The New York herald., 1879-12-24
The Story of Fourteen ChriStmaStideS
Spent There by Americans.
FEASTING BELOW ZERO.
De Haven, Kane, Hayes, Hall and
the Polaris Men.
AMID ICE AND NIGHT.
What of De Long and Schwatka on the
Jeanette and Eothen?

Jeanette and Eothen?
The Christmas experiences Of our American Arctic
explorers varied aud interesting that who
has been accustomed to think an Arctic life dull and
monotonous is surprised at their recital. The mys-
terry that hangs the frigd zone and invests al
ideas respecting 1t attracts and gives peculiar fas
cination to all accounts OF life amid its forbdding
wastes. And to-day the happy cheer OF Christmas
lightens the heart and stirs the Imagination with
Kris Kringe's frolics It may not be amiss to study
the tangible myths Of an almost fancifu world
recollection. too that two bodies Of our country
men to-day living amid those strange scenes. at
tempting to unravel their weird nysterics should ac
company the reading Of the following sketches which
present the details OF the condition and surround
ings Of their predecessors during Christmastide:--
HAVEN 1850. a.
Beset and drifting with the rrent-driven ice.
Christmas Of 1850 found Dc Haveu's vessels the Ad
vance and Rescue, in Lancaster Sound. imprisoned
the winter and about to begin the long and dan
gcrous drift through Bafin's Bay. Frankin's first
winter quarters had been found, Grtnnen Land had
been discovered. but adverse fate was now
bearing the unwilling explorers from tho field Of
their labor Of love to an uncertain destiny amid the
crushing iceHoes. The insecurity Of their situation.
restless ice masses. the gloom OF the wintry
darkness. increased by lowering mist and
dread anxiety awakened by scorbutic gums.
were, however. inadequste to rcpress JOY
and mirth in the Christmas cheer. Exchange Of gifts
in suggestivSntockings recalled pleasing memories
of trundle beoeand Kris Kringle A foot
an expanse Of smooth ice-the purses being flannel
shirts and "splicings OF the main brace''-though
heartily enjoyed offered sad evidence Of the ener-
waiting effects of the suns absence and confined
ships life with its necessarily imperfect diet.
dinner vands that would scarcely allure the taste
of any but Arctic explorers was followed by toass
and songs and jokes their noble patron. Mr.. Henry
Grinnell. being remembered with enthusiasm.
CHRISTMAS THEATRE.
The upper deck. with It's felt storm covering fes-
tooned with flags, was, by due arrangement Of
boxes and barrels converted into theatre. and, at
temperature Of four degrees below zero. "The Blue
Devils" was performed to an apprecative audience.
Songs dances and declamatons closed the entertain
ment The talented surgeon Of the expedition. DR..
Kane amid the wondrous novelty and variety Of the
drifting leo. the dull twilight Of the Arctic night,
the faint glories Of the mstdimmed. starry vault.
and the harsh. biting winds. burdened with crystal
snow. moved with an observant eye and noted with
q masters hand the and curious thoughts they
prompted
In it's destined grave, In the bleak, wind-nursed
Rennsselaer Harbor the little brig Advance. with its
choice company. lay in its winters dress the
bright, clear Christmas Of 1853. The temperature of
twenty-five degrees below did not present joyous
sports on the harbors ice, perfect calm operating
favorably. The labors Of the fall had been severe.
and tho midwinter found the crew carefully hus-
banding their strength the sledging of the early
SPRING The work at the observatory and
the care Of the dogs gave sufficient
occupation to the impatient explorers The glacier
capped mountains to the south shut out the gloam-
ing of the midwinter twilight From the little islet
crowned by the rude observatory the lofty hills that
guarded the harbor's mouth in the moons faint
rays loomed dark and forbidding the little ship
The following Christmas found the ship still
guarded by the same grim sentinels Tho condition
OF tho crew sad indeed. hard seasons work
in the laborous sledgng trips. with the dissppont-
| ment arising from the briggs continued imprison-
and the necessary decrease in the quantity and
quality Of their rations, had prostrated with scurvy
and kindred troubles nearly every man. The recent
broken down and exhausted of the large party
who had rebeled at the prospect Of second winter
| and much against the Judgment of DR.. Kane had
taken half the ships stores and made vain effort
to reach the Greenland settlements. filled the ships
| hospital and made an almost fatal drain upon the
| strength and resources of their kind nurses. An
alarming hre o few days before in the cooking room
| Threatened
aud the prospect in their weak condition OF attempt
ing the OF life without shelter clothing
| or food. with the temperature forty degrees below
zero upon the inhospitsble ice was enough to mako
the strongest tremble.
Notwithstanding these forlorn and depressing cir
cumstances mirth and trustfui joyousness charsc-
terized their Christmas celebration. and Mt dinner
| 1--WE passed around merrily our turkeys, roast and
boiled roast beef onions, potatoes and cucumbers,
| watcrmelons and God knows what other cravings Of
the scurvy sickened palate with entire exclusion Of
| he fact
| sented by pork and beans"
| 1860.
The ships bell from the masthead of the schooner
| United States awakened the echoes Of Port Faulke
early on Christmas morning In 1860 and called the
| ships company to q devotional service DR.. Hayes
and his comrades were In good health, looking
eagerly forward to their spring work. disease
these serviceabe animals, and to add to the number
Of those that remained sonntag. the astronomer OF
the expedition. accompanied by Hans, had q few
days before undertaken perilous Journey to an
Esquimau settlement twenty or thirty miles south
destined never to return. And while his mates
were celebrating their Christmas he dying OF
cold and hunger in snow bank The causes that
that while crossing crack in the ice he fell in the
water, and not having sufficient strength to
in an igioo followed out Of snow bank while Hans
pushed on in The. the sled v.,, to the nasivs
was unable to return to sonntag's relief. Hans has
been blamed for his conduct on this occasion. but
his subsequent behavior the Polaris and with
Captain Nares, and the account which ho himself
gives in his Tale of My Travels to the Far North,
lead to the conclusion that he did all that in his
power to prevent Sonntags death, The loss OF the
bright young astronomer deeply folt by his
comrades and by all who knew of his contributions
to science when In charge OF the Dudley Observatory
and when connected with Kane's Arctic Expedition.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
While Sonntags absence was noticed hopeful
belief that he would successfully accomplish the
purposes of his severe journey enabled the whole
ships company to enter heartily into the festivities
of the day. The ship was decorated with hags and
trappings that had been furnished for theatrical
uses, aud illuminated throughout by numberless
lamps and candies. Tho MONDAY twilight scarcely
appeared the snow capped hills ana perpetual
night enshrouded tho lonely ship. The moon.
wanting but two days to round out its