Amador ledger., 1902-02-14
A TRIP TO ALASKA.
Going Through the Ice.


thereto, we had laid still at the wharf
at the aforementioned place, as the in
surance companies in which the Va
lencia and her cargo were insured had
forbidden in their stipulations for the
boat to proceed northward before the
10Th of June as a precaution against
the danger of the ice they knew full
well would be ahead. For one day and
night after leaving Unalaska we
steamed through the cold, blue, iceless
sea that dashed with a continuous
splashing sound against the iron sides
OF the Valencia. Not an object of in
terest had we seen up to this time, and
only the broad expanse of restless
ocean standing out with dull monotony
before our view. Occasionally whale
would send shaft of spouting water
far into the air, and all eyes would be
turned in that direction. Only a
glimpse of the whale could be seen as
he threw his tail upward and dived
beneath the dark blue waves of the sea,
and was seen no more. The tireless
seagull followed the vessel continually,
feeding from the garbage thrown from
the vessel, and when tired they Lit with
half folded wings upon the crest of a
rolling wave, touching the water with
their feet and seemed to be walking
upon it, then suddenly their wings
would drop to their sides and with the
lightness and ease of cork in a pail of
disturbed we'll water would be carried
along by the waves.
On the 18th of June, just as the sun
was rising through the cold dim mist
that hung like shadow before it, l
came out on deck and looked toward
the north. A sea of floating ice stood
before the vision. A solitary iceberg,
half as big as a block in city, glided,
snail like, few hundred feet past us.
A cerulean tint of azury blue appeared
to be painted at its base, and as the sea
gently dashed upon it, seemed that
some invisible artist was painting upon
it for the gaze of the gods. The cor
rugated surface of the iceberg sparkled
with the glitter of diadem, and sent
a thrill of ecstatic delight through me.
The Valencia was slowly approaching
the great ice foe ahead. 1 climbed up
behind the smoke stack to get a better
view of the immensity of ice that stood
like great ocean itself before us. Ice!
ice! ice! masses large enough in body to
have acted as base for the city of San
Francisco. The ocean was calm and
the great mass moved slowly onward,
bObbing, nodding, and bathing itself
in the cold blue waves of the ripping
sea. Upon its uneven surface seemed
to spring spires. domes, pyramids,
turrets, and ancient citadels. The
captain in the lookout go or so feet
above us was critically surveying the
sea of floating ice with his glass. The
Valencia steamed up within half
mile of the foe when her engines were
stopped, and we awaited the foe to
show an opening. We dare not ap-
proach too close lest the great mass
might jam or wrench the vessel. The
trip to the Valencia was not a new one
as she belonged to the Pacific Whaling
Company and had faced the ice more
than once before. After an hour or so
break appeared in the ice, and be-
yond it was space of open sea. The
engines on the vessel were started up,
and we ran at full speed for the open
ing. Detached pieces of ice occasionally
struck the vessel with a rasping, graf
ing sound, then thrown back by the
momentum of the vessel, moved on
ward after the great foe as weary
migratory bird following a great flock.
We again stopped, after passing
through the opening, for beyond US
was another great body of moving ice.
The captain was cautious and wary,
and watched with solicitude and eager
ness as prize fighter would for an
opening, and whenever one showed
itself the engines were put at full speed,
lodging here and there among the
great detached floating icebergs of the
sea. Therefore we stopped, we moved,
We moved, and we stopped until the
impatient passengers were eager for
the boat to buck the ice. One day
while waiting for chance to proceed,
a little boy of or summers ap-
preached the captain, and raising his
little face to that of the officers, said
in an emphatic, boyish tone: Captain,
are we stuck in the mud?" Had the
interlocutor been aught but child or
a woman he would have turned upon
him with snarl, and shouted in
stentOrian tones, go to -" but as
it was he turned, and with bland
smile walked slowly away, One day
while lying still off the coast of ST.
Lawrence island, some one shouted,
"See the Esq squimaux!" Sure enough,
two Esquimaux Indians in their deli
cate cigar shaped kiacks were coming
toward us. When they were close to
the vessels side they halooed,
Powder, whiskey," but the boat
officials concluded that powder and
whiskey were antagonistic agencies in
the hands of an Indian and refused
their request. On the morning of the
10Th of June the clear cut, blue out
lines OF Sledge Island arose bold and