SANTA RQSAN ABOARD WHALER FROZEN IN THE ARCTIC ICE

Henry High Writes to Relatives Here

January 2, 1906 – Mr. and Mrs. R. H. High of this city, received a New Year’s gift on Monday in the shape of a letter from their son, Henry Hazleton High, which meant more to them than any other gift that could have been bestowed. The young man is mate aboard the steam whaling schooner Alexander, one of a fleet of seventeen whaling vessels frozen hard in the Arctic ice at Herchel Island, N, W. T.

Since the news came several weeks ago that the whaling fleet has been caught in the ice Mr. and Mrs. High have been anxiously awaiting news from their boy and when the letter arrived on New Year’s morning, despite the fact that it was almost three months on the way, the mother fairly wept for joy. She had feared that she would never hear from her son again.

The letter was dated “Herchel Island, October 17, 1905,” and gives the details of the location of the whaler and much other interesting information which will be read with interest by the young man’s friends here. The letter follows; Dear Father and Mother I am very sorry to say that I did not receive any of your letters. If you get this letter write to me by return mail and I shall hope to receive It sometime in the spring when it will he brought overland by a carrier with other mail matter.

All the ships got caught in the ice in Herchel Island, a village in Latitude 69. See how close we are to North Pole. There are sixteen other ships beside ours caught in the ice and I expect to here this news of our experiences has reached the home papers and they; have beep full of it. You will doubtless see it mentioned that we are suffering considerable hardship. But we are alright, at least to date, and are living on seal, deer meat and fish. We have plenty of flour, beans, salt pork and salt beef. You ought to see the great North Llghtd as we see it. It is a great spectacle. The ocean is all frozen over and dog sledges are used every day. We have caught seventeen whales. Every whale we catch means fifteen dollars to us men. In addition to the above there is much in the letter of a personal nature for the parents. He mentioned that he is writing the letter in the Missionary’s house and that he would have to hurry back to the ship across the ice as a blinding snow storm had come on and if he delayed he might lose his way. He says he is longing for the time when he will reach Santa Rosa and his home again and sends best wishes to his family and friends.

* Noteworthy

1900 – American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China.

1919 – Edsel Ford, the son of Model T inventor and auto industry pioneer Henry Ford, succeeds his father as president of the Ford Motor Company. The younger Ford ascended to the top spot after his father resigned the position in December 1918.

1959 – Fidel Castro Seizes Power in Cuba, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Castro’s 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the island nation.

1959 – Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.

1976 – The Gale of January 1976 begins, which results in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, resulting in at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.