The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-01
TIE MIDNIGHT sun.
An Experienee ON the Arctic Coast of
Alaska whiie Awaiting the Relief

Ship.
just beyond Cape Lisburne, on the
Arctic coitst OF Alaska some live hum
dred miles above Beliring Straits. are
extensive coal mines. The coal Is
easily mined. and the Arctic whale-
ships make these mines a rendezvous.
in midsummer there Is a period of
few weeks when little or no whaling
can be done on account of the ice.
During this period II '.tendern arrives
from San Francisco with supplies of
fresh provisions, the mail. etc., and
carries back whatever whalebone and
oil the whalers may have secured.
The arrival of the tender is the most
important and most looked-forward to
of any event of the season, as she is
the only link that connects the whale
men with the outside world during a
period of eight or nine months.
This midsummer period is during
the time of the midnight sun, and there
is continuous daylight for about six
weeks.
In 1887. tweuty-three whale-ships
lay at anchor off these mines. Shifts
of men were working during the twen-
ty-four hours of continuous daylight,
laying IN coal for the coming cold days
and nights of autumn. Every one of
the eight hundred and fifty, or more,
men frequently scanned the horizon,
eager for the appearance of the tender;
for il was the middle of July. and not
word had been heard from home
since the middle of March. Day after
day the sun had courscd around the
horizon. but not dipped below it. One
vessel after another laid in its supply
of coal, and was anxious to be off, but
still 10 tender came. She was due the
In Tt,lt Ixt.R q Dkt, Qtl,
11th, AMI 10Th of the month came, and
yet no news from her.
Regular watches were kept on board
the vessels rs ii the sun rose at five
o'clock in the morning and set at six
at night. Even our rooster clung to
his old habits and slept through the
night of daylight, not deigning to crow
until between tour and live o'clock in
the morning. The various masters,
anxious TO be of. met first oE this ves-
sci, then on that, to discuss the delay
in the arrival of the tender and to de-
eide upon united course of action in
case she did not appear soon.
Toward noon on the 10th. a faint
mirage was seen off the Cope. Very
little AIR was stirring, and the mirage
grew ncre and mora distinct until the
tender was seen in every spar and sail,
as clearly outlined in the smooth sea
as If drawn on glass. But she was
keel upl
Three hours later, the vessels hull
was in full view above the horizon.
She was under full sail with iiags and
colors at the mastheads, bearing the
joyous signal of news from home.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock before
she reached her anchorage Not to
waste any time, the captain had boat
lnN h.a Tor
chor was let go. we were alongside.
No words can describe the situation
or our feelings rs we reached the deck.
Hands were shaken. a few anxious in-
quiries hurriedly made. and then each
man betook himself to some quiet cor
ner with his letters. to read the mes
sages from the loved ones at home.
As / sat on the rail. looking astern
of the vessel. dreaniily picturing scenes
at home, | looked out over the vast ex-
panse of ocean. Here and there float
ed a cake of ice. All was so still. so
solemn. yet in Iune with my thoughts.
The short. ehopps- sea kept the f1dder
creak1ng- The sun, far above the
horizon, cast a clear. yellow ight-so
clear that the distant hills on shore
were distinct in every eontour-and
the rigging of every vessel riding at
anchor on the short, rolling sea was
sharp in outline.
With my camera resting on my
knee. [ took an instantaneous photo
graph as the sun came out from be-
hind a veil of clouds and cas-, ills long
sheen over the SEA from / horizon
almost to the very stern of The vessel.
Entirely wrapped in my reverie. l
sat watching tue ceaseless sea. and the
glow of the sunlight. thinking only of
:he world so many thousands of miles
away. Four months of hardship and
danger were vet ahead of ns- This
little craft would carry our messages
home, but with her would go all COM
munication with the world until we
ourselves entered port. What changes
might these months bring forthl
MAN the 'Lucretia's' boat, y was the
rude intrusion upon my reverie, and
1--we strong oars were soon carving us
% our own vessel.
As the captain and l came over the
rail, the man at the wheel struck eight
bells
.Just midnight" said the captain
And here is the midnight sum-" /
added. Suiting my action to my
words, | took another picture looking
OF toward the vessels that lay strain
ing gently at their anchor-cables.
Yellow as the light was, both piet-
ures came out well. Fine detail may
be lacking; but the pictures bring back
q flood of recollections as they recall
the dangers of that season in the Arc
tic. and our entire isolation from home,
civilization. and the world. Herbert
,