Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-05

by the Governor. We tried to buy a kayak
| from one of the natives, who, refusing, said,
"Na neik (no) me trucker( (trade) kiak-me
| plenty hungry" One poor wretch came
aboard dressed in pieces of skin and bag
ging, made his way to Captain Pike, and
said, 'tMe Nicholas-me Proteus," and in
| stantly the Captain recognized him as the
guide who was with him on the Proteus and
escaped with him in the boats in the men,
orsble retreat, after the loss of the vessel,
from Cape Sabine to Cape York and across
Melville Bay to Upernavik Nicholas was
much pleased at the recognition, and more
so with the clothes which were given him.
Leaving Upernavik on the afternoon of
July /, we directed our course to the Duck
Islands, where Lietenant Peary expected to
lay in a supply of duck eggs and birds for
the coming winter. A large shooting party
landed, and destruction commenced. The
season was so late that the eggs were far
advanced in incubation. those collected
serving only as specimens for the scientific
party None could be used for food. The
ducks themselves were not as numerous as
was expected, but the party did some ex-
cellent shooting. In spite of the exertlons
made, only 81 ducks were bagged. A large
quantity of down, however, was collected,
which will be made into quilts for those
who are to remain through the long, cold
winter months These islands are yearly
visited by the whslers, and in consequence
the number of birds has of late years
greatly decreased There is no doubt that
in few years more the elder duck will dis
appear and seek safer breeding place.
LIEUTENANT PEARY's ACCIDENT.
It was while butting the ice on July II,
about $50 p NJ, that Lieutenant Peary
stood back of the w6eelhouse A large
cake of ice struck the rudder with great
force, whirled over the iron tiller, and
jammed his leg between it and the wheel
house, breaking both bones about six inches
above the ankle. He was carefully carried
below into the cabin, where bed was made
for him on the after transom. His own sur
geon, as well as that of the scientific party,
rendered all possible aid, but could not grant
his request to transfer the fracture, in he,
leg to the arm This was sad accident
and one which cast gloom over the whole
ship. Although Mrs. Peary must have felt
the blow most keenly, she bore up under it
with a marvellous courage. Her constant
attention and care greatly helped to keep
up her husbands courage, who, although
looking at it in a most favorable light,
must have seen what a serious drawback
it will be to the final success of his expedi-
ton.
The Kite still remained in the ice, each
day making q little progress northward.
The gunners of the party would make ex-
cursions on the ice, occasionally bringing in
a seal. Through the exertions of the
ornithologists a large number of birds were
shot, which, after being skinned, added
greatly to our change of fare at the table.
On July 1t, while the Kite was endeavor-
ing to pass from '1ake" into a long
flane" ahead by the way of. very narrow
channel, she stuck fast, and could neither
advance nor retreat She was nipped, to
use the technical expression, a very danger
GUS position to be in, especially as We saw
that the foes were gradually coming together
and there was danger of her being pinched
or crashed between them. All hands were
on the ice with cleavers, picks
and axes cutting channel in the hard ice,
which was about two feet thick. Holes
were cut, a wine bottle filled with powder
lashed to the end or an oar, the fuse lighted,
and the oar showed down the hole in the
direction of the ship. Several of these
blasts were made before the ice was suffici.
emily broken to free her. Then with full
speed astern, with every shoulder to her
side, the Kite slowly pulled out into the
clear water of the lead.
GOT THEIR FIRST BEAR.
This delay, although attended with dan
ger, proved to be our gain, for that evening
one of the sailors cried, ''There's a water
bear" Looking over the side, to our de-
light, about half mile to windward was a
large polar bear slowly walking toward the
ship. Every rifle was seized and all hands
soon crouched behind the bulwarks watch
ing the antics of the bear as he came onward |
to his doom. Now he would stop and gaze |
at the ship; now he would snap at |
a boatswsin bird as it made a swoop near |
him; again he would pause on a hillock of |
ice snuffng the air as if everything was not |
exactly to his liking. AT slight noise on |
board the ship he stopped, pricked up his |
ears, and then came bounding toward us. |
When he came within about 60 yards vol |
ley was fired into him. He fell forward and |
rolled over. Streams ofcrimson ran from him, |
staining the ice. In moment, however, he |
was on his feet again making for the water |
some distance astern of the Kite. Out on |
the ice poured the men, and rapidly fol- |
lowed the shots. The bear proceeded but |
slowly, stumbling as if his forelegs were
broken. Gaining the water, he plunged in |
and struck out for the opposite cake Of ice. |
He had made but little progress when a |
shot from the rifle of Mr.. |
Langdon Gibson entered the base of his |
skull and killed him instantly. This, our |
first bear, measured feet inch in length |
and weighed about $50 pounds. Lots were |
cast for the skin, which fell to Mr.. Frazer |
Ashhurst.
NO HUNTING DONE.
Lieutenant Peary's party, accompanied |
BY Mrs. Peary, landed first on the south |
,ide of the bay, known as Cape Cleveland, |
and while looking about for a site for the |
house saw two reindeer. Returning to the |
ship, and reporting to the lieutenant, they |
crossed over to the north side of the bay, |
by some of the members of the |
party, where some plants shells |
md insects were collected. DR.. W. E.
Hughes on this trip wandering some miles !
up valley, made "the furthest north" the |
party had yet made. After giving
Peary as careful a description as possible |
# the two shores, it was decided that
he house be built on the southern shore,
acing the north. A request was made
~ the Lieutenant that no shooting what
'ver should be INDUCED in, as he did not
wish the game frightened, upon which he is
yoing to rely in part for his winter supply
IF meats
As soon as the site was definitely fixed,
ligging was commenced for the foundations l.
,fthe future residence. The weather was
inc and the air warm, and had it not been
or the bergs and ice foes in the bay, as well
IS the scantiness of the vegetation, one
yould not have believed that he was within
100 miles of the North Pole. While the
louse was building the scientific men en-
loyed their time in collecting on land and
redging in the bav. Many interesting and
aluable specimens were thus obtained
THE SITE OF PEARY's HOUSE.
On July q Lieutenant Peary was taken
shore in safety and placed in canvas tent,
Thich had been erected in such position