THE MAUDE’S DRIFT.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1925, Page 2

THE MAUDE’S DRIFT.

THE CAPTAIN’S ACCOUNT. | Australia A N.Z. Cable Association J NOME. (Alaska) August 21. The exploring schooner Maude has returned here alter having been lor more than three years imprisoned in the northern ice packs. She ventured into the Arctic Imping in reach the North Pole, by drifting wiili the ice. Iml cross currents carried the vessel north west, instead ol south. (bus l hi\ acl iug theamiol Ihe seven members of the expedition. The Assistant Engineer. Slyvcsten died in 1U23. Irani a complication ol diseases due !u hardships. His body was wrapped in the Norwegian flag, and lowered into the water through a four-foot hole in the ice. Captain Westing said: “The strain mi the crew was severe after the loss ol ilicir shipmate, especially with the only means of transportation locked by tin* ice. and the probability that we would never get out. Ihe only Eskimo ahonrd deserted in 1U23, taking a gun and a shovel and making for land four hundred miles distant, lb- heaifed ill tin 1 wrong direction and after some days he wandered hack nearly frozen. We warned him not to leave again on penalty ol putting him in irons, hut he hardly needed our admonition. Later on. he was landed at his home, east of Cape Siberia.” “In the north west drift, the ship passed south ol Jeanette Islands three hundred miles from the Herald Islands. Thence she drifted towards the Benette Islands, where orders were received from the United States. An order came in 1U23 but owing to icebergs gripping the ship, it was impossible to make any progress. Once the vessel almost capsized, all hands taking to the ice. after loading the sledges with food and supplies, and hitching them to our teams ~f fifteen Siberian dogs. But wi( did not have to abandon the ship after all. though the vessel was raised twenty feet out of the water by ice pressure. Had she not been solidly built she would have been kindling wood in ten minutes. After being tossed for two hours, the craft was released. and she settled hack in water oil her keel. In 15)21. the Maude was still held in the westward drift which worked its way across to the Siberian shore, and passed the Colyma River, fhence going toward North Cape, and the Clmloisa I’eninsiila in Siberia. She was released on August 7th. 15(25. A newspaper was published aboard the ship, and helped to break the monotony of the voyage. r J he aviator Dahl tried his Curtiss plane in 15)23. hut he was unable to get a good straightaway on the rugged ice. and the plane was wrecked. Dahl commented : “The Arctic is no place for an aeroplane.

“Upon toe arrival of the Alaude at Nome.” added the Captain, “the vessel was seized by the l ailed States Marshal acting for the Standard Oil Oov.. claiming a fuel oil debt against the ship. A bond was posted by the representative of the Norwegian Government. The great, thrill ot the trip was when the Alarshal handed me tne papers.”