Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-09
THE AMERICAN SEARCHING
EXPEDITION.
ATTipai of the Adrance.
New YoRK, Sept

interview with E. X. Kane, ESQ. sur
geon to the expedition, 10 whose courte-
sy we are indebted for the following
particulars.
Ii will be remembered that the latest
previous intelligence from the American
vessels, the Rescue and the Advance,
WAS TO the 18Th OF September, 1850, re.
ceivcd through the English papers. On
tnat day they parted company with the
English squadron as mentioned in the
dispatches of Capt. Penny.
On the same night they were frozen
in at Wellington channel. From that
point commenced their Northern DRIFT,
and they were carried up the channel to
latitude 75 %, 1.-The greatest Northing
ever attained in that meridian.
From that latitude they commenced
drifting again to the South, and in No.
vember, 1850, entered Lancaster Sound.
During this time, the violence Of the
eruptions OF the ice was so great that
they could keep no fires regularly lit on
account Of the motion Of the vessel
The mercury in the thermometer fell
below zero. The bedding roze in ev-
cry apartment, and even the coffee and
soup became concealed as soon as taxi
ell off the fire.
Ii was AT this time that the scurvy
broke out. attacking all the crews and
officers, Captain De Haven and DIR.
Kane included. By Gin Of assiduous
attention and constant vigilance, how
ever, DR.. Kane succeeded in keeping
down the disease, and fortunately
brought them all through the disease
without losing Il single man. Amy one
who saw DIR. Kanc's eye when he mod
estIy mentioned this gratifying fact,
would readily believe that his attention
to his charge would be alike enthusiastic
and unrenittiDg.
The principal eruptlons in the ice we
may here mention, occurred on the lth
Of November and the Sth Of December,
1850, and the 18Th OF January, 1851, on
which latter day the expedition entered
Baifn's Bay. During their continuance
in this ice the vessels were lii' ed up by
The stern as high as six feet seven or
eight inches with list 10 starboard of
two feet eight inches, The discomiorts
and Inconvenience Of which may well
be imagined.
During this whole time also the men
had to have their knapsacks constantly
prepared, as well as sleighs, &c, not
knowing but that at any moment the
vessels, strong as they were, might be
crushed by the ice. They were three
weeks without taking off their clothes.
Fortunately the ice lifted up, rather
than crushed the vessels, which lay Of
ten at a considerable elevation on the
crest of the upheaving ice.
From this ice the vessels emerged on
the 10th Of June, 1851, after an impris-
onment Of nine months. During this
time they had dr!itcd one thousand and
sixty miles, "a polar DRIFT Of unprece-
denied extent. The only one in any
way analogous with it, we believe, was
that of Capt lack, in Hudson's Bay,
which, however did no. compare with
il in extent. During this whole impris-
onment in the ice, the two vessels suf-
iered comparatively little damage. The
Advance lost her bob-stays and part Of
her false keel the Rescue had her cut
water and bowsprit literally chiselled of.
Having got both his vessels liberated,
Capt. De Haven determined again TO
Try to prosecute his search, and turned
the Advances head to the Northward.
He succeeded in reaching the upper
Melville Bay region, but was there
again hemmed in by ice.
From this he was not liberated until
the 10Th OF August, at which time the
season was so far advanced that it was
impossible for him to proceed and ac-
complish his purpose, even supposng
everything should be favorable and no
ice intervene.
He therefore reluctantly determined
to return home. The Advance called
at the Greenland ports, where she OBJ
tanned full supplies OF fresh meats, veg
etables, fruits, &c, and DR.. Kane soon
had the happiness of seeing the scurvy
entirely disappear.
Capt. DeIaven's was the most severe
attack, and af.rded singular illustra-
tion OF one of the pc ;ul.ar features of the
disease. A small wound OH his finger,
made when a school boy, by blow
from cane, and many years ago COM
pletely healed and forgotten, was re-
opened by the disease. A similar re-
suit attended wound which Dr. Kane
received in the Mexican war, and indeed
every man exhibited similar illustra-
rion oi this phase OF the disease.
The expedition has returned without
the loss of man, which speaks volumes
alike Tor the officers and men and is no
mean praise for the surgeon oi the ex-
petition.
The American vessels last saw the
Englsh ship Prince Albert at eleven o.
clock A. NJ, on the 18th of August,
standing South South East, having Civ.
en- up, as Capt DE Haven concluded, all
hope of getting round the bay ice, and
making The Southern passage. Capt.
Dell. thinks it probable that she would
reach Prince Regents inlet
Not having had time to visit the ves-
sci herself we cannot speak Of her ap-
pcarance alter her hazardous voyage
Dr. Kane an exceedingly intelligent and
uifable gentleman, ,ooks well, although
somewhat weathcr-beaten.
fIc thinks, alter seeing the relics and
the resources on shore, that Sir John
Franklin and his crews are probably yet
alive. The Advance has brought home
the relics OF Sir Johns visit TO the place
where three Of his men were buried.
Also two or three Esquimaux dogs
one Of them not many weeks old. appa-
rently very tine and intelligent animals.
DR.. Kane speaks In th e highest terms
A