The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-02-08
AFLOAT ON A HUGE FLOE
Perilous Voyage of Two Thou
sand Miles.
THEY DRANK WALRUS BLOOD
They Drifted Asout for Days, and We're
Finally Rescued in a Fam
ishing Co. dition.

From a gentleman who recently ar
rived in Juneau from the far north we
learn an almost incredible tale of suf-
fering and endurance experienced by
two Indian boys several years ago,
while out sealing, says the Alaska
News. Our relator had been to Siberia
on the revenue cutter Bear and had re-
turned to Alaska with a cargo Of rein
deer. They were deposited at the Teller
reindeer station, where he also went
ashore. Here a sledge and team of dogs
were hired and a journey overland to
Point Barrow was begun. AT the latter
point the ice was found to be glare and
perfectly solid, so he continued his jour
ney across the Boring straits as far as
Big Diomed island This island is the
home Of quite a large tribe of Indians,
whose substance is derived almost en-
tirely from the sea. During the winter
season they frequently travel many
miles from home on their sealing ex-
petitions, but never except when the
wind is from the north. Should the wind
shift its direction the ice is quite liable
to break up in huge foes, to be carried
here and there by every current it
strikes until its final disintegration is
complete.
In the time that was spent on Diomed
island two young Indians went out seal
ing and before any seals were seen they
had travelled over 10 miles from their
home. In the meantime the ice, which
had been in rotten condition for sew
eral days broke into several huge fields
and when the Indians came to a realiza-
ton ofrtheir position they were drifting
out into Behring'S seas broad expanse,
with the land slowly fading from view.
In the first, second and third days moth
ing occurred to vary the mOnOtony.
Their little stock of grub had disap-
peared and starvation seemed to stare
them in the face On the morning of the
fourth day walrus climbed up on one
end of the foe several hundred feet dis
tant from the spot where the boys had
spent the night. Seeing the huge clum-
sy brute pulling himself up on the ice
for sleep, they watched him with an
eagerness made all the more keen from
the fact that it meant life or death to
them. Their sufferings from thirst had
already swollen their tongues so great
ly as to render speech difficult After
having surveyed the field to his salts
faction, the walrus lay down and was
soon sleeping soundly. With stealthy
steps the Indians now approached and,
the wind being in their favor they sue
ceeded in killing the animal before he
| could awaken and scramble off the ice.
! They first gorged themselves with the
blood, it being the first article of drink
they had in nearly four days During
all the time they were on the foe they
! subsisted entirely upon this walrus.
On the fifth day they saw land again,
and upon approaching closer to it, it
proved to be Nunivak island. 500 miles
south of where they had started from
They drifted to within a few miles Of
shore and were certain of rescue, when
they came in the path of other winds,
and their direction was changed to
westerly one. Slowly the land passed
out of sight and when next it was seen
they had drifted and had been blown
entirely across Boring sea and were
nearing the coast of Siberia To this
shore line they approached within
about the same distance as they did at
Nunivak island, but again contrary
winds were encountered and they start
ed east again. Their meat by this time
was almost exhausted and they had for
days suffered indescribably from thirst
They never knew how many days it
took In crossing Boring sea the second
time, as before they were rescued they
mad become delirious, and death would
have been welcome. A friendly breeze
finally blew their ice cake, now greatly
reduced in size, ashore at the mouth of
Kuskoquim, landing it so gently on the
sand bars that the huge mass never
broke When the tide passed out they
were taken ashore by half-breed ira
der who has store in that vicinity and
Were cared for until restored to health.
and then they were sent back to their
homes. They had hoated about on the
ice exactly three weeks, during which
time they Travelled nearly 1000 miles.
Woman Justice of the Peace
The new woman has arrived in force in