Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11

1 W. uACkSQ INTO IuS ItihSSS9 VI NJ
which had piled up over our supplies
with axes, spades and shovels.
We had to shift blocks weighing
tons before we came TO the cache
which had been crushed into formiess
humps. It was sorry sight. Here
were couple of men stretched out
ION the ice trying to scrape loose flour
together with their bare fists Others
were digging out rye biscuits with iron
hooks, still others were hauling tim
Der, most of it fortunately unbroken.
out from under the ice blocks.
To get at the rest Of the supplies we
had to pull on the sails with which
we had covered them. This could
only be done by tearing OF small
pieces at a Tins before we could dig
under.
About o'clock We had pulled out
everything that was still in condi-
ton to use. We had lost fun half
OF the supplies for three stations, SO
bags Of coal, and the greater part Of
our personal freight packages. What
was left was now In a cache on the
big field and was supplemented during
the course of the day by SO more bags
of coal y
But our tribuIations were not yet
over. There was worse in store.
When the weather began to clear up
during the forenoon we discovered to
our alarm that we lay Sclose under
the land.
through the haze and soon the whole
coastline lay clear. We were lying
under . big island surrounded by q
saw q wild rugged rocky coast stretch.
ing as far as eye could see. Could 1t
be Liverpool Coast, dreaded by all
polar navigators?
~
A GAINST ali expectations we had
drifted toward the land abreast
Of the hard northwest storm which
we had hoped would set Us out into
open water. Now we understood the
continuous pressure OF the last days.
But still we could not quite see why
the ice, which ordinarily IL influenced
by the lightest breeze, had gone Its
own way this time.
The only answer was the well
known caprice of the heavy ice, and
no one has yet explored the many
currents In these seas, varying ac-
cording to the season and conditions
OF ice. II must. indeed. have been q
rushing. river that carried US along
with 1t. In the past nine days, since
we were abreast Of Hold with Hope,
we had ,drifted nearly 100 miles.
Four the next two or three days
there was no notable disturbance, and
we began to hope that the new Ice
was already strong enough to prevent
any great movement in the heavy
masses outside. And there was arl-
other bright spot on our horizon.
The big ice field 20 which we were
anchored turned toward the sun as
1t drifted, so that while at first we
had been lying on its westerly side
we were now at the northwest point,
where we were less open to opposing.
pressure from the land. At least so
we thought, but we had reckoned
without our host. September 1S
had a surprise in store for
us which nearly cost Us the Teddy
and more besides.
We had clear frosty weather that
day and the crew was busy saving
the deck house in two, as IL was cas-
essary. Shortly after the noon hour
the pressure began again, but we did
not pay much attention to 1t, for It
did not seem at all bad.
Suddenly the ice around US was
set in violent motion. AS far as we
could see It was an absolutely local
disturbance with e. radius Of q few
hundred yards around us. For q mo-
ment or two spot OF clear water
opened q ships length or 80 from the
Teddy as II the ice had been flung
aside by a rnaelstroYn.
This was a little too much for the.
foes Immediately around US, which
had long been caught as I'm a. trap
with no leeway to move. They be-
came wildly excited and new around
large one would fly on at terrific
speed as II happy at the escape from
it's comrades iron embrace.
Our unfortunate ship got 1t from
all sides Once ii had To- back to
get room, and the stern was flung up
into the air. Then came new
in the ice, a big foe got
elbow room and came rushing at US
like wild animal.
Before we knew how or what, the
Teddy was flung forward violently.
But the ice lay thick under her bow
and there was no other way out OF II
for our good ship. which insisted on
going forward, than to climb up on
top of the foe.
WHEN we came to after this
" heavenward leap. the whole for
ward part Of the ship lay UP on
little ice foe, raised more than seven
feet into the air. A length OF the
keel, two to three yards at least, hung
out over the ice and the ship, which
naturally could scarcely keep her bal