The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-01-23
Gssr Aeyy Sporting GrOBnl.--A
Thrilling vyaErVrs HUNT.


\ correspondent of the Chicago Trib-
nne, writing from Port Clarence, Russian
.AaoYica, narrstes the following:
While at Kinkegan, an Esquimaux
village Of 800 inhabitants, on the Straits,
1 accompanied The natives in one of their
WARTS hunts ia Behring's Sea, which
Was both dangerous aud exciting Before
EeSTee t-'iS '--.>~ ssss--;ss NerES winds
are chosen and incantations performed to
insure safety. Their boats, which are
made of waIrus hides stretched over light
wooden frames Of driftwood, fifteen feet
long, and are kept near the water'r edge
IN readiness to start without loss of time.
With the wind fair we started. About
fifty boats, each containing nine Esqui-
maux, showed off from the land ice at the
same time, and general race was in
dulged in as we padded out to sea.
The scene was grand and exciting. =
Every Indian pulled with all his strength,
shouting and hoeting as they lodged
among the ice foes With bare heads, and
hair streaming in the wind. This was
kept up until we were about forty miles
from shore, when they became separated
in their search for wairus. Here stop
was made to listen for the bark of the
animals, which were heard about a mile
ahead of US. One of the Indians ex-
claimed, 'fah-rnal- -yah-tox" (great many
and we padded hastily forward until we
were in sight of the walrus, which were
lying on the foes in large numbers, as far
as the eye could reach, barking and play
ing with their young. Here another stop
was made, and everything gotten ready
for the attack. Spears, guns and har~
poons were placed where they could be
seized instantly, and large walrus hide
rope was stretched the whole length of the
boat, just outside the gunwale, to each
end of which were attached large seal
skin buoys.
Kap-a-tuts =aTe on over thoir deer
skin coats, and every dark object hidden
from the view of the animals. After
these preparations we padded rapidly and
noiselessly forward. shooting the bow of
the boat up on to the Zoe which had been
selected with the largest number of malrus
upon it. AS they plunged off into the
water each Jndian hurled his spear into
one of them, and fastened the line attached
10 its head TO the rope connecting the
buoys iii the boat, which were immedi-
ately thrown overheard, and the captured
wairus allowed to plunge and snort about
IN the water. As they come TO the sur
face they are killed by thrusting a long
lance through the body, Or shot in the
head when they 60 not come close enough
TO be lauced. When all were killed they
were towed te a large foe, hauled out,
skinned and dressed.
This is the work of but 2 moment, as
those Esquimaux are well skilled in the
use of the knife, and thoroughly under~
stand the anatomy Of these animals. One
of them extracted the bullet from the brain
of large valrus which had shot, and
waved 1t to ma as a remembrance of the
hunt. After the operation of dressing,
every part Of the animal, except the gall,
for which they have no use, was thrown
into the boat, and we started for more,
padding and sailing around among the
foes for nearly two days without success.
= heavy fog settled down upon US, and
we were lost for several hours, when il
cleared away with strong south wind,
which rendered our position extremely
critical, SIS
.The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around;
1t cEack'd and growl'd, and roar'd aad
howl'd,
Like noises in a swound.''
Our escape seemed almost miraculous
an opening having occurred through which
we lodged until we reached open water,
when we set sail and reached shore In
safety, after being three days out with but
very little to eat. Several boats have
gone It in this manner and never re<
turRed.
The barque Clara Bell arrived here
June 27, and we are once more in CONS
with the world, and about to
bid adieu 10 our Arctic prison. Never
did men feel more rejoiced than did our
party when the vessel sailed into anchor-
age in this port Starvation, with all its
attendant evils, fed with her approach,
and sufferings were forgotten On her arri-
val We are informed that this is now
United States territory, and the stars and
stripes are now floating over our station in
honor of the event The Clara Bell will
take us TO Plover Bay, E. S., where we
will await the arrival of the Nightingale,
while she will go to gather the other par
ties at that place, after which ne shall
al start for home.