Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-30
LIFEIN TIE ARCTIC.
thanksgiving c-Christmas-The Bill
of rnre-A Taiisfnanic Letter.

Administering Scenc-thrlstmas-tnS BIZ
of Fare-A Talismanic Letter.
The Herald publishes the following eX-
tracts from the diary OF Sergeant Rice. who
was member OF the Greedy party and per-
ished at Cape Sabine:
Lieutenant Lockwood made an unsuc-
cCssiul and a second attempt to cross Robe
son channel in n boat. The object OF this
venture was TO cross the straits TO PO.aTis
Hsrbor with q sledge loaded with a boat
and provisions. TO be left across there for
the use OF the Greenland party OF the con-
ing spring. The moving ice in the c1an.
mel caused the triptO be abandoned, though
this was not done until some 81 the seven
men in Lieutenant LocliwOod's party hid
suffered fFost-bite. November p .h was cela-
bratcd rs q "day OF thanksgiving" ald
although III Thermometer was IS dsgteeS
below the freezing point the principal event
OF the occasion WAS series OF snIw-sh0e
races, in which the stakes were plIg- and
smoking-tObacco. These we're followed by
a shooting match, the target being lighted
candle, aud dog-tesm race in harness 10
slcdge two miles and return. "During the
evening"" SO the diary continues, "tbe
prizes were Gistri5ute1, tie commander
made a few remarks and the 'cup that
cheers was passed around. Thus passed
tie coolest IL not the least enjoyable
Thanksgiying.day ever celebrated. The
first number OF our ATctio Noon, new'-
paper enterprise. cane out on this
date. Notwithstanding its mode1t app,nc-
ance II was very prctentious sheet.
i'm which the editors defined their political
platforms with a candor truly commcnds-
bic. They strcnuously advocated the emf
grafton OF the Chinese to this country. and
stated that no 'hoodum,' with any kn)vl-
edge Of Grinnel's Land, would fail TO
thank them. The sheet became quite popu-
lar, but did not run through mIny num-
bers. Our prlnting-press was the he<to-
graph" In the latter part OF November
one Of the party, Gardiner By name, while
out walking fell and broke his leg, which
confined him 20 his bed nearly all winte-.
During November the Thermometer fell TO
-43 degrees and the mercury frOze a.
$40 degrees. The mean temperature IA
November YVES -23.9j degree, the maxi
mum being 3 degrees and minimum III
degrees. The figures, it Is claimed, show
that the month OF November 1891. was the
coolest probably ever known, and certain
" so far rs regards all previous Arctic eX-
petitions. Dr. Kane's recorded temporal
tire at Van Rensselaer, IiaTbor IN 1873 most
nearly follow the above, the inean tcnlp'ra-
ture being -23.39 degrees, miximum -,
and minimum -i7.9 degrees. Other re.
markable November means, according TO
Sergeant Rice, were as follows: Melville
Island, 1882 (KelletO, POI degrees; slne
Rensselaer, IlarbOr, 1854 lKane), -2..5 de-
rfstfp OIL al
served az Mercy Bay in 1861 10y Mcclure
was 10 degrees; Muudy HIr3or in 1891,
bv Sir j. Ross. --42.l degrees; at Van
Rensselaer, lEarbor, by Kane, in iSJ4, -D.S
degrees Discovery Ilarbor or N0gt Colger,
1875. by Stephenson, -5G degrees Melville
Island, by Parry, in 1910, a degrees.
TIE MOONS VALUE RECOGNIZED.
Tn the opinion of Sergeant Rice the pre-
serce Of the moon during part Of tle
Arctic winter was q Goi7end TO the be-
nighted hyper0ofcans. "ln addition 10
her splendid illumiastions," Sergeant Rice
Enthusiastically writes, Z" she sometimes
treated us to the beautiful phenomena Of
mock moons, only 10 be seen 10 the ArcIc
regions. The displays on December ith
and 9Th were especially striking and beluti-
mi, exhibiting pIismatic coiors, ana n zines
contact arches were formed from above.
fhe mock moons were cut by complete
circle which passed through iham and
around the real, about 22o from the Latter.
Our sudden deprivation OF lisnt by the
eclipse OF December 5th made rs sensible
OF the large gas-bill we owe to Luna. We
were now IN the darkest part OF the night,
aud my journal, as | thumb II over, dis
closes nothing but rather tiresOme repeti-
lion OF our mOnotonous routine For in
stance: Sunday, Decem Der 1lth-O II
usual Sabbath, differing but little from the
ordinary days OF the week. Lieutenant
Greedy read a psalm in the mornlIJ. =.
constitutional walk was taken, after which
little extra sleep we INDUCED in. Din.
ner was serve. at 4 p. NJ, and then SOM
houT- were spent in reading and writing by
some, while Others were fishing out old let
te-s from their trunks and perusing then
with mingled feelings OF pleasure alo
regret. To any prospective sniourner M
der the polar star i offer this advice-ylZ.
bring all your letters with you; they VII
serve 10 while away many weary houl
when. the senses are SO pllled with the te
dious night OF cold and dlrkre5s that n
work of fact or fiction will distract yon
| One porson saws there Is even 4 grim salts
faction in looking over bills, especially
paid; and II not, you would not mind be
| ing dunued here. How pleasant to say, a
the sun sets in October, not 10 dawn agAil
until March. CAL around In the mornlni
and I'll settle this with pleasure
"In the evening, the usual ration OF run
being issued, infused slightly-hilarlou
element in the party, and old hymns I'D
hitting OF strong choruscs-some Of the'
Ethiopian, II must be confessed-were le'
by the violin, and the musical perform
snces, II not very artistic, proved beyon
doubt that the lungs OF the colouists wef
not yet impaired by the risors OF the eI
mate"
The falling OF bright meteor, aecomp'
MED by very loud report. was observe
at half. past p. N. on December 9Th. Al
roral displays were also seen at interEa
during that day. sometimes In the form
stre,Elers and at hours In the shape OF Gu
tain formations, and at hali-past 2 o'cloc
Of that day the colony enjoyed the sight (
"an arch Of remarkable brilliancy."
TALIsNAyIc LETTER.
In Que Of the preliminary sledge.psrt
expeditions to Halls Rest, on the Gree
land side, every match but one in the part
had been exhausted. The shiyering grou
had no hope OF life save in their ability
strike spirit-lamp from this remainir
match, and the man now dead wro
fbis Iescription: "The match snappet
cracked, and showed little fame, whi'
Inv dexferous management was commuu
Gated to the wood and trlumphantly q
piled 10 the wick OF the spirit-lamp. b.
great Heavens! the wick L. wet from Il
falling moisture OF the tent II spu
ters-fizzles--the match itself II burn.