The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-10-20
TELLS OF MIDNIGHT SUN.
Steward on Steamship Talks Of Visit
to the White Sea.

to the White Sea.
Mr.. Thornton, steward of engin-
eers of the British steamship Quart
which recently discharged her cargo
at the Columbus street wharf, talked
interestingly with reporter for the
News and Courier concerning trip
made by the Quart last July to the
White Sea, off Northern Russia. One
of the most interesting parts Of Mr..
Thornton's narrative concerned the
midnight Sum-" which is seen in
the White Sea. In speaking of the
phenomenon Mr.. Thornton said:
1--WE were in the White Sea twen-
ty-five days, taking load of lumber
from the Cars own saw mill at
Solombolo, just inside the Arctic
circle I cannot say every night, be-
cause there was no night while we
were there, but every day after tea
at six, there would be severe drop
in the temperature. This was during
the half hour or so that the sun dis
appeared. While the chief luminary
did disappear for short time, it did
not get dark, but it resembled our
late afternoon when it draws toward
the twilight.
"The people of the, region around
about eat black bread and salt fish.
They are Russians and, as none of us
could speak the Cars language, we
held no discourse with them. We Of
ten went into the town of Solombolo,
and there we saw many quaint
things. For instance, the houses
were all of logs and there were no
public buildings of any consequence.
Even the Jail was of logs. Though it
was a frail structure, no one impris-
oned would dare to break out, be-
cause the officers go armed with
swords and pistols and they do not
fail to use their weapons on the
slightest provocation. One Of the
most curious things to me was the
fire alarm system of the town. An
old man would go about through the
streets at night with wooden rat
tie in his hand and we we're told that
in case of fire he was to rattle the
instrument. Just for fun we thought
we would try the alarm system. We
persuaded the old man to let us
look at the rattle he carried, and,
while examining it, one of the fel-
lows shook it; but the old man was
too quick. No doubt he was anticl-
pating trouble and before we could
test the alarm system thoroughly he
was whacking us over the head.
"The expense Of lighting the town
of Solombolo is not heavy, as it en-
joys 80 much daylight. l do not re-
member having seen single lamp
while we were there.
'The custom official who came
aboard our ship in his official capaci-
ty was a queer sort of human. He
was a very nice fellow, as far as that
goes, but the trouble was that his
salary did not go far enough to pre-
vent his personal appearance from be-
ing ludicrous, as touching the cut
and fit of his clothes. This poor
custom official, am told, earned the
the princely sum of 25 cents per day.
He told us that he employed his spare
time doing carved wood work, and at
this he was certainly master. He
carved a pair of wooden shoes, which
were models for an artist.
sThe black bread eaten by the in
habitants of this region is baked in
loaves as round as a cart wheel and
nearly as large, being eighteen inches
in diameter.
There was one amusement in So
lombolo which had almost overlook
ed, and that was moving picture
show, which gave very creditable
performance.