Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-10-15

THE 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 X. Bradley, withdrew from the
pier, all was quiet. There we're no
visiting crowds Of curiosity seekers.
No footing whistles signalized our de-
parture.
An arctic expedition had been born
without the usual public bnmbast.
There was. indeed. no excuse for
clamor. Neither the help of the gov
nor Tie contributions Of pri.
vate individuals had beef sought. The
project was quietly given life and its
expenses were paid by John X, Brad
ley. Its destiny was shaped by the
writer.
MIR. Bradley was interested in game
animals Of the north. l was interested
In the game Of the polar quest. For
the tim being the business concerned
US only. If the venture proved sue
cessful there would be time enough to
raise the banner of victory. If it fail
ed M 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 a strong Gloucester fish
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 I'D
q sea which made it equally a difficulty
to land on the ice.
In leo Free Polar Waters.
Though anxious to meet the natives
at Cape York. we were forced to turn
and set a course for the lex village.
at North Star bay. At noon the sooty
clouds separated, and in the north
through the barrow 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 guilletnots. gulls. little auks and
ider 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
to the lands end. 1t is the abundant
sea life which makes human habita-
ft0n i1Cf v0cci1l1 E1ro %,- l--1
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.
Homo Of the Eskimos.
Widely scattered in small villages.
the no~rthernmost Eskimo finds here a
good living. A narrow band of rocky
land between the land ice and the sea
offers grasses upon which feed ptarmi-
gan, hare n caribous.
Numerous cliffs and islands afford q
resting place in summer for myriads
of marine birds hat 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 I'VE the sea ut
all times.
The yacht lodged the icebergs and
dangerous rocks in the fog about
Cape Athol. then turned eastward to
cross W~olstenhoIme sound.
As we neared Table mountain,
Uyh{0t -, o~1e N->o%l 49,. TO- ---
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
Ango0gibsah. 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
bird children Of the tribe.
Later. knud Rasmussen, q Danish
writer, living as a native among the
people. came aboard. With him we
got better acquainted during the win
ter.
the town OF Oomanooi. There were
seven triangular sealskin tents, con-
veniently placed on picturesque rocks.
Gathered about these in large mum
bers were men, women and children.
shivering 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
we'll rounded limbs. Their skin was
slightly bronzed. Men and ome
had coal black hair and brown eyes.
The nose was short, and the hands
and feet were short. but thick.
There was not much new to ex-
change. After we had gone ovee the
list Of marriages and deaths the luck
Of the chase became the topic Of con-
veesaton.
It was q period Of monogamy.
l1yah had exchanged 4 plurality Of
wives for . larger team Of dogs. aDd
the1 was bat one other man IN the
tg1bo With two WiveA