The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-11-08


1ieye to be lighter and more serviceable
than tents, and besides good roof over
our heads we shall have comparatively
dry floor under u.s. For beds we stretch a
canvas cover across the gunwales of the
boats, drawing it tight with lacings of a
simple sort. Upon these we place our
sleeping bags and hope to slumber in com
fort in our wrappings of reinskin. Two of
the men in the Lockwood will find it nee
essary to sleep in the bottom of the boat,
but they will not mind that, for down
there they should be as snug and comfort
able as in their beds at home.
Though we have more than 40 Gogs to
start on the journey, we take only 500
pounds of food for them This will not
last them more than two weeks, but mean
while we expect to be compelled to shoot a
few of the poorer dogs, while others will
fall victims to broken legs or the combat
iveness of their fellows. Their flesh will
be added to the rations of the survivors.
In all likelihood we shall get nearly
enough game to feed the dogs. Our luck
with bear continues. A little before mid
night the whisper went through the ship:
''Bear! Sh! Bear!" A comical scene
enslled. Half dozen men rushed on
tired, others dressing themselves as they
ran, while Mr.. Juell had on only his I'M
derwear and pair of moccasins. They
scrambled over the rough ice, fell in peck
cts of snow and were presently rewarded
with sight of bruin sCrambling over the
ice with red wound in his body. Second
Mate Sandbu had stolen march on the
other sportsmen Being the first to catch
81; - &l,,>s SCI, 4 10
gians call the polar bear, and without say
ing word to any one, he had slipped over
the side of the Jarl into boat and pad
died after the white brute, who was swim
ming within hundred yards of the ship.
He got the first shot and drew blood.
The bear then scrambled upon the ice,
where Mr.. Dahl put another bullet into
his lean and hungry carcass.
| Not liking the looks of his motley half
dozen pursuers on the ice, bruin turned
again to the water, where Mate Sandbu
met him with third and final shot In
few minutes the victim had been loaded
! into the boat and brought on board the
ship, causing us to comment on the polite
ness shown by the Walden island bears in
coming to the steamer to be killed in Or
der to save us the trouble of carting in
! their skins and meat, now that we are st
busy with our sledging preparations.
! This bear episode stirred UP all the
sportsnen. Captain Bottelfsen, who wa:
treated by DR. Mohun today for snow
! blindness, caused by going on the Ions
journey to Parry and Martens islands
without spectacles, pulled off his band
ages, seized his gun and started off in ;
boat after the mate to the poor fellow jus
brought in. He was accompanied by Mr.
Juell, who seems to fancy bedchambe
raiment in the arctics without any ad
ditions to his apparel But their searcl
was unavailing, and the men have con
| cluded that there are just pair of bear
on each of these islands. Three of tn
rocky islets have we denuded of thei
chief inhabitants, and if the fates compe
us to remain here much longer we will
/ get the remainder of the population. W.
may not win the north pole, but we ar
| death to ice BEARS
WALTER WELLMAN