The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-27
COMMANDER SCHLEY.
Fascination of the Arctic Regions -Butting
AN Iceberg.

Had you any unexpected expert
ences when you got in the higher lati-
tudes aside from the general one per-
tanning to the expedition
"Oh, yes. One morning, for instance.
when the atmosphere wa, hazy from n
light fall of snow, in going 4 stiff inc
knot gait, we ran plump into an ice
berg that was in our way, and which
no one could see. For IA moment
thought every mast would 20 by the
board. and that my hair and teeth mad
preceded them. | never got quite such
shock, was nearly thrown out OF
the crows nest. expected soon to
hear the Alert was leaking, But.
strange As it may seem, with rebound
of at least thirty feet, there wa, not n
seam started. 1t was almost miracu-
ious that we had no catastrophe, and
shows how thoroughly that ship WAS
built for just such encounters in those
seas. On another occasion, when over
against the Greenland coast, | counted
not less than l,5OO icebergs that had
been pushed from the glacial formation
on the sloping headlands Of the coast
into the sea- We could occasionally
hear the cracking that indicated the
assure but the sight Of these majestic
monarchs of the sea sailing OIL IN the
morning sunlight, with ali the coFors OF
the prism, was something that can not
be described Fascinating region do
wanted to stay there awhile. Even the
men took ut New Bedford and New
London jumped at the chance to go.
though some of them said they did not
expect to coma back again. Why, af-
ter we got Greedy and our mission was
accomplished, never felt such pang
of disappointment that, with seventy
two days of Summer weather before
me- and an open sea, was obliged to
turn my prov homeward. and abandon
the chance to get a higher latitude than
any other explorer V
"Do you think you would have had
success had you been at liberty to have
entered on such tripP"
1T seemed so; at least, just then.
And this leads me to say that the re-
mark | have quoted from Weyprecht
was indicated in my experience. The
theory of Winter sojourning in the high
ATTITUDES, in order to be on the ground
for another seasons continuance, is, in
my Judgment, all a mistake. The men
might as well come home and have the
advantage of civilization Nothing is
gained by remaining within the Arctic
circle that can not be realized the next
season by starting early if the condi-
tons are favorable. And these cOndi-
tions rest upon an open sea. Now,
some seasons all the waters are filled
with ice that it is impossible to pene-
trate The very next season every
strait, bay and channel is likely to be
open water. The winds, currents and
many unknown or undemcnstrated in
fuences affect the ice What should
be done is to get everything in readi-
ness early in the year. and by May or
early June be at the upper settlements.
Then follow promptly the open water.
and the occasion will come, sooner or
later, when the pole will be reached.
In my case l could have got far TO the
northward. and. if caught in the upper
seas, had provisions that would have
lasted possibly two years, ocIofe which
! time should have worked out Of the
trap. In this connection, let me tell an
anecdote We were butting pretty eff
fectually one day some ice that imped-
ed our progress, when ono OF the Dun
dee whaling captains said in admira-
ton of our prowess; 'Ye did that but
ting in foine style, and it is a tough
ship that you have but if you keep it
up you will ruin your ship for second
| season Second season" exclaimed l
none tor US, if you pleased Weshall
find Greedy and be back again long be-
fore we begin to divide the seasons
| And so it turned "--From an Interview
| IN he Boston Commonwealth.