Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-04-23
THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

| Place Where 1t shines Constantly for
Six Weeks Mt IA Time.
just before Cape Lisburne, on the
| Arctic coast of Alaska, some five hun
dred miles above Behring straits, are
| extensive coal mines. The coal is easily
| mined, and the Arctic whaleships make
| these mines rendezvous.
In midsummer there is a period of
few weeks when little or no whaling
| can be done on account of the ice. Dur
ing this period a tender 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 lool1ed-forward to
OF any event of the season, as she is the
only link that connects the whalemen
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 a bout six weeks.
In 1887 twenty-three whale-ships lay
at anchor off these mines. Shifts of
men We're working during the twenty
tour hours of continuous daylight, lay.
ing 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 It
was the middle of July, and not a word
had been heard from home since the
middle of March. Day after day tho
sun had courSed 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 no tender
came. She was due the first week in
July, but the 18th, 18th, 14th and 18th of
the month came, and yet no news from
her.
Regular watches We're kept on board
the vessels as if the sun rose at five
O'Clock in the morning and set at six at
night. Even our rooster chung to his
old habits and slept through the night
OF daylight, not deigning to crow until
between four and five o'clock in the
morning. The various masters, anxious
to be off, met first on this vessel, then
on that, to discuss the delay in the ar
rival of the tender and to decide upon a
united course of action in case she did
not appear soon.
Toward noon on the 10th, faint
mirage was seen off the cape. Very lit
tie air was stirring, and the mirage
grew more and more distinct until the
tender was seen in every spar and sail,
as clearly out lined in the smooth sea as
If drawn on glass. But she was keel
up!
Three hours later, the vessels hull
was in full view above the horizon. She
was under full sail with flags and coll
ors at the mastheads, bearing the joy
Gus signal of news from home.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock before
she reached her anchorage. Not to
waste any time, the captain had a boat
lowered, and before the tenders anchor
was let go, we We're alongside.
No words can describe the situation
or our feelings as we reached the deck.
Hands were shaken, a few anxious in
quiries hurriedly made, and then each
man betoolS himself to some quiet
corner with his letters, to read the mes
sages from the loved ones at home.
AS I sat on the rail, looking astern Of
the vessel, dreamily picturing scenes at
home, looked out over the vast ex-
panse of ocean. Here and there fioated
cake of ice. All was so still, SO solemn,
yet in tune with my thoughts. The
short, choppy sea kept the rudder creal-
ing. The sun, far above the horizon, cast
a clear, yellow ight-so clear that the
distant hills on shore were distinct in