The San Francisco call., 1897-11-08

August. Last year the first vessel got in
August IL. Farther south the thaw COM
mences earlier. This year we were able to
get into Norton Sound to ST. Michael on
June 20, but last year it was July II. If a
vessel were to go north now or any time
before late iE the spring it would be i'm
possible to get beyond or even through
Bering Straits.
From what l can learn there are l59
men on the Orca, Belvidere, Freeman and
Rosario. These vessels are but few
miles from Point Barrow, at which point
there are sufficient supplies to keep the
men in comparative plenty through the
winter. But the 135 men on the jeanne,
Fearless, Newport and Walderer will un-
| doubtedly be subjected o privanon and
many hardships. These vessels are short
of provisions, having expected to return
to San Francisco ere this. But DO not
believe that starvation will follow. These
unfortunate men can get to shore and Sc
cure some food from the natives. Posi-
bly, some of them, bv procuring sleds and
dogs, may work their way down to the
Yukon gold fields. Two years ago thir-
teen imprisoned whalers succeeded in
gettng from Herschell Island down to
the Yukon River. l met several of them
in ST. Michael this summer.
81 realize that desperate situation is
presented. but cannot see how any vessel
can render to the imprisoned whalers
| before next spring"
WASHINGTON, Nov. IL had talk
with Captain C. L. Hooper tonight. At
first he seemed not to regard the report
that the whalers are in desperate condi-
ton in a serious light but when told the
nature of their situation he seemed to
think that something ought to be done.
Captain Hooper said: well. there are
only two vessels OH the coast that l can
think of that are suitable for the purpose.
One is the Thetis and the other is the
Bear The Corwin IS rather 100 small.
OF all the vessels the Bear is the most
suitable"
DO you think that she could reach
Norton Sound this season?"
II am not sure of that" said he. ut
would probably be the 1st OF January be.
fore she could get away, and it would be a
question whether she could get up as far
as st. Michael"
Suppose she herself should get caught
fas. in the ice?" suggested the CORE
spondent
"Oh, that wouldn't make any difference
to the Bear" said the captain, who has a
great admiration for the vessel. "The
Bear was built for it. She is one of the
stanchest vessels afoat. Besides, she can
carry a great quantity OF provisions
enough to maintain her crew com forta bly,
all winter and spring, wi b great guam
thy besides for the relief of the whaling
crews. But the Bears officers and crew
would certainly not relish a trip up there
this winter, where the thermometer is
seventy or eighty degrees below zero.
Still, if these people are in the great peril
that is reported something ought to be
done, even if tn Bear has to suffer for it,
for that is what she is for.'
How far do you cali it from st. Micha ell
to Port CIarenc9 by dogseds?"
SAT rough guess | should say it was
about $50 miles, and from there to Point
Barrow by reindeer is about 800 miles,
But it would be rocky and ICY road for
even the reindeer 10 travel, and there
would not be very much picking for the
animals on the way. l think that there
are about 2G00 reindeer at Port Clarence,
which were brought from Siberia, par. OF
them by the Bear. They are not cor
rallied, but roam at will. But they are for
the most part so domesticated by habit
and training that they are very tame and
easily herded. | think that about as good
use that could be made of them would
be to drive big herd of them to Point
Barrow, kill and feed them to the
whaIers."
"Then you do not think much of DR..
Sheldon Jsckson's propagating scheme p"
''Oh. l do not say that. but 1 think that
the importance of the mater has been
overestimated. 1t is all right from senti.
| mental point of view, and doubtless they
are useful to the Alaskan schools in that
vicini Y, but the popular impression that
they are going to be of immense benefit to
Alaska as whole is erroneous, for the
majority of the people do not have any
conception of the vast extent of frozen
fields and mountains of Alaska, and it
would take hundred years to propagate
| reindeer enough to make any permanent
impression on Ala ka or benefit the terri
tory generally to any extent"
DO you think II was a eood idea to dis
pose of the provisions at Point Barro W
and abandon the relief station there ?"
II thought so at the time" said the
captain. "else I would not have recon-
mended it. This action was taken on my
recommendation after Captain Healy,
Senator Perkins and the whaling COM
panies had concurred in it, although it
now appears that it would have been bet
ter if it had not been done. The goods
were sold for about so cents on the dollar,
l believe"
| RELIEF WORK