Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-08

"rhs explosion Of the Forward tool
| their last means OF subsistence"
| in the folds of the tent. The dogs were
so exhausted from starvation that they
could scarcely draw 1t along, and they
had begun to gnaw their harness.
While the hut was being dug out tho
doctor went foraging about, and had
the good fortune to find a little stove.
almost unchanged by the explosion. He.
sooR restored it to working trim, and,
| by the time the hut was completed, had
filled it with wood and got 1t lighted.
Before long II was roaring, and diffus-
ing a genial warmth on all sides.
The American was brought In and
| laid on blankets, and the four English
men seated themselves around the fire
to enjoy their scanty meal of biscuit
and hot tea, the last remains OF the
provisions on the sledge. Not word
was spoken by Hatteras, and the others
respected his silence.
When the meal was over, the doctor
rose and went out, making a sign to
Johnson to follow.
Come, Johnson" he said, "our goods
are scattered in all directions. We had
better pick them up as fast as possible
for the snow may fall at any moment,
look for anything"
Don't let us lose a minute, then"
replied Johnson. Fire and wood
I these are our chief wants"
very we'll, you search one side an6
IN take the other, and Wen take from
the center to the circumference
This task occupied two hours, and
( all they discovered was little salt
meat, about so pounds of pemmlcan:
three sacks of biscuits small STOCK OF
chocolate, five or six pounds OF cotree'
picked up bean by bean OH the ice
Neither blankets, nor hammocks' nor
c,o+bing were found-all had been con-
sunned in the devouring flame.
This slender store of provisions
would hardly last three weeks, and tney
had wood enough to supply the sIoNe
for about the same time.
Cantain Hatteras, with Bell and the
doctor. had been away on an exploring
expedition when the meeting occurred.
The morning after the little party hao
built their snow house, he called John-
son to him.
"Tell me all the particulars OF the mu-
tiny on the brig" he said
"weu." began the sailor, almost i'm
rna6iateIv after your departure Shandon.
supported by the others. took command
az the ship. I couldn't resist him. Sham
dom made no attempt at discipline He
made them believe that their privations
and tolls were at an end. Economy was
entirely dlsregarded.
"a blazing fire was kept UP in the stove,
and the men were allowed 10 eat ana
drink all they wanted. Not only was sea
and coffee at their disposal, but all the
liquor. -,
con men who had been so long deprived
OF strong drink, you may guess the. re-
suit. They went on in this manner from
the 7th to the 18th of January
And this was Shandon's doing?" asked
Hatteras.
Yes, captain"
'It was about the Path or 25th of Janu-
arv that they resolved to abandon the
ship. Their plan was to reach the west
coast of Baffins bay, and from thence tn
embark in the boat and follow the track
of the whalers or to get to some OF the
Greenland settlements on the eastern side.
Provisions were abundant, and the sick
men were so excited by the hope Of return
that they were almost we'll
''They began their preparations for de-
parture by making a sledge which they
were to draw themselves. as they had no
dogs. This was not ready till the 18th OF
February, and I was always hoping for
your arrival, LnOuSn L NAH uiSduCO IT.
too. for you could have done nothing with
the men, and they would have massacred
YOU rather than remain on board.
''I tried my influence on each one sep
arately, demonstrating and reasoning with
them, and pointing out the dangers they
would encounter, and also the cowardfce
Of leaving you, but 1t was a mere waste
Of words Not even the best among them
would listen to me.
"Shandon was impatient to be of. and
fixed the 22d of February for starting
The sledge and the boat were packed as
closely as possible with provisions and
spirits, and heaps Of wood, to obtain
which they had hewed the brig down
to her water line. The last day the men
ran riot. They completely sacked the
ship, and in a drunken paroxysm Pen
and two or three others set 1t on fire. 1
fought and struggled against them, but
they threw me down and assailed me
with blows and then the wretches. head
ed by Shandon, went off towards the
east and were soon out Of sight.
''I found myself alone on the burning
ship, and what could I do? The fire hole
was completely blocked up with ice. 1
had not a single drop of water! Two
days the forward struggled with the
flames, and you know the rest"
A long silence followed the gloomy
recital. broken at length by Hatteras,
who said:
johnson, thank you; you did all you
could to save my ship, but single-handed
you could not resist. Again thank you,