250 HISTORY OF KAMSCHATKA. [chap. 



siistained what, at the tmie, appeared to them the most terrible 

 blow that had yet befallen them ; a disaster that seemed to deprive 

 them of their last hope of ever regaining Kamschatka. On the 

 night of the 28th of November, during a heavy gale from the 

 E.S.E. the cable parted, and the St. Peter came ashore. Next morn- 

 ing she was found buried in the sand to the depth of eight or nine 

 feet, and with her back broken. If the lives of the rest of the crew 

 were to be saved it could only be by means of a boat constructed 

 from the wreckage, but as yet no thought could be entertained of 

 their future plans, and all their energies w^ere directed to the 

 support of life throughout the long and dreary winter. Thanks to 

 the abundant animal life upon the island, this was an affair of no 

 great difficulty. At first the Sea-otter {Enhydra liitris) formed 

 their chief means of sustenance, and of the greatly-prized skins of 

 this animal they preserved no less than 900 during their stay 

 upon the island.-^ Later they were able to kill many of the now 

 totally extinct Bhytina or Sea-cow {R. gigas), whose flesh was far 

 more palatable ; and by this means they succeeded in sa^dng their 

 remaining stock of flour and other provisions until the time came 

 for their final attempt to reach Kamschatka. 



At the end of ]\Iarch, the snow having nearly melted, a consul- 

 tation was held as to the best means of escape. Death had again 

 reduced almost by half the number of those who first went into 

 winter-quarters on the island, and of the w^hole crew but forty-five 

 survived. The frightful sufterings they had gone through had 

 obliterated all considerations of rank, and Waxel no longer 

 attempted to take command. A proposal was made to deck the 

 open boat which still remained in their possession, and to send 

 her to Kamschatka for help, but this was rejected, and it was 

 resolved to break up the stranded St. Peter, and to construct a 

 small craft out of the material. The task was one of no ordinary 



1 According to Dr., Stejneger("Proc. of U.S. Xation. Mus." 1883), this species is 

 now practically extinct upon the island. It is, however, still found upon the Kurile 

 Islands, and on the shores of the southern part of Kamschatka. 



