The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-11-18
COMMANDER SCHLEY.
Fascination of the Arctic Regions
--Butting an Iceberg.

Interview in the Boston Commonwealth.
"Had you any IN xpected experiences
when YOU got in. the higher lati,udes
aside from the general one pertaining to
the expedition ?"
"Oh, yes. One morning, foriustance,
when the atmosphere was hszy from 8
light fall OF snow, 10 going a stiff nine
knot gait, We ran plump into an iceberg
that was 10 our wav, and for which no
one could see. For moment thought
every mast would 90 by the board, and
that my hair and teeth had preceded
them. | never got quite such q shock.
| was nea,ly thrown out OF the crows
nest. Iexpected soon to hear the Alert
was leaking. But, strange as il may
seem, with rebound OF at least thirty
feet, there was not seam started. II
was almost miraculous that we had no
catastrophe, aud shows how thoroughly
that ship was built for just such encoun-
ters in those seas. On other occasion,
when over against the Greenland coast,
I counted not less than 1900 icebergs
that had been pushed from the glacial
formation on the sloping headlsnis oil
the coast into the 8 a. We could oc-
casionally hear the crackliag that indi-
Gated the assure; but the sight of these
majestic monarchs of the sea sailing ofl
IN the morning sunlight, with all the
colors OF the prism, was something tha,
cannot be described Fascinating re.
gion do you ask. Never one more
so. I wanted to STAY there awhile Ev en-
the men took at New Bedford and N v
London jumped at the chance to GO,
through sone OF them said thew did not
expect to come back again. Why, af.
ter we got GreelY, aud our mission was
acco ompl:shed, ! never felt such q paug
OF disappointment that, with seventy.
two days of summer weather before me,
aud an open sea, | was Obliged to turn
my prov homeward and absndon the
chance to get higher laIi.ude than any
other explorer
"Do you think you would have had q
success had you been at liberty to have
entered on such a trip?"
sit seemed SO; at least. Just then.
And this leads me to say that the re-.
mark | have quoted from Weyprecht
was viudicated in my experience. The
theory of winter sojourning in the high
latitu1es, 10 order to be on the ground
for another seasons con,inuauce. is, ia
nv judgment, sll mistake. The men
might as we'll come home and have the
advantages OF civilization. Nothing is
gained by remaining within the Arctic
circle that cannot be realized the next
season by starting early il the condl-
tions are favorable. And these eondi
tons rest upon an open ses. Now, some
seasons all the waters are filled with ice
that it is impossi sihle TO penetrate. The
very next season every strait, bay and
channel is likely to be open water. The
winds, currents and many unknown or
influences affect the ice.
What should bedone is to get everything
IN readiness early in the year, and by
May or early June be at the upper set.
Elements. Then follow promptly the
open water, and the occai,n will come,
sooner or later, when the pole will be
reached. In my case c,uld have got
far to the northward, and. il caught in
the upper seas, | had provisions that
would have lasted possibly two years,
before which time should have worked
out Of the trap. In this connection, let
me tell an anecdote. We we're butting
pretty effectually one dav some ice that
impeded our progress, cheu one Of the
Dundee whaling captains said in adui-
ration OF our prowess 'Ye di that but
ting IN foine style, and it is tough ship
that you have; but II you keep it up.
you will ruin your ship for a second sea-
SON. Second season!' exclaimed l.
none tor us. il you please! We shall
fnd Greely and be back again long be-
fore we begin to divide the seasons I
And 80 It turned out"