Fiorenzo, p.1
Tigers of the Ice, page 1
Tigers of the Ice
A fictional story based on the true experiences of
Dr. Elisha Kane
By
Charles Patton
Tigers of the Ice
©Copyright 2023 Applied Market Solutions, LLC
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the author’s express written permission.
Notice
This story is inspired by true events. However, dialogue and certain events and characters in this work are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. This is not a historical account but only a dramatization of an amazing story of survival and death.
This fictional story is built around the true experiences of Dr. Elisha Kane. Dr. Kane and his men lived in an era when, for the most part, men were much tougher than most are today!
This novel is rooted in historical facts and uses the term 'Esquimaux' to accurately reflect the language of the time for Indigenous Arctic residents, now correctly referred to as 'Inuit'. This choice is not intended to uphold outdated or disrespectful views, and the depiction of Esquimaux characters is respectful.
We also use the historical term “sledge” as they did to refer to their dog sleds.
Short Mystery Press
ISBN: 978-1-963809-01-5
(Amazon eBook)
Written for and sponsored by:
Applied Market Solutions, LLC
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Orlando, FL 32819
The book that inspired this work of fiction is: “Arctic Explorations, the Second Grinnell Expedition, in search of Sir John Franklin 1853, ’54, ’55 by Elisha Kent Kane, M.D., U.S.N., Vol I and II,” Philadelphia, Childs & Peterson, 124 Arch Street, et alia, 1856.
All the line drawings are from Kane’s original text and, I believe, drawn by him except his portrait which was credited to R. Whitechurch.
Book template by usedtotech.com.
Polar Bear image courtesy of William Curtis Rolf.
Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this book: I found OpenAI’s chatGPT™ Ver 4.2 useful in cleaning up, simplifying, fleshing out, rearranging my dyslexic sentences, and researching sources. I am responsible for all the writing.
In "Tigers of the Ice," Arctic polar bears are likened to tigers, symbolizing their mastery over harsh environments and status at the top of their food chains. This metaphor underscores their shared tenacity and alludes to Dr. Elisha Kent Kane's crew's strength and resilience in the Arctic. The polar bear also emerges as a spiritual intermediary, linking the Arctic's elemental forces, the Esquimaux and Kane's explorers, representing a profound bond between humans, nature, and the Arctic's mystique.
Contents
Notice
Introduction
I. Arctic Whispers and Roars
II. Siren’s Calls
III. Kane in Command
IV. Fiskernaes Journey
V. Beyond Upernavik
VI. Northern Waters
VII. Arctic Challenges
VIII. Winter Shelter
IX. Abyss of Rats
X: Failed Search
XI: Esquimaux Encounters
XII. Kane's Struggle
XIII. Godfrey Departs
XIV. Harrowing Winter
XV. Esquimaux Return
XVI. Calamity Strikes
XVII. Prodigal Return
XVIII. Point of No Return
XIX. Theft & Escape
XX. Food & Message
XXI. Departure
XXII. Final Journey to Etah
XXIII. Leaving Etah
XXIV. Scarcity & Loss
XXV. Last Bullet
XXVI. Return Home
The End
PostScript
Introduction
In the frigid heart of the Arctic, where the world's edges blur and the icy abyss stretches endlessly, a realm beckons to the souls of intrepid adventurers and fearless explorers. It is a place where the very air crackles with mystery, and the shimmering Northern Lights sing like a celestial chorus to the tales of hardship and heroism.
Welcome to a world of perilous ambition and relentless determination, where the names John Franklin and Doctor Elisah Kane echo through the frozen corridors of time. In this story of Arctic exploration, we embark on a journey that transcends the boundaries of human ambition.
The years are 1853, 1854, and 1855, when Dr. Kane ventured north to determine the fate of the enigmatic Captain Sir John Franklin, a seasoned seafarer who had been missing for six long years. An intrepid explorer, Franklin had set his sights on an audacious mission—discovering the fabled Northwest Passage. This elusive maritime route said to traverse the ice-bound archipelago of northern Canada, promised a shortcut to the riches of the Orient. But it was a path fraught with peril, shrouded in legend, and cloaked in ice.
In 1845, Franklin and his crew embarked on their perilous quest, but when they failed to return, by 1847, Kane and others followed with hopes of discovery or rescue, leading to a harrowing battle against the unforgiving wilderness for all involved.
At the heart of our story lies an unsolved mystery that haunts the expedition—the unexplained disappearance of Franklin and his two ships: the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror with 129 men. As the world waited anxiously for news of their fate, several attempts to determine their whereabouts had already failed. Our journey with Kane will plunge us deep into the Arctic's icy heart, where secrets lie buried beneath layers of frost and snow, amidst towering icebergs that menace ships, and where cunning predators lurk beneath the unforgiving sea and behind every hummock, blurring the line between survival and oblivion. We will witness the unyielding bonds of camaraderie that form amidst the hardships of the frozen frontier and the quiet moments of introspection that stir the souls of those who dare to venture into the unknown.
In the unforgiving Arctic, where the cold can freeze the soul as surely as it can freeze the sea, Dr. Kane's relentless search for John Franklin is a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity and the enduring allure of the unknown. Our story begins in the Arctic in 1851, before Kane’s search.
I. Arctic Whispers and Roars
Beneath the flapping canvas of his two-man tent on the Davis Strait's icy expanse, Dr. Elisha Kane sat hunched over a small table, diligently recording his day's findings. The U.S. Navy had assigned him to assist the Canadian government with surveying the untouched geology in a remote area at the northern extremity of Newfoundland's northeast coast beyond the Arctic Circle. Kane, a robust officer with the seasoned appearance of a veteran sea captain, possessed intense, deep brown eyes and light brown hair. He casually wore his navy-blue pea coat open, and his wool cap rakishly tilted back on his head in the low-teen temperatures.
From his vantage point on the icy shoreline, Kane gazed upon a mesmerizing landscape of rolling hummocks and towering blocks of ice, their colors shifting between translucent blue and stark white. Some reached staggering heights of up to 15 feet, chaotically strewn as far as the eye could see. The Arctic horizon glowed with the muted orange of a setting sun, casting its waning light across the camp. This ethereal light gently brushed Kane's sledge, and the dogs tethered nearby, dusting them in shades of deep violet and burnished gold.
Out of the stillness, a harrowing scream echoed, swiftly followed by a guttural roar that shattered Kane's moment of solitude.
Without hesitation, he sprang from his stool, seized his Marston rifle, and sprinted toward the alarming noise, nimbly navigating the maze of hummocks.
A chaotic fray burst into view as he came around a massive, ten-foot-tall ice block. A juvenile polar bear relentlessly attacked Henri Bellot, Kane's French-Canadian compatriot, landing forceful blows with its massive paws upon Henri's shoulders and flanks. With a swift, fierce swipe, the bear sent Henri's elongated knit hat flying, narrowly missing his head as he dodged the strike. Rearing up on its hind legs, even though young, the bear towered over Henri, who stood at a modest five-foot-four.
"Hold on, Henri," Kane shouted. "I'm here."
Caught in the bear's embrace, Henri pushed upwards against the bear's chin, fiercely struggling until he managed to wriggle free. In his effort, momentum sent him tumbling backward. In a swift move, the bear pounced, sinking its teeth into Henri's thigh. Finding no clear line of fire, Kane discarded his rifle and snatched a harpoon from Henri's nearby sledge.
Swinging the harpoon by its shaft, Kane struck the bear's head with the blunt end, intentionally avoiding the weapon's lethal point. Undeterred, the bear shook its head like a wet dog shedding water.
In the continuing battle, Kane received shallow claw marks across his chest after diverting the bear's attention from Henri. Kane took another swing at the bear with the harpoon's handle, but it went wide. In its retaliatory lunge, the bear impaled itself on the harpoon's tip, the blade sinking partially into its chest. Locked in a fierce embrace, Kane and the bear wrestled, their blood intertwining and dripping on the icy ground. Then, the bear abruptly released Kane and retreated, leaving him stunned and panting.
Kane held firm; eyes locked on the receding bear. Henri, gathering his strength, managed to crawl and then, shakily, get to his feet. He made his way to where Kane's discarded rifle lay, retrieved it, and, positioning himself beside Kane, took aim at the departing be
Shaking from the adrenaline and exertion, Henri knelt, resting his left elbow on his knee for a steadier shot. But just as his finger began to apply pressure to the trigger, Kane, looming over him, seized the rifle's barrel, jerking it upwards. The unexpected motion sent Henri sprawling backward, the shot discharging harmlessly into the sky.
“I had him in my sights,” Henri exclaimed, voice tinged with disbelief. "Why did you stop me? That beast almost took my life!"
Kane, his hand instinctively resting on the fresh claw marks across his chest, watched as the bear vanished into the labyrinth of icy mounds. Henri remained on his knees, breath ragged. With a steadying hand on Henri's shoulder, Kane anchored him as they both witnessed the bear's fading silhouette.
As the bear disappeared, Kane withdrew his hand, extending the other to help Henri to his feet. Once upright, Henri retrieved a whisky flask from inside his coat, punctured by a bear's claw. He sipped from the rivulet of amber liquid escaping the gash.
"But he didn't. Now, we're all survivors," Kane said.
"When did you start showing charity towards bears?" "Incredulous," Henri murmured as they retraced their steps to their camp.
As they rounded the final hummock before their camp, a jarring sight confronted them: nearly all their belongings—the sledge, dogs, table, and supplies—had vanished. Only the empty tent stood, its flaps billowing in the wind. Kane's journal lay discarded on the ice, its pages ruffling in the wind's embrace. Further north, they could see two Esquimaux rapidly pulling Kane's possessions on his sledge, drawn by his dogs.
Kane relieved Henri of the rifle, squinting down its barrel. Henri gave a discouraging shake of his head. Understanding the distance and their scarce ammunition, Kane decided against taking the shot. Their predicament grew more dire with Kane's scratches and Henri's injuries from the bear encounter.
Left with only Henri's sledge and dogs, a rifle with a single moisture-sensitive cartridge, and no food, fuel, or means to produce drinkable water, their journey to the nearest settlement pushed them to the brink of death. While they survived, the harrowing ordeals Kane and Henri faced during this trip left Kane with deep-seated resentment towards the Esquimaux, whom he saw as threats on par with the perils of navigating ice, polar bears, and enduring frigid temperatures.
From his Arctic experiences, Kane found solace and an idea that sparked an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Driven by curiosity and the Arctic's allure, he envisioned leading an audacious expedition to uncover Sir John Franklin's enigmatic fate in the frigid Arctic wilderness, taking two years to germinate fully.
II. Siren’s Calls
Dr. Elisha Kane
A few years had elapsed since Kane's Arctic experiences and honorable discharge from the Navy, where he had achieved the rank of captain. Yet, the allure of adventure and the relentless call of duty still coursed through his veins. During these years, he took it upon himself to embark on a perilous mission, a decision During these years, he solidified his determination and worked out a plan to embark on the perilous mission he had envisioned on the Davis Strait, borne from an unshakeable determination that sprang from within.
This mission carried the weight of history and mystery—a British explorer, the esteemed Sir John Franklin, had ventured into the unknown, vanishing without a trace along with 129 brave souls and two sturdy ships. Their destination lay near Baffin Bay or somewhere farther west, nestled within the Arctic Circle, south and west of Greenland.
Silence had enveloped Franklin's expedition for almost four years, extinguishing the once-burning flames of hope. In its place, a groundswell of determination rose in England and the United States, demanding an expedition to confirm their loss and unearth any fragment of evidence that could be salvaged from the frozen north.
With his seasoned experience in the unforgiving northern realms, Kane believed he possessed the qualifications to spearhead a perilous search endeavor. Yet, he understood the bitter truth that clung to the expedition's frigid trail—little hope remained of discovering any of the men alive. And yet, he went ahead, driven by an unyielding spirit and sense of duty, willing to again confront the chilling unknown and its secrets concealed in the Arctic wilderness.
In the brisk early spring of 1853, Dr. Kane found himself in the grand lobby of the Department of the Navy's headquarters in Washington. He stood there, momentarily transfixed, lost in contemplation, his gaze fixated on a magnificent display that dominated the room featuring a towering twelve-foot-tall polar bear mounted upright. Time seemed to slow as he stood there, absorbing every detail of this immense, fearsome, and mysterious creature frozen in time.
Slowly, he shook his head as if attempting to dispel a haunting memory that clung to his thoughts. His eyes then ascended to meet the great bear's head, its mighty jaws agape, teeth bared, and lips twisted in a fearsome snarl. The sight sent shivers down his spine, and for a moment, it transported him back to the chilling encounter with the smaller bear that had once threatened Henri, his companion on a previous expedition.
Though fashioned from glass, the massive bear's eyes possessed an uncanny lifelike quality. They were as dark and penetrating as Kane's own, two orbs containing the secrets of the frigid wilderness. As he stood there, locked in a silent exchange with the beast, he felt an unsettling connection, as if the spirit of the Arctic had found a way to peer into his soul through those unyielding, glassy eyes.
The exhibition, meticulously curated by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Department of the Navy, extended beyond the towering polar bear display. It unfolded a captivating array of scientific instruments, each bearing witness to the indomitable spirit of Arctic exploration and the imperative quest for survival during long, treacherous voyages.
Among the displayed exploration treasures was the theodolite, a precise instrument that held the power to survey and measure heights and distances with unwavering accuracy. It was the sentinel of precision in the icy wilderness, an instrument relied upon for charting the unknown, one of Kane’s objectives.
Adjacent to the theodolite, the sextant stood as a testament to the artistry of navigation. Its elegant design masked its essential role—to measure the angle of the sun, which would reveal latitude in the uncharted expanses of the Arctic. In its simplicity, the sextant could unveil a ship’s distance between the equator and the north pole – fixing the ship’s location in vast expanses of water and icy wasteland.
The chronometer, a modest timepiece with a crucial role and celestial observation, was the key to determining longitude. The chromometer was essential for navigating uncharted waters in the vastness of the icy wilderness, where time and space merged. The ship would soon be lost without them unless the navigator could recognize landmarks. Navigational charts were inaccurate when getting to the Arctic and non-existent in the farthest north. The timepieces required daily winding, where failure to do so could cause the ship to be steered astray. The chronometer was, quite simply, their reliable time compass, pointing the way back to the safety of the known world.
Kane understood that Arctic navigation demanded a careful blend of art and science. These three instruments, laid out meticulously before him, bridged the gap between human ingenuity and the unforgiving wilderness. They were the practical tools, each holding the promise of discovery and the prospect of a safe return from the icy heart of the far Arctic.
Returning abruptly from his brief reverie, Kane adjusted his attire, preparing himself for the upcoming presentation. In his well-worn navy pea-coat, white shirt, and tie, he smoothed a few stray locks of prematurely graying hair, pushing them back beneath a snug, dark navy blue knit cap. With a glance at his pocket watch, a last check of the letter folio cradled under his arm, he hastened towards the wide, winding staircase, ready to make his case to the Secretary of the Navy and one of his senior aides.
Upon reaching the top floor, Kane was warmly received by the navy Secretary's elderly, silver-haired receptionist. She had been expecting and promptly guided him into a spacious office adorned with rich mahogany paneling and maritime embellishments. On one wall, newspaper front pages chronicled the Franklin expedition's journey to the Arctic in 1845, each showing the same pre-embarkation engraving depicting Sir Franklin, his officers, and their intrepid crew. Nearby, other headlines told a somber tale—announcing government speculations of their mysterious disappearance in 1847 and later issues describing the fruitless search efforts that unfolded between 1848 and 1852, leaving Franklin’s fate shrouded in uncertainty. None of those rescue efforts located his ships or men.
