The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-08

sengsrs as far north "a Narlyak Island
during the present seas,. She was the
Grst vessel 30 sail for the mouth o. The
Yukon this year.
The officers Of the Ksnrsy tell thrilling
story OF their experiences while In Alas
kan valera Far Eve days the vessel was
frossn solid IN thu Bering sea Ice pack
while trying TO get away from Sunivak.
Tho passengers and crew often despairsd
Of again holst!ng ail on the blue waters
OF the North Pacific. Only by tie greatest
piece OF good fortune did Capt. Larsen
analiy succeed In getting his vessel out OF
the sreacherous pack. ard when this was
accomplished every man On board heaved
long sigh OF relief.
The Keaney sailed from Seattle dnr-
tng the latter part Of March with nifty
passengers on board They were the
members OF q big mining company from
the East that had chartered thu schooner
for . trip to Hooper's bay. They had
big saw min plant to be established on the
Yukon and were gong to build two river
steamers at Hooper's bay. They had the
steamers In sections n the vessels hold.
She was deep in the water when she let
60 her lines at Schwabacher dock. and
started on her long voyage. Al the time
OF the kenncy's sailing. no steamers or
sailing vessels had yet left port for the
Yukon country. It being web known that
tho rivers We're still frozen solid, and
navigation In the latitude OF Nunivek
ssland was practically impossible On ac-
count OF floating ice. These conditions,
however. did not in the least cause the
passengers and crew OF the Kenney TO
waver In their decision.
After leaving tbs Sound Capt larsen
steered a 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 tho gales,
which grew fefcer and more frequent as
the Kenney proceeded northward, nearly
swamped the vessel, her heavy cargo caus-
ing her TO ride the seas ciumsily. Good
seamanship on the part OF the captain and
crew brought the schooner out OF every
blow successfully. and the Kenney arrived
at Etoline, Nunivak islands, the latter part
OF April In good condition with everyb body
well on board.
After spending a week at Nunlvak 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. Tho schooner did not go
FAR from N1nivak, however before signs
or the Ice pack became apparent. Cakes
began TO make their appearance which
grew larger and larger as the Kenney
advanced. After the voyage had been
continued q few days huge ice bergs began
% snow up and often passed IN dangerous
proximity TO the little schooner At the
sisht or these monsters Of the Arctic the
hearts or the passengers and crew OF the
hehney began 20 waver. and II seemed
as ~ the voyage to the Yukon river mouth
would have TO be given up consulta-
ION between the captain and the pas
sehgers was held which resulted In the
schooner being put about and headed for
Nunivak. Ii soon became evident that II
capt. Larsen had pursued his voyage. the
schooner would undoubtedly have been
crushed up In the Ice pack, As IL was the
return 10 Nunlvak was made with the
greatest difficulty.
Upon the arrival Of the Kinney at Nunl-
YAK, 1t was decided tina: par. of the mas.
sengers should diserahark there. ard the
remainder go 10 Dutch uarbor Thu great
err part OF the freight. including the ma
tersal for the river boats and saw mil
machinery. was sent ashore This tool,
considerable time. and ice driven south BY
the wind and current had already mazda its
appearance at Nunlvak
Huge scebergs were looming TN :, all
directions and the scene was very drearv
AT length the last OF the freight was gent
out OF the hold. and preparations for de-
partnre were begun without delay. Ths
schooner had only proceeded few uiles
however. before Il became apparent TO tha
men on board that TO attempt TO force the
vessel through the network OF heavy cakes
o. ice would be dangerous and useless
There was nothing 10 do bu; to wait pa
t!entiy until the Ice showed signs OF OPEN
ing up.
For five days the Kenney remained I'M
prisoned In the Ice While her pssSe myers
we're given an insight into the parils an.
Universities OF Arctic travel The weather
was bitter cod. and fires IN the cabin and
foCecaste had 10 be Kept up constantly
A. times the ice clossd round the vessel
and IL seemed as II her staunch caken sides
that had so often In previous years carried
Miner Bruce and his sailors through tight
places would surely ~ crushn,i Chunks
az the tcebergs even fell over on her deck
and their weight threatenei 10 sink her
On the morning Of the sixth Jay. there
came = change in the atmosphere and the
Ice packs showed signs % opening up This
WAS most welcome to- The tre-bound passAn-
gers, ard no time was lost IN getting the
vessel Under way. Win the aid % email
boats and pike poles sire was moved slow
~ along Tor a considerable distance. A.
length the Toe began 20 be thinner and
moro o1en in pisces. a7d finally the Ken
rey was oT0e more tossing On the b,ue
waters az the North Pacific
The stannch llftle schooner was rot vet
free from danger, and ths greatest cara
ara seafnanaAip hal - hi exercised ~
avoid running into .he ics cakes or being
crushed 20 atoms ny the huge bergs which
she often encountered.
~ one time the stream % orer water
narrowed % a space between Two giant
bergs, many hundred feet n height which
appeared tUst side enough - allow the
schooner - pass through. As the schooner
approached the opening e was seen that
49, two berws were rapidly nearing each
ether. II the schooner ae.Ayed reaching
the opening before & become closed. xha
woUl3 he fas. cree more ~ TIE Pack
Capt. Larsen decided C. take his chances
az by.ng caught between tNe hsrEs a~f
having his vessel crushed g. powder TIE
iaek tire wheel and stored straight fer
the oreuBSg. The sigN 81 tia ter~s
sctpai'y erazea the sides ct The E@uasy
80 she s1o- raSt. ara esr1s together with