Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-11-13
AID FOR THE WHALERS
The Bear Win Garry PrOvisions to
the Arctic Regions.
STARVATION Is hot PROBABLE.

The Toe Imprisoned vvhnlsrs Can Man
age 20 sabrist Until the Proposed
Relief Can Reach Tham-opinions 81
Naval OmOers.
Washington. Nov. te.-Tne infOFrna-
ton laid before the cabinet yesterday
N basis for its action In tho matter
OF relieving the whalers was contained
In the following kilograms
The first n from Commandant Kirk
land. 1t Mare Island. and n a. fellows:
Captain Barker reports: Captain De-
veil. OF the whaling steamer Bayiiss.
arrived today from the Arctic and says
the whaling steamers Oricha. Freeman.
Belvidere and Rosario were at Point
Barrowou Sept. Is with about ice men.
These are now probably closed By the
Ice near that place. The whalinR
steamers Newport. Fearless. JeRnnie
and Wsnderer were &C Hernheil Island
Aug. - with about lis men An the
above eight vessels expected 70 r.
turn this fall and had only about three
months rationS. Besides the abovs
ships there were several vessels a
HsrsheIl provisioned for one. two and
three years. prepared % stay In the
Arctic and intending to sail soon for the
vicinity OF the mouth OF Coppsrmine
river TO winter. Captain Dever says
there are about 200 barrels Of cour 1t
Point Barrow. probably within reach
OF the closed In whalers. He does not
think there win be any starving among
the whalers this winter. though they
may be on greatly reduced rationn.
Commandant EIirkland'a second lis-
patch was al follows:
Stoney'a plan seems advisable 70 nnnd
the Bear or steam whalor Thrasher.
now at San Francisco. with provisions.
medicines and clothing for 200 men for
one year to Port Clarencs or Norton
sound. an found possible. Use Reindeer
at Port Clarence to pack provisions -
Point Barrow and for food supply. fol-
lowing shore line and keeping lookout
for the whalers. This plan requires
four officers. one being q surgeon. and
four men OF the navy. The chances OF
success are regarded a. slight. and
every days delay will add to the DIM
Guilty. Any vessel going should sail ut
the earliest possible moment. San
Francisco q thu best point Co secure
the necessary outfits and TO sail from
The whaler Thrasher. ready for sea
and In good order, can b chartered
now. The widest discretion must Do
given the commanding onicer OK the ex-
petition for securing the outnt and
crew, including dogs and reindeer.
Secretary Gage yesterday received
the following telegram from Captain
Tuttls. In command Of the Bear. SOW
at Seattle. wash:
vessel win cost $500. Before the Bear
can reach St MichRsIs the bay win BE
frozen over. Vessel cannot winter at
St. Michaels. N the Ice would carry Il
away. There a no harbor north Of
Unaiaska that does not remain frozen
until late In June Behring strait n
closed by Ice In November and remains
10 until June. The whalerH &C Point
Barrow are within six miiea Of the
Point and IL miles Of the former refuge
station. understand from Captain
McGregor, OF this steam whaler Kariuk.
that Liebes' agent at the refuge sta
ton has about 800 barrels Of Hour. With
this and the provisions OF tina vessels
there should be no starvation
Those frozen at Demarlxation Point
have the supply station at Hersheii ISL
and TO fall back upon. While Il will
probably be necessary 20 abandon the
vessels 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
IL plenty of coal at Unalaslxa- I 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 futile. Captain Shoemaker.
chief OF the revenue cutter service. gave
instructions for the immediate repair
OF the Bear. with q view OF being ready
for sea at the earliest moment. Point
Barrow. near which thu Ice bound
whaiers are supposed 20 be. IL about
1900 miles north OF Seattle. and about
LOO miles north o1 Unalnska-