The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-06-18

In the year 1743, one Jeremiah Okladmkof,
merchant of Mosen, town in the province of
Jugovia, and in the government of Archangel,
lifted out vessel, carrying fourteen men; she
was destined for SpitEbergen, to he employed
in the whale or seal fishery. For eight success
sive days after they had sailed, the wind was
fair; but on the ninth it changed so that in
stead of getting to the west of spittbel gen, the
usual place of rendezvous for tho Dutch ships
annually employed in tho whale fishery, thoy
were driven eastward of those islands; and, af-
ter some days, they found themselves at a
small distance from one of them, called East
Spitzbergen, by the Russians, Maloy Broun,
that i5, Little Broun (Spitzbergen, properly so
called, being known to them by the name of
BolschOy Broun, that is, Great Broun.) Hav-
ing approached this island within almost three
wersts, OF two English miles, their vessel was
suddenly surrounded by ice, and they found
themselves in an extremely dangerous stu
alton,
In this alarming state, council was held;
when the mate, Alexis Himkof, informed them,
that he recollected to have heard that some Of
the people of Mesen, some time before, having
formed resolution of wintering upon this
island, had accordingly carried from that city
timber proper Tor building a hut, and had ac-
tually erected ono some distance from the
shore,
This information induced the whole compa-
ny to resolve on wintering there, if the hut, as
they hoped, still existed; for they clearly per-
ceived the imminent danger they were in, and
that they must inevitably perish if they contin-
ued in the ship. They dispatched, therefore,
four of their crew in search of the hut, or any
other succor they could meet with. These were
Alexis Himkof, the mate, Ivan Himkof, his
godson, Stephen Scharapof, and Feodor Were
gin.
AS the shore on which they were to land was
uninhabited, it was necessary that they should
make some provision for their expedition. They
had almost two miles to travel over loose ridges
of ice, which being raised by the waves, and
driven against each other by the wind, render
ed the way equally difficult and dangerous;
prudence, therefore, forbade their loading them
selves too much, lest, being overburthened,
they might sink in between the pieces of ice,
and perish.
Having thus maturely considered the nature
of their undertaking, they provided themselves
with musket and powder-horn containing
twelve charges of powder, with as many balls,
an axe, small kettle, a bag with about twenty
pounds Of -four, a knife, tinder- box and tin
der, bladder filed with tobacco, and every
man his wooden pipe. Thus accoutred, these
four sailors quickly arrived on the island, little
suspecting the misfortunes that would befall
them. ... ~. r
They began with exploring the country, and
soon discovered the hut they were in search of,
about an English mile and a half from the
shore. 1t was thirty-six feet in length,
eighteen feet in height, and as many in breadth.
1t contained a small ante-chamber, about
twelve feet broad, which had two doors, the
one to shut it up from the outer air, the other
to form a communication with the inner room:
this contributed greatly to keep the larger room
warm when once heated. In the largo room
was an carthen stove, constructed in the Rus
sian manner, that is, kind of oven without a
chimney, which serves occasionally either for
baking, for heating the room, or, as is custo-
mary amongst the Russian peasants, in very
cold weather, for place to sleep upon.
The reader must not be surprised at my
mentioning room without a chimney; for the
houses inhabited by the lower class of people
in Russia are seldom built otherwise. When a
fire is kinded in one Of these stoves, the room,
as may we'll be supposed, is filled with smoke;
to give vent to which, the door and three or
four windows are opened. These windows
are eHch a foot in height and about six inches
wide: they are cut out of the beams whereof
the house is built, and by means of a sliding
board, they may, when occasion requires it, be
shut very close. When, therefore, fire is
made in the stove, the smoke descends no lower
than the windows, through which, or through
the door it finds q vent, according to the direc-
tion of the wind; and persons may continue in
the room without feeling any great inconve-
nience from it. The reader will readily con-
lecture that the upper part of such place,
between the windows and the ceiling, must be
as black as ebony; but from the windows down
to the floor, the wood is perfectly clean, and re.
tains its Datural color.
They rejoiced greatly at having discovered
the hut, which had, however, suffered much
from the weather, it having now been built q
considerable time: our Adventures, however
eontrived to pass the night in it. Early next
morning they fastened TO the shore, impatient
TO inform their comrades Of their success, and
also to procure from their vessel such provisions
ammunition, and other Deeessaries, as might
better enable them 70 winter on the Island.