The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-10
AID FOR THE WHALERS.
Tho Bear Will Garry Provisions to
the Arctic Regions. ;.
STARVATION Is NOT PROBABLE.
The Ice Imprisoned Whalers Can Man.
age to Subsist Until the Proposed
Relief Can Reach Them-Opinions of
Naval Officers.

| The Ice Imprisoned Whalers Can Man.
| age to subsist Until the Proposed
| Relief Can Reach Thom-Opinions OF
| Naval Officers.
Washington, Nov. 10.-The informa-
| tion laid before the cabinet yesterday
! as basis for its action in the matter
| of relieving the whalers was contained
! In the following kilograms:
The first is from Commandant Kirk
| land, at Mare Island, and is as follows:
Captain Barker reports: Captain De-
vel Of the whaling steamer Baylies,
arrived today from the Arctic and says
the whaling steamers Oricha, Freeman.
Belvidere and Rosario were at Point
Barrowon Sept. Is with about 100 mel.
These are now probably closeed by the
ice near that place. The whaling
steamers Newport, Fearless, JEANNE
and Wanderer We're at Hershell Island
Aug. rs with about liz men. All the
above eight vessels expected to re-
turn this fall and had only about three
months rations. Besides the above
ships there were several vessels at
Hershell provsiCned for one, two and
three years, prepared to stay in the
Arctic and intending to sail soon for the
vicinity Of the mouth Of Coppermine
river to winter. Captain Devell says
there are about 400 barrels of flour at
Point Barrow, probably within reach
of the closed in whaIers. He does not
think there will be any starving among
the Whalers this winter. though they
may be on greatly reduced rations.
CommanGant Kirkland's second dis
patch was as follows
Stoneys plan seems advisa bic to send
the Bear or steam whalrr Thrasler,
now at San Francisco, with provisions,
medicines and clothing for 300 men for
one year to Port Clarence or Norton
sound, as found possible. Use Reindeer
at Port Clarence to pack provisions to
Point Barrow and for food supply, fol-
lowing shore line and keeping lookout
for the Whalers. This plan requires
four officers, one being a surgeon, and
four men of the navy. The chances Of
success are regarded as slight, and
every days delay will add to the diff
Guilty Any vessel going should sail at
the earliest possible moment. San
Francisco Is the best point to secure
the necessary outfits and to sail from.
The whaier Thrasher, ready for sea
and in good order, can be chartered
now. The widest discretion must be
given the commanding officer of the ex-
pedition for securing the outfit and
crew. including dogs and reindeer.
Secretary Gage yesterday received
the following telegram from Captain
Tuttle, in command of the Bear now
at Seattle, Wash:
REPAIRS to the Bear and docking the
vessel will cost $1,000. Before the Bear
can reach st. Mchaels the bay will be
frozen over Vessel cannot winter at
st. Michaels, as the ice would carry it
away There is no harbor north OF
Unalaska that does not remain frozen |
until late in june. Behrng strait is |
closed by ice in November and remains |
so until June. The Whaers at Point |
Barrow are within six miles Of the |
Point and Is miles Of the former refuge |
station. l understand from Captain |
McGregor, of the steam whaler Karlull.
that Liebes' agent at the refuge sta
ton has about 800 barrels of flour. With
this and the provisions of the vessels
there should be no starvation.
have the supply station at Iershell Isl. !
and to fall back upon. While it will ;
probably be necessary to abandon the
vessels I do not apprehend the crews
will meet with anything worse than
privations and hardships. The Bear can
be ready to start in two weeks. There
is plenty of coal at Unalaska. l can
see no way of rendering assistance un-
til the ice opens In July. No vessel
can do anything in the Arctic ocean
until July"
Notwithstanding the almost hope
lessness of the task, and indicated by
Captain Tuttle, Captain Shoemaker
chief Of the revenue cutter service, gave
instructions for the immediate repair
of the Bear, with a view of being ready
for sea at the earliest moment. Point
Barrow, near which the ice bound
whalers are supposed to be, is about
1900 miles north of Seattle, and about
200 miles north of Unalaska.