Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-03
FROM "sossIE.r
Extracts From Letters Written His
Mother.

Mrs. Vinyard, mother of Robert Vim
yard, who arrived in the city last
week from Colorado Springs. where
she was visiting her son. Bert
Vinyard. permits US to make extracts
from letters written her by Robert
One Is dated "On board the America,
of Norway. near vadu. July 2s:
Tomorrow we send our last mail
for year, or nine months, probably.
although we may get one more chance
We were banqueted by the American
tourists on board the Augusta Vic
toria recently. and last Wednesday
took dinner with the Russian consul
general at Solonbala. There were
present about twelve Russian gener-
ais, besides the Lords of Archangel.
governor of the province, the British
consul. and several English merchants
besides our own crew. The Lord Of
Archangel toasted us and his remarks
we're interpreted to us. after which our
commandant responded and his re-
marks were interpreted to the Rus
sians The banquet. with vodka,
(Russian whiskey) included soup, fish
roasts. vegetables, game, ices and
coffee. seven different wines, brandy,
beer and champagne. cigarettes and
cigars, and lasted three hours.
Afterwards we enjoyed voyage
on Russian nobleman's private yacht
up the Dwina river, and were returned
by 1t to our own ship. These have
been the pleasant things. The un-
pleasant ones have been numerous.
have been dreadfully seasick and
have been working very hard. We
have only n small vessel and it is
crowded dreadfully and crammed with
stores. AT Solonballa we took on
428 Siberian dogs and IL ponies, also
lot of hay and oats, with six Rus
sian dog drivers. These simply crowd
ed the deck until it is almost imposs-
BILE to walk. We shall be on ship
board only about two weeks longer,
when we expect to reach Franz Josef
Land and unload the stores. We
have been proceeded there by the
Frithjof with one big load of supplies.
Supplies are all around us. neverthe-
less, our fare has not been of the
best. The steward don't know how
to cook American dishes, and the
kitchen is poorly equipped. On land
ing. however. we shall at least have
room and can separate into smaller
parties and do our own cooking
Franz Josef Land has some sum
mer time. and as we shall reach there
in comparatively warm weather. we
shall have time to get fixed up before
winter sets in. We are now used to
the sun at midnight and to its contin
ual presence. Since July it has not
set. though it has been hidden by the
clouds much of the time. The
Firthjof may return this fall to from
soc. Ii 1t does you will hear again;
II not, then this will be goodbye un
til next spring. when another vessel
will reach us ere we start on sledges
for the north pole"
The second epistle is dated Franz
Josef Land. aboard the America, Aug
ust 1S:
I'VE have made connection all
right with the Firthjof, which we left
month ago of Norway, and will get
her unloaded in a few days. when
she will return to Sweden. Her
stores are to be dumped unceremon-
iously on the shore here for the pres
ent, to be moved to our winter quar-
ters as soon as we have them estab-
lished. Mr. Baldwin's carefully
laid plans are beginning to show a def
finite purpose, and the events are
shaping themselves as anticipated.
So far nothing has been unforeseen.
Four polar bears have been killed by
the American crew. and eight wal
ruses. have not had shot yet. but
hope for an inning later on. We
have been blocked in the Ice several
times. and had an entire week in
ice bucking. accompanied Mr..
Baldwin out on the ice few days
and watched him bag dozen birds.
The sea here Is comparatively open,
and the commandant expects to be
able to reach about up to latitude 81,
480 miles from our destination-the
north pole We have been coasting
among the islands here for several
days, and have located several not
previously charted, SO this gives our
map maker plenty to do. The botan-
list. too, is gathering plants daily that
grow here, as in Colorado. among the
snow. We are dreadfully cooped up
and working hard. but after we finally
settle in our winter quarters 1t will be
easier. never had so unpleasant a
time in some ways in my life, yet
never had SO much to interest me in
other lines and to compensate for the
unpleasantness. With the going of
the Frithjof our last communication
with the world is made, and we are
cut off until May next. when she re
turns with more supplies. All on the
expedition are well, and we are en-
joying our long summer day and hope
fully facing our long winter nights.
"ROB."