The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-01-07
Written for THE RECORD.
"REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO
THE NORTHERN SEAS.
BY GEO. c. WESTON, N. Y
No. O..

After waiting for supplies until we had
nearly given up all hope, we were at last
rewarded for our waiting by the long
wished for dog-sled, as it hove in sight
one day; bringing with it our Captain,
and a good supply of provisions. Some
of our companions, whom We had left be-
hind on the vessel, had accompanied the
Captain, and expressed their pleasure at
seeing us all alive and we'll once more.
After remaining q short time with us,
the Captain left, promising to come again
to the same spot, with provisions for us,
If we were not successful in reaching our
destination.
We tried in every possible way for the
next two weeks, to push our way through
the ice, but found ourselves baflled at
every point. Having seen no sun during
the Winter months, and our vessel being
shut off from his rays when he had once
more begun to shine, our eyes we're not
accustomed to the bright glare reflected
from the snow and ice around us, and
oCNCtAi bcSuthO ohoW w
been provided with goggles before leaving
the vessel, but found them to be of little
use; although they had colored glasses.
IL was noticeable fact that those of us
who had blue, or light eyes, were not
troubled with snow-bindness, while our
dark-eyed companions suffered greatly
from its effects. Those who wero thus
afflicted, described their sensations as
similar to those produced by rubbing pep
per in the eyes Their eyes were swol.
len and inflamed, hot scalding tears run
ming from them continually.
AS we had no medicine with us, the
sufferers had their eyes bandaged with
simple bandages of cloth, in which small
pieces of ice were wrapped. This treat
ment, though slow, eventually cured them,
but they had to shade their eyes carefully
afterwards and avoid looking long at any
bright object AS most of our readers
know, it was from .snow- blindness"
that Lieut. Eisenhower, of tho jeanette
Expedition, lost one Of his eyes.
1t would hardly seem probable that the
natives of these northern countries, would
be subject to snow-bindness, but such is
the case; and as the appliances used by
them for preventing it, are ingenious, l
will describe them: Two small pieces of
wood Of an almond shape, and about the
size of a quarter dollar, are tied together
NTH y,;aoa IF e;nau s,,eb &, mead IL,
sewing clothing. These pieces answer
the same purpose as the glasses in pair
of spectacles, only instead of admitting
the light like glass, they exclude it en-
tirely, except little, which is let in
through narrow slit, which is cut In
each piece of wood, and is sufficient to |
see through. This little continuance is
used the same as pair Of glasses, by at
tachng strings and fastening them around
the head. We procured several pairs of
these "wooden spectacles," from the ma
tives, for our own use, and found them
much superior to our goggles, with color
ed glasses.
After having tried in vain to get
through the ice with our boats, we re-
turned to where the Captain had promised |
to meet us, and found him there with |
supplies, waiting for us. He seemed dis
appointed to hear that we had made no
progress, and left us with orders to try |
our best until our provisions ran out, and
il it was still impossible to proceed, to re-
turn to the vessel.
While on our way northward, we came
opposite some high cliffs, around the tops
of which we observed number of birds
flying. The ice closing in upon us soon
afterwards, we hauled our boats out upon
the ice, and taking our guns and some
ropes with us, proceeded to investigate
the cause of such an unusual sight. Upon
a nearer approach to the cliffs, we found
that large number of sea-gulls had
nests among the cracks and crevices and
on the lodges of rocks, which jutted out
from the face of the cliffs. At sight of
our boats, they had became greatly alarm
ed, and were, from this cause, flying |
about and making shrill, piercing noise.
We began TO make preparations for rob-
bling their nests of the eggs, which we
supposed were therein, by ascending by
circuitous route to the top of the cliffs,
which were nearly perpendicular, and |
then lowering two men by the ropes
which we had brought with US, to gather
the eggs. These men had to take clubs
with them to beat of the birds, which
would otherwise have greatly interfered
with them. Filling their pockets with
eggs, the men signaled to us to 'haul
away which we did with will, and
soon had them safely "on deck" again,
eggs and all. In this manner we secured
quite large addition to our stock of pro-
visions, the eggs being large, (nearly the
size of goose eppl. and all fresh. as the