Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-18


HORIZON FOR sEyENTY-Two DAYS
Lieut. James s. Powell, assistant 10 the chief
signal offlcer, who commanded the recent relief
expedition to Point Barrow, Arctic ocean, returned
TO this city on Monday evening. In conversation
with STAR reporter yesterday, Lieut.. Powell gave
some very interesting facts connected with the ex-
petition and the work OF The party stationed at
Point Barrow, and an interesting description OF
the country and the natives.
THE VOYAGE OF THE LEO.
The vessel Leo, freighted with supplies for the
exies at the signal station at Point Barrow sailed
from San Francisco at $50 am June "a and after
encountering heavy gales in the Pacific and Beh-
ring sea, reached St Michaels. Norton Sound, July
y; from thence she proceeded TO Plover Bay, Asia
for the purpose OF rating chronometers. Point
Barrow was reached August 20 after "A tedious voy-
In Behring sea and Arctic ocean, the vessel came
near being lost on several occasions.
THE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
Complete meteorological observations were made
during the voyage and these compared with those
taken at the same hour at the Alaska stations, ir
Is hoped will solve some difficult problems con.
nected with the movement OF areas OF low ba-
rometer. Hourly observations OF the temperature
OF water and ocean currents were also made ana
Lieut. PoWell states he is confident that portion
or the kuro Sieve, or japanese current moves
through Behrng sea, passes through the straiChts
ana there divides, one portion the stronger NOV
Hg 10 the northeast, past Point Barrow and the
other sweeps along the Siberian coast. This oues
ton has been one OF controversy ana its nai set
tlement win be looked forward 10 with interest
heavy hoe Ice was encountered before reaching
Point Barrow and while the vessel remained there
continued to drift past threatening TO crush her.
AT Point Barrow, a weeks stay was made, and
they sailed from there August q, for the Siberian
coast, stopping at every village from the north OF
East cape to Ployer bay. San Francisco was
reached october 20. From the time OF leaving San
francisco 10 the RETURN series OF incessant gales
PreSvaaled, ana Tor six days they were hove 70 in
a ncrnr
AFFAIRS AT POINT BARROW.
Lieut. Powell said that when he arrived ut
The station at Point Barrow he found that every
thing had gone on smoothly during the previous
winter, and everybody was In good health Tho
winter had been long and severe, but hardly as
much so as had been expected. After the expe-
dltlon arrived m September, 1881. dwelling
mo S ana % were at once and
seryations began, and hourly magnetic on the LIST
OF December, and both were continued without
handled and read, with the Thermometer some
times 45 deg. below zero. The Instruments re-
CURED Snch delicate handling that little could be
was almost impossible to touch brass or other
metals with the ungloved hand; but 1t had to be
done From the LIST OF December, 1881, to August
ISL, 1882, over ninety thousand readings We're
taken and recorded OF the magnetic Instruments
| alone. The station is located on Cape Smyth, on
| a low ridge about Is feet above the level. and
about $50 yards from the waters edge The ma
i've village OF oo-gluh-me, containing about 80
half mile distant TO the southwest. Vegetation
is very scanty, consisting chiefly OF moss and IL
casional patches OF hard, why grass and few
simple flowers The only shrub TO be found is
dwarf Willow.
COLD WEATHER.
During eight months in the year the earth is
frozen, and during the remaining four It thaws
to the depth OF foot from the surface, but is
frozen below to the depth OF several hundred feet
In summer the temperature rarely reaches 600
fanr., and at any time snow storm Is apt to
occur. The lowest temperature reached was on
DEC ~ Ok % below zero, that is, a. 80 Fair. below
me freeing point OF water The sun set on the
lotn OF November, and did not rise again until the
ga OF January, SO that 1t remained below the
horizon for q days, but there was no day during
that period that there was not two three hours
OF twilight-twilight sufficient to hide the stars
The sea does not freeze over: the ice, with which
1t Is fled, comes from distance and is generally
ness OF ice formed In the by freezing alone is
| about f1ve feet Although the ice hummocks ap-
pear, stable as land, a Migratory motion takes
place from time to time, and the whole body seems
70 move, and It is seldom that the peculiar noises
occasioned by the grinding and crushing together
Vi the SLOWLY moving Masses cannot be heard.
HOW THE NATIVES HulsT WHALES
On the 26th OF May lead seven or eight miles
wide and about six miles from the shore was Wis.
tied 1t remained open for several weeks ana
large numbers OF whales passed through it. The
natives succeeded In killing several; but their
mode OF hunting these animals is not very effect
I've and 1t Is rather surprising that they are able
10 XIII any. They bring their skin boats over the
Ice on sleds to the open water but instead OF cruis
ing about they draw their boats up on the ice
ana calmly walt ior whale to come along at a
stealthlly, and the harpoon is thrown and, on
striking, the shaft becomes detached, and the
head, TO which 'pokah," or inflated sealskin, is
attached, remains behind In the whales body. II
possible two or more harpoons are thrown at the
same instant, and II thrown successfully, the at
hnnV
retard the whales movements through the water
SO that the boats can keep up with it until another
In this way the hunt proceeds, and, in a short
time, the whale becomes exhausted and is then
dispatched with the lance.
REVELATION BY MIRAGE.
Lieut.. Powell was informed by Mr. Ray that on
one occasion he saw what he considered to be land
apparently elevated by mirage, directly to the
northward OF the station. 1t seemed quite extern
sive, and appeared like the rounded hill tops OF q
large island rising above the horizon. Whether
1t was land or low lying fog bank Lieut. Powell
could not say, but he though il strange that
though the whaling ships have penetrated from SO
to 100 miles In the same direction, trace OF it
has ever appeared to any OF them, either elevated
by mirage or otherwise
THE NAT1vEa
In describing the natives Of the country, he said
that they are quite respectable people savages
They are rather good looking, with interesting
intelligent, but not very handsome, faces In
general, their noses are too fat and the com.
plexions too coppery for beauty. Their bodies are
well formed and OF average stature; their hands
and feet are smaller and better formed than those
OF the average white man. and, IL they had laid
aside one or two rather nasty habits and learned
to wash themselves occasionally, they might be
considered tOlerably handsome. The women are
more intelligent and better-looking than the men,
and are treated with more consideration than
among most savages A woman cannot choose her
husband but is given away much the same as a
marriage ceremony. The whole affair is a bar
gain, and OF no more Importance than any other
bargain. No morality exists nothing intrinsically
right or wrong. Might is the great arbiter OF right
Notwithstanding this the social relations are car.
ried on as smoothly, and with little injustice as
among civilized people. There are leading men,
but no chiefs, hereditary or otherwise.
THEIR suPKRsrITIoUs AND SOCIAL HABrrA
Everybody seems to believe in spirits, both good
and bad but there Is no belief In any other state
OF existence than the earthly ona and death In