Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-10-03

shore. / made them such presents as our
scanty stock would permit-malnly needles
(harpoons)-with which they expressed them
selves well pleased. 1t was fortunate that
among other articles put on the foe were
number of those indispensable articles to an
Esquimaux-a quantity of knives. On the
oath they left us for Etah we having COM
pleted our work of abandoning the vessel. At
6 p. m. we stopped the steam pumps to let her
fill, and bid farewell to the little Polaris,
which had penetrated through dangers and
hard knocks to a high latitude, but which
was destined not to return with the honors
she had gained. During the remainder of
the month we were visited by natives-men,
women, and children. l sent a party to Nc
Garrys Island in search of DR.. Hayes's boat
and provisions, but could discover no sign of
her. 1 was afterward informed by the natives
that party from the West land found her
hive years ago. and appropriated to their own
use what was servceable to them; the boat
they discovered to be worthless and full of
holes. AT high water the lower decks OF the
Polaris were covered, the water rising to
within three feet of the upper deck, the YES
sci being firm on the rocks. was i'll hopes
she would remain in that position, as we had
to get fuel from her and material for making
our boats fer our summer journey south. We
spent the winter months of November, De
cember, and January in household duties
getting ice for melting purposes, supplying
galley and house stove with coal, and keep
ing passage ways to and from the house free
from snow. A great many foxes were shot
We were visited continually by the natives.
who were suffering great deal from cold and
hunger. Several Of the families made their
residence with us for the most of the winter,
building snow huts for themselves, where
they slept. We supplied them with share
} of the provisions we had, but still they had to
kill great many of their dogs in order to
, give their children fresh meat. Two families
in particular reduced their team of dogs to
} one, and another family to two. Some of our
people had slight attacks of scurvy, princi-
pally in the gums; but in general the health
OF our party remained good. The month of
February brought US daylight. On the 18th
, the sun was seen for the first time since its
disappearance the 10th of November.
We had now to consume the bowsprit, mas,s,
and rigging for fuel, these fortunately having
been landed. The only material tor build
d ing boats was the ceiling of the alley-ways
!, and after cabin-the house on deck being
used as fuel The following months were &C.
q cupied in building boats for our journey
y Shooting parties went out occasionally, but
n, with the exception of a few hares, generally
returned unsuccessful. There was one deel
n. killed during the season, but great man,
IN were seen. Although the natives had left III
y, some time for their respective settlements ant
y hunting grounds, they still, however, con
us tinued to visit us, and, as if to remind US O
e. our former kindness to them, which they ap
N. peared to have appreciated, kept bringing T.
us quantties Of warus liver, which made
ISL great improvement in the health of our party
ne | had suitable bags made out of the foresail
of and filled them with provisions for our jour
Va ney. l also built a small boat out of some
ar spare lumber for the Etah natives, which will
as be great acquisition to them in sealing and
II getting eggs from the islands. BY the 2Stl
Of May all our preparations were made.
ST must compliment Mr.. Chester, who superin-
OF tended the building of these boats. They are
+. creditable scows-far better structures than |
thought could have been made out of the ma
u terial we had. They are fiat bottomed, and
o carry considerable weight. The open water
: was by this time close up to our house. Our
provisions and what limited clothing we were
~ to take with us were brouget down to the
st waters edge to be in readiness for embarka-
,f ton. There still remained with us two ma
tive families, and during the winter and
10 spring we were visited by nearly all the ma
If lives from Etah to Cape York. There were
"a during this time three deaths and one birth
among the natives. One of the former was
- Myonk, who was one of the frs, to visit us
l. after our vessel got on shore.
,e They were rescued on the 23d of June by
al the Scottish whaler, Ravenscraig, and car
ried to Dundee. On arriving at the whaer
they were surprised to learn of the safety of
the party left on the ice foe. Capt. Allan of
s the whaler says:
The party were delighted to hear from us
of the safety of their comrades, from whom
they parted (adrft on an ice-foe) last o.
tober. They never expected to hear from
md
miraculous escape from what appeared lin
gering if not speedy death. 1t was doubtless,
also truly providential circumstance that
placed the Kavenscraig in position to pick
TINS party OF castaways up. Had such not
happened. it was highly probable that none of
them would have ever reached the Danish set
Elements. when we consider their resources as
regards food, the state of their boats, and the
lmpractlcabiity of travelling on foot-a dis
lance OF at least 800 miles-over such treach.
eous ice as then covered the expanse of
Melville Bay. Only about six days provis-
, Ions were left, although divided with the ut.
most economy and even with plenty of am
munition and arms, sfficent food could not in
all probability have been obtained to support
fourteen men during long toilsome march.
bears seals and birds are scarcely to be got at
Dr. hane,on the Same track, had utmost diff
cuty In shooting two seals while he had the
invaluable aid OF a trained hunter, also two
: good boats, and the open water along the foe
edge; but the boats of thePoarss crew both
6 got stove as soon as they got entangled in the
melville Bar pack. The first portion of their
, voyage. had been performed in open water for
the most part, so that their greatest difficulties
were only begun when we sighted them.
. Moreover the rest of the journey must have
been attempted without shelter of any kind
In fact they were totally unprcpared, both as
regards boots and clothing, for such an ar
duous undertaking.
. POLITICAL.
/ Gov. Bragley, of Michigan, has ordered a
4 special election for Nov 4, to fill the vacancy
i caused by the death of Hon. w. ID. Foster.