340 NOTE TO ACCOMPANY THE CHART 



that there were only eight who, with great pain, could help them- 

 selves, and only three of these were able to be on deck. Bering 

 called into consultation such of the officers and men as were able 

 to drag themselves into the cabin; and, being convinced they 

 would not be able to handle the ship in the event of a storm, it 

 was decided immediately to seek an anchorage where they might 

 winter on shore and rid themselves of the dreadful disease that 

 had gripped the ship's company. 



The St. Peter was therefore worked over to Bering Island, and 

 on November 6 a small anchor was dropped in 12 fathoms of 

 water. The cable parted, and another small anchor was let go; 

 but this cable parted also, and by the time the heavy anchor 

 could be got overboard to hold the ship the fresh easterly 

 breeze had carried her into 4^2 fathoms, close to the shore. The 

 longboat was lowered, and the task of getting the sick men ashore 

 was begun; but with the very few men who were able to move 

 about this was not completed until the 15th, and meanwhile the 

 scurvy had claimed seven more victims. 



A narrow section of sandy beach was discovered near the camp, 

 and it was decided to haul the St. Peter ashore at this place, where 

 they might secure her against the winter storms. It was found, 

 however, that there was no sufficient strength left in the crew 

 even to raise the anchor, and the ship remained where they left 

 her until November 28, when a heavy gale drove her ashore and 

 wrecked her on the very beach where they had planned to lay 

 her up. 



Bering was very ill when he was carried ashore on November 8 

 and realized that he could not last many days; but he retained 

 his mind and power of speech and continued to direct affairs to 

 the end. At 2 o'clock in the morning of December 8, 1741, he 

 passed away, and his comrades reverently interred his remains 

 on the island that bears his name and marked the spot with a 

 cross. 



With the fresh water and fresh meat which they were able to 

 procure on shore the health of the men rapidly improved, and by 

 Christmas most of them were on their feet again. As they 



