Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-09-29
FIGHTING DEATH
IN ARCTIC FLOES
Thrilling Story Of Adventure
by KarIuk Survivors.
BARTLETT LAST TO QUIT SHIP

Photograph Keeling OF Lively March
as Vessel Sank-Soup Made Of Hot
Water and Ducks Bones Only sus-
tenance When Food Gave out-Dsad
Buried on Bleak Wranssl Island.
w. L. McKinlay and J. r. Hadley,
two Of the survivors Of the wrecked
} steamer Karluk Of the Stefansson ex-
petition, have told of their experiences
while the Karluk was hard and fast
In the grip o. the polar Ice pack from
early last October up to Jan. 10. when
the ship was crushed and sunk. The
story is sent from Nome. Alaska, by
Lieutenant Ralph Dempwolf Of the
United States revenue cutter Bear.
Up to the time Of the sudden disas-
ter all those on board were well and
In good condition. During the drift
to the north and northwest the scien-
lists aboard looked forward to a drift
across the pole.
One peculiar discovery was made
when the ship drlfted across the local.
ity supposed to be keenan, Land, found
on the polar charts north Of Point Bar
row. Apparently this land does not
exist.
On Christmas day. 1913, all hands
got out on the ice pack around the ship
and played football and other sports
for prizes given by Captain Bartlett.
The games were followed by Christ
mas dinner.
- l, 6ni 1vy Nnfn ~ Arrtnn
data and is the only scientist to sur
vive who has been able to keep his
notes. james Murray. the naturalist
of the expedition. who is missing, also
took many meteorological Observa-
lions. His data and notes are lost
During the drift Captain Bartlett.
no doubt thinking Of possible disaster.
had skin clothing made for all the
ships company by Halifax and his
wife, Eskimos from Point Barrow. He
also had the sledges and gear put in
order, and as a daily routine the ships
crew chopped the Ice around the Kar-
LUX into small pieces to make a cushion
against the pressure Of the ice pack.
On JAN 10 the Karluk was crushed
by the ice along the water line. All
on board ut once set to work getting
e supplies and stores off the ship. and a
temporary camp was established on
the ice near Wrangel island.
Bartlett Last to Leave Ship.
Captain Bartlett was the last to leave
the ship, and as she took her final
plunge the photograph in the galley,
which he had set going. could be heard
playing stirring march.
DIR. Mackay, Murray, Henri Beauchet
and the seaman. Morris, were the first
to leave the temporary camp. They
insisted that an attempt to reach land
should be made ut once. DR.. Mackay,
who was In charge Of this party, insist
ed on pulling tie sledges by hand,
making the mistake Of trying to use
antarctic methods in the arctic.
In the antarctic. after passing the
barrier. one is on Il firm foundation, but
in the arctic the entire ice pack is con-
tinually moving and Is affected by the
winds and currents, necessitating a
greater amount Of travelling Using
dogs to haul the sledses saves the
strength of the men for marching.
The Mackay party had not been gone
many days when they lost half their
provisions. Beauchet had both of his
hands frozen. When they were last
seen they We're making slow progress
toward Wrangel island.
The other missing party. which was
In charge of First Mate Anderson. was
the second to leave shipwreck camp.
The gale made the enormous pres
sure ridge on the north side of Wran-
gel island. which was afterward con-
quered despite almost overwhelming
difficulties by Bartlett's party. the last
to leave camp. Although the gale had
died down when they reached the
ridge the great mass of ice. fifty feet
high and three miles wide. was still
grinding together under the momentum
the ice had gathered in the gale, and
they had to wait two days before at.
tempting the passage.
After Bartlett left to attempt the
crossing of Berng strait to get help
McKinlay. Hadley, Bredin and Kuril-
LUX. the Eskimo. with his wife and two
children, esta blished a camp near War
ing point. on the east coast Of Wrangel
island They named the bay near by
McKinlay bay. 'f
Lived In Dugouts Under Snow.
Monro, Malloch, Mamen, Williamson,
7 Chafe. Templemen. Williams and
Mauer camped at Rodgers harbor. on
the south coast of the island They
D lived in dugouts under the snow until
May and then moved into the tents
On Wrangel island near the tent OF
Z the living, Barn Mamen. assistant to
the geologist, and George s. Mallock,
l. geologist and topographer, were buried.
1t is not known just what they died
Of, but it was not scurvy.
The prov isions gave out the first
: week in June From then on three
! polar bears several young white foxes,
s seagulls, walrus. seals and ducks with
r out salt were their fare.
t. For three months and some days not
k even meat was to be had On these
r days breakfast consisted of hot water
q and dinner of soup made Of hot water
and cracked ducks bones, which Kuril'
u luks wife had the foresight to save
T. from the 'pst meal