The herald., 1893-12-08

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norts to CiviIize the Eslximoa.
mat steamers can pass through the Arctic
pm In certain years is the opinion of
ptaln A. II. McGregor, based upon his
Eperience in the polar region Captain
f6regor has seen % years service in the
Hctlc, and commands the steamer Orca.
ned by the Pacific Whaling company OF
n Francisco. He was at the Hotel Per.
(. ps and talked of his experience.
Last year" he said, mine of the Pacific
naiing company's steamers and ships
Ached Cape Bathurst, the furthest point
rth and east ever reached by a vessel OF
y Kind. We had been whaling in Behr-
sea, and having finished what is termed
outside catch in July we started for
e Arctic to finish the season.
Eve passed along the east shore, round
Point Barrow, and then made the jour
y to the cape, which is near the McKen-
river. We cast anchor and whaled there
rest of the season. The natives were
mewhat surprised at our appearance. but
they had seen white men before they
pm ovefcame whatever fear they might
I've felt and became very friendly They
not differ in the least from other Eski-
os. We sounded the ocean near the Nc
Henzie and found that boat drawing
hore than four feet of water could not ap-
:. broach within 30 miles of the river. The
and on both sides was mountainous and
covered with snow The Oldest native told
rus that it was many winters since white
men came by boat, which led me to believe
fhat po boat had reached the cape since
Captain Collinson was there in 1866 Cap
pain Collinson and his party visited the
hIQCa in small hno tc xvb bov xrroro h
Ing a survey Of the British possessions, but
khey were compelled to remain there three
Years before they could return.
''s,ir John Franklin passed the cape in
tmall boats on his famous expedition and
PANE as far west as Franklin, or Return
teef. There he evidently became discour-
tged and disheartened and started on his
teturn trip. Had he known that he had
flear sea before him he doubtless would
(ave continued on his way and lived to tell
future generations of the hardships con-
hected with arctic explorations. He could
lave made what is called the northeast
Passage and come out on the Pacific ocean
kn& forever settled the question whether
fessel could reach Alaska from Greenland
Through the Arctic. But he saw nothing
put a monotonous stretch of land and what
appeared to be a closed sea ahead of him.
lie had kept in sight of shore during his
fntiye expedition, and seeing nothing ahead
put land probably thought it was endless
When Return reef was reached, he turned
back, and that is the last known of him.
I'VE could have made the trip from the
Pacific to the Atlantic last year il we had
10 desired, but our business was whal-
ug' not exploring. Natives at the cape,
vhom questioned, told me that the ocean
vas fairly open three years out of four, and
hat there was great big sea- one year in
tive. Last year was what they termed
Agreat big sea- and they said that the same
Conditions prevailed in 1889. A large YES
el could not pass through fairly open
ea, SO the chances of reaching Greenland
Through the Arctic sea are one in five.
From this | am inclined to the belief that
both Franklin and Colhnson entered the
cean when it was 'open.'"
When Captain McGregor was asked about
bis experience as whaler, he said: "Once
n awhile we encounter some dangers, such
5 being caught in the ice, but such acci-
tents are not frequent. A vessel will some
lines be stuck for three or four weeks be-
ore it can be freed from the ice and occa-
ionally it is damaged by collision with gi-
antic foes or by being caught between
uCn lduhS dft SOIutlllucS SIONe III, DuU
s there is no danger of sinking on account
I the vessels being thoroughly saturated
With oil very little attention is paid to such
ccidents
After working through the ice, which is
generally about June l, the vessels try to
et into Behring strait ahead of the whales.
'he,strait is the narrowest point, and the
bject of the whalers is to get there first
Ind take the whales as they come through
n Aheir way to the Arctic. The vessels cruise
here until July /, when the tender arrives
rom San Francisco with coal, potatoes and
they supplies and takes the oil and whale
one. This is termed the outside catch.
hen the whalers strike for the Arctic and
aish the season there. They have COM
nunication with the natives all the time
nd exchange some of their supplies for
eindeer meat fish, s.ucks and ptarmigan.
When the season is ended, some of the yes
els put in at Port Clarence, the rendezvous
or the feet"
Captain McGregor said the Eskimos have
made no advances to civilization. AN aged
atiye told me that there is a tradition
anded down from father to son that the
boats and weapons of the hunt and chase are
he same today as they were 500 years ago.
II ne firearms and traps. tobacco and calico
vere all introduced by white men. The Es-
mQ is satisfied with everything as he finds
and makes no effort to effect any i'm
rovemerts The native population is rap
lily, diminishing. They cannot withstand
he march of civilization, unused as they
re to it's luxuries and vices
-Four schools have been established for
heM in Alaska, and they are being taught
o read and write, but it would be better
or them If they were. left alone. In their
original state they got along we'll, but edu-
alton is their moral ruin. When he learns
o read and write, the native thinks he is
he superior of his fellows and the equal of
he white man, and he affects the white
hans habits, whether moral or immoral.
lie goes to school simply for amusement.
lie wants to learn to read, write and talk
hat he may trade with the whites and be
eQasded as one OF them. 1t cannot be said
hat the money expenueu Oh tne scnouis nas
been i'll spent or rmisappropriated, only that
he Eskimo is unlike the Indian, and the
anne method of training cannot be applied
o both.
Nsrbe arctic is a cold region, but the frig.
Bdity of the atmosphere cannot be felt
trough the furs that serve us as clothes.
Che mean temperature is Al degrees below
zero, but during the 81 days that the sun is
n sight the mercury rises to so degrees or
30 degrees. Portland Oregonian.
Suspecting the Parson.
There are many tales told, most of them
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