The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-07-29

BILE TO hazard the event Of accident, rather than
embarrass our operatons.
I therefor submit the details Of tho proceed
ipgs of this ship, as they will. without doubt,
nearly coincide with the mo,ements of the
other vessels of the squadron, the reports from
which will tend TO verify our operations.
Alter 40 unsuccessful attempt To penetrate
through the ice on the 18th of January, we pro-
ceeded TO the westward, working along with
head winds and fogs. and on the 10th we fell in
with the Peacock in long. l57d. 43m. +. lat.
esd. 26m. ).
On the morning Of the 10Th Of January. we
saw land TO the south and east. with many in
dications Of being in its vicinity, such as
penguin. seal, and the discoloration Of the wa
Ter, but The impeneirable barrier Office prevent
ed our nearer approach to it. and the same day
We again saw the Peacock to the south and
west. We were in long. l04d 27m +. and lat.
God 30 ;.
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 difi'ersut points in hopes oi
eflecting an entrance TO the south, but were
disappointed. We here reached the lat. SD
Am. in long. l47d 30m. T.. being the farhes'
south We penetrated. Appearances Of distant
land were seen in the eastward and westward
but all points except the one we entered, pre-
sented an impenetrabe barrier. We here filled
up our water tanks with ice taken from an ice
berg alongside the ship.
We made our magnetic observations on tho
ice. The dipping needles gave s7d. 3Om. foI
the dip, aud our azimnth compass WAS so slug
gish on the ice, that on being agita,ed. anc
bearings taken again il gave nearly three points
difference: the variation being i2d. 35m E.
4 few days afterwards, about one hundred mie'
further 10 the west. we had no variation, ant
thence it rapidly increased in westerly variation
from which am Of opinion that when in the
ice bay we could not have been very FAR IRON
the soulh magnetic pole. This bay ! named
Disappointment Bay, as il seemed TO put an
end to all our hopes of further progress south
On the eth. we fell in with the Porpoise, in
long. l42d pom. +. and Iat God 5im. S. and
parted company shortly afterwards.
On the 2Sth, at noon. after thirteen repulses,
we ched long. liOJ 3Om. L. and lat. God
33m. S. where we again discovered land bear
ing south, having ran over forty miles, thickly
studded with cebergs.--The same evening we
had heavy gale from the southeast, with snow,
bail, and thick weather, which rendered our sit
uation very dangerous, and compelled us TO re-
trace our steps by the route which we had en-
tered. During this gale, we were unable TO see
the distance Of a fourth of mile, constantly
passing near icebergs which surrounded us,
aud rendering it necessary TO keep all hands on
deck. On the morning OF the Seth the gale a.
bated, and we returned by the same route to
reach the land, when the dangers we enconn-
cred among the ice the preceding night, and
our providential escape. were evident to all.
We run towards the land about fifty miles,
when we reached a small bay pointed by high
ice cliffs and black volcanic rocks, with about
sixty miles Of coast in sight, extending TO a
great distance towards the southwark in high
mountainous land.
The breeze freshened to a strong gale, which
prevented our landing. and compelled US to run
out after sounding in thirty fathoms water; and
within two hours afterwards the ship was a
gain reduo ed to her storm sails, with a heavy
gale from the southwark. with snow, seet, and
heavy sea. continuing Sc hours, aud if posi-
| bic more dangerous than that Of the 2Sth anC
Goth, owing to the large number Of ice island
around us; after which received reports from
the medical officers, representing the exhaust
ed state Of the crew and condition OF the shr
Of which the following are extracts:
The medical officers on duty, reported unde
date Of the 3lst January, that "Thc numbe
upon the sick list this morning is fifteen mos
oi these cases are consequent upon the @,
treme hardship and exposure they have under
gone during the last gales OF wind, when IN
ship has hcen surrounded with ice. The mum
ber is not large. but it is necessary to state, bs
the general health of the crew is. is in on
opinion, decidedly affected. and that under OF
dinary circumstances the list would be YER
much increased, while the men, under the pres
ent exicencies, acluated by Tiaudabe desire 4
do their duty TO the last. refrain from prcsen,
ing themselves as applicants for the list.
Under these circumstances we feel our
selves obliged to report, 10 our opinion, fe'
days more of such exposure as they have al
ready undergone, would reduce the number c
the crew by sickness to such an extent a. I
hazard the safety of the ship and ths lives of a
on board"
After which the surgeon being restored t
duty reported TO mo as follows:
i respectively report that. in my opinio'
the health Of the crew is materially affected
the severe fatigue. want of sleep. and exposul
TO the weather, to which they have lately bee
subjected; that continuance of these hare
ships, even for very short period, will entire
disqualliiy great number Of men for their d,
ty, and that the necessary attention TO the healt
, otthc crew and their future efficiency and u.s.
: fullness, demands the immediate return OF u
ship to midcr climate"
o Deemns it my duty however, to pers
we're, decided TO continue, and stecred aga
for the island, which we had named the An
tarctIc Continent.
We reached it onthe Cd of February, abo,
90 miles To the westward of the point first visi
ed, where we found the coast lined with sol
perpendicular cliffs, preventing the possibi
Of landing. and the same mountains tending
9 the westward. From thence We proceeded
: the westward along the ice barrier. which a
r Peared 10 make from the land, until the ihr
e when We again encountered a severe gale fro
: the $. l.. with thick weather and snow uu
the 9TH February, when it cleared up sufiicien,
= 10 allow us 10 sec our way clear, aud we aga