Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Chapter XVIII.
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rocks at any moment. The confusion became
indescribable. In order not to have a corpse on board, the dead
bodies of two of their companions were thrown
overboard. It had been the intention to take them ashore for
burial. At this juncture the second anchor was lost;
but at the last moment, just as the third was on the
point of being cast, Ofzyn succeeded in establishing order
and keeping the anchor on board. The vessel glided
safely across the reefs, and in a few moments the
boatswain and Ofzyn were able to anchor in a sheltered place.
The St. Peter was safe for the time being. In this still
and bright November night (the night of Nov. 6, 1741)
the ship was riding at anchor off the center of the
northeast coast of Bering Island, scarcely 600 yards from
shore. Thus ended this frightful adventure. Very
fortunately, the ship had happened to strike the only
navigable channel on the east that leads to the coast of
the island.
It yet remains to determine with more exactness the
place of stranding. On this point literature offers no
reliable information. I am aware that Steller says that
the vessel stranded on the northern coast of the island,
but this is not to be taken literally. After the St. Peter
had passed the northern point of Copper Island, which
lies parallel with the trend of Bering Island, it was
carried west and southwest by a northeasterly wind, and
hence would strike the coast of Bering Island off, or a
few minutes north of, the northern extremity of Copper
Island. At this point the eastern coast of Bering Island
recedes to the west and forms that bay which the officers
saw ahead. From this it is evident that the place where
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