The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-09-02

separate the ice and enable her to
reach Nome in good time.
LAS the days flew by the Jeanie
drifted north to within 81 miles Of
Nome, but she was so securely fast
in the ice it was impossible to direct
her course. She was thus placed at
the mercy of the wind and tide. This
was June 2. The current, at this time
of the year, sets from St Lawrence
Island to Cape Rodney, thence north
west to Cape Prince of Wales, through
Bering Straits, and into the Arctic
ocean. The Jeanie, being taken by the
tide, rapidly drifted northwest from
within 13 miles of Sledge Island to
Kings Island; she remained in that
locality for day or so, then, as the
wind and tide became stronger, she
was carried helplessly on toward Cape
Prince of Wales. AS she neared the
cape 1t seemed she would inevitably
run aground on the sand split which
extends four or five miles off this,
the most westerly point of land pm the
American continent. The boats were
lowered over the side and made ready
in case of accident, and the flag was
hoisted to the. miZzen mast union
down. This was very critical posi-
tion,. and 1t was seen that in case
she escaped being ground to pieces
on the split, she would be carried in
to the Arctic ocean, and possible be
crushed in the heavy ice to be found
off Point Barrow.
Believing that 1t might be possible
to land the passengers on the ice, a
party Of five men was organized, the
names of whom are Harry Zimmerly,
Joe Horan, Tom Campion, James V.
Harrison and w. S. Bliss, of the Lei
and Bliss & Davidson Mining com
pany, the latter being chosen as lead
er. When within ten miles of Capa
Prince of Wales these men started for
land over the rough and broken ic-,
a most daring and tedious journey.
When yet within sight of those aboard
the steamer, one man was seen to fall
through the ice into the freezing
waters and was slowly drawn out by
the remaining four by means of rope
which was taken along to be used in
a case of this kind. Before going half
of the distance each in his turn met
met with similar accident and mar
rowly escaped drowning. Finally af-
ter running and jumping over miles
Of broken Ice, the party came within
one mile of shore, and found to their
dismay, that the broken shore ice was
being carried off shore in an opposite
direction at the rate of six miles an
hour The ice being separated and
moving so rapidly it was concluded
that it would be suicide to attempt to
make land, and with heavy hearts
and weary limbs the brave party were
forced to retrace their steps to the
steamer.
Although the trip had thus far been
, made successfully, it was seen that it
would be much harder to return. as
the ice was separating and parting
,, here and there, and the utmost cau-
tion was used lest they should be car
; ried away out of reach of the steamer
! A small ten-foot board was taken from
/, the steamer to be used in crossing
, from chunk to chunk over the OPEN
: ings in the icepack and this, the men
claimed saved their lives. Many
, times the party stepped on small piec-
!, es of broken ice, and by means of tho
board, padded across places which
might otherwise never have been
crossed. AS the Jeanie was drifting
away from the cape the compass was
unavailable in shaping their course,
and had fog settled down. thero
would have been no hope of their
ever being heard from. Finally lame
and foot-sore, the plucky party re-
gained the ship, which, since they had
left, and drifted miles away from the
cape.
"The Jeanie still being bound fast
In the ice. was carried northward
around the cape through Bering
Straits to the Arctic ocean. The cur
rent sets north here at the rate of
, four miles an hour. and the Jeanie
drifting past the Diomede Islands,
), was carried few miles off East Cape,
f, the most easterly point of land on
the Asiatic coast.
e -"As hundreds of miles of ice re-
mained in Bering sea, and statistics
showed that the ice had drifted north
a into the Arctic ocean for centuries, 1t
was naturally to be supposed that the
Jeanie would have long and hazard
GUS cruise. A meeting was called, and
It was agreed to cut down the food
supply, as it was barely probable the
ice would not break up or melt for
. months. On the II day out of Seattle,
: May II, boat which was supposed to
be the Northern Commercial COM
}, pany's steamer Portland, was sighted
d about 20 miles to the northeast of st.
p Lawrence Island, being caught in the
same trap with the Jeanie; she was
frequently sighted during clear wealth
e er until both were clear from the ice.
d 'For 30 days those steamers drift
ed around in the Arctic ocean, sur
rounded by miles and miles of ice,
I with'ino chance of escape until the
: breaking up of the icepack.
e "The Jeanie's rudder. which was
q severely wrenched, was unshipped to
: guard against further injury.
"It was believed the ice would break