The Bemidji pioneer., 1902-10-02
ADRIFT ON AN ICE CAKE.
An Eskimo Seal Hunters Days and Nights
Of Extreme Peril

T. j. u II = " rs 4. q 4.
An Eskimo Seal Hunters Days and Nights
Of Extreme Peril
Cast away on cake Of floating ice,
drifting toward the frozen sea, be-
yond the sight Of land, enduring In
tense cold, finally coming in contact
with an icy pack that permitted him
to travel by leaping from one piece
Of ice to another, and after three
days and two nights of vigil and dan
gerous travelling over fields Of float
ing ice, reaching the Diomede
islands, where he slept under the
shelter Of a rock, is the experience OF
a Cape Prince Of Wales native, says
the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
When Judge .Wickersham and
Louis Lane were at Cape Prince OF
Wales, in January, an Esquimaux
seal hunter Of the name Of Netaxite
was lost in foe. Nothing was heard
Of him for weeks. One day, March1 !,
he surprised the village Of Kingegan,
and brought joy to the hearts Of his
relatives, by returning. He was ac-'
companied by natives from the Do
medes and looking fine. They had
walked over from the Diomedes.
Netaxite's sister was glad to see him,
but she did not fall on his neck and
weep. She just smiled, but there
was wonderful light Of happiness in
her eyes.
When Netaxite, in quest of seals,
discovered that he had foated away
from the ice pack, and was being car
ried northwest by one Of those cur
rents that are rivers between shores
Of ice, he could do nothing but wait
for his precarious ice raft to carry
him to the pack. The cake upon
which he was afoat was then eight
or nine feet in diameter, and it was
long time before he could leave it.
He driftedrfrom view, and finally the
high ridge back Of the village faded,
and in the dreary perspective there
was nothing but water and ice.
The next day he reached the ice
pack, and began his journey to the
Diomedes. He found smooth foes
and travelled rapidly. When night
came he was forced to stop, as the 60
ing was too dangerous to be attempt
ed after dark. He had had no sleep
since he began his perilous trip, and
did not dare to sleep. Weary and
drowsy he began another night of
waiting. When day dawned he
started again, but in. his exhausted
condition he was compelled-to travel
slowly. As evening approached he
saw an island, the Little Diomede,
and succeeded in reaching it before
darkness came on.
He found a sheltered spot beneath
a rock and slept. Next morning he
proceeded to walk around the south
Tern end Of the island to the settle
ment, which was probably Is miles
distant. The shore ice clinging to
the steep base Of the island is very
narrow and rugged, and as this was
his fourth day out since he left his
home to go hunting his suffering in
his weakened condition must have
Ibeen intense. When he left home he
had some dried apples in his pocket,
and these he had eaten the first day.
His toes and one Of his feet were
slightly frozen. When he reached
the settlement he found friends and
relatives, and received the best care.
He said:
81 was all right then, but I could
not sleep for thinking about my peo-
pie grieving for me. / saw one'white
bear, but did not try to kill it. The
ice is smooth and two Diomede ma
tives have gone in East Cape"
A big dance was given in the vii
lage at Cape Prince Of Wales in honor
of Netaxite's safe return, and he and
his relatives distributed presents to
the people.-Seattle Post-Intelli-
gencer.
A SUCCESSFUL ANGLER.