THE DISCOVERY OF ALASKA —
Bering’s Last Voyage
(Continued)
By BOB REDDING
CHAPTER XII
Since the surf was too rough for
a landing, the St. Peter cruised
up-coast until she came to Kayak
Island on the 20th. Two boats were
sent ashore under Lt. Khitrov and
Mate Yushin to reconnoiter and
fill the water bags. Naturalist Stel
ler struck out on his own to gath
er specimens.
Steller made god use of his time,
for his observations are valid down
to this day. He had less than eight
hours on the island, for when he
returned to the ship with his sacks
full, he learned with astonishment
that the St. Peter was due to sail 1
within the hour.
“But I've just begun!” he ob- 1
jected to Bering. “Please! One
more day, even a few more hours!"
The naturalist was supported
by Lt. Waxel who pointed out to
the commander t. at only half of
their water bags were full. Ber
ing. however, could not be moved.
Entries in the 1 g for the 21st
are significant:
“Took on board 35 barrels of
water, have 70 barrels.
“Took longboat and yawl aboard.
“Weighed anchor, set topsails
and foresail, set job and topmast !
sail.”
Course was W l<z N. The St.
Peter was on her way home, after
touching for less than a day on
the newly found continent.
As soon as they were on the
high seas, trouble began. The
ship’s gear was failing under
pounding from constant storms,
and after two weeks the dread
scurvey broke out. Landings were
made to get food, but little could
be found, though there was enough
water.
They saw natives but could not
communicate with them. At only
one point, however, did they have
any trouble with them. A sailor
named Shumagin died of scurvey.
and a landing party tok him to
one of the many islands for burial.
No sooner had services been com
pleted when the party was at
tacked by Aleuts. Because the surf
suddenly became too rough for
retreat to the ship, the Russians
were forced to fight the natives
for two days. The only thing that
saved them were their guns whjch
awed the Aleuts. Never before had
they encountered such deadly and
noisy weapons. ,
Finally, the surf calmed enough
for the Russians to flee, and they
made it back to their ship safely.
The islands were named after
Shumagin, the deceased.
By November, matters were so
bad on the St. Peter, that it was
decided to land on a small island
to kill some foxes sighted there.
To the starving crewmen, any
thing looked good.
Vitus was now incapable of com
mand, and Lt. Waxel had taken
over responsibilities. Bering’s ill
ness had grown worse, and he suf
fered. too, from scurvey. At his
wish, the commander was carried
ashore, when it became necessary
to delay while the St. Peter under
went repairs.
A hut was built for Vitus, and
he was tended night and day by
his officers and Steller. He had
grown distrustful, but the natur
alist had his confidence and was
much with him. Fetching lichens
and such green shrubbery as
there was on the island, Steller
made hot broths for the comman
der in an effort to bring back his
strength. But nothing seemed to
help.
Then disaster struck the hapless
crew. Before the St. Peter could
be readied for sea, a terrible
storm came up and before the
horrified gaze of all smashed the
ship in two on the beach. The
explorers were stranded, and a
great despondency overcame the
men. The picture was black,
indeed.
Sickness increased. Every day
one or two more men perished
from scurvey or exposure, and
Vitus Bering was sinking fast. Ear
ly in December, 1741, he died, at
tended by his officers and men.
Lt. Waxel has written this account
of Bering’s last days:
“Captain-Commander Bering
died on 8th December. His corpse
was tied fast to a plank and thrust
down into the ground. None of
the other dead were buried with
a plank. I cannot forbear to tell
of the wretched state of the Cap
tain-Commander as he lay in his
agony. The half of his body was
already buried in the ground while
he still lived, and even if it had
been possible to pull him out
again, it would have been against
his wishes, for he said to us: “The
deeper in the ground I lie, the
warmer I am; the part of my body
that lies above the ground suffers
from the cold.”
And iso a great man died in mis
ery and cold far from his home
and family. More’s the pity that he
failed to derive satisfaction from
his last and greatest work, the
discovery of North America.
(To be continued)
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