Connecticut western news., 1873-06-13

zero-that evening it had been nineteen degrees above. We did not save more than one-tenth of the provisions that were on the ice."
 Instead of coming to the rescue, as they expected, the Polaris steamed along down the shore. They then sci up black rubber cloth, lashed to an oar on Q 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 the foe and must have seen the signal. She was 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 east of Northumberland Island.
 There was the 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 tance below the vessel, but were driven back by the 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 :-"All that prevented us from reaching the vessel was 'slob' or 'posh too thick for us to pull the boat through. If had known what was to follow I would have gone through it or sunk. Y"
 Now commenced the drift from the 18th of October, 1872, to the 30th of April, 1873, over six months, or 197 days. Night closed upon the scene last described. The abandoned party had fortunately two boats, the only remain ing boats belonging to the Polaris.
 The gale during the night carried the foe and it's unfortunate occupiers to the southwest, 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, compasses, etc. When the gale abated they endeavored to shoot as many seals as possible for food and light as well as fuel, but did not succeed in getting more than three, owing to rough weather having set in. When the weather 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 here 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 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 1st of November they succeed ed in getting about halfway to the shore, when night and stormy weather came on, and prevented further pro- gress. In the morning it 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 Novem- Der. Then, giving up all hope of pres ent rescue, they built snow houses on the ice, reconciled to make them theil home for season.
 These huts were houses of snow, con. structed of circular form at the base, gradually converging towards the top the sides, surmounted by q block o1 snow, which formed the roof, leaving 6 small hole for ventilation.
 The entrance was small vacuum al 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 colo and wind. These houses, while the weather continues hard and dry, are warm and tolerably comfortable, but or the first appearance of wet or thaw have generally to be abandoned. The dis position of the Esquimaux to consump tion is attributable, among other causes to this method of life, constantly ex posing themselves to the damp cold o1 their melting huts.
 Their food from this time was pru dent allowance of such provisions as they had, with large proportion O. seal flesh fat, and subsequently,, wher the seals were scarce, even seal skins
 Three of the huts were for dwelling houses and one for 8 storehouse. II one lived Captain Tyson, Joe, anG Hannah his wife, and one child in tn, second, Hans Christian, wife and fou children in the third, MT. Myers anG eight men. These huts were built sid, by side on the foe, and were contln uously occupied from November tt April, when they were obliged to aban bon them. They had no materials fo fire, except old rags and blubber-botl scarce-which had to be used yer, sparingly, and only when it was neces sary to warm their scanty allowance o food, so that for nearly the whole si, months they were without fire, pc culiarly distressing position under tn circumstances, especially as these huts unless heated artifcially, are extremel, cold.
 The darkness of the Arctic night which lasts long time, and commence about December 1, prevented tn, catching of seals or other animals ex cept by accident. Then the sun disap peared, and did not reappear until tn end of January or beginning of Febru ary. During this period day was no distinguishable from night, except b, means of streak of light on the south ern horizon, which, however, afforded no light to our unfortunate wanderers It was darkness unlike the darknes of southern attitudes. There was n
 balmy breath of night; all was cold an, } cheerless and desolate. Day succeeded day, and still the darkness continued Gradually the eye became accustome, to it, and objects which at first wer : dim and indistinct could be plainly dis !, cerned at distance. The Esquimau of the party were, of course, used to tn long, dark winter and thought ightl of it, but it was not so with the Amer l cans and the other members of the OK petition. Some of them had had ez