The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-09

uuVuEu VIZ Nehsol tuub HlBub uuu Deen
there now, but would not leave the
women and children. My duty was on
the ice. / thought he would get back
TO ms the next day, which he could have
done. The breaking away was caused
by the foe, to which the ship was fasten-
cd, drifting in between the land and
some icebergs that were iammed. The
jam broke up the foe and the vessel
broke away. II was about nine or ten
o'clock in the night; temperature about
zero-that evening it had been nineteen
degrees above. We did not save more
than one.tenth Of TIE provisions that
were on the ice"
Instead OF coming to the rescue, us
they expected, tho Polaris steamed
along down the shore. They then set
up q black rubber cloth, lashed to On
oar on pinnacle, which is the best
mark in contrast with the ice and is
easily distinguishable. The ship was
at this time about eight or nine miles
from tho foe and must have seen the
signal. She wRs soon lost TO sight in
the bend OF the land and behind what
they took to be Northumberland Island.
The wind hauling to the northeast,
the foe commenced drifting south
wards, opening little bay to the north
cast OF Northumberland Island.
There was tho vessel in harbor, her
sails furled, and no smoke issuing from
her stack. They then attempted to
bring the boats across the foe in an
easterly direction, hoping to find water
and reach the shore, to boord the vessel
from there succeeded in dragging one
boat across, took the water and at-
tempted to reach the shore some dis
lance below the vessel, but wero driven
back by tho gale, drift, and snow, and
compelled to haul up the boat on the
ice again. The vessel was about four
or five miles from the foe at, this time.
The mainland was to the east, about
three or four miles.
Tyson says 3" All that prevented us
from reaching the vessel was slob or
'posh too thick for us to pull the boat
through. II I had known what was to
follow I would have gone through 1t or
sunk
Now. commenced the drift from the
10Th Of October, 1872, to the 30th OF
April, 1873, over six months, or 1877
days. Night clpsedupon the scene last
described. The abandoned party had
fortunately two boats, the only remain.
ing boats belonging TO the Polaris.
Tie gale during the night carried the
foe and its unfortunate occupiers to the
southwest, and in the morning they
were about thirtymiles awayirom where
the shipwaslyingc atanchor
A heavy sea was running, which broke
upthe doe and separated the party from
SIX bags Of bread, one Of their boats,
aud other articles OF food, clothing,
compasses, etc. When the gale abated
they endeapored to shoot as many seals
rs possible for food and Light as we'll as
fuel, but did not succeed in getting
more than three, owing TO rough weather
having set in. When theweather cleared
up the party found themselves, as they
supposed, on either the east or the west
coast OF Greenland, about forty miles
from the ship. They now hoped to
reach the shore, but the ice being weak,
they could not transport boats and pro-
visions to shore until it grew stronger.
Fortunately they hero discovered the
other boat, provisions, ETC., from which
they had been separated, and saved all.
The ice at length grew stronger, and
they made another attempt to- reach tho
shore, carrying everything in the boats,
and dragging them on their keels. The
ice being exceedingly rough, they stove
both boats, which did not, however,
render them useless.
On the lat of November they succeed
cd in getting about halfway to the
shore, when night and stormy weather
came on, aud prevented further pro.
gress. In the morning 1t was found
that the ice was broken and the foe
drifting south very swiftly. No more
land was seen for some days, and bad
weather continued throughout Npvem-
ber' Then, giving up all hope Of pres
ent rescue, they built snow houses on
the ice, reconciled to make them their
home for q season.
These huts were houses Of snow, con-
structed Of a circular form at the base,
gradually conyerging towards the top
the sides, Burmounted by o block Of
snow, which formed the roof, leaving O
small hole for ventilation.
The entrance was n small vacuum at
the base, barely large enough for man
to crawl through. Any larger space
would destroy the usefulness OF the
house by allowing access to the cold
and wind. These houses, while the
weather continues hard and dry, are
warm and tolerably comfortable, but on
the first appearance Of wet or thaw have
generally TO be abandoned. The dis
position Of the Esduimaux TO consump-
ton is attributable, among other causes,
to this method OF life, constantly e1.
posing themselves to the damp cold oi
their melting huts.
Their food from this time was pru.
dent allowance Of such provisions az
they had, with a large proportion ,oi
seal flesh fat, and subsequently, when
the seals were scarce, even seal skins
Three OF the huts were for dwelling
houses and one for o storehouse. In
one lived Captain Tyson, Joe, and
Hannah his wife, and one child in the
second, Hans Christian, wife and foul
children in .he third, Mr.. Myers and
eight men, These huts were built side
by side on tho foe, and were contln
ttouSly occupied from November tC
April, when they were obliged TO aban
bon them. They had no materials fol
fire, except old rags and blubber=bott
scarce-which had TO be used very
sparingly, and only when 1t was neees
sary To warm their scanty allowance o.
food. 40 that for nearly the whole sis
months they were without fire, pc