Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-09-24

AMONG THE ICEBERGS.


a despatch to the New York Tribune
from Dundee, Scotland, gives the follow
ing interesting account OF the experience
of a portion of the party on the Polaris af-
ter their separation.
The Polaris had been leaking badly be-
fore the 10Th of October, 1872, and her sit
uation ultimately became so alarming that
it was deemed advisable to make prepara-
tions to abandon her. The determination
to leave the ship was arrived at on the 10Th
OF October, at which time they were in
lat. 100. Some of the crew remained
aboard. while others landed on the ice,
and they began to get out stores, with the
intention of taking everything they could
need for long sojourn in those frozen re-
gions. Between 10 and II o'clock at night
while this work was proceeding, very
severe gale sprang up, and the snow be-
gan to fall heavily with strong but varia-
bic winds. Operations, however, were
continued and after untiring efforts the
boats were got upon the ice and large
supply of provisions taken out.
THE SEPARATION.
Suddenly the hawsers by which the ship
was made fast to the ice gave way-one
swapping, the other tearing its anchor from
the lodgment in the ice. This was about
midnight. The anchor in starting tore Off
a large piece from the foe with three men
upon it, and as the Polaris drove past
them cried out in an agony of terror,
"what are we to do ?" Capt. Buddington
shouted back that he could do nothing for
them; they had boats and provisions, and
must shift for themselves as bes, they
could. Note. These three men, Sergeant
Myer and two others. were saved with the
Tyson party.-Ed. A few minutes later
those on the Polaris saw boat launched
and manned by the three men making for
the place where their comrades were sta
toned. In short time the storm and
darkness shut out every object from their
view. The feelings OF the men can be
imagined as. with half the crew left to
perish. as they supposed. in the desert Of
ice and snow, the ship drifted away help.
less. until at last she brought up at Life
Boat Cove.
\ GLOOMY PRosrEcr-wiNIfR OF uARTERs.
The prospect was now gloomy enough.
There seemed to be little prospect of their
remaining in the Polaris she still leaked
feariully; and in her damaged condition
Bu1dington had no hope of getting any
further south with her. 1t was therefore
determined to beach her, but the question
was how that could be done. The wind
being favorable, an opening in the pack
was finally discovered. and the ship was
bored through under canvas. Everything
apparently favored the work. but though
the ship was only a few miles from shore,
it took twelve hours to get her close in.
The next consideration was how to pro-
vide for the shelter of the men on shore.
All the timbers from between decks were
torn out. Provisions were deposited on
the ice. The coal was removed. Every
thing useful was secured. The walls of a
house were then built of heavy plands,
jointed TO exclude the wind, and the roof
was made of sails. In such home the
long winter was passed. Some help was
received from three Esquimaux, who dis
covered the wrecked ship and agreed, for
Il lew paltry presents, to convey provisions
over the ice from the vessel, They gave
still more valuable aid by supplying skins
for clothing, of which the crew were great
ly in need, for many of their clothes were
worn out, and many more were lost when
the vessel broke away on the night of the
10Th. The Esquimaux had plenty, and
though they were filthy-smelling garments
the castaways gladly adopted the full Es-
quimauX costume Of fur trousers, coats,
hats and boots.
Through the long dreary winter the
men kept up their spirits remarkably well
The snow fell heavily, but it served to
protect their frail habtation and make it
more comfortable. Their arrangements
were so complete that no visit to The ship
was necessary before January 90, when
they went for supply of wood. Fresh
water was obtained in abundance by col
lecting pieces of icebergs and melting
them.
PREPARING TO ESCAPE.
Toward the end of winter Chester sug-
gested that some means should be agreed
upon TO extricate the party from their
perilous position. The provisions were
gradually diminishing, and the fuel, OF
which only six tons had been obtained
from the ship, was nearly exhausted. The
Poaris was still available for materials,
and it was now proposed to build two
boats. 4 survey by Chester showed that
the lining OF the cabin could be used, and
this was accordingly stripped off. new
difficulty then arose. The planking was
all pierced with nails, and how should the
boat be made watertight? The crew all
say that Chester showed himself equal to
ali emergencies. With the carpenters
help he put the planks together IN so deit
manner that the difficulties that had
seemed unsurmouniabe vanished. Dur
ing the spring months, with the thermom-
eter 23p below zero. and often in blind
ing DRIFT, the building of the boats went
on. The situation grew daily more dis
eouraging, but the work was never re-
laxcd, aud the courage of the men never
.ailtd Advancing steadily the crew were
ready TO depart by the end of June, deter
mined to push southward. JUS, at this
moment when everything was in read-
ness they We're alarmed by the appearance
of scuryy, Happily, however, the attack
proved slight, and a plentiful supply of
walrus liver, which they obtained from
the EsquimauX, enabled them to avert the
disease.
THE LAUNCH.
When the boats were launched they
leaked II good deal, but the men deter
mined to trust them. and, slowing aboard
all their remaining provisions and ammu-
milton, they said farewell to Life Boat