The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-24
SIX MONTHS OF TERROR.

sisted and How they Passed the Long
Arctic Winter.
The adventures of the nineteen persons
who were abandoned on the ice foe in the
Arctic regions by the Poaris were of the
most exciting character. The breaking
away was caused by the foe, to which the
ship was fastened, drifting in between
the land and some icebergs that were
jammed.
AFTER THE SEPARATION
all lay down on the ice and went TO sleep.
except Tyson, who walked about all night.
Next morning the vessel was not TO be seen,
and knowing that their stock of provisions
was not sufficient to last the whole company
all winter, they tried to make the land.
Having got about half way to the shore,
and the boats being heavily laden, progress
became difficult on account Of the drifting
ice, and they were compelled tc haul their
boats on the ice again. AT that time
THE VESSEL CAME IN SIGHT,
but soon disappeared behind Northumber-
land bend. Now commenced the drift
from the 18th of October, 1872, to the 3Oth
of April, 1873, over six months, or 1917
days. Night closed upon the scene last
described. The abandoned party had for
tunately two boats. the only remaining
boats belonging to the Polaris.
DESPERATE SITUATION OF THE PARTY.
The gale during the night carried the foe
and its unfortunate occupiers to the south
west, and in the morning they were about
thirty miles away from where the ship was
lying comfortably at anchor. A heavy sea
was running, which broke up the foe and
separated the party from six bags of
bread, one of their boats and other articles
of food. clothing, compass. &c. When the
gale abated they endeavored to shoot as
many seals as possible Tor food and light as
well as fuel, but did not succeed in getting
more than three, owing to rough weather
which set in. When it cleared UP the party
found themselves, as they supposed. on the
east coast or west coast of Greenland,
about
FIFTY MILES FROM THE SHIP.
They now hoped to reach the shore, but,
the ice being weak, they could not trans
port boats and provisions to shore until it
grew stronger. Fortunately they here dis
covered the other boat, provisions, &C.,
from which they had been separated, and
saved all. The ice at length grew stronger,
and they made another attempt to reach
the shore, carrying everything in the boats
and dragging them on their keels. On the
lst of November they succeeded in getting
about hallway to the shore, when
NIGHT AND STORMY WEATHER
CAME ON,
and prevented further progress. In the
morning it was found that the ice was bro
ken and the foe drifting south very swiftly.
Then, giving up all hope of present rescue,
they built snow houses on the ice. They
had no materials for fire, except old rags
and blubber-both scarce-which had to be
used very sparingly, and only when it was
of food; so that for nearly the whole six
months they were without fire.
THE ARCTIC WINTER.
The darkness of the Krtic night, which
lasts long time, and commences about
December l, prevented the catching of seals
or other animals except by accident. Then
the sun disappeared, and did not reappear
until the end of January or beginning of
February. During this period day was
not distinguishable from night, except by
means of streak of light on the southern
horizon. which, however. afforded no light
to our unfortunate wanderers. The Es-
quiinanx OF the party were, OF course,
used to the long. dark winter. and thought
lightly of it, but it was not SO of the
Americans and the other members of the
expedition. The greatest privati0n which
the darkness occasioned was that it put a
stop for thetimc to the seal hunting, which
to the crew was the chief means of susie
nance.
THE SUN APPEARED ON THE HORIZON
on the 10th of January for the first time
after its disappearance in November, rising
at half past i a. m. and setting at half
past IL p. IN. After the sun set there
was twilight for six or seven hours. The
days after that rapidly grew longer until
the party was picked up. On the last of
February they had remaining of their pro-
visions brought from the vessel only two
cans Of pemican and 1870 pounds Of bread
the latter wet and mouldv. One of the
boats was cut up to make fuel to melt the
ice into water to drink. During the time
they were without blubber their provisions
were eaten cold.
STARVATION sTAREs THEM IN THE
FACE.
exertions to kill seals during the months of
darkness; but, as said before, they rarely
succeeded. Starvation now stared the party
in the face, and the return of the sun,
though it gave promise of succor, found
every one Respondent. A lot Of Esquimaux
dogs drifted on the foe. most of which
Hans and his family RECALLED themselves
upon. The whites were at that time deli
cate, but would, subsequently,, they say,
have
EATEN A ROAST DOG.
Captain Tyson says he wanted the men
to save the dogs, kill and store them up
for more hungry day: but they would not,
not thinking at the time that they would eat
seals' entrails, &C., afterwards. After the
provisions gave out the men ate not only
the flesh and fat of the seals they were
fortunate enough to get, but also the bones,
SKINS, entrais, and all intestines and APP.
purtenances. Captain Tyson showed US
two Of his front teeth, broken by
CHEWING UP FROZEN SEAL BONES,
while at times it was considered great
luxury to get lump of blubber to hold in
the mouth and suck, to keep out the cold.
The people confined themselves for days
together to their huts during the cold drifts,
spending the time sleeping, wrapped up in
skins. In March they got among the seals
and procured plenty of meat. One night a
very large polar bear approached their en-.
campment and commenced eating their seal
skins lying about. Tyson fired one shot,