Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-06
A 81 EDGE PARTY AT LUNCH.

their magnificent views of the Seven Islands
ana or the north coast of Spitzbergen, was
greatly enjoyed.
The Bear Hunt.
But the best of the days sport was the
bear hunt. On the east side of the island
one of our hunting parties deserted large
ice bear some distance away. They at
once dropped behind piece of Ice while
Sailor Boervig crept cut on his belly and
worked his limbs and grunted in imitation
of seal. The bears attention was at
tracted, and he came toward US. though
cautiously. He sidled along, snuffng the
air and occasionally shading his eyes with
his paw, but advancing and then retreat
ing. but finally coming nearer and nearer.
Boervig industriously wallowed in the snow
and grunted seallike. and so successfully
intiamed the bears curiosity that at length
he came within $50 yards. Three or four
rifles cracked, and the bear ever took an
other step. He proved to be an uneom-
monty large and fine specimen, weighing
perhaps 100 pounds and with his winter s
fur soft and thick. The Norwegians say
they never saw a better pelt. A good tug
our men had with the hide returning
through the Ice foot. giving us an omen of
the work We are to have with our boats
and sledges. But we shall encounter little
such ice. 1t Is produced only where the
land offers the resistance of Immortality
to the almost infinite force Of the storm
driven pack.
Stifl Waiting.
Saturday. May 1o.-Ofhcer of the day.
Dr. Mohun
With fine weather and a westerly breeze
we have nothing to do but wait. We are
still eagerly looking for the change of wind
that will clear our way farther north. We
could start our sledge journey where we
are. but 1t would be an exceedingly dis
couraging Journey for the first forty or
ffaxr Oh
reached If 1t were not that we felt reason
ably sure Of getting thirty or forty miles
farther with the ship by exercising a little
patience, We should start our sledge journey
at once. even under the unfavOrable condi-
lions Of ice existing about these islands.
"NO ThOrOughfnre."
Sunday. May 2O.-Officer Of the day. Pro-
fessor French
A sledge party, with Mr.. Dodge in charge
started a little after noon today for the
Parry and Marten Islands. twelve miles to
the east, for the purpose Of ascending the
mountain there and examining with a glass
the ice to the east and north. In the event
of continued delay here at Walden Island
we hope to find better route to the north
east over the fast ice, which lies between
the Seven Islands ard the northeast land,
Capt. Petersen and the sailor Boervig were
assigned to the journey, and Capt. Bottelf-
sen volunteered to go also, of which We
were very gao, because OF MS skill IN tne
judgment Of ice The party took an alumni
mum sledge, a three-man sleeping bag. q
small cook machine, with a bottle Of spir-
Its, food and guns. After an hour spent in
crossing the pressed up Ice and hills Of
Walden Island, the party struck out over
the smooth Ice lying between the islands.
This ice Is about four feet thick, covered
with six inches of snow, and 1t is smooth
because II has been fast to the shore all
winter and has not been driven to and fro
by the wind and screwed" into fragments
piled high upon one another. The party
made good progress and reached the Parry
Island about in the evening. as we could
see with glass from the heights Of Walden
Island.
We made an excursion today on skis to
the far end Of Walden Island, a distance Of
about three miles. Ascending there an ele-
walton, q most impressive panorama was
spread out before us-to the east the Seven
Islands. where, with a glass, we could easily