THE NEWS OF CAPTAIN BARTLETT’S ARRIVAL AT ST. MICHAEL’SREACHES NOME
THE NEWS OF CAPTAIN BARTLETT’S ARRIVAL AT ST. MICHAEL’SREACHES NOME
THE NEWS OF CAPTAIN BARTLETT’S ARRIVAL AT ST. MICHAEL’SREACHES NOME
Lee took me to the agent of the Northern Commercial Company, which has a large trading-house at St. Michael’s, and I was given a good room in the winter hotel where the company’s employees are quartered. The summer hotel was closed. Lee and I sat up until late that night, talking overtheKarluk’sdrift and the subsequent adventures of our ship’s company.
Early the next morning I was at the office of the wireless, which is a military station of the Signal Corps of the United States Army. I had very little money and as he had to follow the regulations the sergeant in charge refused to send my message to Ottawa unless I could pay for it. This was an unexpected obstacle. I had travelled a good many hundred miles to reach this spot and I am afraid that I almost lost my patience with the red tape that could stand in the way of a message that had to be sent. About that time Lee came in and explained matters, and the sergeant finally concluded to send the message, which I had written:
St. Michael’s, Alaska,May 29, 1914.Naval Service, Ottawa, Canada:Karlukice pressure sank January 11, sixty miles north Herald Island. Preparation made last fall leave ship therefore comfortable on ice. January twenty-first sent first and second mate two sailors with supporting party three months provisions Wrangell Island. Supporting party returned leaving them close Herald Island. They expected land island when ice moved in shore. February fifth Mackay, Murray, Beuchat, Sailor Morris left us using man power pull sledges. Sent again Herald Island three sledges, twenty dogs, pemmican, biscuit, oil. Open water prevented theirlanding. Saw no signs men, presumed they gone Wrangell. Returning left provisions along trail. Shortly after their return east gale sent us west. February twenty-fourth I left camp. March twelfth landed Munro, Williamson, Malloch, McKinlay, Mamen, Hadley, Chafe, Templeman, Maurer, Breddy, Williams, Eskimo family Wrangell eighty-six days’ supplies each man.March seventeenth Munro two men fourteen dogs left for supplies Shipwreck Camp. Plenty of driftwood game island. March eighteenth I left island Eskimo landed Siberia fifty miles west Cape North. May twenty-first Captain Pederson WhalerHermancalled for me Emma Harbor going out of his way whaling to do so. Soundings meteorological observations dredging kept up continually. Successful. Twelve hundred fathoms animal life found bottom.Need funds pay bills contracted Siberia and here. Wire Northern Commercial Company, San Francisco, five hundred dollars. Instruct them forward by wire St. Michael’s.Bartlett, Captain, C. G. S.
St. Michael’s, Alaska,May 29, 1914.Naval Service, Ottawa, Canada:
Karlukice pressure sank January 11, sixty miles north Herald Island. Preparation made last fall leave ship therefore comfortable on ice. January twenty-first sent first and second mate two sailors with supporting party three months provisions Wrangell Island. Supporting party returned leaving them close Herald Island. They expected land island when ice moved in shore. February fifth Mackay, Murray, Beuchat, Sailor Morris left us using man power pull sledges. Sent again Herald Island three sledges, twenty dogs, pemmican, biscuit, oil. Open water prevented theirlanding. Saw no signs men, presumed they gone Wrangell. Returning left provisions along trail. Shortly after their return east gale sent us west. February twenty-fourth I left camp. March twelfth landed Munro, Williamson, Malloch, McKinlay, Mamen, Hadley, Chafe, Templeman, Maurer, Breddy, Williams, Eskimo family Wrangell eighty-six days’ supplies each man.
March seventeenth Munro two men fourteen dogs left for supplies Shipwreck Camp. Plenty of driftwood game island. March eighteenth I left island Eskimo landed Siberia fifty miles west Cape North. May twenty-first Captain Pederson WhalerHermancalled for me Emma Harbor going out of his way whaling to do so. Soundings meteorological observations dredging kept up continually. Successful. Twelve hundred fathoms animal life found bottom.
Need funds pay bills contracted Siberia and here. Wire Northern Commercial Company, San Francisco, five hundred dollars. Instruct them forward by wire St. Michael’s.
Bartlett, Captain, C. G. S.
My own special task was done. The responsibility for what remained to be done would be shared with others; means must be devised for the rescue of the men on Wrangell Island.