Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-25

domss of ice stretched away in wild pan.
Drama upon which no human eye had ever
| looked before. The glorious summer caInl
and warmth OF the last three days was nov
accounted for by the presence OF 50 mucA
surrounding land.
Assuming the ford ahead of me to be
Victoria Inlet, and thinking could round
it, as I had already rounded Petermann,
st. Georges and Sherard Osborne fJorls, l
kept away to the southeast, parallel Win
the edge Of the island ice and the shore.
But always az we advanced the mountains
of the shore grew into view before me, Keep
ing me constantly to the southeast till the
1st of July. On that day wide opening;
bounded on either side by high vertical
cliffs, showed up in the northeast OYER the
SUBMITS Immediately adjacent to the IN
land ice
Beautiful Land in the Distance.
Changing my course to the northeast
true, my elevation at the time being some
5000 feet above sea level, sledges and dogs
sped merrily down the constantly-increas-
ing gradient of the ice cap, straight for tne
red-brown mountains or the strange land.
The land, though yet some miles away,
seemed as If at our very feet, and as II We
might easily throw stone upon It. we
could plainly see the green rivers and lakes
along the margin of the ice, and the murmur
of roaring cataraots came softly to our ears:
moraine which climbed we'll up into the ice
cap as my landing point, and after wading
fnnumerable. streams and founderlng
through mile OF slush. which covered tne
lower portion of the landward slope OF the
ice, we clambered upon the confused rocks
of the moraine and dragged the sledge up
high and dry. Stopping only long enough to
skin for snowshoes, I left Astrup to look
after the dogs and turn in and hastened on
down to the land'for the purpose Of climb
Of the ice, which apparently commanded a
full view OF the great break in the coast rib
bon. A mile or more of slush, q 20O-foot slide
down the nearly 45degree slope of the e1-
treme edge of the ice, and my feet we're on
the sharp, chaos-strewn rocks which cover
the iceward borders Of this land Of rock.
As Oppressive Warmth as in July.
The fierce July sun, though but little
past the northern meridian, beat down upon
me with oppressive warmth. Before me
the warm, red-brown landscape wavered
and trembled in the yellow light; behind
me lowered the binding, white slope OF the
ice. Beneath my feet the stones were bare
even Of lichens, and had a dry. gray look,
as If they were the bones of dead world.
And yet felt that with SO much of warmth
and richness of coloring there must be life,
and. sure enough, hardly had gone hun
beautiful little black-and-white songster
fluttered up from behind a rock, lowered
singing almost within reach above my head,
and then settled upon bleak stone Dut
few feet distant to finish his merry song.
As went on numbers OF these snow bunt-
ings fitted about me, and hardly had gone
a mile before my heart beat quicker at the
sight OF traces of musk oxen. As l got
farther away from the ice, and in the lee of
the gigantic moraines and tumuH of glacial
debris, flowers began to appear, purple and
white and yellow among grtanH them .n my ever
poppy.
A Rendezvous of Musk Oxen.
Still travelling along toward the mountain,
with eyes constantly alert for musk oxen,
I received a shock like that Of Crusoe when
he spied the footprints on the beach. In
little level space, sheltered on all sides was
a large angular boulder of trap. with one
vertical face, and before this face were
number of irregularly arranged stones in
rank growth Of vivid green grass. Through
patch Of luxuriant grass is always the sign
Of sometime igloo, and it was with peculiar
feelings that I hastened to the spot. A
closer examination showed the place to be
and wool were sticking to the rock and
scattered on the ground, weather-worn
skull lay few yards away, and the unusual
growth OF grass was due to the presence OF
the musk oxen.
From this point on the musk OK trails
were as thick as sheep paths IN New Eng
land pasture. and knowing the sagacity OF
these animals to lie in the direction of q
favorable route, was glad to make use Of
their paths. But my mountain seemed to
recede as advanced, and it was eight hours
that two or three other submits intervened
between mo and the fnl view out, through
the fault in the coast line. The hve miles of
least IL miles Of actual distance, and most
men, less accustomed to estimating distance
than had been, would have called it con-
siderably more.
Tempted to Go Still Further.
I was strongly tempted to go on still
farther, but the condition of my footgear
precluded 1t. Tho soles of both kammiks
were already cut through, and one or two
edges of sharp rocks had even reached and
cut my feet. It was questionable whether
could Il < up my footkear to enable me to
get back without more or less serious in
jury to my feet. With the assistance OF
pair of sealskin mittens and skull cap,
patched up my footgear, and, after an hours
rest, started on my return to the camp on
the moraine.
Long before reached the edge of the ice
feet such portions Of my garments as could
spare, and 1t was with such feelings as those
of one who had been suddenly relieved from
An excruciating toothache that stepped
from the ragged rocks upon the inland ice
and strapped on my snowshoes.
Almost a Failure, After All.
As neared the moraine 1 saw Astrup
perched on its summit looking anxiously
for me, for had been gone Is hours instead
Of four or five, as intended when 1 started.
I found my dinner, lunch, breakfast. what
ever it might be called, Of tea, pemmican
and biscuit ready for me, and when 1 had
satisfied my hunger and stretched myself
out on the rocks to sleep, it seemed as if
never before had I been so sore and tired.
1 mad been travelling and climbing for %
hours. and I felt to a marked degree the
change from the dry, cold atmosphere
Of the inland ice to the moister and almost |
torrid atmosphere of the land. More than
than this, my reconnaissance had failed Of |
Its object. and it would now be necessary |
for Astrup and myself to take three or four |
lays supplies and dogs and march overland |
TO whatever distance might be necessary to !
rive me tho unobsJructed definite outlook |
which I must have.
After few hours sleep we made up our |
packs, and, myself in the lead. Astrup fol.
owing with the dogs, started once more
20 wrest its secret from this tantalizing |
and. r. E. PEARY, U. s. n.