The Idaho recorder., 1920-09-10
Arctic Rescue
Very Thrilling

Vsrdo that the soviet government was
equipping new expedition.
i Soon afterwnrd We received di.
rect Inquiry from the Kanada as 70
our position. which we Immediately y
telegraphed both to the Kanada and
the S6iovei. Mt the same time asking
them TO give us theirs. The Eanaha
replied asking MS to stop for con-
versatlon. and In the conversation
which followed with COminissar Of
Marine Mikhnilor and Captain Moka-
Ion Of the kanada II was explained
that the vessel had been dispat tched
by the soviet government In order to
give assistance II II should he neces-
sary or In case there should be difIi-
culties Of any sort In consequence Of
the political changes which had oc-
Cured since the SolOvei had left
Archangel, II appeared also that they
had orders to bring the ship back to
Archangel direct.
Exciting Race In ics.Laden Sea.
After the conference was over,
therefore. there hegan an exciting race
between the two ships The Ice
through which we had 10 force a pas
sage was very different from that we
Ind Ind 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
hove of getting through. and that we
did succeed was due only 10 the re.
markable qualities Of the Svlatogor
M nm icebreaker
With full steam up from all OF her
ten boilers she hurst her way splen.
did'y through the strong pack ice.
Now and then she wns beaten and
had to back and make fresh attack
at full speed. II was isot often that
more than two attempts had to be
made. but II happened sometimes TINT
the maneuvers had TO be- repeated nine
or ten times where the Ice was 20 feet
thlck or more.
Az first The Kanada had little
start. hut the relies were soon changed.
The Sviatogor went ahead and con.
tinued TO increase her lead. and when
Mt last. at 80 In the evening. we
sighted the Solovei far away north.
ward ON the horizon. the Kanada had
fallen far behind.
At about the same time we re-
ceiyed the following message from the
Solovei: 1--WE see your smoke In the
south. 10 degrees east" We were de-
lighted by this message. which made
us realize that our hnrd-tried and
anxious friends on board the Solovei
were 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 hy the icehreaker during these
hours of the night. or the crew all
who were not actually keeping watch
were on deck hour after hour discuss
Ing and marvcllins st the carrying fea.
lures of this extraordinary drama.
Some stood leaning over the rails 80
as better to enjoy th- sight Of the
great blocks Of Ice. now crushed into
fragments before eur bows. now
hurled In a whiriing mass along the
ships Sldcs--and NIL to a Wild accom-
paniment of deafenlng crashes In the
Ice. and of groans and walls and
shr'eks from the hard-prcssed vessels
hull and rig and engines
Suddcniy mn Ice iloe would rise and
threaten To fall over the ships rail.
and then the sailors were not slow In
heating retreat to safer quarters
Others. who stood In groups right for
ward In bows, fured M hetter. When,
a. frequently happened. the ship
crashed ~ full speed against a really
high solid hlock OF ice. and nj the
same time rose several feet In the air
shower of spray and ice splinters
few over the deck and forced the i'm
prudent spectators To headloug re-
treat.
In the meantime we were approach
Ing the Soiovei. hut u was q slow bust.
ness. The Ice became worse aud worse
In the last stage. and u was mid
night when We reached her. An hour
more was required before We could
moor the Sviatogor by her side. 10 big
and thick were the surrounding ice
doe4