Amador ledger., 1908-08-07

ing point we came upon them sud
denly, but avoided collision with
any of them. The Flotilla stopped
and each ship went alongside one of
the ice bergs and took on load of
ice, we taking on two or three tons.
lt was rather novel experience and
one we Will all remember. We also
saw a small whale about IL 30, but
didn't get very good look at It,.
The Straits along here were very
crooked, aud we described figure of
eight about every ten minutes. At
times you come in sight of noun
tain that rises out of the water direct
ly in front of you, apparently block
ing the channel, but on reaching it
you find narrow passage around the
side of it, some of Them so narrow
that you can almost reach out and
touch the shore, in fact, almost two
thirds of the time in these channels a
small child could easily stand in the
center of the deck and toss base
ball to either shore.
About 2:30 p. m. we entered Icy
channel, which certainly deserves its
name, for aim ost as soon as you enter
you can feel the icy breaths of several
large glaciers in the immediate
vicinity. You enter this channel
from a com paratively wide channel,
between two very high mountains
about d of a mile apart, and the
channel throughout its entire length,
about 10 miles, is in no place wider
than this, and in places is not so
wide. There are several almost right
angular turns in 1t, and making
them is a chair raiser'' for fear.
There are millions of ducks and other
water fowls all along the channel and
we had great sport taking wing shots
at them.
Passed a wrecked steamer about 5 30
this afternoon, but was unable to
her name.
We anchored tonight (Feb. lOth) in
a little bay at the entrance to Moley
neux Sound. There was little
cabin ashore in which some "Spi-
gottys" lived that we're running
lumber camp. They we're rather
but awfulIy glad to see
us, although we couldn't "sabe"
much each other said.
Got under way at 4 80 a. IN. and
passed Michael Point abeam at about
40. The only change in the scenery
today is that the mountains are m ore
barren and uninteresting, and the
weather is warmer. At about 7 80
p. m. we got outside of the passages
and struck open water. We ran into
a heavy fog which lasted until about
A 80 a. M, when we got behind some
more islands.
At about 5 80 p. M, after following
some more very crooked channels,
between some islands, and passing
some very pretty covered mount
aims, we arrived at, and came to
anchor off a small village called
Quellon. 1t is only village of
about $40 inhabitants, but is an I'M
poItant lumber exporting port and
has an alcohol distilling plant. They
also have an electric light system
which looked rather funny on ac-
count of the size of the place. The
mostly ''Spigottys"
brought out poultry, eggs, vegetables,
elo., which they preferred to barter
for clothing and tobacco rather than
for money.
Remained here all night, and about
3 a. m. the next day got under way.
About $50 we got out from behind
the island and struck open water.
One of the densest fogs L ever saw en-
veloped everything. In fact 1t was
considered so dangerous that the Flo
tilla stopped and lay to for over three
hours waiting for it to lift. There
is peculiar sea growth called kelp
in these waters. it grows in large
bunches, some bunches being an
chored by their roots to rocks and
called "hxed kelp," and Others are
floating around. While we were laying
to waiting for the fog to lift, this
floating kelp completely surrounded
the ship and gave her the appearance
of being lifted out of the water and set
high and dry upon some island. It's
branches and roots are very tenacious,
and we expeI ieEced quite little diff
Guilty In getting clear of it when
ready to proceed.
Arrived at Talcahuano, Chile, to-