The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-06-12
THE ARCTIC WINTER.

which laStS long tlme, ana commence
about December LIST, prevented tn
catching of seals or other animals ex
cept by accident. Then the sun dis
appeared, and did not reappear unit
the end of January or beginning o
February. During this period day wa
not distinguishable from night, excep
by means of q streak of light on th'
southern horizon, which, however af
forded no light to our unfortunate wan
derers. It was q darkness unlike the
darkness of southern latitudes. There
was no balmy breath of night; all was
cold and cheerless and desolate. Day
succeeded to day, and still the darkness
continued. Gradually the eye became
accustomed to it, and objects which
we're at first dim and indistinct could be
plainly discerned at q distance. The
Esquimaux of the party, were, of
course, used to the long, dark winter
and though lightly of it, but it was not
so with the Americans and the other
members of the expedition. Some of
them had had experience in northern
latitudes, but never such trying one
as this, and their hearts might well have
failed them when they thought of the
dreary prospect which spread out before
them. Those who read this narrative
in their comfortable homes can form but
a faint impression of the sufferings
which these people endured. The great
est privation which the darkness occa-
stoned was that it put stop for the
time to seal hunting, which, to the
crew, was
THE CHIEF MEANS OF sUsTENANCE.
The dark color of the animal prevent
ed it from being seen at any distance,
and the pursuit of it in the midst of
darkness was attended with so many
perils that few had the temerity to en-
gage in it. Even the Esquimaux, who
we're familiar with the habits of the
seal, and knew its every movement, re-
Trained almost entirely from hunting it
during the Stygian darkness. 1t must
not be understood from this that the
Arctic winters night does not vary in
duration, as it lasts months longer in
some latitudes than in others; but it
must be remembered that, drifting
south, they were gradually diminishing
the period of that darkness which reign
ed at Northumberland Island, and ap-
preaching the extending light of "othor
days" In the latter part of February
they lived principally on birds-dove-
keys-which they picked up between
the ice cracks.
The description of seal taken in the
North is called by the natives netsilS,
and another known as the "bearded
seal" 1t is short and chunky, and
smaller than the better known harps of
the Newfoundland shores
The provisions lasted until tho end of
February, when the party had to fall
back upon the rifles and seals and birds.
THE SUN ApAEARs ON THE HORIZON
On the 10Th Of January for the first
time after its disappearance in Novcm-
Der, rising at half-past eleven A. NJ. and
setting at half-past twelve p. NJ. After
the sun set there was twilight for six or
seven hours. The days after that rap
idly grew longer until the party was
picked up.
On the last of February they had the
remaining of their provisions brought
from the vessel, only two cans of pemi-
can and 100 pounds of bread-the latter
wet and mouldy. 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.
The natives were very faithful in their
exertions to kill seals during the months
of darkness but, as said before, they
rarely succeeded, the difficulties and
dangers attending the undertaking be-
ing very great. Starvation now stared
the party in the face, and the return of
the sun, though it gave some promise
of succor, found every one, even the
most hopeful, cheerless and despon-
dent. But work and action were neces-
sary to sustain life, and Captain Tyson
set an example Of energy and industry
which was initiated by all.
A lot of Esquimaux dogs drifted on
the foe, most of which Hans and his
family regaled themselves upon. The
whites were at that time little 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 a more hungry day; but
they would not, not thinking at the time
that they would eat seals entrails, ETC.,
afterward
After the provisions gave out the men
ate not only the flesh and fat of the
seals they were fortunate enough to
get, but only the bones, skins, entrails,
and all intestines and appurtenances.
Captain Tyson showed us two of his
front teeth, broken by chewing up
fro,an aeo1 bones while at times il was