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Cutting Docks in the Ice

insecurely patched and overloaded. The morning, but were compelled to haul her danger was great, but the boat survived up on the ice, where icebergs threatened the storm, its occupants being thoroughly her destruction, but which they fortudrenched, without any chance to dry nately escaped by taking to a floe. The ice themselves, having seen neither sun, became slacker, and during that after moon nor stars for a week. They soon noon they caught sight of a steamer struck a sealing ground, where they ahead of them and a little to the north. found more seals than they had ever They hoisted their colors, and endeavored seen before, but for some time were una- to cut her off, but she disappeared without ble to secure any. They were, however, seeing them. Wearied with hardship and disappointment they landed for the ment from New York to bring the party night on a small piece of ice. to Washington, where they arrived early in the month of June.

Thus closes what is probably the most remarkable voyage in the history of For the first time in many nights they beheld the stars, and the new moon also made her appearance. A fire was kept up all night in the hope that they would navigation. It is marvellous that ninebe seen by the steamer; though in this teen persons, two of whom were women, they were disappointed. In the morning and five children, one of them only two they started early, and at daylight again months old, should have drifted almost sighted the steamer about five miles off. two thousand miles, for one hundred and The boat was launched and for an hour ninety-five days, through an Arctic winter they gained on her, but in another hour of extraordinary severity, alive, and in they became fastened in the ice, and could good health. The harmony which existed proceed no farther. Landing on a piece among the party was striking. No one of ice they hoisted their colors upon the had a word of blame for any of his felmost elevated point they could find, and lows, and the men, gathered as they were then fired three rounds from their rifles from nearly all nationalities, always and pistols, which were answered by thought first of what could be done for three shots from the steamer. She was the Esquimau women and children. In again seen the same evening, and while looking for her another steamer hove in sight on the other side. his testimony before the commissioners, one of the men said: "Captain Tyson had command on the ice; but he never seemed to take much of a lead. Everything seemed to go on very well. There The morning of Wednesady, April 30th, was thick and foggy, but when the fog broke a glorious sight met the eyes of was not a great deal of commanding; it was not wanted. When we did not do as he directed, it turned out wrong." the drifting party. A steamer was seen close to them, and as soon as they were discovered she bore down, and soon all After untold hardships and privations, were on board the stanch little craft those of the expedition who remained on Tigress, ending their perilous journey. the Polaris were rescued by a Scottish The Tigress was in command of Captain whaler, the Ravenscraig, long after their Bartlett, and was owned in Newfound- ship had gone to pieces. Only one life land. Some time after the party was was lost among the forty men, women landed in safety at St. John's, Newfound- and children who sailed on the Polaris. land, and a few days later the tidings of Captain Hall's death was the occasion of their rescue reached the United States. A the deepest sorrow to all those who steamer was despatched by the govern- admire American prowess and heroism. T