The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-09

which Lieut.. Schwatka kindly consented
to deliver for the benefit of Gen. John
Buford Post, No 243, G. A. R. The
speaker has clear voice which is pleas
ure to listen to. He reviewed the pre-.
vious attempts to make Arctic journeys,
and their failure; the starting of his own
party, the first experience with EsquimauX
and their prominent odor and the arrival
at Hudson's Bay; the preparations
for departure and the beginning Of that
famous journey as follows.
The manner of sleeping is in reindeer
skin bag which you climb INTO at night
and sleep comfortably until morning.
There Is nothing as warm rs the bag.
The first night slept between half doZ
en- buffalo skins but it couldn't compare
with the reindeer skin sleeping bag for
warmth. Even in the coolest weather
which We experienced they kept us per-
fectly comfortable.
1t was nearly noon the first day OF
April, 1879, when we pulled out on that
long cherries Journey 4 peculiarly de-
pressing feeling came over us as we start
ed out to travel afOot over this great Un>
known waste. 1t was especially so to the
commander who was responsible for the
welfare OF the entire party. We were
starting on trip the like of which had
never been attempted before, with less
than months provisions. with seventeen
human and fortyfour brute mouths to he
fed We were to depend entirely on what
we should be able to kill for our susten-
anCe. There opened a possibility of
spending a year in this search and under
the most favorable circumstances nine or
ten months. My party consisted of four
white men, four EsquimauX and their
wives, three boys nearly grown and two
children, three sledges fortyfOur dogs
and arms and ammunition in great album
dance. Our had little party fifteen guns
and five thousand rounds of ammunition
which could be increased to ten thousand
rounds if necessary The only anxiety
was fear that we would not find anything
on which to throw our ammunition away.
We stretched out our supply of dog
food by killing two thousand pounds of
walrus for dog feed.
After we had been out three or four
days we saw some reindeer. and the next
day we got two them. On the twelfth We
secured three more and wounded others.
Shortly after camping We heard for the
first time the loud bay of wolves and a
troop rushed by after the wounded rein
deer. We had been cautioned against
them, and told that they some times, when
hungry, would cat dog flesh. The best
way to scare them off is to burn bright
light and for that purpose l had brought
a supply of signal lights so that if troub
led could give them pyrotechuic dis
play that would be trying to their nerves
Ten O'Clock came and one of the Esqui'
maux came hurrying in saying that The
wolves were approaching. l set off thl
signal light and we could hear the sour,
ryiDg feet and rapidly receding bowls ot
the hungry wolves.
On the 22nd furious gale set in and
for five days ragged with undated fury
1t continued with but slight intermissior
until the 4lh day of June. We then start
ed away We found ourselves without
water and when we arrived at lake we
had to dig six feet through solid ice be-
fore we could procure any.
The next day one of the EaqulmauA
who had been out about Il quarter of 4
mile, saw from the top of an eminence {
drove of musk oxen, and came running
in. In half a minute every one Of The
party was at the top Of the hill, and SURF
enough there was a herd several mile
away. Our supply of dog feed was get
ting low and we determined to secure Il,
many as possible. The next day we got
away early with all of the dogs and two
empty sledges. Noon came on and W,
had struck the trail, but were afraid tina
they had heard US and were on the run
The dogs were unhitchcd from
the sledges and teach one tax
ing few dogs and securing
them by band around the waist, or hold
ing them with the hand, we started off OF
the trail The dogs tugged away likt
mad and tore over the rough country a
an astonishing rate. The Esquimaux
when they came to a hill, would sit dow
and allow the dogs to drag them, ant
when they came to Che bottom woul
throw themselves at full length and i
this way be pulled over the snow. pre-
less danger of laccrated flesh, and W
white men arrived just in time to SEE tn
last scene of the chase. When the Els
quimaux discovered the musk oxen the
were on full run. The dogs were thel
let loose to bring them to bay. Then 70
the first time I heard those faithful dog
utter a sound. They set Of at a terribl
pace amid a cloud Of flying snow aud oc
casionally letting letting forth loud bay
The white men arrived in time to see tn
musk oxen in circle with their head
out, haggard, terrible looking creature
with their red eyeballs pretrudng frol
their sockets 1t was sight that woul
leave an impression on tie mind for life
But we had barely time to take in til
scene at glance before the crack of tn
rifles of the Fsquimaux brought the mus
oynD tn tho aorth Tho chac was NOT "