Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-02-12
SMITHSONIAN LECTURES.
DR.. Knne's Third Lecture on
Arctic Explorations.

ing, by request, his former arguments in
favor OF the existence of Sir John Frank
lin and his party, DR.. Kane went on to
describe the perils to which the American
expedition was exposed during its long
and unique drift, in the polar ice. One
of these struck US as especially fearful
The vessels were about To enter Baffin's
Bay fast in great field of solid ice, when
suddenly this was rent into chasms,
which rapidly opened into what were
characterized by DIR. Kane as "dark riv-
ers." nearly half as wide as the Potomac.
On the 18th OF January Of last year these
began to close with frighftul ciamor
and disruption. The brig was bodily
lifted up seven feet, and an advancing
mound of ice threatened 70 overwhelm
her, when by some miraculous agency
its course was arrested. The subse-
quent portions of the lecture were full of
novelty; they related to some Of the phys.
ical phenomena of this wonderful region.
The fret of lhese was:
The POLAR CIRcLE.-This, with It's
gradual and insidious approach, was
graphically depicted. Al the appalling
temperature Of 40 degrees and so, or 20
to 80 degrees beiow The freezing point,
cold became as sensible in its effects as
heat; indeed, between the positive effects
of the very high and the negative of the
very low scale, it was impossible to dis
tinguish by sensation. Upon going out
into the open air The face became encrust.
ed with an icy rind. and the lips were
glued together by the cemensing aid Of
the beard and moustache. The trigger
Of gun blissered the finger, and jack
knife in the pantaloons pocketcaused you
to jump as with sudden scald. Dur
ing the long darkness, when they at
tempted TO begnile the winter hours with
theatricals. an unfortunate Thespisn
dropped the pantomimic hat-iron as
though receiving a sudden burn. In
deed, next day row of blisiers had Civ
en- evidence of the truth thai, in temper
aturs as in every thing else. extremes
meet.
TIE POLAR NIeHT.-Wi,h the cold
came darkness. The long night stole
gradually upon our yoyagers, and at last
the clear heavens shone out perpetually
with nnchanging stars. The pole star
was so nearly overhead as to appear in
the absolute zenith. and around il the
..great vaul, of heaven revolyed with per-
pe,ual twinkle" This portion of the Lee.
ture was listened 10 with breathless at
iention. AT last, however, the night
passed away, and alnost by an immedi-
ate transition. day came upon them, DR..
Kane said that this short period of alter
nation, giving them as il did the familiar
day and night Of home, was full of pain
ful associations.
Atihis time many peculiar phenomena
were noticed. Among these stood pre-
eminen,ly
PARAsELINAR AND LUNAR HALos.-
The moon was observed surrounded by
two concentric circles. each intersecied by
luminous bands passing through her disc
DIR. kane has seen al one time six imita-
tive moons. aPing. though feebly, The great
satellite. a
THE AURoRA.-This was not the dis.
play, either of color. or illumina tion, or
movement, which is seen in more SOUTH
ern lalitudes. DR.. Kane mentioned that
he had observed the auroral arcs directly
overhead, nearly coincident with the mag
neiic meridian. They were then north
OF the magnetic pole Of our earth, and
the south polar direction was read by the
compass as north. In other words,
their magnetic variations was ls0 de.
grees.
PARHELIA.-Whh the day light came
the parhelia, or mock-suns. These, like
tie paraselina. or mock moons, were full
Of variety. The lecturer very properly
observed that it was a sort Of proclamation
TO atsemp. TO describe a sky trayersed
with rainbows and gli.sering with imi.a-
ting suns.
REFRACTIoN.--Last Of these most in
ieresting displays came "refrac,ion;"
that form of il SO we'll known 10 US under
the name of mirage" Ihe marvels of
this wonderful illusion, although sustain
ed by the united experience Of al Arctic
voyagers, surpass the conceptions ofthe
reality. Saracenic cities glittered in the
"purples of the low sunlight" ocean.
steamers fumed in the vibrating distance.
All these were described with poetic yet
truthful force of detail. But, leaving all
this, DIR. Kane at last escaped from the
great pack-ice by Baffin's Bay. Once
more the vessel dashed the free water
from her bows. Here sincere but ex-
pressive eulogium Of his commander and
mess-mates came naturally from DIR.
Kane, Lieut.. De Haven had determined
to renew the search to the aorthward,
and his officers, 10 man, sustained him.
The SECOND SEASON. more,
then, the battered little vessels turned
their bows to the North, but their path
was not a free one. Icebergs hemmed
them in, and soon they were fast bound
by mid-summerice. Here. but for the
exercises Of unceasing watchfulness,
they were upon the very verge of being
made prisoners for second winter
But Providence had otherwise willed il,
and by incalculable exertions they escap-
ed. In the concluding sentences Of his
lar@c.~ n