Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-05-17
An Amateur Arctic Expedition

Boy Co. Territory, Nov. ION, from Mr
Kennicot,. who lie on an expedition to the
Arctic Regions. The letter is an interes.
,iug one. Sir. Kennicotl's route, after
striking Lake Winnrpeg. was to Lake At.
habssca. thence 10 Great Slave Lake, thence
down VI ickenlze RIVER to Fort S;mpson.-
Mr.. Kenn colt says:
The first snow fell a, Fort Simpson early
iu October, anl ice began 10 drift in the
river little after the middle OF the month.
About the first Of November the temper
ature fe II to Zero and before the 18th was
once rs below. The coolest ever known
here was So below, but weather so 9 be-
low is not uncommon. Snow falls toward
spring to the depth Of three or four feet
The river breaks up late in May or first of
June. Slave Lake is sometimes not open
till July, though generally by June 2Oth.-l
The sun rises here nov after GA. NJ. and
se,s befpre P. NJ.
dress pretty much 10 the costume of the
country-wear Indian shoes, Of course, with
one or more pairs Of Dalile socks inside
Since the cold weather, ! wore pair of
moose skin breeches, with fringe la savage,
and garters taste ned by grizzly bear claws!
| am not appreciately fatter, but lar strong
er aud healthier than when left home. Last
week ] started of with one savage, who
didn't know a word of English, to make a
line of marten traps. We were gone five
days, with the temperature below zero most
ol the time, and down 10 about 80 degrees
below on the last day and night Our pro-
visions consisted only of dry meat and tea.
| wus dressed no warmer than | used to be
al home for a cold days ride in early winter
and had only two blankets, one them only
bali size. We used to get together big
pile Of wood and make rousing fire, along
side Of which was piled lot Of spruce brush
for sleeping on, protected from the wind by
sticking branches to the windward; and
here would sit and eat spound or SO oil
dried meat, good part clear fat, washed
down by quart Of tea; after that, ! would
smoke half or three-fourths of plug ol
"ngger.head tobacco" and then layiIg one.
blanket under us, with tho other, and sma
one of the savage's over vs., we'd lie down
TO sleep, with our feet TO the fire, till their
getting cold would awaken us to renew the
supply Of wood. did not feel very colt
while covered with the blankets at least
Though, when standing with my back tt
,he fire, 50 close as to scorch my
leggings, my breath froze on my beard ant
hair. Nov feel quite we'll pleased at my
getting On 80 comfortably. Twelve monLh
since al home, think would have actual,
pershed from such exposure. To-day, with
the temperature 26 degrees below zero.
walk out with bare hands and light coat
feeling the cold les severely than hav,
done at home during equal exposure to
temperature above zero. SO you see don
intend to freeze to death.
spen, three weeks during Septenibe
aud October in making trip to Fort Liart
River, which empties .nto the Mackenzie
here. Saw one moose, but couldn't get
shot. Killed plenty of spruce birds and mic,
and shot Canada lynx-put n bal cleaI
through hisH. We were for some days pas
sing along spur Of the Rocky Mountains
on which were plenty OF mountain sheep
though saw none. Got beavers tail an
moose nose of the Indians, as well as plent
OF fresh moose meat. Had Jolly time
Went up In a boat aud tioated down, will
two Indians, in n small cunoe-running tn
rapids in fine style, aud sleeping at night II
most rascally camps, on frozen ground an,
rocks, with scanty supply Of fire wood =
Bat al! these little di comforts, when take
as matter oi course, don't trouble on
much after little. II is most egrSgiou
error to suppose people at the North are in
duslrious. Twas never in so lazy com
muniIy In my life. II anybody asks anothe
to help him bit, or to perform some neces
sary duty, the reply is, "Wait bit, till
have smoke" and after that Is done III
will mud IL necessary to have a smoke tot
and so on.
We live much better than would be @,
pected, having good supply of tea, suga
milk, and butter with bread in limited a
lowancei and plenty OF good potatoes; a
present we get only dry moose meat and tis
but hope for fresh meat soon. | can ca
eleal tat at an astounding rate, especial
when camping out, and think shall readl
drink pint Of melted moose tallow o.
Christmas, ns promised would max
"N'' VI 'n's pay )sIVlpB lchI TACT, tnht III
muscles Of my jaws are developing in a
extraordinary manner from eating "old In
dian," (dry moose meat) Ii Is 80 tough a
TO demand violent exercise from the laws
The Esquimaux last fall gave Mr.. Ros
some swords and ships copper that un
doubtedly came from the swrsck Of Frsnk
Inns ship. hope to secure some OF thes
relics. Nothing dednite is yet learned rc
spse,ing Franklin's fate, though circum
,tantial evidence proves pretty strongly tina
his ship was crushed In the leo or at an
rate deserted. When the company's pos
Is established on the Anderson, in the sDsr
ren Grounds, for trade with the Esauimau,
whole matter will doubtless be learned fror
them.
Ny collections, though not large, vii.
am sure, prove highly interesting to na,u
allsis generally. have obtained In a II som
I've hundred vertebrstes and several thou
and invertebrates; all Of which, from such
locality. wust be more or less valuable.
have number Of vertebrates not In on
Ia