The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-08
SHE HAD A VOYAGE OF PERFL AND
MANY ADVENTURES.
sengeys ~ Far North - Nunfvak
Iniana-sAe II Almost CrusheA In
the Zee ana Tanned by . Beers.

during the presen, season She WAS the
arst vessel 60 saa for the mouth Of the
Yukon this year.
The ofscers of thu Ksnney tell . thrilling
story of their experience while IN Alas
kan waserA For Eve days the vessel was
frcsen solid In the Bering sea ice pack
while trying TO get away from Nunivak-
The passengers and crew often despaired
OF again hoisting 0ii on the blue waters
OF the North Pacific. Only by the greatest
piece OF good fortune did Capt. Larsan
finally succeed In getting his vessel on, OF
the treacherous pack, and when this was
accom- pifst,ed every man on board heaved
long sigh OF relief.
The Kenney sailed from Seattle dur
ing the latter part Of March with fifty
passengers on board They were the
members Of . big mining company from
the East that had chartered the schooner
for . trip to Hooper's bay. They had
big saw mill plant to be established on the
Yukon and were gong 10 build two river
steamers at Hoopers bay. Thsy had the
steamers IN sections N the vessels hold
She was deep In the water when she let
go her lines at Schwabacher dock, and
started on her long voyage. At the time
OF the kenney's sailing. no steamers or
sailing vessels had yet left port for the
Yukon country, II being web known that
the rivers were stiii frozen solid, and
navigation In tho latitude OF Nunivak
island was practically impossible on ac-
count OF floating ice. These conditions,
however. did not 10 the least cause the
passengers and crew OF the kenney to
waver in their decision.
After leaving the. Sound Capt. Larsen
steered 4 direct course for Nunivak
island. keeping well Of the shore at the
same time. Bad weather was encountered
during almost the entire trip. heavy gales
and snow storms being the usual pro-
gramme. Several times the gales.
which grew fercer and more frequent as
the kenney proceeded northward, nearly
swamped the vessel. her heavy cargo caus-
Ing her to ride tho seas clumsily. Good
seamanship on the part or the captain and
blow successfully, and the Kenney arrived
at Etoiine. Nunivak islands, tho latter part
OF April in good condition with everybody
well on board.
After spending q week at Nuniyak island.
repairing the rigging and getting the yes
Sci In shape to continue the voyage, sail
waS hoisted, and the voyage north was
again resumed. The schooner did not go
FAR from Nunivak, however. before signs
or the Ice pack became apparent. Cakes
began to mako their appearance which
grew larger and larger as the Kenney
advanced. After the voyage had been
continued a few days huge ice bergs began
to show up and often passed n dangerous
proximity TO the little schooner. At the
sight or these Monsters OF the Arctic the
hearts or the passengers and crew of the
kenney began 10 warer, and IL seemed
as IL the voyage to the Yukon river mouth
would have to be given up. A consu,;a-
ton between the captain and the pas
sengers was held which resulted in the
schooner being put about and headed for
Nnnvak. 1t soon became evident that is
Capt. larsen had pursued his voyage. the
schooner would undoubtedly have been
crushed up In the ice pack AS II was the
return TO Nunivak was made with the
greatest difficulty
Upon the arrival OF the Kinney at NUM-
yak, IL was decided that part of the nas-
sengers should disegnhark there, and the
remainder so 10 Dutch Harbor The great
er part OF the freight. including the ma
tertal for the river boats and saw mil
machinery. was sent ashore This took
considerable time, and ice driven south by
the wind and current had already made its
appearance at Nunivak.
Huge feebergs were looming up in all
directions and the scene was very drearv
At length the last of she freight was sent
out OF the hold, and preparations for de-
parsure were begun without delay. The
schooner had only proceeded a few miles.
however. before II became apparent to the
men on board that to attempt 10 force the
vessel through the network OF heavy cakes
OF ice would be dangerous and useless
There was nothing TO do but to wait m.
tientiy until the ice showed signs OF open,
ing up.
Fer five days the Kenney remained I'M
prisoned IN the Ice while her passengers
we're given an insight into the perils ana
adverSittes of Arctic travel. The weather
was bitter cold. and fires sn the cabin ana
forecastie had TO be kept M constantly.
~ times the ice closed round tho vessel
and IL seemed as If her sfaunch oaken sides
ihst had 40 often In previous years carried
Miner Bruce and his sailors through tight
places would surely be crush.sl Chunks
OF the icebergs even fell over OH her anck
and their weight threatened 10 sink her.
ON the morning or the SIKH day there
came change in the atmosphere. and the
Ice packs showed signs OF opening up This
was most welcome 20 the iee~Aoun5 passsr-
Eers and no time was lost in getting the
vessel under way. With the aid OF email
boats and pike poles. she was moved slow
IS along for considerable distance. A.
iength the Tee began 10 be thinner and
~
ney was once more tossing on the blue
waters OF the North Pacific
The staHnrh little schooner was nor We.
free from dargss. and the greatest care
ard seausrship had 10 bel exercised -
avoid running into the ice cakes or being
crushed to aronas by the huge bergs which
she often encountered.
a. one time the stream OF cren water
narrowed 10 a space between two giant
bsrgs many hundred fest IN height. which
appeared Just wide enough 70 allow the
schooner 10 pass through. "A ths. schooner
approached the opening Il was seen that
the TWO eerSs were rapidly nearing each
other Re the Schooner sic'aves reaching
fhe oisC ming before is become closed sire
would be fast cnes more in the mack
Can't. Larsen decided u take his chances
u being caught between the berEs ard
having his vessel crushed - powder Ee
took the wheel and stesys3 straight for
ta~ opensag. The edges 81 tho tergs
actually sraxeH Tire sides CT the Ksnuev
re sAs shoc past. and came together with
crash a few minutes ts*sr After rh3s