island ms souvenirs
of the northern seas, were produced
The gentleman into whose hands these
were placed for inspection CHANGED to
be an experienced miner, who immedi-
ately pronounced them to be pieces of
quartz very rich In gold. Soon the
story spread until it became generally
known among the members of the
whaling fleet, when many a longing
glance was cast toward the rugged
outlines of st. Matthew by the ship's
men returning home from their cruises
In the Arctic.
Thus matters went on till two wears
ago. A revenue cutter made some
sound1ngs along the northern coast of
the treasure island, and found good
anchorage In nine fathoms of water
But no attempt SSas made to explore
the interior, as the rugged nature of
the land and the great number of
polar bears that stalk the miniatures
valleys made 1T an extremy dangerous
task. However, 1t was guessed that
. the island has an area of some 100
square miles. Its length was believed
to be about thirty miles, with mean
, width of not more than five or six
miles.
The cutter had scarcely departed
when sealing schooner arrived for
the ostensible purpose of putting men
ashore to hunt for bears, but in reality
to search for gold. A strong hut was
built on the beach not far from the
anchorage found by the previous craft
inns was stocked with provisions sufi-
Client for the needs of five men for a
period of several months. All beino
satisfactorily arranged. the schooner
sailed away on her cruise, leaving the
men who were to search for gold to
reconnoltre the scene that was to be
their home for an indefinite time.
What really occurred during the
following months will, perhaps, never
be revealed. The sole survivor of the
Inflated band had mis- reason Sc shat.
tered by the terrible experience
through which he passed that he could
give no satisfactory account of what
transplred after the vessel had sailed
away. His rescue happened in this
way: A small bark passing down the
coast of the island enabled the look
out 10 see white flag floating from
the roof OF a hut on the beach. A
Doat was at once sent ashore. and n
snort search revealed man barricaded
within the frail structure. He was in
half demented state, and now and
again muttered about his lost com
rades. A search party was at once
organized but although they spent
the greater part of the day in their
quest, no trace of the missing men
could lie found. At length the sick
man was taken on board and the yes.
sci passed on to her destination.
IN the course of a few days the in
Vand recovered somewhat and told his
story; Soon after the departure of the
vessel which had brought him and bis
comrades to the island the bears dis
covered their presence and swarmed
ABOUT the hut in such numbers that
the ilves OF the inmates were in con-
stant peril. Now and again fire was
kept up, but the beast seemed to in
crease rather than diminish in number.
1xceptlng quick journeys to the water