The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-24
Written for THE RECORD.
"REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO
THE NORTHERN SEAS.
by GEO. C. WESTON, N. Y
No, 4.

manner than is done in the United States.
They were constructed of wood, the run.
ners were shod with whalebone, instead
OF iron or steel. The natives all use this
kind of sled. They are not nailed OF
pinned together, but arc bound together
with raShide thongs. There was long
rope attached to our sledge, by which
our men pulled it over the snow, hauling
ice, which when melted, answered for
washing and cooking purposes. On our
first visit to the berg, we took our ice
picks and scaled off the outside, which
was to get at tho fresh water ice from
which all bergs are formed.
Now word in regard to the formation
of the icebergs. Many think they are
formed from the sea. This is not the
case. In the far north there are forma-
tiVes of ice, known as glaciers, and it is
from these the bergs are formed. They
are formed on land, on top of mountains
and in valleys by the rain and snow.
The rains and snow falling in the winter
time and the SHOWS not melting as they do
here, thaw gradually and settle low
er and lower, until they become solid
ice masses, when after the process OF
building year after year, they crack of
and slide down the mountains into the
sea and then are known as icebergs.
We had the good fortune to see one Of
these glaciers, called Capt. Halls glacier
1t was named after tho latter because he
rode out to it on dog sledges. 1t is stu.
ated on the northern shores of Frobishers
Straits, and is about one hundred miles
in length. 1t is beautiful sight to see
the sun shining upon this immense
mountain of ice, the glaze of the sun
causing it TO resemble FURNISHED silver.
The location of this glacier can be easily
seen at night.
Sometimes after floating for long
time and being gradually melted away at
the base, by the washing of the waves,
these ice bergs lose their equilibrium and
topple over. "Then what falling down
my couutrymen ~ During our entire stay
in these attitudes, we witnessed but one
of these cases, and that one l think /
shall never forget.
One morning just before breakfast, all
of the crew being below, we we've startled
by noise, resembling distant thunder,
followed by series of sharp reports like
that of several cannons, and rushing ON
deck we saw n large ice berg, which had
been grounded near us for some time,
about TO roll over. 1t had evidently got
afloat by the action of the incoming tide,
and rolling over once the momentum was
SO great as to carry it over the second
time. Tho rumblng noise was doubtless
caused by the grinding of the berg ON the
bottom, and the deafening report came,
as the gigantic mass struck the water.
The waves made by the eccentric motions
of this large mass of ice, caused our YES
sci, which was lying at anchor, to roll
from side to side, as if in heavy sea.
Finally everything quoted down and we
were left to pursue the even tenor of our
way.
The most snow fell during the month
of December, comparatively little falling
thereafter. Our three whale boats were
taken from the davits and buried in the
snow, thus preventing the weather from
injuring them.
Our Captain hired dog-team of the
natives for consideration in the shape
of several pounds of tobacco, which were
attached to our sled, whenever we had
any distance to travel, such as visiting
natives-their nearest encampment being
about eleven miles distant-going out
hunting, etc.
The long nights of an Arctic Winter
now set in, in fact it was nearly all night,
our daylight being of very short dura-
ton, and more resembling twilight than
daylight. From the latter part of No
vember until about the first of March,
we saw no sun. Sometimes we would see
him illuminating the top of il high noun
tain in tho distance, at midday, but
that eventually grew less and less, and
we did not oven get glimpse of his
rays again until the next Spring. Dur
ing these long nights, In the Arctic re-
gions, we were often favored with beauti-
full displays of the Aurora Borealis, or
Northern Lights From out of dark
sky small pencil of light would shoot
and soon spread over the entire heavens,
in the shape Of curtains, pillars of fire,
and other fantastic shapes. have seen
the illumination so bright, as to enable
one to see several miles over the ice, and
everything on the vessel was as plainly
distinguishable as under glare of sun
light. This display would continue some
times for hours, while at other times a
few minutes only was it Observed
Our compass during these periods, would
behave in most extraordinary manner,
the needle being just as liable to point to
Inc cuob VI WoSbj dS W tue NOUN, tHuS
plainly showing it to be an electrical dis
turbance.
The most of our time during tho Win
ter, was spent in reading. However,
when the weather permitted us to go out,
gymnastic exercises were INDUCED in by
all hands Our Captain having procured
several white bear skins from tho natives,
he asked us one day If we would wash
them in the snow. This is done by rub
bling snow in the fur, which cleans it
nicely. We consented to wash them for
him and this is how we did it: One skin
was allotted to every two men. We then
assembled steep mountain, and laying a
skin down on the hard crusted snow, two
would sit on it, having the fur side next
the snow. Pulling the skin up around
us and also covering up our feet, we
would start down the mountain side with
speed that soon made breathing a diff
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