The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-09-27
From the Richmond Republican
THE DEAD SEA EXPEDITION.

The September number of the Souther
, Literary Messenger contains an article G
!. profound interest on this subject from tn
pen Of Lieut.. NJ. F. Maury.
Lieut.. Maury gives history of this expe
diliun, brief but lucid, and which will in
crease the anxiety of the public to see th'
report of Lieut.. Lynch. who has made
successful survey, and who, we are glad t
learn, is expected 10 return soon to th
country.
We learn from Lieut.. Maurv's article
that This expedition was planned by Lieut.
Lynch, and authorized by Secretary Mason
In the spring of 1917, Lieut.. Lynch firs
addressed The Secretary on the subject, re.
commencing circumnavgation and explo-
ration Oft the Dead Sea and its entire coast:
stating that the expense would be 1rIfljng
as our ships frequently touched at Acre, in
Syria, forty miles from Lake Tiberas or
Sea of GaIilee, from which the river Jordan
runs and debouches in the first named sea;
that The frame of boat, with crew and
provisions, could be transported on camels
from Acre to TiberlaS, and there put togelh-
CT again. Only one traveller, Mr.. Corl gan
had ever crcumnavigated the Dead Sea,
and he had died at the termination of his
voyage, without leaving any journal or notes
behind 1t was contended also. that, indie.
pendent of the eager curiosity of all Chris
tendon IN regard TO the mysterious lake, this
expedition is of value TO the interests of nav
igation.
Tile Secretary of the Navy received fa-
vorably the proposition Of Lieut.. Lynch, and
an opportunity soon occurred by which it
could be conveniently carried into ctfi CT.
1t was necessary TO send stOre-ship to the
Mediterranean squadron and as, after her
arrival, she would have no employment for
months, the Secretary determined to send
Lieut.. Lynch and his party in her, so that,
after meeting the wants Of the squadron;
she could proceed up tho Levant, and land
Lent. Lynch and his companions.
This was done. The storc-ship Supply"
was provided with two metallic boats, one
of copper, the other of iron; the former
named Fanny Mason and tho latter Fanny
Skinner
On their arrival al their destination their
troubles began, and in their march to Lake
TIberlas their boats had To be transported
over The most formidable mountain gorgcs
and heights, and to be ,wcred down prcci.
plces with ropes. But these difficulties
were snrmounlad with true sailor skill and |
perseverance,, and on the Sth of April the |
two Fannies each with the American en-
sign flying, were ah ,at upon the beautiful |
blue waters Of the Sea of GalIac, In. ,
h!c.aiir nf liz Mraf i. alahin i SaI1
i" e Apostle saw II when our Saviour S"'a
to it, Peace, be STILL this little bard OF ro-
vcrs now bchcId it, /
The navigation Of the Jordan was found
to bc most difficult and dangerous, from IT'S
frequent and fcartui rapids. Lieut.. Lynch
sulvcs the sccrc, Of the depression between
Lake liberals, aud the Dead Sea by the tor
tuous course of the Jordon. which IN
distance of sixty miles winds through
course or,wo hundred miles. Within this
distance Lieut.. Lynch and h,s party pIung-
ed down no less than twcnty-scven threat
cninr rapids, besides many others oi less de-
sccnl. The difference Of level between the
two seas is over Il thousand iCct.
The water of the Jordan was sweet to
within few hundred yards ot IFS mouth.
The waters of the sea were devoid OF smell
I'm, bitter, salt and nauscous. Upon enter
inr il. the boats were encountered by gale
and ",t seemed as if the bows. so dense 'rHS
nLc wnfcr. were cncounlcrIng the scdgc ham
mcrs oflhc TlanS. instead oi tho opposing
waves Of an angry sea,
The party proceeded daily with their cX-
plora,ions, making geographical sketches as
thew went, until they reached the southern
extremity of the sea, where the most won
dcrlul slg ght that they had yet seen awaited
! them. =,
in passing the mountain ot Uzdom
fSodom) we unexpectedly, and much I" our
! establishment saws Lieut.. Lynch, saw Il
large. rounded, turet shaped column lacInS
towards southeast, which proved to hc OF
solid rock salt, capped wilh carbonate o'
lime. one mas OF c,vstalzaton. Mr.. Dalt
took 4 sketch of it, aud DR.. Anderson and
landed with much difficulty and procured
specimens from II.
The party circumnavigatcd the lake. re-
,urncdlo their place ofdcparlurc, and brough
back their boats in as complete order as 'hcs
) received them at New York. They were
all in fine health. This is specimen OF tn
skill, system, and discipline of the American
Navy. No nation in the world has S,cn III
service. The time is coming when 1t WI
piye proofs of that fact palpabIc TO the mos
, dull understanding. c,.
c Thanks to the good management OF Lieu
Ivncb. the whole cost of this sci1ntIilc c'
Il nora,iop of the dead sea except, "t cour>
the cost of The cquIpasc and ma'''c"anc
J. of the crew of the ship was but seven "u'
J. drcd dollars.
From the letters Of Lieut.. Lynch, quote
" bv Lieut.. Maury. we transcr'bc t"e '"'1"N