Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-05-15
The American Explorers in ths lret, Sen.


Nr, Snow, an English traveller, who
went into the Arctic region as a volunteer
on board the Albert, (Lady Franklin's
vessel has, since his return, furnished
the London Spectator with many interes-
j ting Communications, from one of which
: We extract the following, in regard 10 the
American vessels, costituting the Grinneu
Ezpedition.
" The Americans intended to push on
wherever th,y could, this way or that way,
as might Be found best in the direction Of
Melville Island aud parts adjacent. es-
pecially Banks Land and trey meant
to winter wherever they might chance to
be, III the pack or out of the pack. rs
long as they could be moving or making
/ aIy progress III any direction that might
assist IN the object for which they had
come, they meant still to be going OF. and
with the true characteristic Of the Amer
lean. cared for no obstacles or impedi-
meuts that might arise in their way
Neither fears nor the necessary caution
which might easily be alleged rs an excuse
for hesitation or delay, at periods when
anything like faDcied danger appeared,
/ was to deter them Happy fellowsl shot
/ 10 fair wind nor open prospects viii be
lost with you; no dissensiOns or incompe-
/ tency among your executive officers exist
/ to stay your progress. Bent upon one er-
rand alone your minds set upon tbat be
fore YOU embarked, no triaes nor comm0n
danger viii prevent you daring every
thing for the carrying out Of your mis-
sion. Go on then. brave sons IF America,
and may At least some share Of prosperity
and success attend your noble exertlons
The Advance was most cxtraordina-
rily fortified to resist any pressure Of the
ice, and to enable her to force he way
against such impediments as those she en-
coGutcred this evening Her bow was
one solid mass of timber-I believe | am
right IN saying from the f0remast. Her
tjmbers we're increased IN size and num-
ber. so that she might well be said TO have
been doubled inside as well as out. Her
deck was also doubled. then felted. and
asau lined inside while her cabin had,
an addition. a sheathing of cork The
after part Of the vessel was remarkably
strong; and 4 movable bulkhcad. which
an across the fore part Of .au cabin,
could at any time be unfastened to afford
a free communication fore and aft when
needed The crew if | remember rightly,
lived in 4 strongly-built rount-house' on
deck, amidships, one end of which was
converted into a cook-hous called a gall
ey,' and another the pantry Ten men
! formed the number Of the working sea
men: there were no ice masters, but
III st Of the sailors were accustomed to the
ice 4 steward and cook completed the
! full compliment Of the ship.
The Advance was manned by sixteen
persons, officers included. Her cumman-
der, Lieutenant De Haven. a Young man
about 26 years Of age, has served in the
United States exploring expedition, m
der Commodore Wilkes in tie Antarctic
seas. lie seemed as fine a specimen of
seaman and a rough and ready officer as I
, have ever seen. Nor was lie at all def
cient IN the true characteristics Of true
gentleman, although the coguomen is 50
: often InisappIied and understood
= With a sharp, quick eye, a countenancc
brouzed, aud apparently insured to all
wcathers, his voice gave unmistakable
signs of energy, promptitude and dicision.
There was no mistaking the man He
r was undoubtedly well fitted to lead such
an expedition.
= His second in command (r3r they were
very differently organized from us) was
still younger, and more SLIM but Wltbal
# equally determined and sailor Ike ap-
pcarance Next to him was junior Off
Z car. Of whom | saw but little. and taat lit
tie was enough to tell me that the execu-
t.yes under Captain De Haven would be
efficient auxiIiaries to him Last of all,
though not least among them, was one of
whom | must be excused for saying more
tlan casual word or two 1t was Dr.
Auue. tHe surgeon, naturalist. journalist
&c, Of the expedition Of al exceed
.n.Iy slim and apparently fragile form AID
Z make, and with features far more suited
to a genial cline, and to the comforts Of a
pleasant home than to the roughnes5 and
lardships of an Artic voyage, be was yet
Z very old traveller, both by sea and land.
- lis rank as a surgeon In the American
4 iavy, and his appointment at three days
| notice to this service, were sufficient proof
/ # his abilities, and Of his being consider
u capable ofenduring all that would have
% be gone through.
- If ever & vessel and her officers were
Z 7a7ab!e Of going through an undertaking
, | IN which more than ordinary q fficulties
sal to be encountered, I had no doubt i
would be the American; and this was
oyiueed to me even while We we're on boar
p by the apparently reckless way in which
s they dashed through the streams Of heavy
ii ice running off from Leopold Island I
q happened to 90 on deck when they were
n tAus engaged, and was delighted to Wit
s. ness how galIantly they put aside every
D. inFe1;ment in their way An officer was
n standing on the keel Of the bowsTrit, con
y Ming tho ship and issuing his orders TO tbe
er man at the wheel, in that short decisive,
e get clear manner in which the helnsmau