Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-04-04
ANOTHER
EXPEDITION
LET TER
vINYARo CONTINUES HIS INTER-
ssTlNG ARCTIC ExPER-
FENCES.

II was less than a week after the
trip recorded in my last letter that
was one ui a party OF 10, nearly all
Americans, who started On the same
journey. with Chas Rilleit of st. Louis
III charge.
For ali Of the men save myself II
was the first actual trial at dog driv-
ing. Warned by my first experience
I took the first part of the work as
easy as possible even to the point oi
shirking. / was not overdressed, and
though | did get thoroughly warm,
did not take off any OF my outer
clothes Lastly | did not eat snow.
We made good time on our trip out,
arriving at the old camp in good shape
and short order. We loaded our
5ledges as before and then had a cup
OF hot coffee in the cabin, and got a
good early start tor the six miles back
to the ship
Then as before, the trouble com
menced, The dogs wouldn't or
couldn't pull the loads and the back
breaking toll of Juggling and lifting
commenced to wear out the wind and
tire the muscles of the men.
We had taken our teams in rotation
from the dog lines, according 20 Mr..
Baldwins orders as We were moi al
lowed to select our own dogs, and 1
had received an especially poor lot.
At the expense OF great deal of ell
bow grease ! was keeping up with the
procession. when Rilleit noticed the
trouble aud ordered me to divide my
team and give TWO dogs to several of
the other men whose teams were not
equal to the stronger ones, and for me
myself to bring up the rear, helping
along such men as occasionally stuck
and fell behind, while he himself led
the way. | cheerfully obeyed the or
der. as IT was exactly what was nee
essary, My own team could not pull
Lhe load. and several others were near
load. and giving my dogs to such as
needed help, the teams were strength
ened and / was free TO help any who
stuck by the wayside.
And my task was no easy one.
though | took it as easy as 1 could.
reserying what strength ! could for
what | feared would overtake us an
Other snow storm From one team
10 another went calling the dogs.
.iitlhg and pulling, helping over the
hummocks. easing up and letting the
dogs pull when they had a good start
on smooth going
Soon as before, even the leaders
began to lag. Stops were frequent.
everybody was warm, and nearly all
commenced eating snow did not
feel by reason of my one eyentful
trip that | was in position to give
much advice, though | refused to fol-
low their example, and advised other
boys to cut the snow out. Likewise
when they threw themselves on the
5leds kept my feet and kept walking.
I was afraid Of lowering the circulation
OF blood by too much relaxation.
We had made perhaps mile or a
little more when my fears were re-
llized and the storm struck us. And
IL was storm. The little whirlwind
| had been through was AS summer
zephyr compared to the blizzard that
struck MS head on. Progress was i'm
possible with our loads, and Rilleit
had all the siedges drawn up togeth-
ar, and the teams unlocked.
DIR De Bruler was loosening his
logs which were tangled dog harness
always is tangled) and took off his
gloves to have the free use OF his fin
gers. In The melee the gloves were
knocked of the sled and trampled in
he snow When the dogs were
lOosened and the doctor tried to get
his frozen and freezing fingers into his
gloves he found them frozen stiff and
he could not get them open.
Here you go doctor; take my glooves
quick, or you'll lose a finger. Give me
yours"
And with my hands warm and
aged to get his gloves opened up and
my own fingers into them before they
had time TO get cold.
The dogs we had turned loose re
fused TO leave US and head for the
ship as we hoped; but huddled
around us with their backs to the
wind Then our wanderings com
menced. The cold affected all the
men as 1t had me TO a greater or less
extent We were continually stopping
and come Cne would sct down or lay
down on the ice and go to sleep. Ril
| liet kept at the head of the party and
ordered me to bring mp the rear and
watch ont for stragglers. under no cir
cumstances allowing anyone 10 be left
tehind In the terrible storm. He was
ma...ng his way as best he could to
ward the ship,
And how the wind blew! Darkness
had settled down, yet 1t was not com