Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-10-05
's.s*s.s*e*s*essssseae+e

IbSM <ASA. &OPDtl8h Az TaSAs
Z ico Under Laws OF the Republic
!. OF Mexico. All Rights Reserved
*s.sas*e.s*s*s*
"HE expedition was equipped at
Gloucester. Mass. All was ready
on the evening of July 3. 1907.
Ashore boys were testing their
fireworks for the morrow of celebra-
lion. but aboard. as our vessel. the
John r. Bradley. withdrew from the
pier, all was quiet There were no
visiting crowds of curiosity seekers.
No footing whistles Sigmalzed our de-
parture.
All arctic expedition had been born
without the usual public bombast.
There was. indeed. no excuse for
rlamor. Neither the help of the gov
erument nor the contributions of pri-
vale individuals had been sought. The
project was quietly given life and its
expenses We're paid by John Il. Brad
ley. Its destiny was shaped by the
writer
MIR. Bradley was interested in game
animals Of the north ! was interested
IN the game of he polar quest. For
the time being the business concerned
us only. Ii the venture proved sue
cessful there would lie time enough to
raise the banner of victory. If II fail.
ed none had the privilege of heaping
upon us the unmeriled abuse which
usually comes to the returning polar
traveller
In Il brief month all had been pre-
pared for the peculiar mission. We
had purchased a strong Gloucester fish,
ing schooner. fitted With a motor Gov
cred Tor ice and loaded down with
suitable supplies for prolonged Pc
Rod.
One morning the bold cliffs of Cape
York were dimly outlined in the gray
mist which screened the land. storm
had carried so much ice against the
coast that a near approach was i'm
, possible. and continued winds kept up
II sea which made il equally difficulty
TO land on the ice.
i, In Ice Free Polar Waters.
Z Though anxious to meet the natives
. AT Cape York. we were forced to turn
[ t'N ~ u Npui 81 loi tuS LSAt village.
!. AT North Star bay. At noon the sOoty
a clouds separated. and in the north
A through the narrow breaks we saw the
q steep slopes and warm color Of GRIM
son cliffs resting on the rising water
Darling through the air were count
less guilIemots. gnlls. little anks and
elder ducks. We were in the ice free
north waters. where creatures Of the
sea find a marine oasis in midst of a
:. polar desert
This kind of coast extends poleward
- sea life which makes human habita.
ton just possible here. though land
;. animals are also important.
y The people of the farthcst north are
crowded into Il natural reservation by
- the arctic ice wall of Melville bay ir
u the south aud the stupepdous line OF
= cliffs OF Humboldt glacier in the north
Home of the Eskimos.
4 WidelT scattered in small Villages
- the northerniIoSt Eskimo finds here Il
>. good living. A narrow hand of rocky
land between the land ice and the Sc,
offers grasses upon which feed ptarmi
gan, hare and caribous.
- Numerous cliffs and islands afford
:, resting pI:,e in summer for myriad:
= OF marine birds HAT seek the small
lite of The lev waters Blue and whit,
= foxes wander everywhere. Seal. walrns
:. narwlEl and white whale sport in thu
- summer sun. while he bear. king o
the polar wi!dc. ruanls over the sea a
all times.
~ The yacht lodged the icebergs ant
% dangerous rocks in the fog abon
Cape Athol. then turned eastward t
cross Wolstpnholnle sound.
AS we npnred Table mountain
he which guards North Star bay man.
lg natives came on, in kayaks to NEE
Ill us. Some were recognized as oil,
ry friends There was Myah. he of man.
st wives: Oolloinh. who had execute
be AngomgibSah. styled the villain b.
er Gibson al Radcliffe House, and l'ir
C. cooia. husband of The queen. IN who's
family are To he found he only by
brd children of the tribe.
Later. knud Rasmussen. a Danis
en- writer. living as a native among tn
n, people. came aboard With him W
IS, got better acquainted during the wir
,e- ter.
OF Late at night a visit was made t
NY the town of OomanOo There wer
all seven triangular Sealsiin tents. col
ct. venently placed on picturesque rocks
gathered about these in large nun
;. bers were men. women and children
ii' shivering in the midnight chill.
NY they were odd looking specimens {
~ humanity. In height the men ave
an aged but five feet two inches and tn
women four feet ten inches. All ha
broad. fat faces. heavy trunks an
well rounded limbs. Their skin wa
'lrl Slightly brolZed. Men and wome
tai had coal black hair and brown eye
ne The nose was short. and the hanC
at and feet were short. but thick.
ed There was not much news to e.
change. After we had gone over II
lisl of marriages and deaths the lnc
o. of the chase became the topic of co
verSution.
-, IL was period of monogram
ad Mynh had exchanged plurality
ga lives for larger team of dogs. ar
tha"a WAS but one other man In II
tribe with two wives.
Women were rather scarce. Sever
r,nrriageabe men We're forced to for
ny go The advantages of married life b