The Washington herald., 1915-09-12
Some Adventures
In HudsOn's Bay
By ARCHIBALD LIGHTHOUSE.

Hudson's Bay is, to many people, as
much a terra incognita today as it was
when Henry Hudson first penetrated into
its icy regions. and being turned adrift
by his mutinous crew. left his bones- to-
gether with those of his son, either in the
cold, dark waters, or bleaching some
where on the barren shores.
For many years it has been my lot to
work as a missionary among the Indians
and Eskimos around that vast inland sea.
and in that work to meet with some
rather startling adventures.
Cape Churchill. on the western shores
Of Hudsons Bay, Just forty miles south
Of my old mission station, is a noted
place for polar bears. A, few years ago.
when cruising around this cape in
small boat, We saw no less than twelve
large polar bears at one time: some were
sauntering along the shores. others were
in the sea. fishing. and it was sight to
watch them at play and at work. Sail
ing in among those in the water we
easily shot three of them: but one. badly
wounded. got away and made for shore.
The skins OF the other two our In
dians took with them on to York Factory
there to barter for tea. sugar. and other
things.
My first encounter with a polar bear
was in the same region, and was most
ana also nave De6n rluCN
more so. but Mr.. Bear was, for once.
caught mapping
l was going on from York Factory to
visit the mission station at Churchill.
about 300 miles north of the former sta
ton. There are in this country no roads
or tracks of any kind. and We had to
make our way along the seashore or
wade swamps knee-deep in water for
hours together. Each man carried his
gun ION which we depended almost en-
tirely for food. also his blanket. and a
few pounds of biscuits,
There is no house or even tent be-
tween the two places. SO when night
came on We gathered together what
driftwood We could for a fire. rolled
ourselves in cur blankets and lay down
on the sea beach to sleep There are no
trees of any kind within five or six miles
Of the shore. When the nights were
fine this was not so bad, though often
very cold. for even IN July we had frost
every night. When rain fell. as it did
frequently. We were very uncomfortable
and often awoke in the morning with
everything quite wet through.
We had made aoout half tn, distance
between York Factory and Churchill.
when. one fine afternoon. We were walk
ing along on a low sandy ridge, about
half a mile from the sea. and I was try
ing to carry on a conversation with
my Indian boy II had only been in the
country year.. as much for the pur-
pose Of hearing him talk as anything.
so that l might pick up the language.
when all at once he stopped, ard, in an
awed whisper. said. Look! look, A
bear"
i was certainly somewhat startled.
both by his manner and his words. and
eagerly looked around but could SEE
nothing. I asked him in a Whisper.
Where" He pointed to a large tuft
Of sedge grass not twenty yards away.
Looking closely. / saw just the hack of
a large polar bear almost hidden from
view in the high grass. and evidently
fast asleep.
I Immediately raised my gun and
wanted to shoot, but the boy advised
No. The day before We had shot a
deer and had as much meat as We could
carry Being fully sixty miles away
from any trading post. it was impossi-
BILE to carry the skin even II we did