The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-23

for q dash ashore should OppOrtunit
offer, and at the same time safe frol
Mt the possible breaking up of the margi
OF the ice. 1t next occurred to us this
our near future might be stay c
months on the foe, in which case a
our provisions would not be too much
- The Doctor and Jens then started t.
= return to the northern end of our tracl
at Cape Hecla to bring that which W,
y had abandoned. Two only were re
!, quired to go over the broken road; il
} fact, for all of us to 90 would reduc,
: the chances for an occasional ride OF
. the empty sledge going out. The
D. writer was at the time rather heavily
: handicapped with hand which had
: received a severe cut, and stayed be-
! hind. AS it was necessary that look.
: out should be kept, was to get some
rest, so as to go on watch on the return
of my companions. They left me at Z
p. m. The weather was then calm and
pleasant. had no shelter (the tent
was part of the load for which they had
returned), but as soon rs / could give
up the contemplation of our rather I'M
pleasant surroundings, crawled into
my sleeping bag, which l laid on the
ice under the lee of a hummock.
AN ARCTIC STORM.
When turned in the sky was fair,
with the exception of the heavy water
cloud to the north and west. do not
know how long 1 slept, but was awak-
ened by the snow drifting in the mouth
of my bag. l dragged myself out and
found it showing and drifting violently.
The wind, which was evidently increas-
ing, was from the north, and it at once
occurred to me that the storm was
local, originating in the water clouds
that hung over the belts of water. My
first step was to look up our traps, so
that no article might be blown away
or covered up. The small and light
articles tied to the heavy ones. l
then looked about me, and admit that l
thought there was cause for alarm.
The snow was falling thickly and &C
companied with a binding drift of the
ice, so that to windward 1 could see
only few yards. In the other direc-
ton the dark frowning front of Cape
Joseph Henry doomed up through the
storm with an awful imposing appear
ance. Wishing to know if the pack
had neared the shore, clambered up
the fringe of hammocks on the edge of |
the foe, and saw that although the belt |
of water separating us from the land |
bad diminished in width, it still formed
an impossible barrier, showing up inky
blackness through the storm. I could
not see far, but could follow its dark
outline some distance with the eye, in
the direction of Conica Hill, and to the
ooo Al.
storm, which enrobed everything in
white sheet.
l became very apprehenslve for the
safety of the doctor and Jens, as we'll
as thinking my own situation rather
critical. They might become lost in the
storm and thus separated from me,
which might be state of affairs worse
for them, as the pack might be break ,
ing up and leave them cut off both from |
the provisions they had gone for and l
those with me. The observation made i
hat the ice was moving out of James {
Ross Bay did not add to my peace of f
mind. This was certainly the case, as v
he shore to the south around the cape i
vas opening up gradually. 1 could do q
nothing but hope that the storm was f
ocal and would not be of long dura-
ion, and that my unfortunate COM b
'anions might not 60 astray before it |,
eased. Being now about as cold from 81
landing in the storm as l could very s.
veil bear to be, l emptied the snow II
rom the sleeping bag and arranged the
APP so as to keep out as much of the
now as could. 1 crawled in, but was f,
ruly miserable; the snow was driven r,
rifh 70, oef |
trough the smallest openings. That o.
-hich had entered at first melted and r
len froze around my face and neck; n,
lore drifted in, and, added to the q,
hysical discomferts, my anxiety was m
70 great to admit of rest. Toward al
forming 1 fell into doze. Occasion w
ly looking out, found the weather Sc
i'll stormy, but improving. of
THE DOCTOR RETURNS. ST
At quarter past a. m. 1 heard the by
)gs barking, and turned out to find st
y comrades safely returned. They W
Id been SO fortunate as to reach the &C
DIVISIONS and start to return before W;
e storm had attained sufficient co
light to prevent them. After that the sa
ind was in their backs, and the sagac- sti
us dogs, faithfully following their tn
acks back, enabled them to travel ap
th greater celebrity than could be ex- a
cted under such circumstances. They Ht
d had a very hard time, however, op
d were completely tired out. We th'
ected the tent and prepared meal, pr
Ter which they turned in to sleep, NC
lille took up position on the top of pie
e of the hummocks at the edge of the wi
e. The morning had turned out a an
autiful one after the storm, which rec
ded as quickly as it had begun. For oct
ne time could noUe but little change,
was convinced that the pack was !
wing out of James Ross Bay, as the hac
ID was opening up to view around Wis
nical Hill and Cape Henry was pre- pre-
ting different phase. After few att
lrs 1 was startled by the grinding, Def
shing noise of the ice in contact with hay
shore or ice-foot some distance to kne
west, inside the bay. 1t was evil Ice
1t that the pack had swung so as to of
oh the land, and instantly awak- we
d my companions. They, poor fell onl
$, had not been long asleep, and sor,
Il