Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-14
ARCTIC EXPERIENCE.
Narrative OF Captain WeyprecIIt, Leader OF
the Expeditions. -

Narrative of Captain WeyprecIt, Leader oil
l. the Expeditions. p
The New York Tribune publishes a
long letter from Hamburg, giving an
account of the reception of the return
ed Austrian Arctic explorers. At a
meeting of the Geographical Society,
Captain Weyprecht, the leader Of the
expedition, related the story of the voy-
age. He told how they sailed from
Bremen and first encountered ice, and
how they struggled and .battled with it.
In the autumn of 1872 they were firmly
enclosed and frozen in. At one time
they had 80 feet of ice under keel, and
were in region of intense cold. They
drifted slowly, though not with regu-
larity, and perfectly helpless. No
power of steam or sails could do any
thing against the ice of the North,
and they were quite at it's mercy. The
summer brought them no relief. They
made excursions with sledges, and dis
covered land hitherto unknown, which
they christehed Franz Joseph's Land, in
honor of their Emperor. When Lieut..
Payer returned to the ship from his last
expedition, it was necessary to consider
the question of abandoning the Tegeth-
Off The ship was firmly blocked in ice,
and it was lurching SO much that it be-
came necessary to shore her up with
spars There was no prospect Of an es-
cape, and no prospect that by remaining
longer they could accomplish much
more. Besides, the loss of the ship was
quite probable in the crushing and
heaving of the ice, OF, if this should
happen in winter, the destruction of the
entire party was inevitable. So
it was decided to return to
Europe, and on the Goth of last May,
they left the ship, with boats drawn
upon sledges. The way was terrible.
They had to break down hummocks
with axes and picks so as to make a
road for the sledges, and there were
frequently days when they did not
make nautical mile in "a hours
Sometimes they could not stand, and
wereforced to crawlo over the rough way,
and as they approached broken water
they found there ice which would not
support them standing, and where they
were again forced to crawl Several
days after leaving the ship part of them
returned to get a smaller boat. They
found everything safe in the yes
sell and Captain Weyprecht thinks it
not impossible that she may yet be re-
covered. Through the broken water
they made their way with many hard
ships, and at last reached open water.
Once on the sea, they made the best
of their way southwark; rowing by re-
lays at the rate of about 40 miles day.
They were picked up by a Russian fish
ing smack, and treated with every kind
ness. .~+' a' t.#E
Lieut.. Payer spoke of his discovery
of Franz Joseph Land, which he de-
scribes as very rough, with a reddish
gray beach, showing through the snow,
and with mountains of various heights
up to 5000 or 4, OOOfeet. = Ig4 -. "a
The Dunkers Of Northern Indiana.
The religious sect, known, as the
Dunkers, last week held meeting in
Lagrange county, Northern Indiana.
They were founded in Germany by
Alexander Mack and some others, and
are kind of Baptists, but believe in
universal salvation. While they con-
slider celibacy virtue, they take no
to"o IL IC11uIol W IL, Uttt uldliy IL OhSJ
please, They are queer in their cos
tunes, using large-brimmed hats,
Shaker coats, and hooks and eyes in
stead OF buttons They came, to this
country during. t17l9 and 1923. They
are mostly confined to Pennsy lvania,
Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana
They are considered the best of inhabit-
ants, are good farmerand honest There
is not a merchant in the country who
will refuse to trust a Bunker, for the
pay is sure to the day promised. They
neither take oaths,~ or, fight, OF have
anything to do with. law, and not until
lately were they allowed to take interest
on money. Every member is allowed
to speak in church, and in this way they
find their most fluent speakers, and in
stall them as preachers by the laying on
of hands, attended with fasting and
prayer and giving the right kand of fell
lowship. Aged women also hold office
I'D the church.
The ceremonies of the recent meeting
consisted in the roasting of an OK, which
was eaten with bread. the partaking of
soup, the washing of feet, the kiss Of
charity, and giving the right hand of
fellowship. After all members Of the
church had Toasted the spectators were
invited to the tables. The meeting
broke up at about one o'clock in the
morning.
An Aged Whale.
Whales are supposed to live to a great