The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-12


was needed TO complete the picture CT
outing comfort, and as thore is not tree
in all Spitzbcrgen we were forced TO find
relief from the bright glare on sunny days
underneath our tents. The eight days
passed here waiting for the southerly
wind which we hoped would clear away
the rough ice and give US boating water
farther north were days OF rest and COM
fort.
Qllr hnnters quickly brought in o cou-
Pile OF reindeer, and we gunncd day and
night for tho bic fat cider ducks in the
tide hole near by. At first these ducks
would SIT quietly on the water while we
walked up and shot them. They were not
ACQUAINTED with the destructive animal,
man, and tho murdcrous methods orlploy-
Ell by him in satisfying the demands Of
appetite. But they learned fast enough.
There is no more experienced or artful
duck hunter than our Mr.. Dodge. lie
knows all the tricks and wiles OF tho sport.
Eut he declares these elder ducks OF the
untgaversed north, after single days
Sharpening cf their wits. can give the 20
tnmac river ducks cards and spades and
beat them AT their own game, and the
cutcncss OF the Potomac ducks he vera
ciously illustrates by the story that they
posi- tcItflCN AU lllt ItuNAg III
Washington to give them timely warning
whenever a party Of gunners take train
for the marshes. Still we do get a few
ducks, and as they weigh from four to
five pounds apiece and are as good as oau-
vasbacks at SO pair life in tho arctics
has sono compcnsations after all.
We try to live rs far as possible upon
the country. Away up here near the top
OF the globe---so near It's apex that the dis
tance around The world ia this latitude
is only 3, 600 miles--we see how nature
has ordained that the superior animal
shall feed upon the inferior. The lazy
seal feeds upon the medusp OF the sea; the
sneaky ice bear lives upon the seal and
reindeer when he can catch one, and here
comes all conqucring man TO iii his pots
with bear and venison. Even the birds
prey upon ono another. There is n bird
up here called Thief joe" He is big.
black, fierce, piratical. His favorte amuse-
ment is pursuit OF the ioe moosa, the beau-
tifully plumed and ideally graceful gull
Of the arctics Round and round and up
and down they sail, pursued and pursuer,
tho former uttering shrlll cries of terror
and the latter shrieking with ghoulish
Rlee. In vain does the white gull endeavor
To shake or nUr BnUuy. NUv ur1u tf1urr
his sharp bill reaches her body and gives
her savage thrust, when hor cries are
pitiful indeed. The result of the unequal
contest is that the moosa either drops the
morsel of food which she has been carry
ing and makes her escape, while "Thiof
Joe" pauses to devour it, or she sinks ex-
hausted 10 the ice and falls victim TO
her relentless Nemesis. The good DIR.
Mohun's sympathies have been so sharply
49, a. hot Ia
he is going to stop in England on his way
home and organize a society for the amel-
ioration Of the condition of the unfortu.
nate ice moosa Of Spitzbergen.
While at Walsh island we tightenod up
the riycts in our aluminium boats These
craft are in surprisingly good condition,
considering the usage they have had. The
Lockwood, built OF 3-lG inch aluminium
alloy, Is as tight rs drum and ready for
another battle with the ice. The Parry
of thinner and softer metal, leaks "A little
but can be easily repaired. While goine
through the rough ice we have seen the
sides of the Parry move I'm and then out
again I'm waves, the result of pressure of
bard pieces against her plating. While
some OF the plating has bent IL Is all in
tact, and only the seams have suffered. An
ordinary modern boat would have bc1U
eplintoed by The usagc which these oSst
have admirably wiihstood.
Professor French continued bis obs-1vs
tions and friaugulaiions If tho coast, c.,
fatchcs .ee, us ~ as Eisin Watch con
eany giving him correct time, fully as sal
.sfactory IN results as ships chr0nomt
Der
) An inCiaont of our stay nt Walsh islam
was tho h0lilag o. salt out Cf Tie sea, cUi
E supply OF that article having run low o.
ttcnunt of tlo iargc quantities OF fresl
1leat wo hnfr ertoFcd.
The Arctic summer.
Much - the weather during the weol
vas TOO warm FOR comfort On several
1rraecns we have played whist In the
opou air and except when the wind blows
81 prefer tAc shady 10 the sunny side Of
, >ilf i.|tt Cur friends In America wiz
r.tl t.. t.it t-.Ll .ll tito
t..l.iu. .tnilcl 10 hare 1Con enjoying.
Ihcy did not believe US when we said we
4 eIoufI have too much warmth raj hor than