Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-06
THRILLING ARCTIC TRIP.
WONDERFUL RESCUE OF ICE BOUND
WHALERS BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Difficulties Encountered by the Party
Nature Had Provided Food For
the Imprisoned Sailors-A
Daring Feat.

to Nealc Say, Washington, concludes one
of the most wonderful Arctic expeditions |
OF the century. The bare recital of the re-
turn of this ship and crew conveys little
idea of the daring, endurance and human |
ity that have been exhibited in this extra |
ordinary undertaking.
Not quite Il year ago information came
to the authorities in Washington from the
west coast of far-on Alaska that fleet
of whaling vessels was ice-bound at or
near Point Barrow, on the northern coast
of Alaska, and If relief did not reach the
crews of these vessels within IL few
months starvation and death were sure
to be their fate. This startling informa-
ton made a deep impression on President
Mckinley. The idea of more than 100 hui
man beings dying Of hunger and cold on
the borders OF United States territory, no
matter how far removed, appealed strong
~ to his sympathies.
His first step was to send for Cap. Shoe
maker, the head of the revenue cutter
service, whose advice and counsel he So
| lCited. The only plan that offered Itself
| was to send a revenue cutter vessel as
| far north as possible and there despatch
| an overland expedition to the speedy re-
! lief of the imprisoned whalcrs. Capt.
Shoemaker thought that such an eXpedi-
/ ton would be Successful
The President inquired how long 1t
would take to have vessel fitted out
The cutter Bear which had scent the
summer of 1897 up along the coast OF
Alaska and among the seal islands, had
Just returned for the winter and was re-
ported from seattle, Washington. Capt
Shoemaker informed the President that
the Bear could be gotten ready inside of
70 days, and he was Immediately given
carte blanche for the organization of tho
relief expedition. In just 10 days from tho
Zine the order was given to Capt. Shoe
maker the Bear, in command of Capt.
futile, and having on board Licuts Jar
Wis and Bcrtholf,, and Or. Call as surgeon,
sailed from Seattle with its prov turned
toward the icy North.
1t waf ON November 90 that the Fear
left Seattle. IT pushed its way up into
/ the ice near the entrance to Bcrng strait,
but was compelled by the pack TO rctraCe
its course to the island of Nuuvak, and
p crossing Etolin Strait, landed the cXpcdi-
ton at Cape Vancouver, Il little above the
Goth degree of north latitude. At this
point IieutS. Jarvis and Bertholf and Or.
can began their perilous journey to Point
Ba. row VI near the I'D degree of north
latitude.
The secured the necessary outfit of
sledges and dogs. and with just sufficient
native attendants to take care Of the ami
mails, they left for the North on DeCem-
Der 10. IN the midst of a severe Arctic win
ter, and with little moro than an Arctic
twilight to guide them on their trip.
A MISSION OF MERCY
1t is difficult to imagine anything Wild
! or than the surroundings of this little
band as they pushed their way over the
ice and snow in the weird cleaning Of
the frozen North. losing not a moment
I'm their haste to succor the hundred or
more of fellow beings who were believed
to he starving up near the Arctic circle
From Cape Vancouver they pursued
/ their way along the irregular coast line
of western Alaska up to Fort st. Michael
where they secured additional provisions
Leaving st. Michael they crossed Norton
Sound on the ice, and striking the big
! Ala skan promontOry that shoots west
ward toward the coast of Asia, they fol-
| lowed the tortuous coast of ASIA they FOL-
| reached Cape Prince of Wales, the most
nortn%csterly point "a the United states
possessions, with the exception OF little
| island In BcrinR Strait AT this point they
| collected a herd of reindeer, which II was
! their plan to drive north for the purpose
of supplying food to the ice-bound whaiers
! If the latter were found alive.
| Lieut.. Jarvis, who had command of this
| expedition, speaks very highly of the as
sistance received at this point from NJ.
| Loop "A missionary stationed there. VINO,
together with the natives, che-rfully part
ed with their valuable reindeer to assist
| the expedition.
From Cape Prince of Wales the journey
was continued in an almost eastcrly direc-
ton to Kotzebue Sound, which was cross
| ed on the ice, and the journey then re-
sumcd almost due north along the coast
TO Port Hope At Port Hope part of tho
| cxpt dition halted and Lieut.. Bertholf was
! left there with some OF the reindeer. The
remainder Of the journey was accomplish
| ed 10y Lieut.. Jarvis and Dr. Call until
| Point Barrow was reached on March 20
| Tho latter date is remarkable in that
Lieut. Jarvis when asked by Capt. Shoe
maker to undertake the relief expedition
overland, had responded cheerfully, and
| with the declaration that he would reach
| Point Barrow before the LIST of April. He
was thus two days ahead Of his own pre-
| diction.
THE BEAR GOES SOUTH.
While this little band of determined Am
| orleans were pushing their way overland
the cutter Bear returned South to un>