Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-08-29
BURLlNGTONiANS ABROAD.
An Interesting Letter Fran A. Il. Rich
nrdson TIE Midnight sun.

An Interesting Letter Fr"m A. Il. Ric h
nrdson TIE Midnight sun
po,dore or tho r,rco press will no inter
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"'." 90 ,''0 "''7 t'''"'o io''0' "''ii
A T. Rlchardson' "hlch we are permitted
to copy:
On Board Steamer Columbia
Aug LIST. 1895.
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~ 'iT oI'N uaS Ltolii iidi
ri i0,'''r 70 '%'''t'7 "i '"V li"i u''iee
100 ~ "'ON iNi '',t "'"" an"
FrdHueur Oh lts scenery IL Is enclosed uI
.IChS an" p'ccIPl'ouS mountains tnree
''to"'|"u 20 "Ne t'ou9ai" Iccu HIsH
laPP'" VII" Spo'IeSS SHOW Al tHe oase
dHu pe' "T'H inc mountains are shaA
.SI 'ite NaIsHS' WIN inc I!t'le cottages OF
,ne HaIuE HhanilahJS' we next maze
"lIvI NiSlt " IIoHuHJelH' quaint oIu
'ONIi me mortimer ilHlost OF the larger
MS, containing ABOUT twenty-five thou-
S"Hu .Hnabl'ahtS- III Is the place where
inc oiu Nor"csian Kings were elected ana
crowned from mere we went dlrect TO
inc -North cape where Europe terminates
ana the Arctic regions begin. The cape is
a dark gray rock rising over one thousand
rect abruptly from the sea. Tho proper
thihg 10 40 Is TO CLIMB TO the top, and
await the sublime spectacle of the mid
hlsht sun. rms was anticipa ted by all
the passengers, and preparations were
maze Tor the landing and the observance
in due form of the occasion, but unfortu-
nately a violent storm of wind and rain
came up and increased so greatly as we
approached the cape that it was impossi-
BILE to make a landing so after beating
about for an hour or so and firing a few
rockets to scare the birds, which are so
numerous that their white wings reminded
us of a snow storm, we steamed on into
the Arctic ocean, with great rnisgivings.
as it has the reputation of being very un-
civil to those who venture upon its sur
face.
About noon the next day the SIN came
out clear and bright. The ocean became
calm and smooth as the waters of Lake
Champlain on a summer day, and every
one was soon on deck, expecting at last to
see the Midnight Sun. About O'Clock the
rocky shores of SpitZbergen became visi-
Bile and we sailed along the western shore,
which is a series of vast mountains and
peaks Of fantastic shape capped with
snow, with numerous glaciers pushing a
smooth wall of clear ice down to the shore.
where it is broken off by the tidal waves
and winds, so forming the icebergs, of
which we saw number on their way TO
a more genial cline We continued this
course till ll:30 p. m. with a bright sun.
when a cloud near the horizon obscured
its rays. 1t disappeared in the cloud at
ll:I5. but at 12:45 was again visible. An
other day had been ushered in; we had
seen a glorious sight. but not to the fullest
extent We sought our berths feeling
well repaid for our trip. but with the hope
that with one more night and another
chance we should see his majesty in all
his glory at midnight.
Al o O'Clock we were called and found
the steamer at anchor in what is known as
the Ice Fiord. n very picturesdue place.
with high mountains and cliffs capped
with glistening snow in front. The land
rises gradually to saw one hundred feet,
and then a plateau extends TO the noun
tains i'm the distance. This plateau is
covered with moss and a short grass upon
which the reindeer subsist. After break
fast n landing was made the captain go
ing ashore with tho hand and carving
German and American flags A process
sion formed and marched 10 the ton of
the nlateau ana erected a monument.
etatinc 10 do+o Of o,r yisit tho name Of
thn steamer otc A luncb was served and
we MA ~. io,l,, rIcric TIL Columbia
10 tba nrs+ lo,,,o stoamsbin 70 visit Snitz-
bergen This nortbcrnmost point Of orr
trin 10 IN latitude 7s dngroes "a minutes
,yhic, 10 Batting nrettv near the Mort
poIa rho tar,,,arot,,,o ,,.oe o. rTabrenboit
AZ. : o,o,ooir n,o ,,.a,a oa,Iad a. hoard
mo aHcbor raised and tbe steamer hnqan
siar'I', ~ $50 ha, 'o,, o,,t ~ 10 fin,. !
49, tha At, CO, al 10 10 eou+L 7,
, ~ hoa,,tif,I a,ta,.,,oo,, 80 - nioud
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s",e"aS - o,s an 10y W. o"h W.
or,,'' 80 go tho s,,,, CO., ~ ~ VS.,
eAi,et . 10 see the sun 81 ~ we We" e,,.
old Teiap'e sun acIlHg TINS way II, TO say
the spectacle of the Midnight sun in all
its glory and We're satisfied,
pu4lHS the udE we Hau PaSseu an lNo