CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 11 



selves, their officers, anil crews on hoard the Corwin to San Francisco, every preparation was 

 marie to receive them and to provide for tlieir comfort. The lockers on the berth-deck were 

 torn down and berths erected for a pai't of the officers of those vessels, berths being placed 

 in the cabin for the two captains. 



The following day, August I'i, we received on board a few provisions that had been saved 

 from the George and Snsdii. also two whale-boats, which I deemed it advisable to have, our 

 own boats being inadec^uate to provide for all on board in case of disaster to the vessel. That 

 evening and the next day the captains, officers, and crews of the wrecked vessels came on board 

 the Corwin for passage to San Francisco. 



As the DeiDartment last year refused to reimburse the ward-room officers for providing for 

 those officers of the Bowhead that had messed with them, some objections were made to receiv- 

 ing the officers of the two vessels at their table. There being no room forward for them, and 

 the forecastle being entirely unsuitable for an officer, they were received into the cabin mess 

 and fed at my personal expense, the crowded condition of the cabin necessitating the setting of 

 a first and second table. 



The crews of both vessels as they came on board were tolled off in starboard and port 

 watches with our own crew and a Government ration served to each man. Great care was 

 taken that no distinction should be made either in work or food between the wrecked men and 

 our own crew. 



One man was taken on board from the Reindeer, he being greatly in need of medical 

 attendance and in a criticcil condition. He was formerly of the crew of the bark Napoleon, 

 and at the time of the wreck of that vessel all the toes of both feet were badly frozen. He 

 was taken on boai'd the Reindeer, and his condition was such that his toes had to be ampu- 

 tated. There being no surgeon in the Arctic or within several hundred miles at that time, the 

 operation was performed by Captain Baker, of the Reindeer, being resorted to as an extreme 

 measure and one actually necessary to save life. After the man was taken on board the Cor- 

 n-in a further amputation was found necessary, and was subsequently performed in a most 

 skillful and professional manner by Dr. Yemans. The man received the best possible care, 

 his feet being dressed each day by the surgeon, and one of the crew was detailed particularly to 

 attend to all his wants. He improved rapidly from tlie time of tlie operation, and on our arrival 

 in San Francisco was sent to the United States marine hospital. 



Having received on board in all fifty-four wrecked men, we got under way on the morning 

 of August 1-1 and steamed to the northward, toward Point Franklin. From masthead the ice 

 was visible from northeast to west, packed solid from the shore at Point Franklin as far as the 

 eye could reach. 



Six vessels of the fleet had in the mean time cruised toward Point Barrow, and as the ice 

 had closed in to the southward of them, there was no way for them to get out until the wind 

 should blow strong enough from the northeast to drive the ice off shore and leave them a clear 

 passage to the southward. Finding the cutter could then be of no further service to the whaling 

 fleet, we steamed to the southward and anchored oft' C&pe Lisburjie coaling station. There we 

 procured a supply of fresh water and steamed over to the coal mine, near Cape Sabine, intending 

 to take coal on board from the mine. 



Finding the sea too rough to allow any work to be done, and it being unsafe to lay to aiachor, 

 we stood off and on under sail until the sea had gone down, and then anchored off the mine at 

 5. -to a. ni., August 17. . The remainder of the day and until 10 o'clock that night the crew were 

 employed in watches coaling ship, and we received on board about seventeen tons of steaming 

 coal. 



At i o'clock the following morning, as I was very anxious concerning the condition of the 

 vessels around Point Barrow, we got under way and returned to the nortliward. We anchored 

 under Icy Cape that evening, and arrived off Wainwright Inlet August 19. 



The steamer Orca and the bark Mary and Susan, two of the six vessels that were shut in 

 by the ice, succeeded in striking a lead and working their way into clear water. Their escape 

 was attended witli considerable danger and difficulty, and, as they were obliged to keep close 

 to the shore while working their way out, both vessels struck the bottom several times. 



