IN THE ARCTIC

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1933, Page 6

IN THE ARCTIC

STEAMERS’ , ADVENTURES

STIRRING' EXPERIENCES,

VANCOUVER,. July. 24

The twenty-first cruise of the Hudson’s Bay Company's annual Airctic adventure is under way, with the depar-

ture 'from this, port ol the steamer Anyox, in command. of Captain B. D. L. Johnson, R N.lt.

Seventeen times Vancouver has welcomed the Arctic ships .back. Jhiee did not return. Two were, caught i'i the summer ice-.pack, that, tremendous . aie-a of. floating floes that ©lowly rotates in tidal and air currents around RoinBarrowy heading, in the Full, north iuid west. ,to join ..the P-ck that is anchored for all time near the North Role. The third ship \va s kept in the Western Arctic by her owners to distribute supplies, ■ from Merscbel Island to extreme eastern trading posts. . >phcie Arctic adventures commenced in 1915, with the Ruby, a wooden schooner,; with an auxiliary plant of 140 horse-power. The pioneer voyage was ■ arranged by Mr A. Bassett, fui trade inspector for the company. The master was an experienced northern whaler and trader. Then, as now, ships bound, around Cape Barrow had to adjust their ’sailing to a period in summer when balmy southern winds loosened the Polar field’ from’ its winter grip, and ghoved ,t.he pack out from the land, .leaving dee-dotted, laneg of open water to. the wider seas north of Canada. More than once- the company’s ships have slipped through the narrowing channel between the pack and. the land, and seen the ice lock with the shore, right under the stern of the fleeing vessel.

TRAPPED IN THE ICEFIELD

First to be caught in the ice was ' the ISI4 vessel, the MacPherson, commanded by a famous Indian trader and Behring Sea scaler. Captain Buekholtss. Ice-bo find off the Alaska coast, .she wintered there, and next year was fi ent to Herschel, where she was retained 1 in the Arctic for over. 10 years before i being relieved. 1 The Lady Kindersley, trapped by the ! icefield in 1924, wrote a stirring chapiter of history of conquest of; the Ajrctiq. | Commanded by Captain Gus Foejmer, I who passed to his rest three months i ago, is lie had made two successful voy- \ ages, but on August 6, 1924, was caught, just south of Barrow, oft the Alaska coast. For the rest, of the month the. master and urow fought to ft.ee her, the wind blew Die pack almost 'opposite the mouth of the Mackenzie, then wegt and north toward© the Sibeijan coast. With axes, dynamite, and steam the crew managed to keep her iin a small lake, about as wide as her•gelf, slightly longer. Despite their ..efforts. The frost gradually closed in .on. (■heir.

■ Rescue -ships, including, .the ill-fated Baychdmo, -hovered helpless on the edge of the pack. Finally, Captain Foelmei gave the order to abandon ship, wbh lipiv cargo, of fin's valued at about £200,000-. The crew started aoros s the pack, ( which wag badly broken with berg and hummock’ and open leads. They had almost given up hope of reaching the rescue eh-ips when Eskimos, with, sledges and a skin boat, reached them and transported them to safety. The. Lady Kinderaley ha B never since -been definitely reported, though rumours were received that she finally was looted by, Siberian off the Kolvma River.

STORY OF "A GHOST SHIP.”

The Baychijno. succeeded the Lady Kindersley until 1931, when, outbound from the Arctic, she was caught and badly crushed by. the ice-.pac.k, south of Barrow. Ca-p.ta-in Cornwall-made; c amp ashore ta nd lightered practically all lien cargo. He remained until the Bay-ehimo disappeared'. Then another stirring chapter "of Arctic history was written by American airmen, who saved the crew -and the whole of the cargo.

The Baychimo thereafter became a ghost ship. Again and again she appeared. Once an Eskimo party numbering 28 reached her, -but had great difficulty getting back. For the past -year she has not been reported. Her mate, Mr R.' J. Summers, is chief officer on her successor, which carries many of her :crew.