The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-23
THE PILOT.
BY THE NORTHERN MAIL.
EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
UNITED STATES SHIP VINcENNEs,
March 10 1870.

Su:-l nave the honor to report, that haVnag
completed our outfits and observations at sgd
ney, n. S. W, the exploring squadron under my
command, composed of this ship, the Peacock,
Porpoise, and Flying Fish, sailed in company
on the oath of December, with my instructions
to proceed south as far as practicable, and cruise
within the Antartic ocean. Copies of the in
structions were forwarded to you with my de-
spatch, No. 81.
We continued in company until the first of
January, when we parted company with the Fly
ing Fish, and with the Peacock in fog, on the
third.
then steered with the Porpoise, in company,
for our first rendezvous, Macquain's Island, and
from thence to Emerald Island, our second rem
devious, having passed over the supposed locali-
ty of the latter, IN long. 1872 deg 3V E. lat. 81
deg. IS S. without seeing land, or meeting with
the Peacock or Flying Fish.
On the 10th of January, being IN lat. 81 deg.
S. we fell in with the first ice lands, and con-
tinued steering to the sOuthward among many
icebergs, which compelled us to change our
course frequently in avoiding them.
On the 18th, we ran into a bay of field ice, in
long. 164 deg. 5Y Z. and lat Ga deg. IL S. pre-
senting a perfect barrier to our progress farther
south; heavy fog ensuing, during which we
parted company with the Porpoise, her command
er having directions to follow nay written in
structions in that event.
| had determined to leave each vessel to act
OCliCN NOulG ttllu W
possible, greater degree of emulation to us all;
and being well satisfied, that owing to the ice,
and thick weather, it would be impossible TO con
tinue long in company, deemed it preferable to
hazard the event of accident, rather than en-
barrass our operations.
| therefore submit the details of the proceed
ings of this ship, as they will, without doubt,
nearly coincide with the movements of the other
vessels of the squadron, the reports from which
will tend to verify operations.
After an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate
through the ice on the 18th of January, we pro-
ceeded to the westward, working alone with
head winds and fogs, and on the 10th, we fell in
with the Peacock, in long. 157 % e. lat. 60 26 s..
On the morning of the 18th of January, we
saw land to the south and east, with many indi-
cations of being in its vicinity, such penguin,
SEAL and the discoloration of the water; but the
impenetrable barrier of ice prevented our nearer
approach to it, and the same day we again saw
the Peacock to the South and West. We were
in long. 154 % E. and lat sc 20 s.
On the 22d, we fell in with large clusters and
bodies of ice, and innumerable ice islands, and
until the 25th, were in large bay formed by
ice, examining the different points, in hopes of
effecting an entrance to the South, but were dis
appointed. We here reached the latitude of 81
deg minutes, in longitude, 147 degrees 80 min
utes E. being the farthest South we penetrated
Appearances Of distant land were seen in the
eastward and westward, but all points except
| the one we entered. presented an impenetrable
| barrier. We here filed up our water tanks with
ice, taken from an iceberg alongside the ship.
We made our magnetic observations on the
ice. The dipping needles gave 81 degrees 80
minutes for the dip, and our azimuth compass
was so sluggish on the ice, that being agitat-
| ed, and bearings taken again, il gave nearly 3
points difference; the variation being II degrees
80 minutes E. A few days afterward, about one
hundred miles farther to the west, we had no va
cod -
crly variation, from which am of opinion that
when in the icy bay, could not have been
very far from the south magnetic pole. This
bay named Disappointment Bay, as it seemed
to put end to all our hopes of farther progress
south.
On the 9th, we fell in with the Porpoise, in
! long. 142 deg 20 min. F., and lat. 90 deg. 81
min. s., and parted company shortly aiterward
! On the 2Sth, at noon, after thirteen repulses,
we reached long 1902 so F., and lat. 66e So S.
where we again discovered land bearing south,
! having run over forty miles, thickly studded
with icebergs. The same evening, we had a
heavy gale from the southeast, with snow, hail,
and thick weather, which rendered eur situation
very dangerous, and compelled US to retrace our
steps by the route which we had entered. Dur
ing this gale, we were unable to see the distance
| of fourth mile, constantly passing near ice
| bergs which surrounded us, and rendered il
necessary to keep all hands on deck. On the
morning of the 30th, the gale abated, and we re-
turned by the same route to reach the land, when
the dangers we encountered among the ice the
| preceding night, and Providential escape,
| were evident to ALL
| We ran toward the land about fifty miles,
when we reached small bay pointed by high
ice cliffs and volcanic rocks, with about 60 miles
! of coast in sight, extending to great distance
| toward the southwark, in high mountainous land
The breeze freshened to a strong gale, which
prevented our landing, and compelled us 10 run
| out after sounding in thirty fathoms water; and
within two hours afterward the ship was again
reduced to her storm sails, with heavy gale
from the southwark, with snow, sleet, and hea-
Wy sea, continuing So hours, and if possible more
dangerous than that of the 2Sth and 18th, owing
to the large number of ice islands around us;
after which l received reports from the medical
officers, representing the exhausted state of the
crew and condition of the ship, of which the fol-
lowing are extracts:
The medical officers on duty reported under
date of the 31st January, that s'The number upon
the sick list this morning is fifteen; most of these
are consequent upon the extreme hardship and
exposure they have undergone during the last
gales of wind, when the ship has been surround
ed with ice. This number is not large, but it is
necessary to state that the general health of the
crew is, in our opinion, decidedly affected, and
that under ordinary circumstances the list would
be very much increased, while the men, under
the present exigences, actuated by laudable
desire to de their duty to the last, refrain from
presenting themselves as applicants for the list.
'Under these circumstances we feel ourselves
obliged ts report that, in our opinion, few days
more OF such exposure as they have already I'M
dergone, would reduce the number of the crew
by sickness to such an extent as to hazard the
safety of the ship and the lives OF all on board"
After which, the surgeon being restored to
duty, reported to me follows:
81 respectfully report that, in my opinion, the
health Of the crew is materially affected by the
severe fatigue, want of sleep, and exposure to
the weather, to which they have lately been sub
jected; that a continuance of these hardships,
even for short period, will entirely dissuaiily
a great number Of men for their duty, and that
the necessary attention to the health of the crew
and their future efficiency and usefulness, de-
mands the immediate return of the ship to mild
er CLIMATE"
Deeming it my duty, however, to persevere, i