The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-12-20

veyed on board to be converted into q
Christmas tree. Under the orders of DR..
Pansch, the AndrOmed8 was wound round
! small pieces of wood, several of which
were attached, like fir twigs, to q large
bOugh; and when these bOughs were
fastened TO pole they formed a very
respectable fir tree.
"After dinner on Christmas day the
cabin was cleared for the completion of
the preparations; and on OuTreCall at six
O'Clock, we found that all had assumed
sn unwOntedly festive appearance. The
walls were decorated with the signal flags,
and our national eagle; and the large
cabin table, somewhat enlarged 10 make
room to seat seventeen men, was covered
with a clean white cloth, which had been
reserved for the occasion. On the table
stood the fir" tree, shining In the
splendor of many little wax lights, and
ornamented with all sorts of little treas
ureS, some of which, such rs the gilded
walnuts, had already seen a Christmas in
Germany below the tree was a small
present for each OF us, provided long before
hand, in readiness for the day, by loving
friends and relatives at home. There was
a packet, too, for each of the crew, con
tanning some little Joking Gift, prepared
by the mirth-lOving DIR. Pansch, and a
useful present also; while the officers
were each and all remembered.
When the lights burned down and
the resinous Andromeda was beginning
to take fire the tree was put aside, and
feast began, at which full justice was
done to the costly SiCiiiSn wine, with
which q friend had generously supplied
us before we left home. We had dish
of roast seal Some cakes were made by
the cook, and the steward produced his
best stores. For the evening, the division
between the fore and aft cabins was re-
moved, and there was free intercourse
between officers and men many a toast
was drunk to the memory of friends at
home, and at midnight q polar ball was
improvised by a dance on the ice. The
bOatswain-the best musician of the
party-seated himself, with his hand
organ, between the antleTs Of a reindeer
which lay near the ship, and the men
danced two and two on their novel tlOOr-
ing of hard ice
Such was our experience of Christ
mas in the north polar circle; but the
uncertainties of arctic vOyaging are great,
and the two ships Of our expedition made
trial of the widely different fates which
await the traveller in those frozen regions,
duu NhllG VIC btl AllC N'Nl liittiAttR NNl' sfiAh
gularly fortunate in escaping accidents
and in keeping our crew, in spite of some
hardships, in sound health and good
spirits, the Hansea was crushed by the
ice, and her crew, after facing unhcaTd of
dangers, and passing two hundred days
on a block Of ice, were barely rescued to
return home"
Yet even to the crew of the Inflated
HansPa Christmas brought some share
of festivities. The tremendous gale
which had ragged for many days ceased
( just before the day, and the heavy fall of
snow with which it terminated and
which had almost buried the black huts
/ that the shipwreUked men had construct
| ed for themselves upon the drifting ice
bergs from the dcbr,s of the wreck, had
| produced a considerable rise in the tenn
/ peTature, and there was every Indication
that q season of calm might now be
anticipated.
The log book of the Hansca thus
describes the celebration Of the festival {:
The tree was erected in the afternoon,
while the greater part OF the CREW took
a walk; and the lonely hut shOne with
wonderful brightness amid the snow.
| Christmas upon a Greenland iceberg
The tree was artistically put together of
fir wood and mat weed, and DR.. I.aube
! had saved a twist of wax-taper for the
| illumination. Chains Of cOloTcd paper
aud newly baked cakes were not wanting.
/ and the the men had made kBapsaCk
I and a revolver case as a present for the
captain. We opened the ieadeH chests of
presents from Prof. Hochstetter and the
geological society, and were much amused
/ by their contents Each man had a glass
OF port wine; and we then turned over
| the old newspapers which We found in
/ the chests. and drew lots for the presents,
which consisted of small musical instTu-
ments, such as flies, jewsharps, trumpets,
crackers, etc. In the evening we teasted
on chocolate and gingerbread"
% We observed the day very quietly" ,"
writes DR.. Laube in his diary. " II
this Christmas be the last we are to see,
it was at least a cheerful one; but
should happy return home be decreed
for US, the next will, we trust, be for
brighter. May God so grant H'- Cham
6eyS' Journal.