Page 198 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

164 AI.Rlt!l S 8A2HfNOV
In accordance with the informacion of Bering-Chirikov's voyage, a navigacor
P.A. Chaplin drew up a ma p of the easrero coasc of the srraic, which was of greac
value in i1s time.
Bue exploration was ser in mocion. In July 1732 a geologi se M . Gvozdev, and
a sub-navigacor, l. Fedorov, scc out from Nizneka.mcharsk 10 the Cape of Deznev
aboard the "St. Gavriil". In Augusc they disembarked and explored an island in
the Bering Sera i c (the Jsland of Rarmanov). Overcoming unfavorable weather con-
ditions, the boat sailed on 10 the East and on Augusc 21 (September 1), 1732 che
Russian navigators saw che coast of Alaska, buc scorrny weather preven1ed rhem
frorn landing. The food and fresh warer had run out, so they had to recurn co Kam·
chacka immediately.
Thus, the Russians had for the fìrsr time crossed the Bering Srrair and had
reached 1he American coas1. Unfortunately, che maps and ship documentation con-
cerning thar oursranding voyage are nor availablc: in rheir originai form. The infor-
marion appeared in lacer sources nnd maps, based on the facts of rhar incredible
4
expedition 1 ).
However, a fìnal word about Russian exploracion. io America is to be found
io The Grcar Norrhern (The Second Kamchatka) Expedidon, conducced from 1733
10 1743. The captain - commander V,l. Bering was appoìmed ns ics chief. A.l.
Chirikov and M.P. Shpanberg as his depuries. Among the parricipancs in the expe-
dirion were profcssors of the Russia n Academy of Sciences, arriscs, geologiscs and
miners.
In 1741-1742 V .l. Bcring and A.J. 01iricov accomplished cheir famous voyage
from Kamcharka co che norLhwesr coast of America (Alaska). OnJune 4 (15), 174 1
"St. Perer", under Bering's command, and "Se. Pavel", under Chirikov's command,
left Petropavlovsk for the American coasc. On )une 20 (July l) because of dense
fog the vessels were separated and los1 the sight of each orher. From chat moment
they sailed independently. On)uly 16 (27), 174 1 Bering reached che American coasc.
During his voyage he discovercd the islands of St. llia, Kadyak, Tumannyi, Evdok-
iy~skiye. O n his way back he discovcred the Shumanginskiye Jsles and a chain
of islands of the Aleutian Ridge. ·sr. Pecer' sai led rhrough enormously difficulr con-
dicions. le was caughc in a series of severe scorms. The diffìculties were redoubled
by scurvy that went on a rampage among che crew aod cook the lives of 12 men.
The scocks of food and drinking wacer ran out and che vessel wenr ouc of conuol
how~er on 4 (15) June Jand was at last sighced. The unknown land rurned out
co be an island, tacer named after Bering.
The brave commander spenc che remainder of bis !ife in a dug-our, made by
che crew. On December, 8 (19) che capcain-commander dicd. Thc weakened navi-
gacors cook Bering's body our in che open with diffìculry and "commirced ic co earth
in a proper manner".
Lare in August 1742 a Slrange rwo-masced vessel, half the size of Bering's,
appeared in Pecropavlovskaya Harbor. Thc inscrlprion on che side c;ould be seen: