St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-10-15
VERMONT BOY IN GREENI AND
WmiIllam c. Stlckney, a Graduate Of St. Johns
bury Academy, Tells His Experience In the
Arctic Regions,

Vhihh"sA ~ ottShhSyb oThuuHIc OF ST. John q.
bury Academy, Tells His Experience In thu
Arctic Regions,
William Stickney, of Bethel, recently
returned from the Peary expedition, has
kindly furnished the Free Press with in.
teresting notes Of his experience in the
Arctic region. Mr.. Stckney is a son Of
William B. c. Stickney, Esq, the well.
known lawyer, and graduate of the st.
Johnsbury Academy in the class of 'e6.
He has returned to Dartmouth college
where he is member of the sophomore
class. He writes as follows:
August 8, 1897, at D. M, four vow
ayers, Professor Charles Schinckert and
David White Of Washington, D. c., Will
liam Stickney of Bethel and Sam Brak-
ker, seaman and cook Of Newfoundland.
disembarked from the Hope, at Umanak
village, on Umanak Island, in Umanak
Fiord, north of the Peninsula of Noup-
soak, and in latitude seventy degrees,
fifty minutes north and longitude about
ffty-one degrees cast.
The Hope dropped anchor at s .. m.
Sunday, August 8, and stayed in port
until Monday, August 9, when at 1905
a. M, the baggage and outfit were landed
at about 80 a. m, in clear daylight.
the bark weighed anchor, and made fur
thernorth.
Umanak is a little island about two
square miles in extent, the north side of
which is basaltic rock rising precipi-
tously from the water about $500 feet,
The island is about twelve miles from
the main land of Greenland, opposite a
district OF the Nougsoak Peninsula, is
rich in fossils called Kook.
Limited time compelled immediate at
tention to business, and arrangements
were at once made by Lieutenant Peary
and Professor Schipckert with Governor
Knutsen. the Danish superintendent of
the province, for permission to explore
the coast of the Nougsoak Peninsular for
fossils. The supplies of the party were
packed in the storehouse of the govern
ment.
There are eight frame buildings in the
town, which is reputed to be the most
wealthy in all Greenland the governors
house, three storehouses, a church and
the dwellings OF the pastor and assistant
governor and head man or overseer.
There is no vegetation except moss and
few flowers, here and there The GOV
ernor has a hotbed on his grounds
where he raised radishes, carrots and
parsnips, under a glass. The bed was
there, but this seasons crops had gone
by. There are about $50 Eskimo in.
habitants. They live in Is or 20 turf
huts
Sunday evening at Umanak there was
a dance i'll one OF the storehouses, hall
fourteen feet square and six and one hall
feet high. The whole native village
turned out The young women were
comely and neat, and were dressed in
short jackets, broad bead collars and
deliberately embroidered sealskin trous-
ers and danced vigorously with great en-
joyment, from Z to go p. m. by the
light Of day. The round dances were
similar to the two-step, and there were
some lively contra dances. The music
was furnished by an ACCORDION and vio-
lin, and was very gay. The players were
Eskimos. The crew of the Danish brig,
then in port, and the tourists and sailors
of the Hope enjoyed with the native gal
lants, the pleasures OF the dance,
AT 2 a. m, of the 9th we tried to sleep.
The constant light is not favorable to
sleepness, and until accustomed to it,
sleep in the sunlight does not come
readily. The Eskimos sleep like animals.
When tired they lie down where they
may be, and fall asleep at once. After a
few days residence in Greenland our con
slant exertion in the open air qualified
us for natural rest. The Danish brig as
it is called, happened to be at Umanak on
our arrival, on her second visit this year.
She makes three trips from Copenhagen
to Umanak every year, bringing supplies
for the station and taking back furs.
seal-oil, whale oil, etc.
Governor Knutsen, the pastor and a
few of the Eskimos talk English. The
governor and the pastor are accom-
plished scholars. The pastor addresses
his flock in the Eskimo tongue.
The governor, by order of his Danish
majesty, was distributing throughout,
posters containing picture of Andree's
balloon, and instructions printed in Es-
kimo, what to do if the balloon is seen.
Our party were the governors guests,
and most hospitably entertained at the
government house, which is well fur
nished, and similar to many houses in
this state. There is an upright grand
piano, OF Copenhagen manufacture, and
Mrs. Knutsen played for our entertain
ment. Our bill of fare included elder
duck. ptarmigan, reindeer, sea trout,
eggs, white and black bread, tea and
coffee butter from Denmark, which had
been 60 days on the trip from home, and
was of delicious flavor.
Our beds were of cider duck feathers,
and the clothing elder down quilts. 1t
seemed the habit OF the house to retire to
rest between 10 and IL p. m, and rise
from to a. m. There is small
library in the house including some En-
glish books.
Monday morning the governor found
time to secure Eskimo guides for our
journey. These people do not like to go
far from home, and he could find but one,
Paulus. of Karsook. on the mainland, |