The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-09-18
DAYS WITH DEAD
ON BLEAK ISLAND
BOSTON COLLEGE MAN HELD
CONVERSATION WITH FROZ-
EN- CORPSES. ATE DOGS.

On a black Alaskan island, covered
with wind-blown snow and frozen
spray, E. H. L. Mitchell, Boston col
lege man, held one-sided conversation
daily with his two dead companions,
hard frozen, to keep from going mad.
Mitchell recently reached the Unit
ed States and attempted to enlist in
the naval reserve, but frozen feet
barred him as recruit.
The Boston man had been pros
pecting in Alaska for two years
when he and three companions start
ed from Seward, Alaska, to Cold Bay.
where a gold strike had been report
ed. Two dogs also accompanied them
on the 450-mile trip in the small gas
motorboat. Mitchell and one compan-
ion, who later had to have frozen
foot amputated, were the only ones
who returned from the venture.
Trip Was Ill-Omened.
The trip in the Arctic waters was
ill-omened from the beginning. An
overturned hatch, an incident that
makes a superstitious sailor turn
white, was found as the voyage be-
gan. Two members of the party
dreamed of serious shipwrecks and
saw themselves struggling in the
water. These same two men were
the ones who never returned from
the trip.
The boat had passed the Afognek
island and was out in the open sea
when storm blew up. Roaring
wind whipped the spray against one
side of the boat and the frozen spray
made that side so heavy that the boat
listed dangerously. The nearest point
was the Barren islands, and mariners
IN Alaskan waters know nothing
about these islands except keep
away" However, the shelter of this
bleak group of rocks was the only
hope.
Beneath the Forbidding Rocks.
Toward the forbidding barren
rocks, rising sheer out of the sea.
the boat was steered. Around the
volcanic formation the boat could
find no anchorage and it was neces-
sary to keep the engine running full
speed all night. The dashing spray
covered the boat and men with a lay
er of ice, while the weird colors of
the Northern lights cast an uncanny
light over the scene. Early in the
morning an anchorage was found.
As daybreak witnessed a lull in the
storms moaning, three of the men
went ashore in a skiff, while. Mitchell
remained on the boat. Shortly after
ward the storm began again and
Mitchell saw his three companions
and the two dogs start back for the
boat. The little skiff was tossed about
helplessly. Finally a huge wave toss
ed it into the water, two men and a
dog sunk beneath the waves.
Life on Barren Rock Pile.
One companion and one dog reach
ed shore again and Mitchell started
the boat in the hope of getting to
them. However, the engine fouled
and the boat struck rock. From
this point Mitchell was able to swim
ashore with a line and he and his
companion managed to get some pro-
visions from the boat to shore.
Living on Drowned dough and mus
sells the two men managed to keep
alive week after week. Finally, driv-
en- by desperation, they killed their
dog and had few meals on differ
ent diet. The bodies of their two com
panions were washed ashore and the
corpses had to be lashed to driftwood
to keep them from washing away
Every morning Mitchell had to pull
them out of the water again and he
often sat on the beach and carried
on conversation with his dead com