Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-29
In the Heart of a Storm.
New Land Sighted mid.
Polar Basin a Liseless
World 81 Il A
(EIGHTH ARTICLEl

N URlNG two days Of chilly blus.
ter the sleds were forced along
~ with encouraging results. and
on rhe evening Of March 2Ii,
with a pedometer and other method
Of dead reckoning for poslt,on. We
were placed at latitude "a degrees
So minutes. The western horizon re-
mained persistently undlsturbed. A
brisk storm. 1t seemed. was gathering.
but 1t was a long time In coming
eastward. On the evening Of the 26th
we prepared for the blast and built the
igloo stronger than usual. hoping that
the horizon would be cleared by good
blow on the morrow and afford us
day Of rest. The long. steady marches,
without time for recuperation. had be-
gun to check our enthusiasm.
In the daily monotony Of hardship
we had learned to appreciate more and
more the Joy Of the sleeping bag. II
was the only animal comfort which af-
forded a relief to our life of frigids,
and with it we tried to force upon the
weary body in the long marches a
pleasing anticipation.
In the evening. after the blocks of
snow walled a dome In which we could
breathe quiet air. the blue fame lamp
sang the notes Of astronomical de-
lights. A heaven given drink Of Ice
water was first INDUCED in to quench
the chronic thirst. and then the process
Of disrobing began. one at a time. for
there was not room for all to act at
once.
Tea In an Hour.
The fur stuffed boots were pulled.
and the bearskin pants were stripped.
Then half of the body was quickly
pushed into the bag. A brick Of penn
mican was next taken out, and the
teeth were set to the grind Of this
bonelike substance. The appetite was
always large. but half pound Of cold
withered beef and tallow changes a
hungry mans thoughts effectually.
The tea. an hour in making. was now
ready. and we rose on elbows to take
It. Under the influence Of the warm
drink the fur coat with its mask Of Ice
was removed. Next the shirt. with its
ring of ice about the waist, comes of.
giving the last sense of shivers. Push
ing farther into the bag. the hood was
pulled over the face. and we were lost
to the world Of ice.
The warm sense Of mental and phys
ical pleasure which follows Is an in
tersting study. The movement Of 9th
ers. the sting Of the air, the noise of
torturing winds. the binding rays of
heatess sun. the pains Of driving
SHOWS and all the bitter elements were
absent. The mind. freed Of the agita-
ton of frost, wandered to home and
better times under these peculiar cir
cumstances: there comes a pleasing
sense with the touch Of ones own
warm skin. while the companionship
of the arms and legs. freed Of their
cumbersome furs. makes new dis
covery in the art Of getting next to
oneself
In the Heart Of a Storm.
On March q 1t blew half gale at
night, but at noon on the following
day the wind eased. The bright sun
and rising temperature were too
tempting to remain quiescent. and.
though the west was still darkened by
threatening clouds. the dogs were put
to the sleds and off they went among
the wind swept hummocks. We had
not gone many miles before the first
rush Of q storm struck us.
Throwing ourselves over the sleds,
we waited the passing Of the icy blast.
There was no suitable snow near to
begin the erection of shelter. but
few miles northward was promising
area for camp. and to this we hoped
to take ourselves after few mo-
ments' rest. The squall soon spent its