Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-18

i
can take no measures for our securi
ty. Living over = powder mill wait
Ing for an explosion would be SIM
lar mode OF existence" A few day
later belong records that such a lif
as they are leading lis sufficient {,
make q man prematurely old Pag
after page is given to the description
OF this exhausting life amid th,
shrieking and crashing ice.
Dead of winter brought weashe
clear and very cold, with wonderful
auroral displays. On Christmas Ev
DE Long served out three quarts o
whisky among the men, for q littl
extra jollity. aud the officers ais,
drank "a merry Christmas to the alb
sent ones" But of Christmas De
Long declares that it lis the dreari
est day have ever experiences.
However. at dinner time, fore ant
aft we had su h grand banquet tina
We were for time completely lifted
out Of and beyond the CONTEMPLATION
of our surroundings" The crew
treated the officers to music anc
songs in the deck house. The New
Year, also, brought its celebration
The crew had q gallon of brandy and
Melville brewed savory compound
aft. for welcoming in 1880; and there
was rapid ringing Of the ships bel
and cheers for the Jeauneatte, to aid
the illusion of happy New Year. A
minstrel entertainment by the crew
closed the day.
The surgeon, on the 5th of Janua
ry, reported Master Danenhower in
danger OF 10. ing the sight of his left
eve. 81 am much distressed by the
news" writes belong, ''for Danen-
hover is highly priced by all Of US.
and by his efforts has kept as many
an hour from moping." On the 18th
OF the month one mercurial ther-
mometer froze, but another kept on
its labors, and gave rating Of Az
Faherenheit. The lowest tempera
ture that winter was $50; and we
may here anticipate the record by
noting that the lowest temperature 10
the following wiater was 500 and the
highest temperature in the interven.
ing summer 46s. Ga the 10Th OF
January, a Jay Of horrible anxiety
and trouble ended the preparations
to leave the ship; but her time had
not yet come. There is aoi much
rest for Chip. Melville. or myself;
and among the men, Nindermann,
Cole and Sweetman are as unwilling
to tale rest as ourselves. Ninder.
mann seems to know no such thing
as fatigue. Aided by Chip and Mel.
vile, whose superiors the navy can
not show, with their untiring energy,
splendid judgment. and fertility of
devise, am confident Of being able
to do all that man can do to carry
on the expedition to successful ter
mination. Much hard work falls up
on two men, Nindermann and Sweet
man, These two have to take turns
about in standing in the water in the
fore peak, building sbulkhead across
it," Soon after an operation was es-
sayed on Danenhower's eye. at
WAS beautifully performed by DR..
Amber, and born with heroic endu-
rance by the patient" Jan. 25 affairs
looked very graye-"a disabled and
leaking ship. a seriously sick officer,
and an uneasy and terrible pack"
but the next day there was a thanks
giving over the temperance Of the
sun. THE pleasing novelty of see-
ing the sun shadows for the first time
in seventy-one days was thoroughly
refreshing. Although the glare was
trying to the eyes. making me blink
like an owl at first, l could not get
enough of the pleasant eight"
After many days labor Ninderman
and Sweetman In stufilsg ashes and
other substances int the frames, the
leaking of the vessel was checked.
The Sewell and Baxter pumps and
the steam cutter engine, under Mel.
ville's skillful devices. did good work
in lessening the water in the hold.
Through February aud March q great
part Of the record ID simply that of
pumping, with its alternate mishaps
and triumphs. Whenever the ma
chimes gave out the men had to take
their places. The two natives, Alex
ey and Aneeuin throve we'll through
this hard winter. "They are as fat
as cartridges. They are naturally
and intuitively the most polite men I
have met outside of cultivated soci-
ety." BY the I'd Of March, Danen.
hover had endured seven operations
on his eye. HE bears his confine-
ment and the pain Of the operations
In the pumping records
the chief gain was the reduction OF
the coal used for the purpose from
nearly 5tons ~ less than I, thanks
10 Melville's skill and devotion to du-
w." Presently the bears gave US a
variety Of food and q walrus weighing
over q ton, to the much suffering
dogs.
Through the spring and summer of
1880 the chief question was that OF
the expenditure ola coal.
little had been used for
the stoves. The fire In the ward
rooms had only been lighted once a
week to heat water for bathing. "All
winter she officers had been sleeping
II temperatures at and below $50,
and are none the worse for 1t. seem
lngly liking It," When belong
moved his bureau from his room for
spring cleaning he found a solid
mass OF ice between its back and the
6uiwark. s'Ovcr sixty pound of ice
wererremoved. took out one slab
that weighed twenty-five pounds.
All hands except Dsnenhower had
been in perfect health. save for an oc-
casionai day or two. II think il,
would be difficult to mention q more
healthy crew .han we are. after our
winter damp. cold. anxiety and dan
ger"
On May day the sun was visible at
"A bright sun, absolutely
,lOudless sky, and temperature
Turing the afternoon Of from 27.5s
% SO. s., made up together roman
10 Arctic day, needing only naviga-
,le water TO make it perfection,
such thing as remaining on board
he ship was entirely out OF the qaes-
ion. Everybody except Danenhow-
r was out on the ice. Doors were
brown open, fires were let TO die out.
~ al hands cave Themselves up to