Year: 1879




Further north than any vessel had wintered
the stanch little Polaris found Thank God Harbor
welcome refuge from the turbulent and destructive
foes. 1t could not protect her. however. from
mortal blow. In the latter part of November the
storm driven ice fields impnged upon the shore with
mighty force The huge Providence berg was borne
from it's moorings and crowded with deep groanings
against the helpless ship. Its bow perched
upon a submarine tongue, the helpless vessel lay
rough masses of the cruel ice piled high above its
stern, until the winters spell was broken and the
warm sun Of June unloosed the icy letters. Twice
each day at the lowering the tides the vessel fell
upon its SIDE to rise again when the surrounding
ice was lifted by the rising waters up the steep edge
sprung ut the unwonted strain. Tie discomforts of
the situation were borne only from necessity.
at the table could be used but on one
side. compartments made to prevent the dishes
keep the sleepers from rolling out Living thus on
an inclined plane, its angle varying with the chang
Ing moon. Christmas OF 1871 found the Polaris party
In excellent health but with spirits clouded by the
recent death of Captain Hall. their commander,
friend and genius OF the enterprise The faint streak
OF light that for an hour each day could be low
the southern horizons harbinger OF the fast
turning sun-did not brighten the perpetual
night; but the silver moon. shining In spien-
dor with its full orbeo radiance. hung in blessing
over the lonely ship and for eleven days scattered
the gloom OF u starlit darkness by its continued
presence.


A CHRISTMAS TREE


,On Christmas Eve. although it was Sunday night.
the men forward invited to meet the officers in
the cabin, which was guyly festooned with bunting.
substantial lunch provided from the delicacios
I
ton evergreen, its boughs twigs aud leaves ingen-
iousy formed by skilful concealment of the skele
ton with green paper covered Win gewgaws and
on account of q branch from which flowed o
ruddy sap of delightful flavor. Presents OF old toys
and trinkets originally intended for the amusemeLt
of Innuit children were besto wed with due solemn
ity. balloon ascension was attempted, aud all
gathered upon the ice to witness it, but after two
Unsuccessful attempts it given up, the high
wind tearing the frail structure before the cotton
could be ignited.


The Christmas dinner was the Just pride of both
steward and cook. Musk-ox steaks spare rib from
pig killed four months before. and genuine mince
pies made OF musk-ox meat, dried apples, raisins,
&C., formed the fridnds of the repast. In
the evening fierce gale from the northeast, with
ture of 20 degrees below zero q formidable enemy,
The wind rattling through tho rigging sung wild
requiems and awakened gratitude around the closely
hueged cabin fires


BURLINGTON IN 1872.


In house built in five days from the abandoned
and stranded Polaris the Burlington party COM
fortably housed on the mild, pleasant Christmas of
1872. the thermometer registering five degrees above
zero. The building. with board sides and canvas
roof. generously encased with snow, stood close to
shore. on q low bank Of shingle, with the rugged
bare coast range on one side and
Smiths Strait on the other, with its ice-covered
waters its vapor-producing tide holes and the loud
cannonading of its contending foes.


The life WAS quiet and pleasant, the provisions.
such as they were, abundant and the Etah tribe of
Innuits In their frequent visits broke the monoony
OF diet. AL looked hopefully forward to the spring.
when they could build the boats that would take
settlements
land. constant source of anxiety was the uncer-
tain fate OF their comrades on the drifting foes and
while the most hopeful view was frequently taken,
few had any real hopes of seeing them this side the
grave.


fss. A QUIET CHRISTMAS.


A Christmas dinner provided, but the imag-
lnation was expected to assist in maintaining suit
able variety in the Although located about
midway between the winter quarters of Kane and
Hayes the twilight was much more intense thap an.
pears to have been experienced by them q decided
light being observable for six hours each day, and
inc ifQ hAn Qf o1,1A IL
with safety over the hummocks Attracted by the
refuse from the house few little foxes fell a
the shortness Of the light aud the tiresome country
prevented more ambitious hunting. although the
with undiminished vigor. The house itself was
warm enough. but the walls were SO chilled by the
outside air that the moisture condensed upon them
and ran down. finding Judgement under tho mat
tresses OF the bunks where it froze forming young
glaciers, the pregnant cause Of much rheumatic
aiiction Often the foor the seamen's chests before
each bunk and the table covered at night
with the PROSTATE forms OF Innuit visitors. The
dirt and filth upon the persons these aborigines
did not contribute to the purity Of the midsisht
atmosphere. Their unrestrained snorings, with the
cries OF their infants at times disturbed the quiet
and somewhat annoyed the cat. who, with the soli-
tary observer wont to enjoy in peace the free
dom of the night Tho pleasure Of seeing new faces
compensated for any Inconvenience their tribal pecu
liarities caused. When. however, they remained any
length of time they persuaded to build for
themselves igloos near by.


TYSON ON THE ICE FLoE IN 1872


Nineteen souls on an ice foe in tho depth Of win
ter-the darkness of al Arctic winter-huddled in
snow houses; with meagre provisions, insufficient
clothing and no fuel save blubbor; hourly antici-
patng the breaking up of their homestead with the
dread OF starvation constantly before them; exposed
to the incursious OF the hungry bear. with horrid
Il the condition at the Christmas OF is72
Of the ice foo party under Tyson.
drift s 0.s Of over ,noros six ,,o months distance
Arctic year. on the bosom of the Bafns Bay ice is
by no means pleasing prospect. Then, too, it
should be remembered that on that terrible night OF
the 18th of October these men left, without
warning. In the midst of driving storm to CON-
old was with them. How they endured their suffer-
ings God knows, but the fact that all rescued
and brought to their homes without even physical
bleinish furnishes proof OF the wondrous powers
of endurance of the human frame and the magical
sanitary influence Of an Arctic sojourn rightly
regulated.


A scANTY CHRISTMAS FARE.


Ono Of them writes thus:-"This is q day of
jubilee at home and certainly here for u.s. for be-
sides the approaching daylight. which feel thank
full to God for sparing us to we had quito feast
to-day. One ounce OF bread extra per man, which
made our soup for breakfast little thicker than tor
dinner We had soup made from pound of seal
blood. which we had saved for month; few
ounces of seal. which we saved with tho blood, all
cut up hno; atwo-pound can of sausage meat. the
last of the canned meats last. can of
apples. which we had also saved for Christ
soup. which, / think. wns the sweetest meat
lover ate. Half pound of ham saved for the
mas dinner. Then in the evening we had our usual
thin soup SO ended Christmas Day." The tom
perature was only one degree below zero-remarka-
bly, nigh-but strong wind prevented any enjoy
ment. In the evening furious gale, sweeping tho
snow in ceaseless procession over the rugged sur
face OF the ice helds-a mighty bosom. bowling with
the fury of many blizzards-.shook the foundations
of their habitations and threatened to destroy them
In its rage. III the morning they found their
saviour IN complete covering of snow,
which buried deep thoir gloos, and out of
which they with difficulty cut their way. Daily,
amid the darkness and the severity OF tho frigid
winds, the faithful Innuits sought and watched the
tidal holes and brought to their famishng mates
the seal the bear. the product of their labor Too
much praise cannot be bestowed upon Joe and
Hans for II is to their skill and industry that the
party their lives. Another extract from one
OF the journals reads s-"llans caught seal to-day
thank Godl for wo were worry weak. Our light
would have been finished tomorrow and our cook
ing also; but God sent this seal to us-thanks
70 His holy name 1t has been so all the time. Just
~ We were played out something came along"


scuwArKA AND DE LONG.


1t Is of course. impossible to say under what cir
cnmstnncea tic absent cxplorers sneuding their