Coulter -- Christmas Day Among the Whaling Fleet Imprisoned in the Arctic -- December 19, 2024

San Francisco Call, 25-December-1899

Christmas is coming.

William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the San Francisco Call. 

CHRISTMAS DAY AMONG THE WHALING

FLEET IMPRISONED IN THE ARCTIC

A CHRISTMAS day in the frozen North is an occasion that brings a man awfully close to the Eternal," said Captain B. Cogan of the whaling bark Alaska yesterday. "The ship is frozen in and as far as the eye can reach there is nothing to be seen but an expanse of ice and snow. The sun has gone, and the only light is the Aurora Borealis. It throws a bewitching light on hummock and stranded iceberg, while the imprisoned whalers stand out boldly against the Arctic sky. Suddenly a sailor appears on the forecastle head of one of the vessels, and in a rich barytone (sic -- JT), made doubly pleasing by the distance, he says, 'Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men, from Heaven's all-gracious King.' In a few moments every man in the fleet is on deck and there is none but what bows his head during the singing of that Christmas carol.

"As for me. I saw the plains of Bethlehem, the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, the angels In the Heavens, saying 'For unto you Is born this day In the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord,' the multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and then again our Christmas carol, led by the singer on the Grampus, gave us 'Glory to God in the highest.' It was the most inspiring scene I have ever witnessed."

The crews of four steam whalers and one "wind jammer" will celebrate Christmas day off the mouth of the McKenzie River this year. The steamers are the Narwhal, Balaena, Grampus and Fearless. The first three belong to the Pacific Whaling Company's fleet, while the Fearless is owned and commanded by Captain James McKenna. He has had a most remarkable run of bad luck and when last heard from the vessel was still "clean." McKenna has a host of friends In San Francisco, and many of them will waft him a wish for good luck and good cheer on Christmas day. With Captain McKenna are William Mogg, first mate; George W. Edson, second mate; John S. Lucas, third mate; William Starr fourth mate; Theodor Pederson, Harry Slate, Stephen Pena and Frank Bauer. boatsteerers; Charles Aske, steward; E. Laise, chief engineer; C. Hedman, assistant engineer; O. L. Fredrickson and J. Davis, firemen and Fred Wilks, carpenter.

All the vessels now In the Arctic left here in March and April of this year. By wintering off the mouth of the McKenzie River they will be able to take advantage of the breaking up of the ice at the earliest moment, and by being on the spot will gain nearly a month over the vessels that will leave here in the spring. The Balaena, Grampus, Narwhal and Fearless will return to San Francisco sometime in October or November, 1900.