The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-02-11

in certain localities at first only fixed by
geographical science and assumed con-
fguration of land
But the better to understand this, let
us try and picture a scene as it actually
occurred. Upon the solid ice there, you
might have seen congregation of what
look like human beings. Sledges and
Esquimaux dogs are with them. Officers
as well as sailors, numbering about 100,
are dressed in uncouth garbs that make
them look anything but civilized men.
Furs are worn by those who can get
them. and woolens lined with fur by
others. Also masks for the nose, and
goggles for preserving the eyes. 1t is
very cold, and every protection Is need
ed to prevent frost-bite. No one is left
by himself. Companionship is abso-
lutely necessary, in oyder that the one
may keep a lookout upon the others
face; as, when frost attacks the nose and
other exposed parts of the face, it is at
first unfelt by the sufferer himself. His
companion, as soon as he sees symp-
toms of this, takes up handful of snow,
and rubs the affected part hard for few
moments, and thus prevents any spread
of the mischief.
While this is going on in one place,
others are busy trying to keep the dogs
in order. These FESTIVE creatures, har-
messed to the sledges, get entangled
with each other. or every now and then
run in between the mems legs. Pres
emily, however, all the party have ar
rived at the place appointed. There,
the chief of the entire expedition care
fully examines their several equipments,
and addresses them i'll appropriate terms.
pointing out what each has to do. The
several sledges are named, and have
flags with certain notices selected by
the officers attached to them. Many of
those notices bear upon the subject Of
the search, and several of the flags are
cherished on account of the fair hands
ut home-some sister, or some one still
dearer-who lovingly made them. Every
sledge has an officer, and from six to
eight men. All the officers desire to go;
but the post of honor is given first to
the highest-even to the Captains of
ships-then to the humblest in turn
And now all have received their orders,
and been addressed as to their respective
duties; and. after few kind and some
times tender partings between old COM
rades, the hardy explorers buckle to
their work, and shortly separate, each
band on its way to traverse hundreds of
miles of frozen ocean or of bleak, in
hospitable coast.
Away they go Over miles and miles
Of dreary wastes. Frying and seeking
nd sy,,, 4,
itself that would seem to have been
placed there by others than themselves.
Weary, footsore, snow-blind, lame, weak,
strong again, often frozen nearly stiff,
and battling with wind and sleet and icy
particles that cut the face as though
with keen razor. Still they trudge on,
through barren and hitherto unknown
places. Occasionally they break out
into song, and thus rouse themselves
again, and perforce renew their tagging
strength.
The sledge, when loaded with pro-
visions, teuts, spare clothing, instru-
ments, firearms, and spirits of wine for
fuel, generally weighs 1900 pounds, or
say 100 pounds per man. This weight,
then, the men have to pull along over
the ice, smooth or rough, and oitener
among thrown-up ridges, as best they
can. A belt round each man is then at
tached to tho sledge, and thus should it
happen, as is sometimes the case, that
one of the party falls through broken
bit of ice, he is speedily pulled out
again. In such cases some rapid eXer-
else is necessary to prevent the serious
consequences that might otherwise en-
sue.
Wher dinner hour arrives, the party
halts for short time TO eat the allow
ance previously made up for each per-
son. Then they drink their small guam
tum of grog, proceeding which is usu-
ally accomplished while running up and
down the ice to keep up the circulation
and escape being frost bitten. The pork
which has been cooked on board is al
most always so hard that it breaks like
biscuit, and the drinking utensils are
usually covered with non. conducting
substance to prevent the cold from TAX
ing the skin off the lips.
But night is the worst part of the
time-that is, the sleeping period for
we should mention that sometimes the
party travels by night and sleeps by
day, on account OF the greater advant-
age from the absence of glare, etc.
When the days march of perhaps ten
miles is ended, the tent is pitched on as
comfortable bit of ice rs can be found.
This tent is generally fourteen feet long
by eight feet broad and eight feet high.
There is n flap at the bottom, made to
pull outward and be covered with snow.
The door is made of double curtains like
n porch, to keep out the snow-drift, and
afford shelter to the cook or lookout
man. Generally, the tent has four small
holes in the top to permit
the escape of steam and br ath,
which otherwise condenses and falls
in shower of fine snow. The tent
is so pitched as TO have the door on the
opposite side of the prevailing wind.
The cooking apparatus is just within
the porch. When the tent is put up
and made secure a waterproof floorcloth
is laid upon the ice, and upon this is
placed another of canvas. The whole
party, officers and all, then make them
selves as comfortable as they can togeth-
=. L.