The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-12-20

By following his tracks as long as they
led in our direction we made much more
rapid progress than we could have made
by ourselves. When some six hours out,
we came to tidal crack that resembled q
ship canal. 1t was about 40 feet wide and
as deep as the sea. In vain we searched for
q method OF crossing. Once we found a
small piece of ice which we took our sled
upon and with our ski sticks pushed out
into the channel, hoping the tide would
carry us to the other side. 1t stopped
half way over, and there we were, af1oat
on an ice bit and no help in sight. Fully
an hour we waited before the tide turned
and brought us again to the margin of the
fast ice, but on the side whence we had
started. I proposed to DR.. Mohun that we
strip and swim across, dragging the sled
after us, but the good doctor didn't fancy
that sort of bath, and as a search for two
or three miles along the river showed us
no better means of crossing there was
nothing to do but turn back to the boats.
We were afterward glad we did.
AT the Parry island we found driftwood
In plenty, and having been lucky enough
to kill a bear the day before-a big fellow,
who showed fight before giving up the
ghost, and PROBABLY the same one the doc
tor and had been so glad to follow---we
enjoyed orlce more the luxury of bear
steaks and stew. A lot of our armebis
crackers had been wet, and the men took
the soaked biscuit and fried them in bears
blubber, making fritter of indescribable
oiliness, and yet very tasty under the cir
cumstances. The bear did us another good
turn by enabling us to soak our boots in
his hlubber. This is good enough for the
leather, but did you ever put on pair of
boots that had been soaked with hot bear
blubber? Probably you never did, and so
will tell you what it is like. 1t is to
have your hands so smeared that for hours
afterward everything you touch is .ainted
with your digital oiliness. 1t is to smell
your own fingers for day or two. 1t is to
have your clothing, and your face, and
your hair savory with train oil. 1t is to
have the laces slip through your fingers
like cells and your favorite knots break
away and look up into your face and give
you the laugh. Still it is good oil for wet
work.
At Nelson island we had an exceedingly
picturesque camp among the rocks, and
from the mountain top could see Walden
island and the flag flying on it, eight miles
to the westward. By the flag we knew
that some of the crew were still there.
Two or three miles to the north lay the
dreadful pack, indescribably rough Who'll
ly impossible There it had been, obvious
ly enough, all the summer. Not bit Of
open water was in sight, not even to the
west and south, where at this season of
the year the sea is nearly always ice free.
A more unfavorable season could not be
imagined.
Our last days journey was a race for
life. Between our camp and our goal the
ice, though filled with innumerable water
holes, was in fair condition, but the wind
was in the north, and the terrible pack
outside was slowly breaking up the smooth
ice and threatening to engulf whoever
should chance 80 be travelling it's surface.
The swish, hiss and crackle of the ice as it
ran together, as piece Tapped upon piece
under the influence of the majestic pres
sure, gave us warning that we had no time
to lose. We knew too we'll what those
serpentlike sounds portended. But cross
we must, and we decided to do so at once
and as rapidly as possible. Under the
conditions of the road we expected to use
two days for the passage, but when we
had once started it became evident that if
we wished to cross within week and
without terrible struggle for life in the
breaking mass we must keep on. Fortu-
nately the water pools were longer than
those we had formerly traversed, and we
were therefore able to make better speed
For the first time since we have had to
drag Mr.. Alme we took both boats at a
single trip, six men on one boat and five
to the other. Spurred on by the danger,
every man put forth all his strength. Now
and then three or four of us were down in
the sea up to our necks at the same time,
having rushed upon rotten ice In our
haste. 1t is not a pleasant sensation, this
Of feeling your feet go down toward China
beneath you, and right glad q man is un-
der such circumstances to have boat to
cling to. Often our water pools were very
deep, especially at their edges, and we had
to stand in water up to our arnpits and
lift the boats out upon the dry ice.
A Signal of Distress.
When half way over, we put mast up
in the Parry and unfurled our American
flag in hopes the men on Walden island
would see it and come out to help u.s.
Finally we heard dull report and saw q
puff of smoke on Walden mountain. We
knew then we had been seen. This salute
was followed by another and another, and
with our glass we could discern the men
running excitedly to and fro on the noun
tain top. You who have never wandered
in these icy wastes, where no faces but
those of your own party are to be seen and
no evidence that there is any one but your
selves in the wide world, cannot appreciate
the satisfaction with which every one of
us heard these welcoming shots and saw
the figures indistinctly far away. In our
imaginations Walden island seemed like
home again, and at first we did not pause
to think that 200 miles of rugged coast
separated us from our winter headquarters
and nearly 1000 miles from civilization.
Continued on 7th page.)
ver.-Latest U. S. Govt Report