The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-10-25
AMONG TIE ESOJ.'asyX.
Difficulties la the v'sy of Getting Good
pirtures OF Them.

Difficulties la the vsy of Getting Good
Pictures OF Them.
The Fec uimaux of Arctic Siberia are
80 shy OF camera that found Il very
difficult TO get good pictures OF them.
IL interested them 10 watch the opera
ton when sailors were being photo
graphed. but they could not be- induced
10 undergo the ordeal themselves But
as my camera was detective" ] got
dozens Of pictures without arousing
their superstitious dread. Occasionally y
native that had done service as II
sailor would be willing to stand for
his picture, but the results in such in-
stances were not satisfactory. Tho
striking Esquimau characteristic which
wanted most did not get.
After long experimenting found IL
most satisfactory 20 sit on the carpen-
ter's bench, hold my camera ON my
knee. and wait for sub bjccts; and never
had to wait long, for by the time our
anchor was down. the natives would be
alongside with their canoes and swarm
on board. First, they would get n drink
Of water, then most Of them would go
forward some on the starbO1rd side,
others on the porto beg nard bread
and other odibles from the sailors.
From my position | commanded fun
view OF both sides Of the ship, and 80
got many good pictures.
While we were at East Cape, tho
easternmost extremity Of Siberia, sim
pie, tall, gaunt-looking old man camo
of with small child. Like the others,
he got Il drink Of water and begged IA
piece OF hard bread for himself and the
child; then he sat the child down on
the top Of a caslI that stood lashcd 10
the port rail, while he went ait 10
watch the captain trade with the other
natives. Here was the very picture |
had been waiting for; plump little
Esquimau, all bundled up with furs.
His face was unusually bright, showing
that he was fayOrite child. In his
two hands was cake Of hard bread
which he was devouring vOraciOusly.
Unfortunately the sun was back oi
him. To get good light ON his face
i had TO turn him around. To be- pro-
pared for quick work, ! changed n
plate, set the snap shutter, put tho
camera on the bench, then saunlcrcd
over TO where he was, and playfully
twisted him around so that could get
good light on him. He did not mind
my moving him AZ long rs ! did not
interrupt his eating, so ] got him ~
just the pose and light wanted. Then
started back for my camera. As ! was
innocent OF all evil intentions did not
suspect Interference, but IL seems that
the old native had watched with n keen
eye every move ! made, and when no
saw me going back for my camera, no
felt that there must be trouble in stOre
for the child. Like flash he dartcd
past me, graspcd the camera, aud
started for the side OF the ship 10 throw
il overheard.
Here, drop thatr' shouted, but ho
did not, or would not, hear me. stop
hml stop him. called frantically as |
jumped across the main hatch aud
rushed after him. Eight thousand miles
from home and TO lose my only camera
that way!
A sailor who sat on the bench wit.
messed the whole thing, and jumping
10 the rail almost knocked the native
over in his attempts To rescue tho
camera. lie succeeded In saving it. aud
soon came up with Here's your box
Defeated in destroying the apparatus
OF evil magic, the man'rih to the child.
gathered him hurriodly of the cask,
and carried him TO n dark corner on
the quarter deck whore there woro
several Esquimau women, and among
them they tucked him away out Of tho
reach OF the camera.
watched patiently for thrco hours,
determined TO got some sort of II pict-
urc OF the child, but il was useless.
The old natives vigilance outworc my
patience, and at last turned my at
tontion To other subjects. Curiosity led
the old man TO attempt To investigate
further into the mysteries Of the black
box, anu while was preparing to pho
tcgraph another Esquimau, glanced
around and there stood the man watch.
iw me.
"Clickm had it.
If l could not get picture OF tho
child. was bound TO get one Of tho
man, but he saw nothing suspicious in
my actions, and walked of satisfied
that every thing was all right. Wido-
hvnlsp