Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-25

see the ESklnOt 'CuHiooDA, AWunEdt w NUS
men are we! The Did yellow was rejoiced
beyond measure as Ne Fad expected an at
tack and he fastened 10 unlace the tent,
took them in and gave them cushions OF
bearskin and deer 10 ffst on. while they
were the center of9anE admitting circle OF
overjoyed Observers The old Eskimo had
two wives and six WhiIdren. and It was as
good as a circus to see the wonder and Joy
of these poor people, as they welcomed the
explorers. They had mistaken the company
for Chippewayan Indians, their traditional
enemies, whom they fight on sight. When
the Indians who were with the Tyrrells saw
how handsomely they were received by the
Eskimo, with the rarost delicacies of the
Arctic larder, they were much chagrined,
as they remembered the stories they had
heard of these same Eskimo and their can
nibal propensities, and said, They are real
decent fellowsl'
1t Is not likely that Lake Tobaunt ever
thaws out. The exploring party, who, des-
pite the bad weather, had kept marvelously
well, proceeded on down the river, having
passed through sixteen large lakes. and in
Vulnerable small ones, since leaving Black
lake. The distance to Lake Baker, which
is the western end Of Chesterfield inlet, is
200 miles. The banks of the river become
sleeper, the channel deeper. and there is
no timber visible. The geological indica-
lions are Huronian rocks, dark traps. horn
blende schists. etc, and these continue all
the way to Baker lake. This district may
DlbNt III numerals as lS q bitI'y
of quartz, some Of 1t gold bearing. At the
debouchment of the river into Lake Baker
the channel is obstructed by deposits OF
sand and gravel as we'll as by boulders
brought down by the summer floods. Small
vessels could easily come up as far as the
rapids below Tobaunt. A little dredging
would open the channel to steamers for a
distance of thirty miles up the river.
AROUND LAKE BAKER.
Lake Baker, which is formed by the rivers
flowing into the western end of Chesterfield
inlet. is about ninety miles long and thirty
wide, although its limits are indefinite. as
the tide, which runs about eighteen fest high,
carries the salt water up close to its limits.
Chesterfield inlet is a long narrow ford
with steep rocky sides. filed on the south
ern side by rocky islands. Around Lake
Baker there were a number of Eskimo camps
at the west. These Eskimos are identical,
in language, at least, with those found in
Labrador and north OF Hudson's strait, as
Mr.. j. w. Tyrrell was able to converse un-
derstandingly with them.
The explorers had expected to meet the
musk oxen, but did not see a single example
Of this curious animal, but found in the
tepee of an Eskimo a fine head of one that
had been killed in the country west OF Lake
Baker. 1t is the opinion that a short rail-
road of $50 miles would connect Lake Baker
with the country descending to the Great
Slave lake, so that with that exception, a
SttulllCi Iuooub' Oui ~ '"' '~
products of the Mackenzie river valley to the
Atlantic.
]. W.. Tyrrell, who has given the subject
much attention, claims that Hudson's bay Is
open for navigation four months in the year
anyhow, and Is generally open to strong
steamers for another month. By the con-
struction of a railroad as indicated, the
products of the Mackenzie valley could be ac-
cumulated and shipped to Europe during the
open season. las
T,l,;,1 tho north shore of Lake Baker.
after following the river for $50 miles, they
coasted along the northern shore of the lake.,
and of Chesterfield inlet, and reached the
shore of Hudson's bay .on the 10Th OF sep
TENDER. 1t was becoming cold weather. ana
their provisions were running short. A Few
snow flakes warned them that. winter was
coming, and they We're Sn an uninhabitable
wilderness. They started down the westerly
side of Hudson's bay TO Fort Churchill, dis
tant 500 miles. Foftune seemed 10 smile
upon thom. as during the first three days
the weather was exceptionally fine. one DAY
they made thirty-fve miles, and In the three
days 100 miles. they were very hopelul.
But from that time theS encountered STORM
after storm, and for DAVIS together II was I'M
possible Ito. travels They would ihnd " I'M
! practicable to do any thing but to lie stHi.
They surveyed the G~oast'as we'll as they
could. but for days could get no glimpse OF
the sun. They shot a few ptarmlgan ana
occasionally a ground squirrel. But for 4oo
miles there was not a stick or WOOD anu
much of the way the snow was ten lnches
deem. They went ashore every hight'
wrapped themselves wet and cold Ill their
rabbit skin blankets and reindeer rooes' anu
slept to dream of brighter skies.
They had only a weeks provisions ielt ana
II was stiu 400 miles before they could reach
Fort Churchill, the nearest point where sup
plies could be obtained. BY the mluule %
September the ice began to form along tne
shore II is a fact, which people generaliy
=. at oor m hn aware OF, that WHen SAT-
water like Hudson's bay, is near the ireez-
ing point of salt water, (zero) fresh water
flowing into it is Immediately cohsea'eu.
The result Is that along the western coas.
thew found the water from the various
streams freezing and lining the shore ior
cutie n distance out. Winds were so s.rohs
and variable that they could not MAKE heau,
way. some days not being able TO mahe m"e
than two miles. Ten days passeu III
battle with the ice, the wind ana the poiar
ocean or it's adjunct, Hudson's bay. which
shallow and windy, was easily tosseu NY ~
tamnest The shores were frozen, the ram
fell and froze, and the Icy waters tm". u" ~
over them turned to coats OIL nh"' d"
CONCEALED. than one day
in four. For two weeks more they slruss,va
along upon short rations anu sone day
made only from two TO nNe nv 81
provisions were exhausted .ne' 81 toa
aioohoI with which they MADE 'heir 20
,tos zone and death, grim. cola uhleeims,
stared them in the face. They were su' -
fellows and kept their Thoughts lalset hon
themselves. and yet there came ovua faa,
that sickness of heart that brave ~" aftar
lowing that they were trapped, a'e'
nnuim done all that was in their power
" A STRUGGLE o LIFE,
n, October /, while still 800 miles from
~, Cburchill. and after they had oniy plo,
rnassod iO0 miles in over two weeks, my
snnnI ont that it was a struggle TOT me u
noatb They then concluded to apahuon onr
az the canoes, and everything except I'LL M
| rides blankets and Ammunition. Ma
lucky fellows, despite their uahsers, n"S
ppnntinued as well as they could the survey vi
No ycst coast. All their sciehtinc ins'lu-
,"ants most of their collections ana u ,hou,
ard things of interest. were cached anu NJ
in the canoe, where they can DE recoNeIet
naxt summer. il wandering Eskimo 90 hut
| aud them. With lightened canoes, put Mnn
! heavy hearts, they started on ucteiln'nea
to travel in all sorts of weather IL was d
rece with death, with all the odds in iaVor OF
the old fellow, whb beats us all Then ior
two weeks the battle went on: Terrible
| winds, roaring seasEahd ice around ana over
| them and they had not, yet got withih thirty
miles of Fort Churchill! Here they ehGouh-
| tered new and heavy ice In great quahtiues'
| Hardship had begun, to tell on the brave eN-
! nlorers and their npMpanions. One OF the
Ironuois. Louie French, was sick, IN iact
,,ary low with bloody dySentery, and the last