The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-12


lpally winter and young ice. Wherever
the ice Is heavy, reaching well down into
the water, it drifts more slowly. The main
pack drifts slower still, and while there is
y generally southerly and southwesterly
bet 10 all the ice OF this region the main
Ice moves at rate of speed scarcely APP
preciable except when the set Is accentu-
ated by northeasterly winds. That was
parry's experience. AS long as the winds
were favorable he did not notice the drift
oge, hut with several days together OF
winds from the north he found his high
way moving south at an average ratio OF
four miles per day. We are not afraid OF
the drift nor of the conditions Of travel
upon tho main pack after we are once
there The question is how TO get across
the belt OF debris from both pack and
shore that now lies between us and the
main ice, probably 20 or 30 miles in
width. exceedingly rough and moving TO
and fro with every change OF wind. To
make this crossing with the ship wo need
but day or two OF favorable winds. We
had so much good luck up 20 last Tuesday
that we can well afford TO be patient dur
lng this week, or even longer If necessary.
Making the Waiting Hours Merry.
i While waiting we are having some rare
sport. 1t was long ago determined by the
American members of our party that we
were going to avoid solemnity as long as
bossible and not suffer ourselves to be
made miserable as long as there was no
absolute necessity for it, So we have had
\ bur Jokes and song, our books and games
into this spirit our Norwegian members
have heartily entered Last night, for i'm
Stance, they renewed their celebration OF
the Norwegian holiday. From some mys-
herious quarter they managed TO fish up a
bottle OF spirits, and this they supplement-
cd with alcohol and eggs and produced out
4 of the combination very fair quality and
= comfortable quantity of eggnog. With
song and speeches-some OF the latter ex-
Iceedingly funny efforts In Norwegian by
Americans, and even more comical sirug-
giles of Norwcgians with the English
they made merry until a late hour. Cap
tain Pedorsen was delegated by his Norwe-
gian comrades 90 propose toast to the
health OF the leader Of the expedition, and
An his neat little speech no thanked the
officers of tho expedition for tho kindness
they had Invariably shown the members
from Norway, and TO bespcak their conf.
,denoe In TIE result Of our effort in the
north.
y OF IuO5b VI Ut tIlt Ntt NllnOub uOuDu
tho last drink for pleasures sake for many
y month. We have no spirits in our equip
ment, with the exception of very small
huantity In tho medical stores. We do
not believe ia tho use OF intoxieants rs
held ration. The old idea that a man
must have so much rum every day in or
der TO endure cold was long ago exploded.
In old time arctic expeditions the rum ra-
'tion was considered indispensable. II 75
pounds OF food was carried for each man,
then about 20 pounds OF rum was consid-
bred necessary. 1t is true that n small
drink OF spirits Is rood thing on special
occasions, as when men come 10 camp aft.
tr day OF unusually severe exposure or
labor, but all its virtues even in such cnscs
are psychological and not physiolop cal.
( 1t does not help the body 20 repair waste
pr retain strcngth but ~ may ihduce
fheerlulncss and contcnfiucnt under Try
T l.1g circaustanccs. We have Cnou IN
I brandy In our kit 10 issue oncc In " nile
(, kor this purpose CI in eases OF illness.
~ This morning the Ragnvald Jarl was
{ brought 90 q mooring In little cove on
the southwest shore of Walden island In
natifude so. 81, whore we are safe against
fhc poc X coming from the northeast and
hshcre we could also be secure should the
wind shift 20 the northwest Here we have
|hAd so1ne rere sport First oil hands that
(could he spared from the ship started bear
UuLflng on Walden island. To reach the
Dsisnd it was necessary to work ones way
\ &brcugh several hundred yards Of indo.
|<czibab'y ugh shore ice. hergs rising 40
5sst froDi tic waters level we're thrown
EuotN ecb rrf ~ iD size down a. a
ffni fi5 'arcs fiosd on ed ri
. ffAi... tie D. Ook. ioaA4Ds crcyassos ~
/ |1Itt deep. bloc il. .nO.Go. al was covered
witt a ttirk la,cg 81 soft snow. 40 one
tttp a man would be standing upon the
4 edge Of a piece uf ice standing pcrpendicu-
. IArly. and tie next he would 20 into n