The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-11-21

make II about 2,lO0 feet from top to bottom, !
goodly lump Of ice, large enough to supply the |
whole United States for some time You have |
no conception Of what huge masses OF ice there |
are up here. Without exaggeration, have seen !
icebergs almost half mile long. ! measured |
one nth tape line, which found TO be 1877 II. |
above water One the Sd Of August, we discov- |
cred another bear swimming down lead OF open
water. The Rescue sent a boat after him. and
they would certainly have killed him had there
been no ice near; but when the boat got within !
fifty yards Of him. he swan to the ice, crawied
up, and made tracks. When they get on the
main ice there is use following them. On the !
9th, however, while We were warping along.
with the Rescue in tow, the I'd officer Of that ves-
sci (Mr. CO. discovered bear swimming toward
them, some distance from the main flow. They
Immediately took boat and started for him.
When he saw them coming he swan to a small
piece Of ice, the only thing near him, and COM
menced crawling up; but the boat having reached
within 40 yards Of him, they fired; he succeeded
in getting on the ice however, though one bah
had deprived him of the Of his spine; he was
able to make but little resistance after this. and
was finally despatched with an axe. He rnea-
sured II. 4 in from tip to tip the tail measuring
4 inches; he had foot on him I0l inches long.
What wipe he would hit fellow over The head.
Now comes my bear hunt. had just turned in,
cabin and said there were 5 bears in sight. l
turpe out before you could say Jack Robinson
got my musket and pistol ready, and n:deck
went; we were sailing at the time up = marrow
lead Of water, but would soon bring up. We
were laying our plans TO surround these fellows,
when, 10 our surprise, more hove In sight on
the ether side Of us, we began TO think that the
boot was on the other leg, and that they were a
bout to surround US. The last three we made
al, AI0nf
500 yards Of them, they jumped into The water
and swan towards US. The Captain, Doctor.
several men and myse took boat and went IN
pursuit. The men fired before we were near G.
nough--none Of their balls seenied to take effect
We kept on after them; il was amusing TO see
them pitch and scramble TO get out of our way.
When we were within about 80 yards OF them,
fired, the captains gun having missed FIRE. II
was the last of bruin, for had become very ca
ger in the chase, he gave Tremendous howl and
keeled up We towed HIM to the ship, and found
that my bali had carried away all the top OF ms
head, though he had been wounded before. He
measured 5ft. 9m.; paw, 10 inches. 1 he others
succeeded in making their escape. ! have never
before heard Of bears ha aving been seen al once.
We have met IL in all, and | expect shall see
plenty more this winter. On the 10th, we man
aged TO get over to Greenland. We ran in close
TO the shore ana dropped anchor. We lay there
only few heurs, and then went on our winding
way. The 18th, when off Cape Dudley Eiggs,
the water looked very clear Of ice to the west
ward; thought we must certainly lie clear
Of the pack Vessels generally cross htre. We
struck across, with fine breeze from the east
ward, and ran into Lancaster Sound on the 18th.
As we were entering the Sound, we disco sered
vessels astern Of us, standing the same way as
ourselves. We shortened sail and let them come
up they proved to be the Lady Franklin and
Sophia, under Capt. Penny, in search of Frank
lin. We thought we were so long in the pack g
weeks) that we were behind all the English ships,
but find from Capt. Penny that we are ahead Of
them all Com Austin, with his vessels--2 Of
them stcamers-left WhaIe6sh Islands days
before did; he is now about 200 miles behind
us. We bore up for her, and found it TO be the
Sir John Ross. This is the third time he has heen
up here; the last time was in 1929, when he lost
his vessel, and was picked up by whalers, after
being here more than years; he is now IS years
old. We passed the place yesterday where the
whalers found him. He is here in schooner in
search of Franklin. He informed US that the
North Star, vessel sent here last year, was at
Port Leopold--the place where we are bound to
and will soon return 10 England, which viii give
us fine opportunity to send letters, which viii
probably be the last Of this year. We shah be
at Port Leopold IN a very short time, if The wind
holds; we will stop there only few hours, % get
what information we can, and to leave our let
tiers, and then proceed to Cape Walker. If the
North S ar has heard nothing from there's and if
we hear no news there, we will proceed 10 Wei
lingioh Straits. From thence it would be impos-
sible to tell what cur course win be. think we
will winter in Melville Island we have met with
no ice in Barrow Straits, hope therefore to do
a good deal before the winter sets in, and if Sir
John Franklin or any Of his crew are alive, our
prospects are very good for finding him. When
we were threc weeks ia the pack, only making
81 miles, we thought our prospects were rather
gloomy, and that all the other expeditions were
ahead Of US; but on entering Lancaster Sound,
to our great surprise and delight, we fouad that
we were even with any Of them, and are now
before them, unless Capt. Penny got ahead of us
in small gale, we had the other day. All the
English vessels have experienced Greenland mas
ters, or old whalemen for pilots.
To-day is the 23d, and we arc within about 80
miles Of Port Leopold, but unfortunately the wind
ahead; however, think shall get in some
time Tonight. have never enjoyed better health
in my lifetime than now, and have gained so
much in flesh that can hardly wear the over
, coat that / wore last winter. even without any
other cca, under it. We have not up yet put our
stoves, although the thermometer stands from 40
to AZ deg in the cabin; but we have delayed
using them in order to feel them more when it
I, drops to 80 deg. below zero. wish you could
! see the Esquinaux women; they would cut great
figure in your region, in their seal-skin breeches.
), The only chance Of your writing to me is by the
. whalers next year. More come up here from
England than from the United States We are
, now about ten miles from Port Leopold; we shall
, not run in, but send boat.
, Yours, &c. w. s. L.
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HI