Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-08

+ OF mexico. All NgntS Reserved
"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-
ton, 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 signalized our de-
p~arture.
An arctic expedition had been born
without the usual public bombast.
There was, indeed. no excuse for
clamor. Neither the help of the gov
eminent nor the contributions of pri-
vate individuals had been sought. The
project was quietly given life and its
expenses were paid by John r. Brad
ley. Its destiny was shaped by the
writer.
Mr.. Bradley was interested in game
animals of the north. ! was interested
in the game of the polar quest. For
the time being the business concerned
us only. If the venture proved uc-
eessful there would be time enough to
raise the banner of victory. If it fail
ed o n had the privilege of heaping
upon us the unmerited abuse which
usually comes to the returning polar
traveller.
In a brief month all had been pre-
pared for the peculiar mission. We
had purchased q strong Gloucester fish
ing schooner, fitted with a motor, COW
cred for ice and loaded down with
suitable supplies for a prolonged pc
riod.
One morning the bold cliffs of Cape
York were dimly outlined in the gray
mist which screened the land. A storm
had carried so much ice against the
coast that a near approach was i'm
possible, and continued winds kept up
a sea which made it equally a difficulty
to land on the ice.
In Ice Free Polar Waters.
Though anxious to meet the natives
at Cape York, we were forced to turn
and set a course for the next village,
at North Star bay. AT loon the sooty
clouds separated, and in the north
through the narrow breaks we saw the
steep slopes and warm color of GRIM
son cliffs resting on the rising water.
Darling through the air were count
less guillemots, gulls. little auks 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 end. 1t Is the abundant
sea life which makes human habita-
ton just possible here, though land
animals are also important.
The people of the farthest north are
crowded into a natural reservation by
the arctic ice wall Of Melville bay in
the south and the %stupendous line of
cliffs of Humboldt glacier in the north.
Home of the Eskimos.
Widely scattered in small villages,
the northernmost Eskimo finds here a
good living. A narrow band of rocky
LAND between the land iceNand the sea
offers grasses upon which feed ptarmi-
gam, hare and caribous.
Numerous cliffs and islands afford a
resting place in summer for myriads
of marine birds that seek the small
life of the icy waters. Blue and white
foxes wander everywhere. Seal, walrus,
narwhal and white whale sport in the
summer sun, while the bear, king of
the polar wilds, roams over the sea at
all times.
The yacht lodged the icebergs and
dangerous rocks in the fog about
Cape Athol, then turned eastward to
cross W~olstenholme sound.
AS we neared Table mountain.
which guards North Star bay, many
natives came out in kayaks to meet
us. Some were recognized as old
friends. There was Myah, he of many
wives; Oobloiah, who had executed
Angodgibsah, styled the villain by
Gibson at Radcliffe House, and Pin
coota, husband of the queen, in whose
family are to be found the only by
brid children of the tribe.
Later, Knud Rasmussen, a Danish
s1riter, living as a native among the
people, came aboard. With him we
got better acquainted during the win
ter.
Late at night a visit was made to
the town of Oomanooi. There were
seven triangular sealskin tents, con-
veniently placed on picturesque rocks.
Gathered about these in large num-
bersTwere men, women and children,
shiyering in the midnight chill.
They were odd looking specimens of
humanity. In height the men aver
aged but five feet two inches and the
women four feet ten inches. All had
broad, fat faces, heavy trunks and
well rounded limbs. Their skin was
slightly bronzed. Men and women
had coal black hair and brown eyes.
The nose was short, and the hands
and feet were short, but thick.