The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-07-20

were in Dutch Harbor till Saturday night
June 2, where it was reported that there
was lotsaof ice in the Behring sea and II
is only three days from Dutch Harbor to
Nome where there ,is no ice. We woke
up Tuesday morning and found Ice ahead
OF us as far as we could see and up to
this time have been dodging in and out
going in all directions and trying to work
our way north, sometimes having to 90
back for miles. Yesterday we came up
to three steamers, the Olympia, Gsronne
and Senator, that had come to stop and
the Senator had to 60 way back to Dutch
Harbor, being nearly out of coal and pro-
visions, of which we have plenty. We
left them but saw them this morning far
back in the distance. The Discovery, a
small steamer. also appeared this morn
ing and said she could find no passage
and the Alliance, which belongs to the
same company as our boat and which
| left Dutch Harbor with us, has been in
our company most of the time, but this
| morning she started into passage west
ward and we have not seen her since. At
times we steam ahead for an hour or 80
till we are stopped by ice fields when we
| come to anchor for while and wait for
passage to appear, and at night we
| simply drift, only sta arting at times to
ward us, but sometimes large cake will
come and bump alongside.
We see Ice In all shapes, sizes and
forms, sometimes looking like statues
and at others like ships in the distance.
[ speaksof night, but there ia no night,
| for at II last night was on deck and it
was light enough to read newspaper,
| and the sun doesn'e 60 down till 10 and
is up at 8 but we don't gain much time
since we left Dutch Harbor as our course
Is north from there and we had gained s
six hours when there, that is when we are
eating breakfast at 6 you are having din
ner at II. Since leaving port, Saturday,
we have had smooth water, but once or
twice we have had light snow storms and
at times it ia quite cold as ice formed in
the water barrel on deck last night and
we often have cold wind blowing off
the ice but this morning it was nice and
warm and number of US sat on the rail
and had fine time in the gun. While
we were at Dutch Harbor had fine
time as went 10 the Russian Cathedral
at Unalaska, which is an island close to
the Harbor and on Decoration day they
had ball games there and 1 roamed
around the hills, visited gold mine and
climbed two very high mountains having
to dig our way up for long distance in
the snow,arriving at the top with fingers
and toes nearly frozen and had to Jump
around to get warm. The second one I
climbed with friend on Thursday and
after we got to the top and warmed up
we got behind ridge of rocks and had
dinner as we had been three and a half
hours getting up and it was raining and
the wind was blowing hurricane. It
took US only an hour to come down and
then l shot some ground squirrels which
are twice as big as our grey ones and
have short tail not very bushy.
Friday some Of US went out to vacant
| house on the beach where we built fire,
heated water, took bath, changed our
clothes and washed the dirty ones and
then went out and dug clans and we
| cooked them and had our dinner there
and it was fine, for the CLANS are far bet
ter than the ones we have at home.
They are round and are very tender.
Since we left Saturday night we stopped
once to fish, but the fish were not plenti.
full, though I caught two rock cod
weighing about 25 pounds each. am
enjoying myself and getting fat and the
only kick have, is that it is quite mo-
notonous and We have to play cards to
pass away time and then 1t is SO light at
night that don't know when to 20 to
bed but guess L will now as it is after II,
though it is very light.
Sunday night, June 10. Well we are
still in Behring sea and making no head
way for there is so much ice that we
can't go far in any direction and when +
got up yesterday morning we were COM
pletely surrounded by ice and could not
stir at all 80 some of US got down on the
ice and snowballed for long time and 1
took some pictures. Late in the after
noon large pool Of fresh water was dis
covered on the ice so pump was taken
from the ship and we took turns helping
the sailors pump it on board. This
morning we were still imprisoned and
Just after dinner we saw several seals
| near the ship. At 4.3O to-day we man
aged to get out in the open water and at
$50 while going at full speed ran into an
immense piece Of Ice and stoYe hole in
the ship near the bow. It was just at the
waters edge and it Ia over four feet long
but as it is in water tight compartment
there is no danger. For while there
WAS considerable excitement as there are
a lot Of ignorant Swedes aboard and
some OF them went almost crazy and be-
gan to yell that the ship was sinking 40
I got my rifle out and said would shoot
the first one who said so again. After q
while as the ship did not go down they
got cooled off and now at il p. N. nearly
all are abed except few timid ones and
| I will now turn in.
| Wednesday, June 13. At last we are
through the ice and In the open sea and
II al goes well when you eat supper to-
morrow evening / Will be at Nome.
Since Sunday we have had fog till this
morning when it cleared and we started
to try orce more TO get out, finally doing
20 1t Z 80 tonight and thankful 70 be oul
iof II Tor II has been tireaOme, thsldriftina
forward and backward. some days Los