Evening star., 1932-02-17

Press by Capt. Sydney A. Cornwall,
master of the ill-fated veSselD
BY CAPT. SYDNEY A. CORNWALL,
Master CT the Fur-Trading Ship Baychimo.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska February IL
When the passengers and others from
the ship left on the last plane last Fall
for Nome we became resigned to our
fate and decided we had long Winter
before us on the barren ice-clogged
Arctic Coast. Anyway, we were too late
to get the Baychimo out of the ice
fields and some of us had to stay to
guard it.
We didn't know then of the terrific
gales that were to wreck the ship and
were confident we would save her. We
didn't know all the experiences we were
going to have. either, and were certainly
ready to leave the country when the
first planes arrived at Sea Horse Island
Cnear WainwrighO a few days ago. 1t
required several trips for the two p'anes
carrying three of us at time. to bring
all II of the crew out to Kotzebue
Plenty Of Food.
Three of us were flown here yester-
day from Kotzebue. The other IA hope
to arrive on time to board next Mon
DAYS SOuthbOund train.
We were well supplied with clothing
and provisions when we settled down
on the coast last Fall. We built house
from material taken from the ship, and
each of us had a job such as banking
the house with snow to keep in the
warmth, making sleds and hauling ice
3 miles for drinking water.
The Baychimo was locked in the
ice a quarter of mile from our house.
Daily trips were made to her to keep
her propeller free of ice. During those
first few weeks the temperature dropped
as low as so below and usually was
10 to 20 degrees below.
1t was difficult to find driftwood
along the coast We had plenty OF
coal, but wished to save it, believing
It would be needed in the Spring to
steam up the Baychimo's boilers and
get us to the next point where coal
was available.
Our engineers made some fine stoves
out of oil drums. The Eskimos kept
us we'll supplied with reindeer meat
and we had preserved potatoes and
other food.
Gloomy Christmas Day.
On December 25 Christmas day, the
Temperature rose from 60 below to 10
above in a single night. The Wlnd
started blowing from the southwest SO
you couldn't see your hand in front
of your face. 1 had gone to VAIN
wright on ships business, but I was
told later our house vibrated con-
stantlv and it was feared it would col
lapse in the terrific gale.
The water rose to height OF or 7
feet and ice was crushed in towards
shore, piling up ridges so to 70 feet
high. =.
At noon December 81 the gale abated
somewhat. The men looked out from
their shack. but could only see noun
famous ridge where the Baychimo had
been. BY pm. it was possible for
them to 60 out. The ship had vanished.
The engineer Murchie, started mush-
ing to Wainwright to notify me. 1t
took him 1la days to make the o.
mile trip He was caught in a gale
the first night and built an igloo to
protect himself, but the intensity of the
gale drove him out. He started mush-
Ing again to keep from freezing to
death
When he arrived at Wainwright, at
once ordered my dog team and came at
full speed to the camp where we might
get in communication with the outside
world with our radio.
Search for Ship.
Then j. Sommers, chief officer, and
A. V. Kively, second officer, conducted
a search over the rough, treacherous ice
offshore for a distance of 3 miles to
first open water. Along there for IS
miles in each direction they searched
without success for the ship.
l travelled to Point Barrow, searching
the shore line, but with no better luck.
Later. while at Point Barrow, learned
the ship had finally been located and
the furs salvaged by c. D. Morris with
the assistance of natives. I started
for camp, but was driven back to Bar
row by gale, and had to wait three
days.
When arrived our ship had disap-
peared for the second time. These who
saw her said she was twisted like putty
and had long gap in the side which
meant she would sink Immediately in
open water Storms since then have
certainly carried her into some open
lead and sunk her.
Those aviators flying North to search
for the Baychimo are going to be dis
appointed. Even if she we're found
there is nothing aboard her now worth
salvaging.
Two Hunt by Plane.
William Graham. Alaskan aviator
and Mrs. Edna Christofferson. Port
land. Oreg., SportSwoman, left Yakima,
Wash, several days ago by plane for
Point Barrow, where they said they
would conduct search for the Bay
chino and attempt to salvage any cargo
aboard.
They left Hazleton, B. c.. Monday
bound for Atlin B. c.. about 300 miles.
They were last sighted about 100 miles
south of Atlin and it was believed they
may have landed safely at some other
inland British Columbia point.
Only 81 miles of railway lines have