The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, oCTOBEti 27, 1855.

ARESPECTABLE Middle-aged WIDOW,
left in red aced circumstances, and now residing in Normandy,
wishes to meet with a situation in ngland, as HOUSEKEEPER to
a s ngle gentle man or tradesman, or a widower with young children.
She is competent to cook, to undertake the entire management of
the house, and to siverintend children, and is willing to make her-
self generally aseful. She is a good needlewoman, and can speak
French.--Address, prepaid, to T. Q., Poste Restante, Avranches,
Nomdan,dy,

exposure, they reached Cape AleXander, and embarked
in open water. Their guns supplied them with animal
food, no provisions being carried in the boats, except
powdered bread stun and tallow. (Tallow, says the
Doctor, is a very good thing.) .
" ' From Cape Alexander they travelled to the south-
ward, sometimes over ice, sometimes through water,
shooting eider duck and seal, and collecting enough eggs
to keep the party in good condition. At Cape Fork
they burnt up their spare boats and sledges for fuel, and
left the coast. Striking out to the open sea of Melville
Bay, they then steered for the North Danish settlements
of Greenland. Here they providentially landed on the
6th of August, in vigorous health, after their travel_ of
1,300 miles, and 81 days of constant exposure.
" LEAVING THE COAST—FALLING IN WITELHARTSTEIN'S
EXPEDITION.

"From Upernavik, the large.st of these settlements,
they took passage in a Danish sailing-vessel for England.
By great good fortune they touched at Disko,
_where
they were met by Captain Hartstein's expedition. This
last searching expedition had found the ice of Smith's
Sound still unbroken, but, having 'communicated with
the Esquimaux, had heard of the departure of Dr. Kane'
and had retraced their steps..
THE DEATHS ON THE EXPEDITION.
" The expedition has to mourn the loss of three of its
comrades, two of whom perished—of locljaw and one
from abscess following upon a frozen extremity. These
men may be said to have fallen in the direct discharge of
a noble duty. Their names are--Acting. Carpenter Chris-
tian Ohlsen, and Jefferson Baker and Peter Schubert;
volunteers.

" Mr. Wm. Morton, ship's steward 01'1- board the
Advance, has furnished us with the following interest-
ing account iof the progress of the expedition, of .the
life aboard the ship; of the health of the crew, and of the
rescue of the party, with incident,l matfters, connected
with the cruise. Mr. Morton returnsin exoellent health,
having suffered no disasters, -except:lW 'higtlieel`wils
badly frozen, and that he still limps in consequence of
the injury. He states as follows- :

" We left the port CA New York, on board the brig
Advance, under command of Lieut. Kane, on Tuesday,
the 31st of May, 1853, two years and five months ago.
Our voyage out was performed without incident. After
the usual run we entered Davis's Straits, following the
route of Arctic bound vessel, sailed through Baffin's
Bay, penetrated to Smith's Sound, returned through
Barrow's Straits, and finally took up our first winter
quarters in Renaselger Bay, in the month of September,
1853. Since that period the vessel has not moved from
her position. The ice is closely packed around her, and
there is no open water within 90 miles. She will pro-
bably remain there until she breaks up.
" The number of persons on board the Advance was
less than 20. They were as follows :
" Commander, Lieut. E. K. Kane ; First Officer,
J. W. Wilson ; Second Officer, H. Brooks ; Third
Officer, A. Bronsell ; Fourth Officer, Jas. M'Geary ;
Steward, Wm. Morton ; Cook, Peter Shepherd ; Sur-
gean and Naturalist, Dr. J. J. Hayes ; Astrononfer,
A. Sontag ; Daguerreotypist, Mr. Bousall ; Assistant-
Daguerreotypist, H. Goodfellow. Seamen—G. Stephen-
son, Jefferson T. Baker, George J. Whittell, Win. E.
Godfrey, George Reilley, C. Blake. Three of this num-
ber have died—viz.:-1. Peter Shepherd, ship's cook,
died after amputation of the foot. 2. Christian Ohlsen,
carpenter. 3. Jefferson T. Baker, seaman. Ohlsen died
on the return home, and was buried at Littleton Island.
"The health of the expedition was otherwise excellent.
The scurvy has prevailed to some extent, but it yielded
to regimen, exercise, and cleanliness. Life on board the
ship was diversified by the best amusements we could
contrive, by excursions, and by various exercises. We
made several sledge journeys to the northward and all
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sledges, sledges,
and camped
o n
one
occasion were absent for 30 days. The point at which
the vessel is nipped is about in lat. 80 deg. On our
longest journey to the northward we reached 82 deg.
30 min.

" TEMPERATURE—CURIOUS FACT.
" For nearly two months in the year—that is, in
July and part of August—the weather was very fine.
The sungwas up night and day, and when its beams fell
direct the temperature was comfortable—almost hot—
the thermometer marking, perhaps, 50 to 60 degree. It
was a peculiar fact, however, that while the sun was hot
enough to melt the ice where his rays had full power,
the ice still held firm in the shade ; so that while on the
sunny side ice melted, on the other water would freeze.
After the middle of August the winter rapidly closed in,
and by September, or at the time when the Advance
was caught, the season was already far advanced.
" 'The distance of the winter quarters from the
nearest Esquimaux settlement was 70 miles. Notwith-
standing the distance, however, the Indians made fre-
quent visits to the ship. They came over the ice in
sledges drawn by dogs, and these animals made rapid
journeys, travelling ot .n as much as seven or eight
knots an hour. The Esquimaux women were often on
board the vessel. Both men and women were sometimes
taken in, lodged, and fed, and they usually behaved
well, but they are arrant thieves by nature, and will
steal everything they can lay their hands on, without
regarding its use at all. The only articles of which they
appeared to understand the purpose were knives, rope,
and implements of iron. Of philosophical instruments,
ship's apparatus, and the ordinary appliances of civilised
life they had not the most distant conception. They
stole them because they loved to steal—that was all. In
person they are stout, of low stature, and very fat. They
have no boats, and depend wholly fur means of transport
upon their dogs and sledge a.
" HOW TIME WAS PASSED ON BOARD THE SHIP.

" 'Life on shipboard was regular and orderly. There
was a time for everything, and everything was in its
place. Captain Kane and the officers were untiring
in the discharge of the duties of their poets, and the
men appeared contented and hearty. The ship was
abundantly provisioned, and the diet was wholesome
and various. At se yen bells, or about half-past, seven
o'clock in the morning, all hands turned out. Break-
fast was taken at eight. The duties of the ship were
then performed ; the decks were cleansed, and things
were put in order for the day. Sledge parties were
then apportioßed, for the sake of exercise, and
about three trips were made in different directions for
two or three miles. By the time the parties had all re-
turned to the ship it was nearly noon. At four bells-2
o'clock—dinner was served. After this there was no-
_

thing to do, except to read, talk, laugh, if there was
anything to laugh at, keep warm, and be jolly. Another
meal presently followed, and at 9 tc 10 o'clock at night
the shin and all in it were silent; the lights,
except those
above deck, were extinguished, and the watches were
set. This, with very slight variations, was the regular
routine on board the ship during the whole period of
nearly two years.
" 'The articles of diet on board the ship were not only
good and nourishing, but exceedingly palatable. Perni-
can, meat, biscuit, walrus, seal, beef, pork, and game
were in abundance. In the midst of the cold there was
no waist of the good things of this life. Petnican is beef
dried and ground, and then saturated with beef or pork
fat ; there is as much nourishment in one pound of it as
there is in four pounds of ordinary beef. It is of plea-
sant taste, and is already partially cooked. It is not
unpalatable without any preparation whatever, but is
commonly used after being mixed with a sufficient quan-
tity of Indian meal acid water to cause it to adhere, and
is then fit to fry or stew. It is a wholesome dish. Gael
Borden's meat biscuit I consider excellent ; it was much
used among us. Walrus' meat is strong, coarse, and of
a game-like flavour, but very good. We did not fancy
it at first, but learned to like it. We frequently went
walrus hunting, and were c[impelled to chase the animals
for some distance. They are a wild animal, and never
showed fight ; they frequently came near the ship. The
seals we kilted as they came up through holes in the ice.
The flesh of these animals ban an oily flavour, not very
palatable, but the men, by dint of practice, finally
relished it handsomely. We killed a great many seals.
" In St. John, Newfoundland, we had obtained sup-
plies of beef and mutton, which we moiled—that is, we
took out all the bones in order to preserve it fresh. We
took out eggs in abundance, and these were a staple
article of diet. Salt pork and beef were alternated with
fresh meats.
" We bad large supplies of game, the eider duck, the
little auk, and the dovekey. The dovekey may be de-
scribed as a little duck, one quarter the size of the ordi-
nary fowl ; its flesh is delicate and good. The little auk
is a very small bird, hardly larger than a man's hand.
The eider duck is very large. Of all these birds there
was a supply as large as could have been desired. The
diet of the men was varied, so as to preserve their health,
and salt meat was entirely dropped from the bill of fare
in all cases of scurvy. At ono time all hands were down
with this disease except Dr. Kane and Mr. Bonsall ; bat
the scurvy was not generally prevalent, and the small
number of deaths on board has already been mentioned.
The preserved vegetables taken out by the expedition
were in good preservation.
" No regular rations of spirits were served out. It
was very necessary to have liquor in cases of sickness ;
but none was used regularly, fore or aft.
" We abandoned the Advance on the 24th of May
last, having passed 20 months on board the ship while
she was icebound. It having been determined that the
vessel should be abandoned, we made preparations for
departure. The philosophical instruments, the record of
the cruise, and the necessary supplies of clothing and
provisions were placed in the ships' boats and on sledges,
and on the morning of the 24th of May we left the ship,
intending to make our way down through Melville Bay
to the Danish settlement during the summer. Our trip
was made in safety. We dragged our boats over the ice;
at night put them up for shelter, and spread a tent over
each of them, and of the 17 persons who composed our
party we lost but I—Mr. Ohlsen, whom we buried at
Littleton Island. He was a young man, probably 32 or
33 years of age, and has left a family. Dr. Kane re-
ceived the poor fellow's dying messages.
" 'On the 6th of Aug., without further mishap, we
reached the settlement of Upernavik, where we were
hospitably entertained during the whole period that we
remained—upwards of a month—awaiting the arrival of
the Danish ship, which usually makes that port about
the Ist of Sept., on a trading voyage. The ship (the
Mary Ann, from Copenhagen) remained in port for two
weeks, discharging and receiving cargo; and when she

-was ready for sea we einbarked on board of her for
home. At Lievely, on Disko Island, we fell in with the
American receiving vessels the Arctic and Release, which
had been in search of us, and had returned, running
down the coat, looking for us. This point is 250 miles
south of Upernavik.
" Capt. Kane and some others, 'myself included, went
on board the Release, and the remainder on board the
Arctic. Our homeward voyage was performed without
any remarkable occurrences, the party returning in good
health and spirits. At a late hour this afternoon we an-
chored off the battery.'
" From one of the seamen who saded in the'Advance
the following facts were gleaned : .
" Our further progress by sthe ship was intercepted
by limitless fields of solidice, Dr. Kane disembarked,
and commenced the overland journey north in his canine
conveyances, consisting of a caravan of 60 Esquimaux.
and Labrador dogs harnessed to sledges, carrying, be-
sides the_4o weapons, &c., provision for several months;
a monument prepared in this city; to -be erected on the
spot where Sir John Franklin and party are supposed to
have perished.
" The party journeyed north,•over ice and snow, at
the rate of 60 miles per day, amid a scenery described as
awfully grand ; the limitless plain presenting to the eye
one vast barren waste. and ,save the -dismal moaning of
the Arctic winds, silence everywhere prevailed. At
length, after incredible toil,, further progress was inter-
cepted by a vast open sea, extending in front and on
either side until lost in distance.
• " ' The thermometer lied for several days indicated a
gradual increased temperature, until it had reached zero
on the shores of this northern. sea it indicated a much
higher temperature. The waters of this sea, as well as
the adjacent soil, indicated a temperature of from 40
deg. to 45 deg. A species of grass and firm weed on
the shores, and great numbers of herbivorous and ether
animals arid birds, hitherto unknowh to naturalists,- were•
'feed-Mg-or roaming in fearless indifference. . .
" ' The Relief has brought home a living bird resemb-
ling, in some respects, the silver seagull. • This bird Was
caught, while young, on the shores, and has hecome en-
tirely domesticated, and seems highly pleased with its
new acquaintances.'
" From the same source we gleaned the following in-
teresting statement :
" 4 The Advance had been frozen in the ice for two
winters. During this long, weary imprisonment fuel
became short,.and Captain Kane was compelled to con-
vert the floors, inner planking, spars, and finally the
very floors to the cabins, in which himself and officers
lodged, into fuel.
" At length, losing all hope of escape by the break-
ing up of the ice, his provisions growing short and men
sick, the boats were dragged over the ice to the open
sea, and with his feeble but boon companions, betook
themselves to the open sea in their boats. After suffer-
ing all but death itself and the loss of three of his boon
companions, including the carpenter, Captain Kane
reached a Danish settlement some time in June last.

"Of-the .60 dogs taken out by Captain Kane all pe-
rished but two, which he has brought home with him.
" Prior to embarking for home in the Relief he was
desirous of ascertaining what was the fate of the Ad-
vance. In consequence of the ice he was unable to ap-
proach within some 20 miles of his ship, and it was
deemed imprudent to hazard his men in their feeble con-
dition in a journey to the imprisoned ship over the ice.
" A seal fisher was fell in with, when Captain Kane
by signs inquired concerning his ship. The Esquimaux
replied by signs. Thrusting his spear between the ice
in an erect position, he informed Captain Kane that the
ship was still in the ice.
In answer to further inquiry as to her condition he
was informed that the sails had been taken off for tents,
and the ropes for fishing purposes by the natives. And,
holding the bowl of his clay pipe between his hands, with
the stem erect, pointing in the direction of the Advance,
he crushed the bowl between his bands, the stem still
continuing erect, meaning to communicate that one ship
was still embedded in the ice ; that her masts were still
standing, but the hull had been crushed by the ice.