Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-03-11
BY BLISS & CHANEY
LIEUT. De HiFEN'S NARRATIVE OF THE
ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
COSCLCDED.

some motion in the foes. That on the pert side
moved on tfom the vessel two or three feet, and
there became stationary. This left the vessel
entirely detached from the ice round the water
/ lne, and lt.gas expected she would once more
/ resume an eprlgat position In this however,
we were disappointed, for she remained with her
stern elevated, and considerable list to star
boardi being held IN this uncomfortable position
/ by the hea"y masses which have been forced un-
der her bottom She retained this position until
/ she finally broke out IL the Spring
/ We were now fully launched INTO Bafin's Bav
and our line Of drift began 10 be more southerIv.
assuming a direction nearly parallel with the
western shore of the Bay, at distance of from 40
10 70 miles
After an absence of 81 days, the sun on the
z9th OF January, rose his whole diameter above
I the southern horizon, and remained visible more
than an hour All hands gave vent to delight
/ on seeing old friend again, in three hearty
I cheers
The length ofthe days now went on increasing
Z rapidly bur no warmth was yet experienced from
I the suns rays on the contrary the cold became
more intense. Mercury became CONCEALED in
/ February, also IN March which did not occur al
any other period during the winter
7 very low temperature was invariably accom-
panied with clear and calm weather, so that our
coldest days were perhaps the most pleasant
/ In the absen9e Of wind we could take exercise in
the open air without feeling any inconvenience
II was dangerous to be exposed to its chilling
blasts for any length OF time even when the ther-
I nomeIeT indicated comparatively moderate de-
gree OF Temperature.
The ice aFound the vessel soon became again
+ cemenIed and 1xed, and no other rupture was
experienced HntIi II finally broke up in the Spring
and allowed us 20 escape. Still we kept driving
/ southwark along with the whole mass Open
lanes Of water were visible at all times from aiott;
1 sometimes they would be formed within mile
/ of us. Narvaales, Seals and Dovekeys were seen
I IN them. Our sportsmen were not expert enough
4 10 procure any except few OF the latter alIao'
they were indziatIgablein their exertous to do So
( Bears were seen pTcwllng about only two were
Killed during the winter: others wounded,
/ but made them escape. A few of Us thought their
/ Hesn very paiatabie and wholesome, but the ma
JorIty utterly ieIecsed 1t. The flesh OF the seal
when II could le obtained, was received with more
+ favor.
As the season advanced, the cases of scurvv
became more numerous, Yet they were all kept
under control By the unwearied attention and skill
tul treatment OF the medical officers. NV thanks
are due 10 them especially to passed assistant
surgeon Kane. yHe senior medical officer Of the e-
pedItIOn. l oFen had occasion to consult him
concerning the hygiene OF the crew, and il is in
great measure owing to the advice which he gave
and the expedisnts which he recommended that
the whole Of the expedition was enabled 10 return
without the loss OF a man. BY the latter of Feb
Tuary the ice had become sufficiently thick to
enable Us to bud a trench around the stern ofthe
Rescue, sufficiently deep to ascertain the extent Of
the injury she had received in the gale at Grtilhs
Island.
Il was not found to be material: the upper
gudgeOn alone had been wTeuched from the stern
post II was adjusted and the rudder repaired in
readiness for shipping, when II should be required
A new boWsprlt was also made Tor her out of the
few spare spara had left and every thing made
1rfl1 i5.rA ba+ RI hrr-
! OF the ice.
I On the ist Of April a hole was cut in some ice
/ that mad been forming since our first besetnent
1 IN September was found to have attained the
! thickness OF feet and inches.
! In this month (April) the amendment of the
temperature became quite sensible All hands
were kept at work cutting and saving the ice
around the vessels, in order 10 allow them 10 float
once more. Wish the Rescue, they succeeded, al
ter much labor IN attaining this object but around
the stern Of the Advance the ice was SO thick that
our 8 feet saw was too short TO pass through it.
I Her bows ana sides, IS far ait as the gangway,
/ were liberated.
/ After making some alteration In the Rescue for
the better accommodation OF her crew. and fires
being lighted on board of her several davs preyi-
Gus to remove the ice and dampness which had
accumulated lar ING the winter, both officers and
crew were trans erred to her. the 24th OF April
I The stores of this vessel, which had been taken
and the vessel made IN every respect ready for sea
There was lItrle prospect however, OF our being
able 10 reach the desired element very soon. The
/ nearest water vr1s narrow lane more than two
miles distant. 10 cut through the ice that inter
vened would have been next 10 impossible Be
yond this lane, from the mast head, nothing Jut
intermlnable Aaas could be seen. 1t was thought
best 10 wait in patience and allow nature 10 work
I for as.
/ In May, the monday sun began TO take effect
( upon the snow waICh covered the ice the sur
+ face of the foes became watery, and dilhcuItto
walk over. SIN The dissolution was so slow in
comparison with che mass to be dissolved that il
must have taken is a loug period 10 become hber-
ated, from this C.use alone More was expected
+ from our sour,eriy drift which stil continued,
! end must soon garry us into a milder climate and
/ open sea.
/ On the 10Th by Of May. the land about Cape
Searle was mate out the first that we had seen
4 since passing Cape Walter Bathurst, about the
20th Of January. \ few days later we were of
Cape Walsinghlui and on the 9th, passed out of
the Arctic Zone
I June 9th. 1Israte breeze from s. E, with
/ pleasant weafher--thermoUeteT upto 40 al noon
and altogether uaire q warm and melting day
/ During the morning q peculiar cracking sound
was heard on the doe. | was inclined 20 impute
il 10 the settling If tie snow drifts they were
acted upon by the s1n-but in the afternoon about
I 5 o'clock, the puzzle solved very lucidy and
70 the exceeding satisfaction Of al hands. 4
crack in the io- took place between Us and the
! Rescue. and III few minutes thereafter the whole
/ immense field In which we had been embedded for
/ 50 many months was rent in all directions. leav
I ing not a piece exceeding 100 yards IN diameter
! This rupture was not accompanied by any noise
1 The Rescue was entirely liberated, the Advance
only partially. he ice IN which her after part
was embedded. still adhered 70 her from the main
chains aft, keeping her stern elevated in its I'M
slightly position. The "pack" (as Il may now
I be caIled) became quite loose and but for our
] pertnacious friead acting an immense drag
I upon US, we might have made sou2e neadway IN
any desired directjor Ali our efforts were now
turned 10 getting rid Of II. With saws, axes and
crowbars, the people went 10 work with a night
good will. and after 1ard labor tor IS hours sue
! ceeded. The vessel was again atioat, and she
righJed The 10Y Of all hands vented itself spou-
taneously in -hree hearty cheers. The after part
Of the false keel was gone, being carried away by
. the ice The loss Of il. however, I was glad 10
perceive, did no. materially affect the sailing or