The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-09-04 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP "VALOROUS."

The Times, on 'Tuesday, published the following :

The Valorous left Portsmouth on the 29th of May
last in company with the Arctic ships Alert and Dis-
covery, conveying a large quantity of provisions and
etores for them. She first parted company with them
some little distance off Queenstown, when she put
into that port to land despatches and complete with
coal, remaining but a few hours, and joined the Arctic
vessels off Bantry, keeping in company with them
until the sth of June, when she was ordered by
Captain Nares, commanding the Expedition, to make
the beat of her way to Lievely, Disco Island. During
the passage, which occupied 36 days, she encountered
numerous icebergs and large quantities of loose ice,
and experienced nothing but contrary winds and ex-
ceedingly heavy weather. There were no less than
four heavy gales; in fact, on the night of the 13th of
June she was in great danger' owing to her being so
heavily laden. She arrived, however, safely at Disco
on the 4th of July. The Alert and Discovery arrived
on the 6th, having also experienced the same heavy
weather, and having been for several days battened
down. Each of them had a boat washed away from its
davits, which were replaced by others from the
Valorous. No time was lost in provisioning and storing
these ships, and a number of Esquimaux dogs for the
sledging parties having been purchased; the three
ships left Disco on the 15th of July for Wash-
ing Bay, where they arrived on the 16th, when
more dogs were taken on board the Arctic
vessels. The Valorous sailed at daylight on the
following morning for Ritenbank Kulbrud for the
purpose of digging coal, and while anchored off
this place the Alert and Discovery were observed
making towards her as though to communicate, but a
thick fog coming on they changed their course and
stood on. This was the last that was seen of the
Arctic ships. Leaving Ritenbank on the 22nd of
Jain having got on board about one hundred tons of
coat, the Valorous proceeded on her homeward voyage,
taking soundings and dredging on the way, but being
very light it was deemed advisable to take in ballast in
case she should have to make sail in a heavy breeze.
For this purpose she stood in towards Holsteinborg, a
Danish settlement in South Greenland, intending to
go into the harbour. On the 27th of July, about 9
&m, of that day, a dense fog came on, and sail was
shortened and furled, shortly after which the ship
struck heavily on a reef (unknown), and for some
hours was in great danger. One boat was despatched
to the /thole for a pilot, and the others got ready
with water and provisions in preparation for abandon.
mg the ship, when about noon she suddenly floated
if and the fog lifted. Two Esquimaux pilots, and
olso a Danish pilot of great experience, who had come
out to render assistance, having been taken on board,
the ship steamed slowly into the harbour. She sus-
tained considerable damage to her false and main
keels, &c., so much so as to necessitate the constant
working of the pumps; the artificers and divers
were employed in making good defects as far as the
means at hand would allow, and on the Bth of
August, having completed the repairs and taken in
a large quantity of ballast, the Valorous left Hol-
steinborg to continue her homeward voyage, and as
the weather proved very favourable, with only light
winds, and those fair, and little or no sea, she was
enabled to obey her orders relating to deep sea sound
ing and dredging, which it was feared she would have
had to abandon on account of her disabled condition.
In these dredgings many new and valuable specimens
have been brought to the surface, and will doubtless
I be highly prized in the scientific world, and,thus it
will be found that the cruise of the Valorous, although
attended with some hardships and not a little danger,
has been successful throughout, and her return is not
less welcome when it is to be remembered that she
brings the latest intelligence of the gallant fellows
composing the Arctic Expedition, which sailed from
Portsmouth three months since.

At the time of finally parting company with the
Arctic ships the crews of both were in perfect health
and excellent spirits, having the utmost confidence in
their gallant chief and their ultimate success.

The Valorous brings home a heavy mail from the
Expedition, containing news which will, we trust, re-
move any lingering regrets winch may remain in the
minds of those who have friends connected therewith,
as to their safety and comfort.