New-York tribune., 1901-09-29

beheid the vanishing Of this friendly shelter %
nearly early two years sn may m Tsaa os ssnd IN
patriotic occupation of collecting elder ducks
was still ieebound. SO that eommunicstion had
to be made by sedses II might have been almost
morning. as We arose, Northumberland Island was
around the island, during which We passed by
Kiete on Northumberisnd Island and Netidii.
on Barden Bay and finding them deserted r nut Ss.
east Of Barden Bay. we anchored off Hakluyt
auks and looms Finally we We're landed at the
point we now occupy. and the ship went to
Some time after We went to HakIuyt Island IN
% our two boats to get little title auks: looms and 8
Southeast end of the island at the edge OF tn.
to bt b. m o& S fossil GuRa % sa that ha %
have seen during The he tEp Eg, years in A. two aav
and hope 10 enjoy the comforts of civilization In
three weeks
During the last two years I suffered absolutel,
hardships. except considerable fatigue now and
then in the early days of the trip to Cape York; a
frostbite, making my ears grow purple and pendu-
lous, like ripe plums. and finally the snowbind-
ness above described Except two days OF indiges-
tion caused by a hot biscuit and occasional
twnges OF rheumatism Che special arctic COM
plafnO. / enjoyed perfect health. The pIeasure
which / expected from the trip largely realized
aud would have been tenfold had it been for
the constant disappointment, suspense and anxiety.
Fort Magnesia, station, a snug Httls
shelter. kept comfortably with twenty-hvs
pounds of coal day. being made codproOf by a
double coat OF Fay manila building paper. incOsing
sheets of magnesia 0he material found most
efficient for covering boilers to prevent the escaps
of heaO.
The only occasion in which / in real dangers
occurred at Cape York a few days after our ar
rival / had climbed up the steep slope above the
camp. intending to reach a crag from which Z
could get a more extended view Not intending
any lengthy ascent had started without any
other appliance than pocket knife. Tempted al
Ways by ,,t the next @ erag ascended hishsr and
oner an irresistloie temptation after ahout two
hours reached the verge of the tOpmost crag and
Having spent some two hours on the ice cap I
turned TO descend. not by the way l had come.
gorge. which seemed more inviting. Without a
stan to test the ground in advance. the descent
succession of ventuTeSOme steps from
certain bOwder 10 doubtful snOwbank. About half
Vertical rock face some ffteen feet high travers-
ing narrow gorge. Below a long snowdrift.
ised to be comparatively safe. Could / but have
known whether the snow below the rock wall was
hard or soft there would have been no trouble; II
soft ! would have Jumped; Il hard I would have
express train. would mean to be cut 10 pieces by
On the nearly vertical wall little projections
which promised to afford foothold- Sliding down
my back. feet forward. bTacing myself with
both hands and feet against little projection
knew i'm an instant that could NOT Stop myself
I gave involuntary YELL for if the below
was hard my destruction was certain A seconds
suspense; my feet touched the snow thank heaven.
ii was soft! sank into it my waist and thought
had never lain In finer bed. Only ten feet away
the snow grew hard affording hold 10 the foot
With nv pocket knife had to cut steps down the
middle of the frozen crust slOping at angle OF IS
degrees. over distance of some three hundred or
four hundred feet. So slippery the surface and
steep the slope that when only twenty or
thirty feet away from the powders at the bottom
l felt that the loss of my fOOthold might easily
mean death. At last | got down into safety, and
never did / enjoy anything keenly than tho
| cup Of coffee which DIR. Hann had got ready for
my arrival ROBERT STEIN