The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-21

abated they endeavored to shoot Is many seals e
posslbe for food and light as wen fuel but dll
not succeed In getting more than three owing 70
rough weather having set In. When the weather
cleared up the party found themselves, a. they
supposed on the east coast west coast Of Green
land about forty miles from the ship. They nsu-
hoped to reach the shore, but the ice being weak.
they could not transport boats and provisions to
shore until it grew stronger. Fortunately they
here discovered the other boat, provisions. &C.,
from which they had been separated and saved all.
The ice at length grew stronger, and they mado
another attempt to reach the 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
when
NIGHT AND STORMY WEATHER CAME ON,
and prevented further progress. In the morning
1t wasfound that the ice was broken and the noe
drifting south very swiftly. No more land was
seen for some days, and bad weather continued
present rescue, they built snow houses on the ice.
reconciled to make them their home for season.
These huts were houses Of snow, constructed Of
circular form at the base. gradually oonverging
towards the top; the sides. surmounted by block
of snow. which formed the roof, leaving small
hole for ventilation.
The entrance was small vacuum at the base.
barely large enough for man to crawl through
Any greater 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 toleraby comfortable. but
on the nrst appearance OF wet or thaw have gen.
orally to be abandoned. The disposition Of tho
81. q = r.. tzx- ::
Esquimaux to Consumption Is attributable, among
other causes to this method of life, constantly ex-
posing themselves to the damp cold Of their melt
Ing huts. +.
Their food from this time was q prudent allow.
ance Of such provisions as they had, with largo
proportion of seal nesh fat, and, subsequently,
when the seals were scarce, even seal SKINS
Three Of the huts were for dwelling houses ana
one for storenouse. In one lived Captain Tyson,
Joe, and Hannah his wife, and one child; In the
second, Hans Christian, wife and four children;
in the third, Mr.. Myers and eight men. These huts
were built side by side on che noe, and wers oon-
tinuously occupied from November to April, when
they were, M@ 5MNRJ
CoAPELLBD TO ABANDON THEN.
They had no materials for fre, except old ra1s
and blubber-both scarce-which had to be
used very sparngly,C and only when IL was
necessary to warm their scanty allowance Of food.
80 thar for nearly the whole SIX months they were
without IRE, peculiarly distressing position under
the circumstances, especially these huts unless
heated srtincially. are extremely cold.
THE ARCTIC WINTER.
The darkness Of the~Ar night, which lasts q
long time, and commences about December l, pre.
vented the catching OF seals or other animals ex.
cept by accident, Then the sun disappeared. and
did not reappear until the END OF January or be.
ginning OF February. During this period day waa
not distinguishable from night, except b.
means OF streak OF light on the south.
ern horizon, which. however, Afforded no
light to our unfortunate wanderers. II
was darkness unlike the darkness OF southern
ATTITUDES. There was no balmy breath or night all
was cold and cheerless and desolate. Day sue.
ceeded to day, and still the darkness continued.
Gradually the eye became accustomed to it, and
objects which at the frst were dim and indistInct
could be plainly discerned at a distance. The
Esquimaux Of the party were, OF course, used to
the long, dark Winter and thought lightly Of It.
but 1t was not so with the Americans and the other
members OF the expedition. Some Of them had had
experience In the northern ATTITUDES, but
never such trying one as this, ana
their hearts might have well failed them
when they thought Of the dreary prospect
which spread out before them. Those VINO read
this narrative In their comfortable homes can form
but q faint impression OF the sufrerings which
these people endured. The greatest privation
which the darkness occasoned was that Il put .
stop for the time to the hunting which to tho
crew was M LIT
THE CHIEF MEANs OF SUsrENANCE.
The dark color Of the animal prevented it from
being seen at any distance, and the pursuit of it
in the midst OF the darkness was attended with 60
many periIs that few had the temerity to engage
in it. Even the Esquimaux who were familiar
with the habits OF the seal and knew
its every movement refrained almost entirely
from hunting 1t during the stygian darkness.
1t must not be understood from this that the
Arctic Winters night does not vary in duration. as
1t lasts months longer in some ATTITUDES than in
others; but it must be remembered that, drifting
south. they were gradually diminishing the period
OF that darkness which reigued at Northumberland
Island and approaching the extending light OF
''otner days" In the latter part OF February they