The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-19
TO ASIA AND BACK ON AN ICE rLon.
Two Young Indians Drift Twice
Across Bering Sen, Nearly 1000
Miles.
From the Alaska News.

Miles.
From the Alaska News.
From a gentleman who recently arrived
in Juneau from the far north we learn an
almost incredible tale of suffering and en-
durance Experienced by two Indian boys
several years ago while out sealing. our
relator had been to Siberia on the revenue
cutter Bear and had returned to Alaska
with cargo of reindeer. They were de-
posted at the Teller reindeer station
where he also went ashore. Here 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 journey across Behring Sea as far as
the Big Diomed Island, This island is
the home of quite a large tribe of In
dams, whose subsistence is derived al
most entirely from the sea. During the
winter season they frequently travel
many miles from home in their sealing
expeditions, 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 1t strikes
until its final diSintcgration is complete.
In the time that was spent on Diomed
Island two young Indians went out seal
ing, and before any seals We're seen they
had Travelled over ten miles from their
home. In the mean time the ice, which
had been in a rotten condition for several
days, broke into several huge nelds, and
when the Indians came to a realization
into Behring sea- broad expanse with the
land slowly fading from view. ON the
first, second. and third days nothing oc-
Cured to vary the monotony. Their lit
tie snack of grub had disappeared and star
walton seemed to stare them in the race
On the morning of the fourth day wal
rus climbed upon an end of the foe sever
al hundred feet distant from where the
boys had spent the night. Seeing the huge,
clumsy brute pull himself on the ice for a
sleep. they watched him with an eager
made all the Keen from the TACT
that it meant life or death to them.
Their sufferings from thirst had already
swollen their tongues SO e. greatly "a as s,, 70
veyed the field to his satisfaction the wal
rus lay down and was soon soundly sleep
ing. With stealthy. steps the Indians now
favor they succeeded in killing the ami
NAL before he could awaken and scram-
BILE off the ice.T They first gorged them
selves with the blood, 1t being the first
article of drink they had had in nearly
four days. During all the time they
were on the foe they subsisted entirely
on the fifth day they saw land again,
and upon approaching closer to u 1t prov
ed to be Univak Island, 800 miles south
of where they started from They DRIFT
ed to within few miles of shore and We're
certain of rescue, when they came in the
path of other winds and their direction
was changed to a westerly one Slowly
the land passed out of sight, and when
next it was seen they had drifted and
been blown entirely across Bertng sea, ana
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 We're
encountered, and they started east again.
Their meat by this time was almost ex-
hausted 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 had
become delirious, and death would have
been welcome. A friendly breeze finally
blew their ice cake now greatly reduced
koquim landing it so gently on the SAND
bars that the huge mass never broke.
When the tide passed out they were taken
store in that vicinity and were cared for
until restored to health, and then were
sent back to their homes. They foated
about on the ice exactly three weeks,
during which time they Travelled nearly
9 600 miles.