Douglas Island news., 1919-01-10
EXPERIENCES IN
 THE FAR NORTH
Few Thrills That Come Into the Lives of Mounted Police in
 Line of Duty

A few extracts are here taken rom a letter written by Mir. Fry, a missionary at Herschel Island, that tells of Che experiences of two mounted policemen iourneying in the Arctic. The article is taken from recent issue Of the whitehorsc Star:
 "Reurnng from Fort McPhorson we had a splendid trip. reaching Tont Island in less than two days. Visited tho Esklmos there and at White Fish station, then here in 10 hours, arriving the gath Of July at midnight
 Now | must relate Co you the cN- porienccs of the police for they have boen unfortunate lately: When Brocklcy and Wittenberg were re- turning from shingle Point last spring. after cutting wood at that place. they lost a whole team Of six dogs. except the leader, sled and contents. and an the dog harness. It appears that Constable Brockcy, who was driving tho leading team, followed by Wittcnbcrg with on- other. fell through the ice, and the whole outfit sank, except Che con stable. who struggled out and thc dog In the lead, which was cut free. The men say they could do nothing to save anything that was lost.
 "Thc second misfortune happened when Inspector Phillips. Constables Doak and Cornelius came from Fort McPherson in whaleboat They were on their way from Kay Point Co the island. the last lap Of the trip. They saw us in the Tiliyak ahead of them, but we did not see them. Just as we did, they came on before gale Of fair wind for the island. but when about three miles from lt. saw barrier of ice. They came as near as they dared, seeking way through, but finding no chan mel turned off toward the mainland. About three miles from the main land their backstay broke. and they were on the ice before they realized it. Tossed upon the huge waves, the moving pieces of fec crushed their boat like a matchbox
 "They lost everything, except a few bills in the inspcctor'8 pocket; an tho mail except one sack we were carrying on the Tuiyak, $l,5OO in gold, S7OO belonging to tho consta- bles. which they were carrying Co buy goods from the ship, some SlA,- OOO iu government bills and drafts, and boat heavily loaded with less valuable things, an going down to- gcthcr.
 with difficulty they got over Che broken bits Of fee on to larger flocs. To get ashore. they had to swim from piece Co piece, SO had Co throw away alI their clothing. except pants and shirt. The inspector says it took them from to 70 hours Co reach shore, and by that time they were all exhausted. Cornelius went daffy, md wandered off by himself coming Co when he strayed into an Eskimo fish camp two days later. Doak swooncd upon reaching land, having piloted the other in swimming an the leads. only the inspector seemed not Co lose his senses. Two days later they were picked up by Alexander Allen, who happened Co be passing along the coast i'm his schooner, and brought here. Then a search was organized Co find Cornelius, who was located at the fishing camp. and brought back. All the men were m when they got here, and had to ga 10 bed. but are now fully recovered
 "we. in the Tillyak. were more fortunate. When we sighted the ice barrier. instead of facing the wind ls did the police. we went outside | the island, and got to the harbor without difficulty. but Thomas, our pilot. came very near drowning, for he was knocked on the head and on the boat by the boom of the mainsan, in the same gale that broke the police boat.
 "Sergt. and Mrs. Clay came down with us on the Tniyak How forum. ate they did not go in the whale. boat with the others. could have carried anything else for them, but they thought the wholeboat quite safe"