The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-12-23

WV EArhDtAioA TO THE NORTH foLA
SEAS UEDER DR. KAm-At a meeting {
the American GeOgaphical and Statistics
Society, held at New York, on Tuesday eve
ming. DR.. E. X. Kune read a paper on a
access to an open Polar Sea by a North A
merican meridian, during which he state
that Mr.. Grinnell had placed at his dispose
the Advance, and the Secretary Of the Ma
Wy had assigned him to special duty for th
conduct Of a new expedition, the details an
outlines of which he described. His plan c
search is based upon the probable extensio
of the land masses Of Greenland TO the ia
north-a view veto be verified by traveI
but sustained by the anGlogies of Physica
Geography. Admitting such an extension
they would, he says, have the following in
ducements for exploration and research:
/. Terra irma as the basis Of our one
%rations, obviating the accidents Characters
tic Of ice travel.
2. A due Northern line, which throwing
aside the influence Of terrestrial radiation
would lead soonest to the open sea, shoult
such exist.
8. The benefit OF the fan-like abutmeht
Of land, on the north face of Greenland, tc
check the ice in the course of its southern OF
equatorial drift; thus obviating the draw.
back of Parry in his attempt to reach the
Pole by the Spitzebergen sea.
4. Animal life to sustain travelling par.
ties.
3. The cooperation of the Esquimaux
settlement of G~reenlanders, having been
found as high as Whale Sound and probably
extending still further along the coast
The point | would endeavor to attain would
be the highest attainable point Of Bafin's
Bay, from, if possible, pursuing the Sound
known as Smiths Sound, advocated by Bar
on Wrangell as the most eligible site for
reaching the North Pole.
Asa point of departure, this is W htn-
dred and twenty miles to the north of Beech
ey lsland-the starting point Of Sir Edward
Belcher-and seventy miles north of the ut
most limits seen or recorded in Wellington
Channel.
The party will consist Of lone thirty men
with a couple of launches, sledgcs, dogs, and
gutta percha boots. The provisions will be
Pemmican-a preparation OF dried meat,
Packedin cases, impregnable to the appe-
tite of the Polar bear. Dr.. Kane, after stat
ing that his expedition will leave the United
States in time to reach the bay at the earli-
est season of navigation, says:
After reaching the settlement of Upper
navik, we take in a supply of Esquimaux
dogs, and d few picked men to take charge
Of the sledge. We then enter the ice of
Melville Bay, and if successful in its pene-
~tration, hasten to Smiths Sound, forcing
our vessel 10 the utmost navigable point, and
there securing her for the winter. The op-
erations of search, however, are not to be
suspended. Active exercise is the best safe
guard against the survey; and, although the
darkness of winter will not be in our favor.
l am convinced that with the exception, per-
haps, of the solsticiul period of maximum
obscurity, we can push forward our provision
deposits by sledge and launch, and thus pre-
pare for the final efforts of our search.
In this am strengthened by the valuable
opinion of my friend, Mr.. Murdaugh, late
the sailing master Of the Advance. He has
advocated this very Sound as a basis of land
operations. And the recentjourney of VIM.
Kenney, commanding Lady Franklin's last
expedition, shows that the faif and winter
should no longer be regarded as lost months.
The sledges, which constitute SO impor-
tant a feature Cr Our Expeditions, and upon
which not only our success but our safety
will depend, are to be constructed with cx-
IRENE care. Each sledge will carry the
blanket, bags and fdr5 OF six men, together
with a measured ALLOWANCE of Pemmican..-
A light tent of India rubber cloth of n new
pattern, will be added; bat for cdr nightly
halt the main dependence will lie the snow
house of the Esquimaux. 1t is almost in
credible, in the face OF obstacles, to what ex-
tent well organized sledge party can I'D
vance. The relative importance of every
ounce Of weight can be calculated, and the
sysecm of advanced depots of provisions or
ganized admirably.
Alcohol or tallow is the only fuel, and the
entire cooking apparatus, which is more for
thawing the snow for tea-water than for
heating lood--can be carried in a little bag.
Lieut.. McClictock, of Commander Austen's
expedition, Travelled thus 800 miles; the col
lective journeys Of the expedition equaled
several thousand, and Baron Wrangell made,
BY dogs, l,553 miles in IA days, and this over
a fast frozen ocean.
Du' 'uo Stcatest sleuSe journey upon re-
cord is that of my friend, Mr.. Kennedy, who
accomplished nearly l,4O0 miles, most of it
in mid-winter, without returning upon his
track to avail himselfo OF deposited provisions.
His only food-and we may here learn the
lesson Of the traveller to avoid un-
necessary baggage--was Pemmican, and his
shelter the Snow House.
1t is my intention to cover each sledge
with a gutta-percha boat--a Continuance
which the'experience of the English has
to be perfectly portable. Thus equip
ped, we follow the tread of the coast, seek
ing the open mater.
Once there if such a reward awaits us, W
launch our little boats, and, bidding God
speed US, embark upon its waters. Zap