The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-31
DR. GREENFIELD TRIP Interesting Account of Arrival Among Newfound-
 landers. GREAT WELCOME GIVEN Details of the Journey in Northern Water in the Middle of
 Winter.
GREAT WELCOME GIVEl

The Boston Transcript of January 25, contains an interesting account of the arrival of Dr. Grenfell and his reindeers at St. Anthony's Newfound- landA Miss Jessie Luther one of the teachers of Dr. Greenfell's party writes a graphic account of the ships arrival, and the enthusiastic reception accorded them by the Fisher folks and those who carry on the mission work In that part of the world. As soon as the steamer hove in sight, came running through snow and ice to get the first glimpse of the welcome visitor. The 300 reindeer were all in good condition on the arrival of the ship and this in spite of a somewhat stormy voyage. The curious and picturesque Laplanders, who came with them, were also a wonder to the islanders. But Dr. Greenfell. him self was the most important and in teresting party of the whole group Miss Luther in her article describes very Interestingly the incidents that occurred on the voyage. The arrival of the pilot and the safe entrance into the harbor of St. Anthony, the landing of the reindeer, the getting ashore of the household belongings of the Laplanders, their curious sleighs and the skill with which they started across the ice in search of the miss ing reindeer Dr. Greenfell himself contributed the following interesting letter on the trip:
 S. S. Portia, off N. N'f'rd, Jan. g.
 The blusterous fall and the late winter on the North Atlantic has al lowed little ice to form in the south of Newfoundland. Speculating on this, ventured to delay sailing till January I9 without fear of my retreats to the north being cut off
 Just before midnight on Jan we hauled out into midstream to an an- chorage to await suitable moment | for putting to sea. Hundreds of fish ermen have been delayed this year in St Johns, setting up as they call it. by the lateness of the fall. It is small schooners now, for the ice not only freezes the sails, but chokes the running rigging also, so that the men can neither put up more canvas at a pinch or get down what they have ur when It becomes necessary. A large | y,,, I.a- ar lac hnr fnr had to be laid up" in the south, and the masters and men had all to rely on this steamer to get them to theii various homes in the hamlets border ing on the northeast shores of the l island. The same applied to many men of business. and apparently tc | their freights of food for the winter | Practically all the necessities of life ir the north must be i'm mported; only cod herring, salmon. whale and a few seals can we rely on Moreover, our trade is still more or less a barter one. the winter supplies do not come down till the summer catch Is in suffi Icient to show how large a supply is warranted. Literally in lean years tho north is left to face the long winter isolation with scarcely even sufficien rough food supplies to keep its pop ulation going till more Is obtainable Fish, however, has been at great price this year, and the "shoremen' Wh, did not sail away among the northerr
 ice did unusually we'll. Thus all thing combined to load our steamer to tn, utmost capacity and the desire not {, be excluded from this particular sail ing was greatly enhanced by the fea' that the ice might make 1t her las trip for the year
 It was a dark. cold. miserable night and what little light there was or the wharf to cheer ones departur, only served to show up the dispiritinl debris of nasty cargo storage, ant the somewhat sordid surroundings Q the average private fish wharf On deck it was no better; for as the hold were full to bursting the alleyway were blocked with piles of lumber casks of kerosene and indiscriminat heaps of every variety of impedimen ta. Through the narrow chinks lef one pushed ones way through cd
 groups of people absorbed In farewel functions, some with ar melanchol and some with an Hilarious ritua : Having jostled with the usual bags that every steamer passenger feel obliged to drag with him. througi this motley crowd. we found that tn section of the ship devoted to huma
 beings was as cheerfuliy overfull a that devoted to other kinds of bag gage. Not only was every berth oc cupied, but every lounge, locker Q settle was occupied also by men
 their day clothes, stretched out in tn
 unlovely attitudes of sleep. There ha
 arrived with us, just before leavin the wharf, several passengers wh
 had been celebrating unwisely, if sea sonably, the new years arrival
 was not unnatural, therefore, at fir. : sight to feel further oppressed | l the unjust suspicious that rose { , ones mind when these numerous r,
 cumbent figures broke suddenly c - ones view Things were no better
 the steerage, where 1S0 unfortunate
 were trying to squeeze into fifty fran
 iron berths, in tiers, one above al
 other Ii Is only three hundre
 miles north to the destination that V , had to reach, but it was necessary find a resting place somewhel
 aboard, for at least week befoI
 that distance would be accomplishe
 It has been well said that for an III = rivalled field for the display of selfisl
 ness 8 passenger steamer leaving f.
 sea cannot be surpassed This VI
 not difficult to understand at the tin but most difficult to avoid. My gra
 itude to kindly officer, who a lit
 later offered to share his cabin wit
 me Was +ipcad --i+t, . ea,eo of r-,;-