Year: 1875

OF our situation. Had had news from Captain Mares
stating THAI he had gone on positively, would have
decided to beat up to Ltleton Island with the letters
But the face Of northern gale and the season fast
passing away, and information as TO where the
Alert and Discovery had gone considered II far best
TO leave things as they were and proceed on my own
affairs as if il were possible by any chance that the
ships still southwark OF us, they would pick up
their letters the way and II north tney would prob
ably send down the spring for them If considered OF
sufficient consequence imagined Captain Mares, not
| having stopped at these islands that he may have
passed in gale OF wind fog, or he may have found
Ice around them and did not wish to delay by waiting
for opportunity to land. Our whaling men on
board, OF course and might be expected suggested
at that they have been caught in the middle leo
and 'druv doom the coontry,n and this seems to be
their idea Of the fate ofevery ship coming to these
seas.





"August 2o-Thrce bears being on the ice went
away in the second cutter with Pirc and Beynen and
after shooting the old she bear and one cub
ceeded in getting rope round the larger cub and tow
ing him to the ship. Now began most lively scene
ana il was with some difficulty VIC got him on board
and tied down ring bolts with his hind legs secured
and Notwithstanding this rough treatment he showed
most wonderful energy in trying TO attack any who
came within reach and especially dogs, who seemed
/
on the quarter deck with chain round his neck and
began 10 feed ravenously on-l sorry to have
TO write this own mother who speedily cut up
and pieces of her flesh thrown TO my ship-mate.
am in hopes that he is only adopted child, and the
great difference between him and the other cub war
rants tins suppositon being three times the size OF
the other he could have been of the litter
| ''24th.-Wc passed a most dismal night, the wind in
creasing and bowling in the rigging Snow and seet
/ also prevailed as we scudded onward We caught
glimpse OF the land apparently somewhere between
Sergeant Point and Cape York. II only for mo-
ment, and then all darkness and wind and
and ice In the midst of this situation bear grad
ually worked himself state OF frantic excitement,
watching the Zoe Ice rapidly dashing past our sides,
and in his attempt to get over the bulwarks he re-
leased his chain until il evident that in few
ments he would be free whether to dive overheard
to run muck among the watch appeared question OF
doubt The alarm being given by Pire, who
writing the deck log the watch called to secure
the bear and feared that during the half hour which
elapsed the ship left less, take OF
herself. The whole watch besides Pirie and
myself with crowbar, attacked the unfortu-
Brun, whose frantic struggles and
deavor to attack every within reach
quite as much as we could control He was loose, but
by fortunate event running moose was passed round
his neck and the poor brute hauled down to ring
bolt until could secure chain round his neck and
body. had hitherto conception Of the strength of
these animals and especially of the power Of thcir
jaws; fearing that the iron crowbar might injure his
! teeth, jammed mop handle into his mouth while the
others securing his chain and he bit it completely
through At last Brun gave in, and beyond
sonal struggle to get loose and constant low growing
he gave further trouble. ought to mention that
in the midst of the scrimmage the Doctor called up
1 to give him dose Of OPIUM in the hope of subdung
i him by this means but having succeeded getting
him to swallow piece of bubber saturated in chloro
form and opium sufficient to kill dozen men, our
Bruin did not appear to have experienced the slightest
effect, and the Doctor, who volunteered to remain up
and expressed some anxiety to the BEARS fate,
! tired below somewhat disappointed"


! At later date Captain Young wres:-


sour bear s getting reconcilcd to his conGne-
ment; but when among close ice he gets into
state of fury in his endeavor get OF the ship and
our dogs are constantly worrying him by stealing his
food.


BEEcHY ISLAND.


sAugest 25-We sight Cape Riley and Beechy Island.
We cairn, with staff at the south end, and we
soon make out house and boats upon the low shore.
The wind increased from the north with all appearance
OF gale prcpare to anchor and steer in toward the
bay. AT eleven anchored in twelve fathoms, mud
and clay bottom. l went shore with two OF the





the provisions and boats. found that the house nad
been at the door and both sides by the wind
and bears, and almost everything light and movable
either blown out dragged out by bears, which had
also torn up all the tops OF the bales and scattered
! the contents around for some distance. The house
was nearly full OF ice and snow, and this frozen so
| hard that could not anything excepting
] with pickaxe and crowbar and then only the
few things which were projecting above tho surface.
j MI
scattered about Many Of tho casks had
been eaten through the bilges and the contents ex-
tracted. The whole place was scene Of confusion
| and the kitchen mere wreck. could not find any
traces of the place having been visited by human beings
since our departure the Fox the 14h OF August
1853 The only thing noticed that coal FIRE had
| been made on the beach; but this might have been
done by Of the Fox, even by the crews Of
| the squadron OF Sir Ed. Belcher. A cask OF rum
standing in the doorway intact conclusive proof in
my mind that neither Esquimaux British sailors
/ had entered that way.


81 found the Mary, cutter yacht in good condition;
her bottom appeared quite uninjurcd but could not
see her CARDBOARD for the stones hcaped under the
/ blges to keep her upright She stood in apparently
I the position when finally stored there In her
fore compartment il anchor and chain some horn
lanterns bright as new and sundry boatswain's
stores In her cabin the sails are slowed in the
wings and beyond slight leakage from the decks tho
cabin dry perfectly clean and free of snow. The
after compartment was in similarly good state, and
set of carpenters tools and cauking implements
carefully slowed there The ladder was in excellent
order, most Of the spars good Standing rigging was
alott, but no running gear could be found should
consider that the Mary might be made available for a
rctreating party in about four five days with the
sources Of Northumberland House The feboat cutter
lying by her marked





N-ll50


Oct


1851


She could be made seryiceable in day. lifeboat
cutter the house was next examined She is