The Ocean still frozen over on the 22d of June.--On the 24th
the Ice began to break up.--Whales appear.--Walrus follow
the Ice.--Daily looking for Ships.--Report of our Wreck
five hundred Miles below East Cape.--Method of sending News
by the Natives.--Ships notified of our Condition.--How.--
The Resolution of Captains Jernegan and Goosman.--Arrival of
two Ships off East Cape.--Natives first spy them.--Stir in
the Settlement.--Happy Day of Deliverance.--Words feeble to
express our Joy.--A fit Occasion for Gratitude and Thanks to
God.--Preparations to go on board.--The Welcome of Captain
Goosman.--Captain Norton with Captain Jernegan.--Crew
collected.--Changed our native for sailor Dress.--Liberality
of the Officers and Crews in furnishing Clothes.--A Review of
the Past.--The Settlement visited.--Dinner.--Arrival at the
Islands.--A Card.
On the 22d of June, every thing, so far as the eye could reach,
remained the same upon the ocean as in midwinter; and, to appearance,
there was no immediate prospect that the ice would break up for some
time to come.
On the 24th, however, only two days afterwards, vast masses of ice had
left the ocean, water appeared in every direction, though the shore
along the coast was piled up with immense blocks and sheets of ice;
and in the distance we could clearly perceive varied elevations of
icebergs, differing in dimensions and form, scattered here and there
upon the surface of the water. The scene presented to our view was
that of an awful wreck or convulsion in nature, while those stupendous
fragments exhibited the force and energy which had been displayed.
The next day, the 25th, we saw whales close in to the edge of the ice
on shore; they remained in the vicinity several days, and then went
south again, or to some other part of the ocean, as we supposed, for
their food.
The ice having left this region more suddenly than common, greatly
disappointed the usual expectations of the natives in taking a large
number of walrus, which are highly prized among them. They serve about
the same purpose with them as the reindeer does to the Laplander.
The walrus follow the ice; and they are usually found in great
abundance among it, and especially upon the edges of extensive tracts
both of floating and field ice.
After the ice had passed away, and the ocean was once more free from
the embargo which winter had laid upon it, we anxiously and daily
looked for some approaching sail. We knew that arctic whalemen would
soon be along, and pressing their way up towards higher latitudes, an
open sea would invite them to secure a profitable season's work.
We afterwards ascertained that intelligence of our condition had been
carried down the coast full five hundred miles below or south of East
Cape, and that the ships which first touched upon the coast were made
acquainted with the fact of the Citizen's wreck, and that her officers
and crew were among the natives.
Captain Newal, of the ship Copia, was the first one who heard of the
fate of the Citizen.
The method by which the news of the ship's disaster, and the condition
of her crew, was conveyed down the coast, is at once striking and
significant.
Tracts, those little messengers of truth, become oftentimes the
appointed vehicles both of temporal and spiritual blessings. Tracts
were found in several huts of the natives, carried thither, we suppose,
by seamen; and with the exception of pieces of copper, they were
all that could be written upon, and thus the only reliable means of
communication. From the first, therefore, the captain and his officers
availed themselves of this instrumentality; and, whenever they found
a leaf of a book or a tract, or a piece of copper, if opportunity
occurred, they would send it down the coast by the natives, carefully
enclosed in a piece of walrus or deer skin, giving some account of the
shipwreck, officers, and crew, and where they could be found.
We hoped by this means that the news of our condition would, sooner or
later, reach the ear of some navigator early on the coast, and thus
bring to pass a more speedy deliverance.
In this, as the sequel will show, we were not disappointed. The natives
had no idea of written language; and, believing that something of great
importance was marked upon either the paper or copper, or both, they
preserved it with the greatest care, and almost with superstitious
reverence.
They had an impression that we could converse with our countrymen and
absent friends in this way, which was true; but what they supposed
was, that we could talk to them at any time by those mysterious marks.
And hence they frequently urged us to speak to them, and obtain some
assistance from them, or that they might send some aid to us.
Mr. Reoy, one of our company, was the first to get on board of a
ship,--the Bartholomew Gosnold,--he being down some two hundred miles
below East Cape. He therefore gave immediate information as to the
locality of the officers and crew of the Citizen.
About this time there were five ships at or near Indian Point, working
their way towards the north through the floating ice. The news of the
shipwreck was brought to these ships by the natives, bearing in their
hands tracts and pieces of copper, written upon by the captain and his
officers, stating the wreck, where the company could be found, and
their earnest desire to be taken off. The natives approached the ships,
lying off a short distance from the shore, holding up in their hands
those mysterious parchments, in order to attract the attention of those
on board. The story was soon told. The tracts and pieces of copper at
once removed all uncertainty which had for months surrounded the fate
of the Citizen and the condition of her officers and crew.
The announcement that so many fellow-seamen were still in the land of
the living; that they had survived the rigors of an arctic winter; that
they were not far up the coast,--less than a day's sail,--and that they
were anxiously and hourly looking and waiting for approaching ships,
was enough to stir the deepest sympathies of every mariner's heart.
With the least possible delay, being impelled not only by a sense of
duty, but actuated by the most generous and philanthropic sentiments
and emotions, Captain Jernegan, of the ship Niger, and Captain
Goosman, of the ship Joseph Hayden, left immediately to secure the
unfortunate ones on East Cape, firmly resolving, like true sons of the
ocean, "We will have them on board before to-morrow night." This was
early in the morning. They were distant from East Cape more than fifty
miles. With a favoring wind, and success attending their efforts in
getting through the drifting ice, they reached the cape next day, about
two o'clock in the morning, only a few miles in the offing, and in
sight of the settlement.
The natives were the first to spy the ships, and one immediately rushed
in and informed Captain Norton they had come.
Though it was an event which we all had long looked for and earnestly
desired, and time indeed had rolled heavily on its wheels in bringing
the happy day of deliverance, yet when it was announced to us, we could
hardly believe it. Somehow or other, having been so long inured to
disappointment, we felt for the moment it was too much and too good
news to credit.
The native who informed the captain at this time had several times
before told him that ships were coming, but which proved false. He was
therefore inclined to give but partial credit to his statement now.
The native came again and again to the captain with the same report,
and manifested so much earnestness and interest that the captain said
to Mr. Osborn, who was near him, "There must be something in this
fellow's statement; get up, and see if it is so." Besides, there was
increasing stir, loud talk, and running hither and thither in the
settlement--all of which convinced the doubtful that the ships were
indeed in sight, and that the joyous day of deliverance had surely
arrived.
Well, we went out of the settlement to see, and it was too true to
doubt any longer; the ships were in sight, and standing in towards the
land. By this time every man in our company had been aroused, and was
on the lookout; and the natives also seemed to partake of the common
joy in anticipation of our deliverance being so near.
How feeble are words to express the emotions of gratitude and joy that
thrilled through every mind! If tears of sorrow had been shed in months
past over prolonged disappointment and subsequent suffering,--if our
spirits had become hardened by repeated misfortunes and deprivations,
which no language can depict,--tears now fell, prompted by far
different feelings; our hearts were no longer indurate, but dissolved
like water; and every countenance gave expressions of joyous and
exhilarating hope.
What a fit occasion was this for a most hearty and unanimous
recognition from all our company of profound gratitude to God that so
many of us had been thus far preserved, and were now indulging in the
animating prospect of seeing our native homes, relatives, and friends
once more! The God of heaven and earth should in this manner be honored
and glorified in the presence of pagans, and thus put to silence their
vain and imaginary superstitions.
Indeed, one of our number was so deeply affected and overcome with the
sight before him, and prompted by a sense of the deliverance which a
merciful Providence was working out for him and his companions, that he
fell upon his knees and blessed the Lord that he was permitted "to see
once more another ship under sail."
[Illustration: TWO SHIPS NEAR SHORE.]
The two ships that were in sight, and approaching land, were the Niger,
Captain Jernegan, and the Joseph Hayden, Captain Goosman. Preparations
were now made, in the most expeditious manner possible, to go on board.
The canoes of the natives were got ready; but before any thing could be
done towards carrying us to the ships, they first made a fire in the
boats in order to drive out the Evil One; and then, that we might
not pollute their boats, some "ice cream"--deer fat and snow--must
be given to them to eat, as they supposed. Thus reasoned the natives.
Soon, however, we were on our way to the ships. Most gladly we turned
away our eyes from the shore, and turned them towards our better home
on the deep.
The ship which was the nearer of the two to the shore, and on board
of which Captain Norton and his officers first went, was the Joseph
Hayden. When Captain Norton landed on deck, dressed in native costume,
unshorn, and uncouth in appearance, as all were, Captain Goosman asked,
as well he might, and as any other one would, "Is this _Norton_,
captain of the Citizen?" He replied, "He used to be, and probably was
now." Captain Goosman then embraced him in true sailor fashion, and
cordially welcomed him and his officers to the hospitalities of his
ship. In a few days, nearly all of our number were collected from the
different settlements, and divided between the two ships.
Captain Norton, being a fellow-townsman and formerly a schoolmate with
Captain Jernegan, felt disposed, from this previous acquaintance, to
take up his abode on board of the Niger. Every facility and comfort
the ship afforded was most cheerfully offered by Captain Jernegan to
Captain Norton and those of his officers on board with him.
We soon exchanged the burdensome and unwieldy deer-skin clothes, which
had so long identified us with arctic natives and arctic life, for the
lighter and more agreeable dress of the sailor.
In supplying our company with such articles of clothing as we needed,
(indeed, we were absolutely destitute, having nothing but what we stood
in,) the officers and sailors of the respective ships most generously
contributed to relieve our present necessities. They rejoiced in the
opportunity of effecting the deliverance of their fellow shipwrecked
mariners, and considered it one of the most joyous events in their
lives that they had done something towards augmenting the sum of human
happiness, and thus becoming the means of kindling anew, in many minds,
aspirations and hopes which had well nigh become extinguished.
Thus, after a series of sufferings and painful reminiscences,--the loss
of our ship, with five of our number at the time of the wreck, and
one frozen to death while traveling,--having experienced the dreadful
rigors of a northern winter and life among the natives, amid untold
filthiness and degradation,--shut out from the hearing and company of
friends and the whole civilized world,--after nine months and eight
days, on the 4th of July, 1853, we found ourselves safe and happy on
the decks of friendly vessels, with excellent accommodations, and all
that fellow-seamen could do to make us comfortable and contented.
* * * * *
Four or five days after, the two ships above mentioned, with some
others, put into East Cape. The natives came off in their canoes, as
usual, to trade.
Captain Norton, with several masters of ships, went ashore, and visited
the settlement where he and his men had lived, and called for dinner at
one of the huts. His object was that his friends might have some idea
of the manner of cooking, as well as the articles of food, among the
natives, and how they prepared dinner.
The sight was enough for Captain Jernegan, who left the hut as soon
as possible, while his stomach sought to relieve itself by several
involuntary throws!
Captain Norton made some little presents to the natives in
consideration of their interest in him and his men during their abode
with them. He collected various articles from the ships,--such as
needles, combs, tobacco, pipes, &c.,--and distributed them among the
boys, girls, fathers, and mothers. They were delighted with these
unexpected gifts, and expressed their joy in a great many fantastic
ways.
The next morning, a violent blow came on, and the Niger was obliged
to take her anchor, and go to sea. Several ships parted their chains.
The captain remained on board of the Niger most of the season, when an
opportunity occurred for him to take passage in the ship Helen Augusta,
Captain Fales, bound to the islands. This he did, and arrived at
Honolulu on the 5th of October, 1853.
The officers and crew of the Citizen were distributed among the ships
in the fleet as their services were needed.
The report of the disaster of the Citizen, and the rescue of her crew,
preceded him, and had already reached the islands before Captain
Norton's arrival.
The news was brought by a ship which left the Arctic about the middle
of the whale season, and touched at San Francisco, and from thence was
sent to the islands and to the Atlantic states, to New Bedford, and
Edgartown.
A few weeks after the captain's arrival, eighteen of his former crew
had come along in different ships, and were well cared for, as
shipwrecked seamen, by the American consul at Honolulu. Not long after,
the officers, and all the crew with the exception of two, had arrived
at the islands.
It is proper here to state the readiness with which aid was proffered
in supplying the necessary wants of the destitute among our number. The
shipwreck and nine months in the Arctic had left some of our companions
absolutely destitute; and when they arrived at the islands, after more
than a year's absence at the north, they had but little, if any thing
more than in what they stood, or what they had on.
There were not wanting, however, kind friends, willing minds, and
generous hearts at the islands, both among the citizens of the place
and officers of ships in port, who cheerfully rendered immediate aid to
the needy and destitute.
The following CARD was published in _The Polynesian_ November 19,
1853:--
"Captain Thomas H. Norton, late of the whaleship Citizen, of
New Bedford, wrecked in the Arctic Ocean September 25, 1852,
returns his thanks to Captain Goosman, of the ship Joseph
Hayden, for relief afforded himself and men, in taking them off
East Cape, and providing them with necessaries when they were
destitute.
"Captain N. would also return his thanks to Captain Fales,
of the Helen Augusta, Captains Jernegan, Tilton, Pierce, and
Gardner, for many acts of kindness and relief afforded himself
and crew.
THOS. H. NORTON.
Nov. 17, 1853."
Having disposed of some oil and provisions which were stored at Hilo,
Captain Norton now turned his face towards home, and engaged a passage
in the ship Harriet Hoxie, Captain M. Passages, however, were freely
and cordially offered to him in other ships.
Before the sailing of the ship, Captain Stott, of the ship Northern
Light, proposed to Captain Norton to take his ship for another season,
as he himself did not wish to go in her the third season to the north.
Captain Norton had made up his mind, and felt anxious to return home to
his family and friends, and reluctant to remain away any longer, since
his life had been spared amid so many scenes of trial and suffering
through which he had passed.
Upon further reflection, however, Captain Norton changed his purpose;
and the terms which he named to Captain Stott being accepted, he
concluded he would try his success in the Northern Light, and, if
possible, retrieve his past misfortune.