Report of the Cruise of the Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean

Download or read book Report of the Cruise of the Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean written by M. A. Healy and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-22 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Report of the Cruise of the Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean: In the Year 1885 Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the Alaskan and Arctic cruise of the U. S. Revenue Marine steamer Corwin, under my command, during the summer of 1885. The Corwin left San Francisco, Cal., on the afternoon of April 29, and arrived at Ounalaska May 9, having made the passage in ten and one-quarter days. The voyage, aside from the rough weather usually experienced on a trip of this kind, was devoid of any incident worthy of particular mention until the last day. About 2 o'clock in the morning of the 9th of May, Francis McCauley, the seaman on lookout, was suddenly thrown overboard by the motion of the vessel, which was rolling deep in the trough of the sea. The engine was immediately stopped and reversed, a life-buoy thrown overboard, and two boats promptly lowered to rescue him, but all without avail. We remained in the vicinity of the accident, our boats pulling to and fro, for four and one-half hours, and then steamed ahead for Ounalaska, where we arrived at 9 o'clock that evening. The deceased bore a most excellent reputation, and his tragic and sad death cast a gloom over our ship for many days. A few days after our arrival at Ounalaska, the bark Atlantic was sighted outside, endeavoring to enter the harbor. There being no pilots in the vicinity, and knowing that the captain was unacquainted with those waters, I went to his assistance and piloted the Atlantic into Ounalaska Harbor. She had been injured by the ice and was then leaking badly, and was obliged to enter port to make repairs. While in port we lent every aid to expedite the work of repairing, and members of our crew assisted in blacksmithing and carpentry. At Ounalaska we took on board a supply of coal and water, and left on the morning of the 14th of May, intending to visit the island of Attou, the westernmost of the Aleutian group, and on our return to stop at the settlements between Attou and Ounalaska. When we were off Cape Cheerful it was found that the engine worked very badly. The vessel was put under sail and the engine stopped and uncoupled, and a preliminary examination disclosed a crack in the crank-pin, compelling us to work back to Ounalaska under sail. After arriving in port, a careful and thorough examination was made by the chief engineer, who reported the crank-pin broken in a dangerous manner, and that it would be necessary to have it repaired before continuing our cruise north. After much reflection and with a great deal of regret, we started back to San Francisco to make repairs, leaving Lieutenant Cantwell and two seamen at Ounalaska with instructions to take passage on the steamer St. Paul to Otter Island, there to protect seal life during the absence of the vessel. We arrived in San Francisco May 28, and on the following day, acting under telegraphic instructions from the Department, I awarded the contract for repairs to the Risdon Iron Works of San Francisco, the work to be completed in not more than eight days. The company's employes labored night and day, and finished the work in one week, in such a workmanlike manner that it has given entire satisfaction since. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com