R E I^ O R T 



OF THE 



CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN 



U. S. Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin, 



San Francisco. Cal. 



Sir : I have the Ixonor to submit tlie folhjwing report of the Alaskan and Arctic cruise of 

 the U. S. Revenue Marine steamer Corwin, under my command, dtiring the summer of 1885. 



The Corwin leftSanFrancisco, Cal., on the afternoon of April 30. and arrived at Ounalaska 

 May 0, having made tlie passage in ten and one-quarter days. 



The voyage, aside from the rough weather usually experienced on a trip of tliis kind, was 

 devoid of any incident worthy of particular mention until the last day. About "2 oVlock m 

 the morning of the 9tli of May, Francis McCauley. tlie seaman on lookout, was suddenly thrown 

 overboard by the motion of the vessel, which was rolling dee]) in the trough of the sea. The 

 engine was immediately stopped and reversed, a life-buoy thrown (jverboard. and two boats 

 promptly lowered to rescue him, but all without avail. We remained in the vicinity of the 

 accident", our boats pulling to and fro. for four and one-half houi-s, and then steamed ahead for 

 Ounalaska, where we arrived at 9 o'clock that evening. The deceased bore a most excellent 

 reputation, and his tragic and sad death cast a gloom over our ship for many days. 



A few days after our arrival at (Junalaska, the bark Atlantic was sighted outside, endeavor- 

 ing to enter the liarbor. There being no pilots in the vicinity, and knowing that the captain was 

 uiracquainted witli those waters, I went to his assistance and piloted the Atlantic into Ounalaska 

 Harbor. She had l)een injured by the ice and was then leaking badly, and was obliged to enter 

 port to make repairs. While in port we lent every aid to expedite the work of repairing, and 

 members of our crew assisted in blacksmithing and carpentry. 



At Ounalaska we took on board a supply of coal and water, and left on the morning of the 

 Uth of May, intending to visit the island of Attou, the westernmost of the Aleutian group, 

 and on our "return to stop at the settlements between Attou and Ounalaska. 



When we were off Cape Cheerful it was found that tlie engine worked very badly. The 

 vessel was put under sail and the engine stopped and uncoupled, and a preliminary examina- 

 tion disclosed a crack in the crank-pin. compelling us to Avork back to (Ounalaska under sail. 

 After arriving in port, a careful and thorough examination was made by the chief engineer, 

 who reported the crank-pin broken in a dangerous manner, and that it would be necessary 

 to have it repaired before continuing our cruise north. After much reflection and with a 

 great deal of regret, we started back to San Francisco to make repairs, leaving Lieutenant 

 Cantwell and two seamen at Ounalaska with instructions to take passage on the steamer St. 

 Paul to Otter Island, there to protect seal life during the absence of the vessel. 



We arrived in San Francisco May 28. and on the following day. acting under telegraphic 

 instructions from the Department, I awarded the contract for repairs to the Risdon Iron Works 

 of San Francisco, the work to be completed in not more than eight days. The company's em- 

 ploye's labored night and day, and finished the work in one week, in such a workmanlike 

 manner that it has given entire satisfaction since. 



