RUSSIA: Arctic Squeeze

Of that hardy, hairy crew who prowl for Soviet glory north of Russia’s long Arctic coast line, hardiest and hairiest is jungle-bearded Otto Tulyevich Schmidt, chief editor of the Soviet Encyclopedia, professor of hydrology, chemistry and Arctic science. Two years ago the middle-aged professor led the icebreaker Sibirya-kov to a great Soviet feat: first navigation of the “northeast passage” from Archangel to Vladivostok in one year. Last August he tried it again with the icebreaker Chelyuskin, setting out this time from Murmansk, through the empty wastes of the Barents and Kara Seas. In September the ice pack began fingering the Chelyuskin. Another Soviet icebreaker went to the rescue, turned tail before howling storms. Professor Schmidt and his men began chopping a path in the ice, nudging the Chelyuskin through it. In the hold eight hardy women helped to keep the fires burning. A new baby squawled its first aboard the icebreaker.

When the Chelyuskin was within 150 mi. of the Bering Strait, the ice pack closed its fist, began its inexorable squeeze. On the decks, in the rigging, in Professor Schmidt’s beard, a heavy load of ice formed. Last week the ice pack broke the Chelyuskin’s steel heart. From bow to engine room the port side stove in amid great grindings and crunchings. The sudden cold burst the steam pipes. A plank swept the chief steward overboard.

Professor Schmidt threw in with the ice pack. Working fast, his remaining 71 men and women lugged food, scientific instruments, tents, clothing, records and baby on to the ice. Most important, they got off a little radio sending set with batteries. With a huge glop the Chelyuskin followed the chief steward to the bottom. Even before they set up their tents, the Russians radioed the bad news out. From North Cape, Siberia, 155 mi. away, 60 dog teams mushed off to Professor Schmidt’s aid through a screaming blizzard. Rescue planes waited in their hangars for the blizzard’s end. Next day, snug on his ice floe, Professor Schmidt told the world: “The sky cleared last night and we took bearings from the stars. We are 130 kilometers [81 mi.] from land. All are healthy and full of energy.”