Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-08-28
Arctic Rescue
Very Thrilling


equipping new expedition.
Soon afterward we received d.
rect inquiry from the Kanada as to
our position, which we Immediately
telegraphed both to the Kanada and
the Solovei, at the same time asking
them to give us theirs. The Kanada
replied asking us to stop for con-
versa ton, and in the conversation
which followed with Commissar of
Marine Mikhailoff and Captain Moka-
loft of the Kanada 1t was explained
that the vessel had been dispatched
by the soviet government in order to
give assistance If it should be neces-
sary or in case there should be diff
culties of any sort in consequence of
the political changes which had oc-
Cured since the Solovei had left
Archangel. 1t appeared also that they
had orders to bring the ship back to
Archangel direct.
Exciting Race In Ice-Laden Sea.
After the conference was over,
therefore, there began an exciting race
between the two ships. The ice
through which we had to force a pas
sage was very different from that we
had had to tackle before. This was
the ordinary polar ice of the Kara sea.
closely packed. with only few small
gaps of open water. had very little
hope of getting through, and that we
did succeed was due only to the re-
markable qualities of the Sviatogor
as an icebreaker.
With full steam up from all of her
ten boilers she burst her way splen-
ddly through the strong pack lee.
Now and then she was beaten and
had to back and make fresh attack
at full speed. 1t was not often that
more than two attempts had to be
made, but it happened sometimes that
the maneuverS had to be repeated nine
or ten times where the ice was 20 feet
thick or more.
At first the Kanada had a little
start, but the roles were soon changed
The SviatOgor went ahead and con-
tinued to increase her lead, and when
at last, at 1880 in the evening, we
sighted the Solove far away north
ward on the horizon, the Kanada had
! fallen far behind.
At about the same time we re-
ceved the following message from the
Solovei: 1--WE see your smoke in the
south, 20 degrees east" We were de-
lighted by this message, which made
US realize that our hard-tried and
anxious friends on board the Solovei
We're in high hopes of relief.
Thrilling Night on Icebreaker.
In the Sviatogor all were keenly
alive to the anxiety and seriousness
of the situation, and followed with
eager interest the display of prowess
given by the icebreaker during these
hours of the night. OF the crew all
who were not actually keeping watch
were on deck hour after hour discuss
Ing and marvelling at the carrying fea-
lures of this extraordinary drama.
Some stood leaning over the rails so
as better to enjoy thu sight of the
great blocks of ice. now crushed into
fragments before our bows, now
hurled in q whirling mass along the
ships sdes-and all to a wild accom-
paniment of deafening crashes In the
ice, and of groans and walls and
shrieks from the hard-pressed vessels
hull and rig and engines.
Suddenly an ice tloe would rise and
threaten to fall over the ships rail,
and then the sailors were not slow in
| beating a retreat to safer quarters.
Others, who stood in groups right for
ward in bows, Jared no better. When,
as frequently happened, the ship
crashed at full speed against really
high solid block of ice, and at the
same time rose several feet in the air
shower of spray and ice eplinters
| flew over the deck and forced the i'm
prudent spectators TO headlong re-
treat.
In the meantime we We're approach
| ing the Solovei, but 1t was slow bust
ness. The ice became worse and worse
in the last stage. and 1t was mid
night when we reached her. An hour
more was required before we could
moor the Sviatogor by her side. so big
and thick were the surrounding zee
| foes.