Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-25

y. ". TYRRELL.
kimo are identical, in language at least,
with those found in Labrador and north
OF Hudson's Strait, as Mr.. j. W. Tyr
rell was able 10 converse understand
ingly with them.
The explorers had expected TO meet
the mux oxen, but did not see single
example of this curious animal, but
found in the teDee OF an Eskimo 3 fine
head of one that had been killed in the
country west of Lake Baker. il is the
opinion, that q short railroad OF $50
miles. would connect Lake Baker with
the country descending to the Great
Slave Lake, so that with that eXcep-
ton, a steamer passage could be made
for the products OF the Mackenzie rlY-
er valley TO the Atlantic.
j. w. Tyrrell, who has given the sub
ject much attention, claims that hud-
sons Bay is open for navigation four
months in the year anyhow, and IS gen
orally open to strong steamers for an
other month BY the construction OF a
railroad as indicated, the products OF
the Mackenzie Valley, cauld be accu-
mulated and shipped to Europe during
the open season.
Taking the north shore of Lake Ba-
ker, 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 Hud-
sons Bay on the 10th Of September.
1t was becoming cold weather and
their provisions were running short. a
few snowaakes warned them that win
ter was coming, and they were In an
uninhabtable wilderness. They started
down the westerly side Of Hudson's
Bay for Fort Churchill, distant 500
miles. Fortune seemed to smile upon
them, as during the first three days the
weather was exceptionally fine. One
day they made 80 miles, and in three
days 100 miles. They were very hope
ful. But from that time they encoun-
tered storm after storm, and for days
together il was impossible 30 travel.
They would find it impracticable to do
anything but to lie still.
They surveyed the coast as veil as they
could, but for days could get no glimpse
OF the sun. They shot few ptarmlRan
and occasionally ground-sQuirrel. But
for 400 miles there was not stick OF
wood and much OF the way the snow
was eighteen inches deep. They went
ashore every night, wrapped themselves,
wet and cold, in their rabbit skin blank
cts and reindeer robes and slept 70
droam Of brighter skies.
They had only a weeks provisions
left, and 10 was still 400 miles before
they could reach Fort Churchill, the
nearest point where supplies could be
obtained. by the middle OF September
the ice began to form along the shore.
II fact, which the people do not
seem to be aware of, that when salt
water like Hudson's Bay, Is near the
freezing point of salt water, (zeroG
fresh water flowing into 1t is immedi-
ately CONCEALED. The result Is that
along the western coast, they found the
water from the various streams freez-
ing, and lining the shore COR quite
distance out. Winds were so strong
and variable that they could not make
Roadway; some days not being able TO
make more than two miles. Ten days
passed In this battle with the ice, the
wind al the polar ocean or us adjunct
Hudson Bay which shallow and windy
was easily tossed By the tempest. The
shores were frozen and the rain iell and
froze, and the icy water that flew over
them turned TO coats Of mail as II con-
gealed.
They could not travel more than one
day in four. For Two weeks more they
struggled along upon short rations, aud
some days made only from TWO 10 hve
miles per day. Provisions were eK-
hausted, their stock OF alcohol, with
which they made their tea, was gone,
and death, grim, cold, unieeIing, stared
them in the face. They were resolute
fellows and kept their thoughts largely
TO themselves, and yet there came over
them that sickness Of heart, that brave
men feel, knowing that they are trap
ped, after having done all that was In
their power.
On October lst while still 300 miles
from Fort Churchill, and after they had
only progressed 100 miles 10 over two
weeks, they found out that 10 was
struggle for life or death. Then they
concluded 10 abandon one OF the canoes
and everything except their rifles.
blankets and,Smmunition. The piucky
fellows. despite their dangers, had con-
tinued, as well as they could, the sur
vey OF the west coast. All their scientific
Instruments, most Of their collections,
and a thousand things OF interest,
were cached and hid in the
canoe, where they can be recovered
next summer, ii wandering Eskimo do
not find them. With lightened canoes,
but With heavy hearts, they started on.
determined TO travel in all sorts Of
weather. Il was q race with death,
with all the odds 10 favor OF the old fell
low who beats Us all. Then for two
Weeks the battle went 90. Terrible
winds. fc-Sing seas. and ice aii around
ana over tbAm and they had not jet got
visbip 40 mfISS Of Fort Churchill Here
,hs1 a,co9ntsred% aeH and heavy Ice
in great quantitiss,< ardsbip had
begun to tell on the brIfsTe xplosers