Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08

slopes but above the fog the sun lights up
the snowy oaks Though the Temperature
OF the air is only there IS 10 wind, ant
the dryness Of the atmospii,Te makes the
cold UNDESIRABLE. 1t is a perfect day in
the arctics-at the very beginning of the
arctic spring-and usual we take our
shower bath in the sea water on the aft
deck: The bucket from which Sailor Ellef-
half full of fine ice. but we have already
learned that a bath frappe is the most
enjoyable of all baths in a country where
the hot room of Turkish establishment
cannot be had.
Anchored to n Berg.
A little before noon Capt Bottelfsen asked
me to go to the crows nest with him to take
a look at the ice. He thought he saw a way
out Of our difficulty, but owing to our great
desire to save coal wherever possible he did
lot like the responsibility of moving with
out orders. After Capt. Bottelfsen and /
had studied the situation for half an hour
we decided upon a course, and 1 remained
there long enough to make my debut as an
Ice pilot.
The result of the consultation between
Capt. Bottelfsen and myself in the crows
nest-he hanging by his eyelids. as it were,
en- the rim of it while l occupied the interior,
and Bottelfsen furnishing about all the in
formation and judgment-was that we
should go forward first toward the coast,
and, II no opening could be found in that
water sky indicated open way The arctic
navigator depends much upon the color of
the sky near the horizon. If 1t is dark or
brown, there Is water underneath. II it is
white, rosy or orange, there is ice, the tint
being formed by the reflection of the suns
rays, or of the light even, II the sun is not
shining. upon the ice. This unfailing indica-
ton OF pack or frozen surface is called the
ice blink.
On making steam and approaching the
coast We found a way through and were
able to proceed until within a few miles of
tne north end of the foreland. where we
were again stopped by closely packed ice
determining to wait for the tide to open
out the mass, advantage was taken of the
presence OF a large iceberg, against which
the Prov OF the ship was gently run. while
nimble sailor, line in hand. iumne,i from
the po"sprit to the Noe and made fast to a
couple OF protrusions from the surface of
.ne Derg, which greatly resembled mooring
posts and appeared as If they had been nut
tnere Dy the kind hand Of Dame Nature for
our convenience 0'
NO better hartor could be desired. The
Sea nearly square In shape and about 10
1eet on each of its Sides rose an average
OF nIteen feet from the water and was
deep enough, therefore, one-sixth PERTAINS OF
us pulk being above the surface to ground
IN water nfteen fatEoms deep. Though the
tide was carrying the light ice to the south
at rate OF fully two miles an hour our
anchor berg remained fast. and in the lee
CT IL we found perfect haven.
rat0l CuF1Oaity.
While tied to the big berg occurred one
OF the tragic incidents common enough
to the arctics, but quite shocking to anna
teurs like ourselves. a big seal was seen
in the water several hundred yards from
the ship, and Capt. Petersen. who is as sly
a dog as ever navigated these parts and up
10 all the tricks of the trade, began calling
out In siren voice: "Oo-lah, oo-lah! Lab
lab, lah! Oo-lah, oo-lahi Lab, lah, lah!'
WI ereupcn the seal, filled with curiosity to
know what these cries meant, was lured
nearer and nearer to the Jarl. AS he came
within about fifty yards and was I'm the act
OF climbing upon a piece Of ice Mr.. Frank
lin let drive with his rifle. hitting the poor
brute in the head and causing the blood to
discolor the sea. Though we made every eff
fort to get a boat hook into the dying VIC
tim In time to rescue his carcass, he died
too quickly for us and sank to the bottom
Of the sea. 1t looks like cruel sport to lure
POOR devil of seal to his fate in this
manner, especially when we neither need
his flesh nor have much chance of getting 1t
before the waters swallow him up.
Divine services were held in the cabin
this evening, at which all the members Of
read the Sermon on the Mount, Mr.. Dodge
led in singing Nearer. My God. to Thee"
accompanied by Mr.. Franklin on a har-
monica, our only musical instrument, and
Professor Oyen offered prayer in Norwe-
gian. Thus passed our first Sunday in the
arctics. WALTER WELLMAN.