The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-23

doomed whaler On the fourth day Of
the pursuit part of the crew abandoned
the steamer anu attempted to make
their way to US over the frozen waters.
Ihey took no provisions with them, as
rhey expected to reach us IN the morn
ing after their night Of departure. They
carried small boat with which to cross
the creNices In the pack, but this was
Dashed TO pieces on the floating Ice. A
heavy fog arose and they lost sight of
US and of their own vessel.
"For three days and nights they wan
dered without food and on !the fourth
day they succeeded in boarding their
own vessel. The steamer was still drift
ing with the pack to destruction. We
knew that their only hone was in for
saklnG the whaler and getting on board
the Bear, and we continued to follow.
After two days and nights the captain
and his wife and 35 of the crew again
abandoned the whaler. The Bear was in
sight, and they again attempted to make
their way to us. a journey OF two days
and nights over the ice brought them
no success, and the captain and wife,
the mate and six of the crew went back
to THE whaler. The others refused TO re-
turn. The captain and his party re-
manned aboard the steamer for "a hours
to make careful preparations for another
trial. They padded the bottom Of
small boat with skins, and rigging her
with canvas sails. they again set out.
iAlfter travelling Dor four days and
nights the party reached the edge OF
the pack. They had travelled $50 miles
and were 100 miles from Point Barrow.
Fortunately we saw them sand picked
them up on the following morning
FOURTEEN PERSISTED ON THE ICE
They were completely exhausted and
1t was several days before they recov-
cred from the effects of the deprivation
and exposure. There were 2S men who
refused to return with the captain to
the whaler. The cutter Bear searched
for them 10 days and then returned to
Point Barrow. The party was after
ward sighted by whalcr. Fourteen
OF them were picked up and the other
fourteen had pershed 1911 the ice Two
OF the rescued died later.
The sufferings OF those who died on
the Ice was terrible. Without provisions
In this terrible climate the weaker ones
became exhausted and dropped on the
leo. To their companions offer of as
sistance they turned n deaf ear, beggin.
them not TO sacrifice theirs, own lives.
put to continue on their journey. There
was nothing for their associates to do
hut no leave them to perish. The food
had given out and all were more or
less exhausted. During the last few
DAYS OF their pilgrimage they suhsist
ed on their seal legSinEs. and the wal
rus strips which bound them, There
were nine OF the crew who refused at
any time to leave the whalcr. Thpv
were never heard OF. The vessel driftod
them away, and in all probability the
steamer was crushed by huge masses
or ice. We afterward learned that the
whaler's crew were busy storing away
the ol from n slaughtered whale Wien
tney allowed the ice to drift around her.
Nhen they observed the danger II was
100 late. They could not eXtricnte 1he
steamer
Some people," continued Engineer
Whitworth, may be interested 10 know
why men pursue such n dangerous call
Ing. Money is the alluremert The
bones OF large whale will weigh 1000
pounds. This is worth $4,000. IT some
Hlmcs happens that one crew can secure
nine whales In one year. This seems TO
these daring spirits sufficient compen-
salion for the hardShips they endure
and the dangers they pass through.
KILLED TWO POLAR BEARS.
When we returned Ito Point Barrow
after our search for the wandcrinr
whalers we secured two very fine spcc-
linens of the white bear. They were
seen on the ice Il short distance from
the cutter. The larger one, which
weighed 5000 pounds, was killed by
Lieutenant b. II. Camden. 4 nephew of
ex-senator Camden, of West Virginia
1T was necessary to shoot i've bullets
into the bear before he was killed. Tht
smaller one was slain by DIR. S. j. Call,
VINO Is 4 noted hunter. For the last
SIN or eight years he has supplied the
Smithsonian Institution with specimens
oi birds and animals from the Arctic
region. After the bears were killed on
the ice they were draESed on Gccl; this
snip, where 4 picture was taken OF
them by Il native artist
I'VE went into 81. Lawrence Hov
which Is on the coast OF Siberia. Here
we landed the men and material ror
building house. The United STATES
mas made arrangements with the Rus
sian government for securing reindeer
with which 10 stock Alaska Til" mon
and material We're landed here % cs-
tab!ish station. We intended 10 take
cargo of reindeer with us to Alaska.
but we were too early. The hcrGers had
not commenced no bring them 10 the
grading stations. The Siberian reindeer
Is domesticatcd and the herdcrs drive
Them to the trading stations in drovcs
The United States has already cslah-
llshcd large herds Mt Port Clarence
Cape Prince Of Wales. and on Sledcn
Island. The first Two herds number
about 800 deer each; he last Is not 81
numerous. The deer arc under the care
OF herders appointed by the govern.
ment. The work is carried on under the
auspices CT the Interior Department.
Rev. Sheldon Jackson has charge OF 4;
RIOT IN ST. MICHAELs.