The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-07-24

SS%No~NSA
frosted cakes. It was during one Of
these extreme cold nights that Henry
Dane fell off the sledge, and, none of
us feeling like moving to help the poor
miserable wretch on again, he was left
there by the side of large drift to bet
tie with life alone.
We had heard it remarked by many
that it was their firm, unvarnished belief
that the North pole was warm place,
and was, no doubt, the Garden of Eden.
Relying good deal upon this, we mo-
mentarily expected rise in the ther-
mometer, and would occasionally cast
our eyes on it. But one day 1 dis.
covered that the one on my sledge was
frozen into compact mass, and the cold
was more than 200 degrees below zero.
This put an end to all thoughts of
warm climate in this cold region, and
we no longer looked forward with Joy
to the time when we should plant the
American flag at point 90 degrees
north.
We had lost all reckoning of the days,
and even weeks, but judge it to have
been about the first of December that
I called halt, and, with the help of
Eket, planted the stars and stripes in a
huge snow-drift. This was the signal
that we had reached the pole.
Night and day seemed blended to-
gether in this far-of region, and, had it
been as warm as some had believed, we
should certainly have remained, rather
than brave the cold and hardships of
return trip through the frozen regions,
and our discovery would have been
nothing to the people who daily ex-
pected us back. We thought of MAX
ing only short stay ut this point, but,
seeing moving speok in the dim dis
tance that looked uncommonly like
procession of sledges, we wisely con-
cluded to remain, as it appeared to come
nearer us each moment. At length it
came near enough SO we could discern
the occupants. They were nothing
more nor less than company of British
seamen, bent upon the discovery of the
place we were now occupying. Soon
they perceived us, and, no doubt, think
ing we were beings of another world,
turned and fed. I afterward heard one
of the company say we looked Like
beings clothed in white, and they, being
naturally superstitious, concluded we
must belong to another land, whose
glory we SO often read about in the
Good Book. k{A3
The Tboys tried to give three cheers
in honor Of American navigators, but
the words 1froze in their throats and
were carried back to the ship as me-
mentoes. But they soon thawed out,
and then, such cheer! it made the
very earth shake. We all agreed they
did as well in latitude 80 as they would
at 80, although it would have sounded
better to tell about if it had been at the
latter place. o
When we found the cheers wouldn't
work, we bethought of the phonograph.
With the strength of four men we again
ground out that old, worn-out- speech.
but it sounded sweet to our ears at that
time.
We dared not remain longer, fearing
those in the ship would think us dead,
and, as soon as it thawed out, would re-
turn, and we should have to remain
with the Esquimaux. With these
thoughts especially the last one-we
turned our faces toward the sunny
south, and few days travel brought us
to the body of poor Henry, and Eket
tossed it on the sledge. and we thought
no more about it.
fell upon my knees and thanked
God when I first caught a glimpse of
the sun, but I know that before the
prayer reached His ear the thing was
set. 1t had shone just five minutes.
Our return trip was about the same
as our first, and the dull, monotonous
way we did things would have made a
Turk swear on account OF our laziness
There was general thanksgiving
when we hove in sight of an Esqui-
maux village, and the dogs set up 8
| glad bark which was echoed back from
the polished surface of the icebergs.
A hundred natives focked around
eager to see us and to take whatever
they could find. Two of them seized
upon the body Of poor, frozen Henry
no doubt thinking it small whale or
large seal which we had found in the
Arctic regions. But they were not des
tined to be kept in suspense long in
regard to his nationality. The rough
usage he met with in handling had
caused the blood to circulate, and he
shouted:
"For heavens sake, boys, don't turn
that crank any morel" " ~.
The matter was plain. Henry had
fallen off the sledge in sheer disgust
and hatred of that member of Congress
speech, and, lying there, had frozen ur
like a woodchuck, and had but just
thawed out. The natives who held hin
dropped their burden and ran, while
the remainder OF the natives, hearing
the cry of danger, also left. To witness
their amazement was worth whole cir
Gus and menagerie exhibition. In five
minutes not soul was to be seen, save
Eket and the crew.
We gathered up our things, which
had been scattered about, and took new
start, and, on the 29th day of March, il
the year of our Lord 1901, we landed
on board the Columbian, most for
| lOIu-lOOhluS oCU VI mOu ONCI W1bucDccu
We could give no account of our jour
ney to the excited seamen, only to noe
our heads when they inquired if We
reached the pole. But this was enough
and the cheers sent up from the deck o.
the Columbian would have done credit
to full company of redskins on the
war path. It was then the poor fellow
who kept the log fell overheard, re
minding me of the fisherman who haG
taken too much grog, and the verdict
we returned was accidental drowning
although haven't the least doubt ht
hastened the time along by too fire.
quent sips at the barrel of "old Hol
and"
We remained frozen in until the 4tf
of July, and on that day we cleared tn,
surrounding icebergs and started fo,
the land of our fathers.
Our homeward journey was full O
varied adventures, but. as they do no
tend directly to my story, I will omi
them now and tell the little that remains
to be told.
On the 1st of September, 1901, we
made the harbor of Boston, and the
people welcomed us as from the dead
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