The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-06
Fascination oftns Arctic 3sgious-1ustns
an 1oebsrg.
From an Interview in the Boston Common
wealth.

From an Interview in the Boston Common
wealth.
Had you any unexpected experiences
when you got in the higher attitudes
aside from the general one pertaining
to the expedition?"
"Oh, yes. One morning, for instance
when the atmosphere was hazy from
tight fall of snow, in going stiff nine
knot gait, We ran plump into an ice.
berg that was in our way, and which no
one could see. For moment I thought
every mast would go by the board, and
that my hair and teeth had preceded
them. I never got quite such a
shock. Twas 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, t,lsre was not Q
seam started. It was almost miraou-
lous that we had no catastrophe, and
shows how thoroughly that ship was
built for such encounters IN those seas.
On another occasion, when over against
the Greenland coast, I counted not less
than 1900 icebergs that had been
pushed from the glacial formation on
the sloplng headlands IF the coast into
the sea. We could occasionally hear
the cracking that indicated the fssure;
but the sight of those majestic mon
archs Of the sea sailing off in the morn
ing sunlight, with all the colors of the
prism, was something that cannot be
described. Fascinating region! do you
ask? Never a one more so. I
wanted to stay there awhile. Even the
men took to New Bedford and New
London jumped at the chance to go,
though some of them said they did not
expect to come back again. Why, A.
ter we got Greedy and our mission was
accomplished, never felt such a pang
of disappointment that, with seventy
two days of Summer weather before
me, and an open sea, I was obliged to
turn my prov homeward, and abandon
the chance to get higher latitude than
any other explorer"
"Do you think you would have had .
success had you been ct liberty to have
entered on such trip?"
ut seemed SO; at least, Just then.
Aud this leads me to say that the re-
mark I 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 con-
tinuance. is, in my judgment, all II
mistake. The men might as we'll come
home and have the advantages of civil.
ization. Nothing is gained by remain
ing within the Arctic circle that can not
be realized the next season by starting
early if the conditions are favorable
And three conditions rest upon an open
sea. Now, some Seasons all the waters
are filled with ice that it is impossible to
penetrate. The very next season every
strait, bay and channel is likely to be
open water. The winds, currents and
many unknown or undemonstrated in
fiuences affect the ice. What should he
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
could have got far to the northward,
and, if caugh in the upper seas, had
provisions that would have lasted posi-
bly, two years, before which time I
should have worked out of the trap.
We were butting pretty effectually one
day some ice that impeded our progress,
when one of the Dundee whaling Cap
tains said in admiration of our prowess /:
'Ye did that butting in folne style, and
it is tough ship that you have; but il
you keep it up you will ruin your ship
for second season. Second seasonl
exclaimed I-'none for us, fyou please!
We shall shall find Greedy and be back
again long before we begin to divide
the seasopsp And 10 il tuTped,s