ARRIVAL OF THE NORTH STAR THE RESCUE. 427 



brought home as a relic. Captain Owens extended to the 

 rescued men the hospitality of his ship, and offered to con- 

 vey them to St. Michaels, Sitka, or San Francisco. All of 

 them felt grateful for his kindness and prompt action in 

 coming to their relief. 



When tidings of the loss of the Rodgers came to the Uni- 

 ted States by telegraph from Irkutsk, the Secretary of the 

 Navy arranged to send a steamer to pick up the crew. The 

 Corwin, commanded by Lieutenant M. A. Healey, was se- 

 lected for the service, and sailed from San Francisco April 

 24th. 



The Corwin arrived off the south entrance of St. Lawrence 

 Bay on the morning of May 14th, and there spoke the whaler 

 Hunter, whose captain confirmed the story of the burning 

 of the Rodgers, and said that the North Star had come 

 to rescue the crew. Lieutenant Healey pressed onward 

 through the ice, and before midnight was in the bay. A 

 steamer lying close to the land near South Head was spoken, 

 and proved to be the North Star; she had just taken the 

 last of the Rodgers crew aboard, and was ready to sail for 

 Ounalaska. The party were immediately transferred to the 

 Corwin, which started on her return early on the morning 

 of May 15th. 



The Corwin arrived at San Francisco, June 23d, after a 

 quick and pleasant passage via Sitka and Wrangel. 



The North Star was a new ship just arrived from New 

 Bedford, Mass., via Cape Horn. After leaving the Corwin 

 she went north, and was crushed by the ice June 25th. The 

 crew escaped to the U. S. signal station at Point Barrow, 

 and were there cared for by Lieutenant Ray. 



