Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-09
Suffering in the Arctic Regions.
EINpERMAN AND NoRos.-THEIR WEARY
MARCH OVER Snow AND Ice.

The following testimony of seaman
Ninderman before the Jeanette Board,
Wednesday, will give some idea ofthe suffer
ings endured by them in the march over
Arctic SHOWS and ice They had been
separated from their companions six days.
This vas in October 1881.
The snow had stopped drifting, and they
made a start, travelling along the river bank
southwark and eastward On an island which
they crossed they found signs Of natives who
had been there. They then travelled on the
ice on the river. and about o'clock halted.
as the snow drited so they could not travel
further. They stopped to rest in a crack in
a bank into which they crawled for the night
and succeeded IN starting a fire. As they
had nothing to eat. they cut up some pieces
of their clothing, roasted them and ate them.
There was not room for both alongside the
fire, so one crawled up above the fire. but
he couldn't stand it long, and they had to
keep changing places about every twenty
minutes. They were not able to keep them
selves very warm, and every now and then
they would look out and whether day
light had come OF not. A little before dav
light the wind had moderated and the snow
had stopped drifting some. As soon as day
light came and they could see the mountains
to southeast, they made some willow tea and
ate little more of the seats of their pants
and started again on the march to find the
main river. going to the southeast. They
crossed the river and then got on to some
sand spits.
They tried to rest a few times behind some
hammocks. but the wind whistled through
their clothing and they were obliged to con
tinue their Journey until large sand bank
was reached, about three miles from the
mountains. Here the river was not in sight
and witness feared they had passed it, as they
had already crossed SO many large rivers.
but concluded to keep on until they Reached
the foot of the mountains. and upon not find.
ing the river, they would start west again
until they should reach it, They kept on to
the southeast on the sand spits. and 1t was
not long b, fore they sighted the main river
A little before seeing the river they a
crow flying towards the mountains. and a.
this is sign in the arctic regions that
natives are somew where near, the orders were
not to leave the west bank of the river until
a certain hut was passed. but witness thought
best to cross the river and if game of
some kind could not he found. They there
fore started across. hut had to feel their way
as there were large holes of open water.
When half way across Noros said he didn't
feel WELL and had been splitting blood. Wit
ness would get little ahead and then wait
until he came up. They were about 800
yards from the east river bank when witness
said he would go ahead and would wait for
him. When across witness waited about half
an hour for Nuros to catch up. After resting
a little they started along south the east
bank of the river. The foot of the mountains
extended into the river in places and they
were Obliged to walk on the rough ice occa-
sionally. They struggled along till night but
found no signs of natives or game.
They took shelter in rsvine and built
fire. warmed some water, and as no willow
could be found, they again partook of the
seats of their seal skin pants. They spent
the night further up the ravne but could get
little sleep, and if the night had been clear
they would have continued their march. As
soon as DAYLIGHT broke on the 18th they start
ed down the ravine and followed along the
river bank. The walking was very bad. and
but little Roadway was made. About 10 they
started fire, boiled some water, and had
another piece of seal skin pants. Here they
had to stop an hour SO as to fix the soies OF
their boots. They continued for another
mile. but finding the walking so bad, and
there being no signs of game, witness thought
it best to cross again to the west side. twas
noon before they got across and got in some
sand spits. The wind had shifted to the
southwest and commenced to blow quite
fresh. After crossing the sand splits a large
river was reached, where the ice was smooth.
with large holes of open water. They felt
their way across, and by this time it was
blowing and the snow was drifting. 1t was
getting towards evening when they reached
some more sand spits. They were unable to
see we'll. but struggled along until some low
land was reached where they tried to find a
piece of wood large enough to get behind for
the night They could find none. and having
seen q high bank to the southwest before
dark. they started for it. and shortly reached
another river. Ii was midnight before the
bank was reached.
hole was dug in a snow bank and into il
they crawled for the night. They got but
little rest as the weather was cold, On the
morning of the 18th, at daylight, they found
that the wind had moderated, SO they started
again going south. A 10 o'clock a fire WAS
made and some willow tea, and again par
took of the seal skin pants. They then
struggled along, walking on the river bank
when possible. Sometimes they would go
ON the banks to see if there was any game OF
any huts. They could walk but a short
time on the bank, ~ the moss and snow were
20 aeep that they would go in up to their
kne<ss They kept on until about P. NJ,
~nen : INIT Wa sighted from the river bank