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

CArLunimu III NE Nm UuhIu
The ice region of the North is full of
marvellous grandeur and mystery. 1t
is not only mysterious in itself, but
likewise in much of it's history, Known
to us only as associated with everything
barren, frigid and forbidden, it yet pos
sesses charms and even beauties that are
specially its. own. For nearly the whole
year, its frozen waters and frozen land
present phenomena startling almost be-
yond imagination. Turn the eye whittier
you will, in space of some 1900 miles
diameter around the geographical pole,
immense masses and fields of ice only
are seen in every conceivable form,
whether on the partly hidden land, or
all but completely covered sea. On the
one hand may be seen towering mount
aims of rock, soaring high in majestic
grandeur, and encircled or divided from
each other by mighty glaciers and fields
of ice; on the latter, there may be pre-
scented a seemingly limitless level of
solid ice varying from eight to fourteen
feet in thickness, and in parts thrown
up into enormous ridges, sometimes
forty feet high, and of irregular lengths,
with huge ice-islands called bergs scat
tered about upon its surface.
If it be the open season of summer,
these bergs may be seen floating about
In stately splendor, or occasionally, when
caught in currents and eddies, tearing
along with ominous violence. III there
be storm, and the ocean has burst
through and broken up the ice, the scene
presented is a very wild one, and the ut
most dexterity is required on the part
of the mariner to avert danger from the
masses dashing against the vessels side.
If it be calm or moderate weather, the
pictures nature puts before the eye are
marvellous. If the sky is clear, thous-
ands of fairy-like castles or crystal cities
thrown into ruins appear to view. Re-
fracted images of all imaginable forms
dance before you. In the air may be
seen, inverted, some distant object which
in reality is far below the line of ordinary
vision. Sometimes the sun does not look
round but oval or perhaps there may
appear to be four suns, or at night four
moons, lighting up the icebergs. In
winter also, the whole of one part of the
heavens is often Illuminated by the
splendid coruscation of the aurora
borealis. In summer, according to the
latitude, there is no sunset for weeks
and during winter there is total darkness
for like period. The cold is intense,
except occasionally. Even in autumn.
thick ice will sometimes form in one
night; and in winter or spring the regis
ter is generally from thirty to sixty deg.
below zero. Still, if proper precaution
be taken, even this extreme temperature
is bearable.
Now, it is through such a region as
this that explorers have to make their
way. How they do it is story often
told, yet always interesting. In the first
place, their ships are more than ordin-
arily strengthened to encounter ice ; yet
very often no common skill or human
power is of any avail, and constant
watchfulness of ice movements is needed.
In summer the ice breaks away from the
coast of Greenland, and not infrequent-
ly leaves narrow tortuous passage
round what is called Melville bay. 1t is,
however, exceedingly dangerous, and
ships are often detained here long
while. The exploring expedition of 1850
was fixed here for some weeks, and the
vessel to which the writer belonged
made only twelve miles in fortnight.
Here, too, whaling-ships are often
crushed. The ice takes "run" during
gales and strong currents, and will some
times actually break up and cover over
ship in a few minutes. The Hecle,
Parry's old ship, was thus caught. In
less than twenty minutes nothing was
seensof her but the top of her masthead
and the end of her jib-boom. An Ameri-
can whaler was also similarly served in
twenty minutes and the Breadalbane,
further on, was actually sliced by run
OF ice, and sank out of sight when the
pressure was removed.
III the explorer has succeeded in pass
ing Melville bay, then Lancaster sound
or Smith sound is entered. Seldom is
this done till near the close of summer
consequently, it is necessary to find
some safe harbor in which to winter.
Some ships have had no such shelter,
and have drifted about-as did the two
American vessels in 1850 -51-all through
the dark and bitter season. But sup
posing winter harbor is found, then
the ships are housed or covered in, and
the crews properly attended to. What
is next done in the way of wisely main
tanning health by proper amusements,
education and exercise, would take too
long to tell Enough to say that, ex-
cept on the occasion of the last official
polar expedition, very little mortality
has occurred. Indeed, health in the
Arctic regions is more to be depended
upon than in tropical climes
During winter, all hands are employed
in making preparation for spring travel
ing. Then, when March arrives, sledges
are packed, officers and men appointed,
and away these hardy explorers go, over
ice and snow, along barren shores into
unknown wastes, hundreds and hundreds
of miles, without the slightest hesita-
ton. Strange, too, how accurately they
mark their way, and even prearrange
where separate parties shall again meet