IN ARCTIC WASTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 26

IN ARCTIC WASTES

A young American, David. Irwin, is credited with, being, the'oniy man to make-a solo "journey across the top of tfie world. The-successful, attempt ;was made two or three years ago, arid the terrible hardships that' Irwin experienced 'left, his: face ■ lined and haggarcD: Irwin, has recorded his experi-ences-in a, book' published by Robert Hale, ."Alone Across the Top of the World." It is almost incredible that, a man'could bear so.much in the way of tiardship- and "survive* In temperatures 60 or 70 degrees below it is bad enough to be on .the trai!,. out adbV to this the gnawingaparigs of starvation and the journey becomes a nightmare; This was. young Irwin's experience pn numerous occcasions.' When. he. was. put ■ashpre- on- the.; Arctic..Cpastihis*ambition was to,link up,with; Andy Bahr, "who"was"driving" a herd': of"3000 rein-;deer-frbhv-Alaska -to '.the .McKenzie Delta to prbyide" 'fppdi-fprI'tne:.EskimpS. He joined .the;:drive;- as 'a'-Heirder,- blit later"1 was1, forced^^.to/abandon >this.-;life. He' desired to seek' 'information 'concerning . tfee lost Franklin, expedition, and-it was this that prompted him to make a trail across the top of the world. The story is powerfully told. There is an absence of superfluous detaili'Vand the reader'is; given, a vivid word picture-of ;the life of 'the Eskimos and/ the ,hardy/-settlers): in ; the cold country and';'of the 'country,:'itself. The four dogs which'■accompanied ••Irwin .on the/trip play, a large::part.in: the, book, and .the authorTg'iyes;-them'fu.ll.-credit fo.r^carrying him. through. alive.,peath claims them :'tpwards',; : the endipf ' the journey, .and* it is-;wheri.^he is, making hisi-«way back aiorie < to", civilisation,:that Irwin ■ experiences":the 'most "|wful: of hardships.' The' book',ls ..a/valuable addition' to the library. dealings with the no-rrian's land - ,a^ thejtop^pf; North America.' .'■".' ■ \''':^J;}-^ -:'i■■':■'■" .-' ■ .'•'