The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-06-18


| The scene is laid in Melville Bay. lo
gcographcrS this bay is an indcntation Of
the west coast Of Greenland, extending
from Cape Shackleton on the south to
| Cape York on thc north. yrf Melville
Bay to the Arctic navi"otoI. r,mnrrhpud,
much more, its shores are the Guittnl
source OF many of those huoc masse, oi
ice which so often impcril the safety Of tbr
northern cruisers, and its waters the birth
place Of the heavy pack ice, which 50 OIL.
ten has caught unawares the whale feet
sending to destruction the strong ribbed
ships and their crews. Very few of the
gentlemen sportsmcn of any country are
permitted to witness the scenes to which
for moment | WoulG like to introduce
YOU The entire coast of Greenland from
Cape Farewell to the most western limit
| visited by explorers, is composed Of lofty
prccipitous mouptains, down whose in
Vulnerable gorges flow those great Arctic
| rlyers-the Glaciers-thc most inferior o..
which oyerreacl,eS by far the famous Mrr
de Glace, and GrndelWald Of the Alp.
and from the g frozen streams, the sTea
icebergs are constantly pushing their wav
into the adjacent waters.
Melville Bay is famous rendezvous H."
| swept into it by the currents which seem
to centre there, running from the north .
well as the south. Six hundred berg
We're counted, on one occasion, from The
deck OF our little vessel, OF all sizes aui
Shapes, from the = hIimmocky bits ot tin
WhaerS, to the towering masses, IN SOM
cases reachlng ut attitude OF four hUndrt%
ieet' and their whole mass may be imaglH
| ell when If known that lint tb1Ep- ,lfTl
OF the bulk is aboY" water. leaving 7cyeu
teh'hS as the under water body, lma&M"
lheSe hllge lloatln@ monsters ligttod nl
ny Inc varying UNITS OF the never Netil""
sun, during the Arctic day, ret1ectmg lr"u
the deep chaSms all the col"r8 "i lI
prism. or from some salient aug" Nh
rlch deep colorS OF the amrthy~.. ~t3
phlre. or Jasper; on perhaps from a "'"N
OF beautifully chiScled mlnarrt~ "i ~onp
imaginary mosque OF It warmer CLINE, I'd.
me we'll dellned battlemcnt~ "i nonW
tam 1aStneSS, come the Rushing brilliant
lm'S OF the diamond or emerald "rd th
not from single iceberg, but from hnt
dredS as iar as the eye can reach In aa'
ulrectloh' All gleanlu9 IN th"H r"ld ma"
nllIeence, producing lally scene. "a.'-
tales OF oriental splendcr cannot ~mpa
In the midst OF Just such Il scene a lJ.
we tound ourselves one morning, a
While dreaplng OF the disasters Wh.'t
Melville BAY has witnessed. and ui n
scores OF good ships whose strong tWtHo
are strewn over its bottom. VIZ aror-..
hy the cry . \ Bear - \ Bear \ 70
single man. officers and crew jumped lp
the deck to see the stranger who haA yea
tured so tartrom terra Iirma, lor Wr We0.
| -flt1Ny t,f,,N, -,.t
the Greenland coast, Rifles We're at ou,.
called into requisltlon, but our game Wa-
out 'of range, rs n shot OF two proved
the bear was swimming about, tumir"
his great head from side to side. loOhiue
curiously at the ship as if in Wondprncr'
what such superior sized animal coull
possibly be. half desrous to approach and
satisfy his curiosity. and half afraid thll.
to indulge himself Ii he was to ho cap
tured, evidently it must be by giviue
chase in 4 whale boat here was chauc,
not to be lost, and with four men and m
carbine | started The waves We're ruu
ming high the effects of malr OF wind
the dav before. Brun evidently did uo:
fancy the appearance OF the whale buai
he disappeared at times. and wa~ saga
cious enough each time he rc-appcarrd O.,
| tutIl3C MS ptjIlII llOlll us. mt tilt~i
was a long and exciting one In lm
eagerness to start in pursuit had negloc,
ed to take any other weapont than a Sinr,r
carbine, neglect which might have re-
suited seriously had any accident happcu.
ed to the piece or had it missed fire n,
close quarters; with this thought in my
mind, | decided upon Il Shot when still al
a respectable distance away. but tine
|
resulted in wounding the bear in the
lungs, a painful wound. which made INN
perfectly furious. He at once turned M
on us, and Seeing his move to flank us (
placed NV carbine in a secure Dositiol.
Ind turned quickly to catch the steering
oar; an unfortunate sea at this momeu,
struck the boat, threw me over the gun
vale and carried away from my hold lin,
steering oar. To regain my footing in
the boat was the work of an instant. And
by means OF backing OH one side ald pull
lng on the other. | finally succeeded In
getting the boat into Il favorable position
head to sea- NV enemy now was clos.
aboard urging himself onward by hi~
great outsprcad Webbpd paws. bIeedjnl
profusely, and bowling with pain. ana
showing an excellent set OF teeth witt.
| WHICH IL w 1S HIS CN LtttIll Iultltl'H ip -tiI
isfv himself for the injury | had dou,
HIM; and the look which he rave mr
from his fiery eyes. shall never torgel
Now was the critical moment To mis-
my mark now. would result in q heay5
breakfast for bruin, for one paw in our
gunWale, ne would have it all his own
way, and the snip was ut least two mjlr-
away The men appreciated This fact
and never was 4 boat in Il heavy sea kep,
more religiously m position than WA
ours. - Steady was given 70 the Wrn
who waited breathleSsly the result CilC.
went the carblne, and the great beast, b
defiant angry look unchanged, bowed VI.
head pierced through the BRAN. 81.
close We're We to him that before d..
struggle was ended, had grasped b.
short fat tail anu slipped bowIiur aboH
his quarters; he proved a heavy tow. hu
in the course OF time we reached tine ship
and all hands turned to hoist the prize uu