The National tribune., 1902-07-24

We had now advanced so far north that
night and day were mere arbitrary terms.
For an hour or two there was q subdued
twilight, or rather lack Of sunshine, but at
any time during the "a hours there was
no difficulty in reading ordinary print with
out the aid of artificial light.
No one can conceive until he has OK
perienced it, the strange effect produced
upon a native of the Temperate Zones by
the endless day of the polar regions. There
is something SO supernatural and fantastic
in the sight Of the sun travelling perpetu-
ally round the horizon. just dipping be-
meath 1T at one point for n brief space,
instead of seeing it at an angle Of about
90 degrees, as with us, that until you be-
come IN measure accustomed to il, to
sleep is almost an imPossibility. But try
ing as is the long day, the long night is
| Infinitely worse, according to the testi-
mony OF all who have experienced it.
A rERILoUs SITUATION.
The morning of June q found us sur
rounded by fog of unusual density, and
We We're under the necessity of lying to in
consequence. Indeed, to see a ships length
in any direction was utterly impossible.
and with huge fields of ice drifting near us.
and anon crashing together with report
like thunder, our situation was anything
but desirable. But this is only one of the
=.
1t is region of terrors, which start up
grim and formidable on every side, and
absolutely without. an attractive feature
save the wealth borne on the backs of the
! great right whales, or worn in the shape
| of choice furs by the seals that inhabit
its waters, and the foxes and sables that
abound upon its icy shores; and for wealth.
man will dare any peril, face any danger
| Before noon the fog had cleared away,
| and few hours later we sighted ST. Law
renee Island, lying almost directly to the
southward Of Behring'S Straits. 1t was
Impossible to approach very near it, on
account of the ice, which increased in
quantity as we advanced toward the Are
| tic Ocean. An immense field lay off our
starboard bow, seemingly as impenetrable
barrier to sailing in that direction as a
similar extent Of solid rock.
| The island is inhabited by somewhat
| numerous tribe of Esquimaux, who carry
on considerable trade in furs with
whalers and other vessels that visit these
seas. They subsist almost exclusively
upon the flesh Of seals and walrus, which
| IS generally eaten raw. How they can
| exist In climate where for two months in
the year the mercury freezes in the ther-
mometer tube, is mystery l leave others
to explain.
| and from that time till we finally left the
Arctic Seas we made comparatively little
use of our sails. An extensive ice field
was ahead, and to avoid it we stood direct
1y north.
| About 10 q. m. We saw two sails on the
port beam, and Immediately gave chase to
the nearest She showed the Hawaiian
ensign. and as her appearance corresnont,.
ed with her flag, we did not intercept her,
but wore around and stood after the other
About II o'clock she showed the French
| colOrs, and as she did not have on closer
! inspection, much of Yankee look, we
abandoned that chase also, and resumed
| our course to the nOrthward and eastward
The same afternoon we made ont q sail
on the starbOard bow, and setting such
fore and aft sail as we carried. we gave
| chase. We We're not long in overhauling
1 her, and, as she showed the Stars and
Stripes, we passed close under her stern
| within hailing distance, ordering the Cap.
tain to heave to and come On board with
his papers.
| The skipper took it very hard, and was
quite disposed to make personal matter
OF ii. As he came over the side with his
papers, he demanded, in a clustering
queruious manner, what injury he had
ever done us, that we should hunt him
| like wild animal, and DESTROY his nron.
| erty:
| Of course, we assured him that we had
no feelings Of personal animosity to grut-
| lfy; that our blows were only aimed at
his Government, though they might fall
heavily upon private Individuals. but this
Was far from satisfying him.
This prize was the Gen. Williams, of
New London, and the denizens of that
wide-awake little city must have been in
| Il most fOurishing financial condition for
she had more money on board than any
vessel We captured during 1he entire
cruise.
! I pray my readers not to permit their