The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-12

the 9Th of June that was able 10 leave
for good. this time taking six of the best
Being without a compass. we followed the
land and at night camped on shore. when
1t was possible. We had divided our only
TWO means of support between us, leaving
the gun at camp and taking the fishhook
Sometimes We caught several fish, and
with sea weed and the root of the wild
again We would be two days without any
thing to eat. Once when we had caught
mora bountifui supply of Goldfish than
usual a happy thought struck me. we
on mussels and sea weed. SO l fried out
the fish livers and each man took a big
dose of the OIL This did US a great deal
of good and We were all able to do better
work after that. We had with us parts
OF two old bedquits, and with these spliced
together rugged sail. but ii was of little
tirey on our 1s fo u Sars f In this way We
moved along slowly from day to day, get
ting weaker and more exhausted. and
each evening when the sun would set our
hopes would go down with it. We had
promised our companions that in seven
days we would have help to them, but
1t was not until the morning Of the sew
en,h day that we entered Unalaska har-
Dor. 100 miles from our camp on Umnak
island. What long. long pull 1t was
up here. Ii seemed as though IL would
never end.
When this boat was picked up. the Bear
was coaling from the tackles of the ship
Iroquois alongside, the boilers were blown
down for cleaning. and the machinery was
disconnected for repairs. Notwithstanding
these hindrances. we were under way In
four hours from the time steam was Or
dered, taking Capt. Huntley and his six
men with us to recognize the locality OF
the camp they had left. A moderate gale
blew from the southwest all tina. night
and all the next day. and 1t was not until
r. R4x,- ri he Att, hot ~ yaI
of the camp. The wind and rough sea still
continued making a heavy surf on the
beach We ran as close In as was pos
sible. and two boats were sent In to bring
of those who had been left behind.
On landing not sign Of life could be
seen. No one was on watch and not a
signal of any kind was exposed TO show
that any one was there. II was not until
the door of the barbara was pushed open
that the inmates knew that help was at
hand. There they sat huddied together
and staring at one another as though each
was mistrusting his neighbor. The stencil
was sitting and the sight most horrible
and revolving. Just outside the door lay
a portion of the body OF one OF the men
who had died two weeks before, and whom
they had dug up. The arms aad legs had
pcen cut on and portions Of the flesh
was found IN the pot. One Of their COM
u
two days after the captain left them. This
one they had eaten entirely. Purifying
flesh. musseis and human bones were
strewn about them on the floor. They were
completely demoralized no attempt hav-
ing been made to gather seaweed or mus
sells. or to shoot the quantities of sea
birds about the rocks, though the gun
was loaded when found ana cartridges
were in the hut. They had not even an
hi'ion enough to walk down To the beach
and gather driftwood 10 keep their Are
going. but had begun 10 tear down The
barbara over their heads. They had
given up all hope OF ever being rescued
and were rapidly passing into that state
OF ser1i-inSanity. resembling more the
Wild animal than the human being Fresh
water there was' in abundance. hi, IN had
only been used To quench their thirst
They were filthy and covered with sores
and vermEn. and their hands and faces
were clotfei over with the blood Of their
late shlpmates- When they realized that
friends were there To take them away
they gave one faint cheer: some fell on
the ground. crying and sobhing like chu-
dren: some laughed and cried alternately.
s1sns sal in silence. staring hewfide re,ily
about. unable TO comprehend what was
going on.
They were gotten or board IS soon as
possible, ard whisky and not coffee was
spsrfsgiy administered 10 them Tabs ~
bet water were brought and the men
stripped and thoroughly elesnssd. every
rag OF their clothing being thrown over
board
TIE nexs dag we were hack in C1alaSka
and at the end of the week, through care
ful feeding ansr plenty Of steep. they all
were in 4 very fair condition.
OF the fifteen men that left In the dffh
boat. nothing more was ever heard. al
though csFsfal search was made for them.
ard all that summer esrif vessel os sfse
feet WIS on the lockout for auy signs Of
the missing h~oat.
JAMES r. WHITE.