Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-11-04
The No rth-west Passage.
FRoM McCLuRE's DlsrATouEs-H IonLy INTEREST
ING NARRATIVE.

From McCLURE's DISPATCHES IGHLY INTEREST
ING NARRATIVE.
The London Times 81 the 9th publishes the dis
patches from Commodore Mcclure, 10 the British
Admiralty, relative to the discovery of the North
west Passage, to which cursory reference wa
made by the previous steamer. These dispatches
are very numerous and very voluminous. Wep:e-
sent below their most interesting and impottans
features. The great point settled by Commodore
Mcclure is this-he has managed to force his ship
the Investigator, far enough through the icy noun
tains of Behring'S Straits, to point from which
she could communicate with others which had en-
tered the Arctic Seas by the Atlantic passage.
is we'll to note this fact, particularly-the impress
sion having been created that the Investigator had
sailed from ocean to ocean, which is not the case
Just yet-but it will be seen by Com. McClure's
dispatch below, that he has no doubt he will be
able to make passage to England now through
Davis Stats. Practically, therefore, he is enti-
tied to the credit OF having accomplished the yoy-
age from ocean to ocean.
The Investigator, while forcing her way through
Barrow'S Straits, (Sept. oath, 1882 from the west
Yves run ashore, the Commodore making his whittier
quarters there-in the bay of Mercy. We gioe
6slo,o interesting ATTRACT. And 1t Is from that
point, be ii remembered, that he now writes. Com.
".
Bafin's Bay in 1854. Portions OF the dispatches
are exceedingly interesting. 81
There are two remarkable discoveries mentioned
in Captain McClure's Journal, viz: some smoking
hillocks and petrihed forest. He also states that
during his intercourse with the natives, he only
once met with any hostile demonstrations. This
occurred at Port Warren, near the Mackenzie
where on attempting to land; two natives, with
threatening gestures, waved them OIL 1t was not
without much difficulty that they were pacihe0,
and then they related that all their tribe but the
chief and his sick son had fed on seeing the ship,
alleging as reason, that they feared the ship had
come 10 revenge the death of white man they had
murdered some time ago. They Through the in
terprtter) related that some white men had come
there in boat, and that they built themselves
house and lived there; al lastthe natives murdered
one and the others escaped they knew. not where,
but the murdered man was buried in spot they
pointed out A thich fog coming on prevented
Capt. Mcclure from examining this locality, which
is much regretted, here is the probable position
where boat party entevorng to return by the
Mackenzie would have encamped.
Below we extract from the Commodore's jour
nal:
.sThe currents along the coasts of the Polar Sea
appear TO be influenced in their direction more
less by the winds; but certainly upon the west side
of Barring Island there is a permanent set to the
eastward. AT one time we found it much
two knots during perfect calm; and that the
flood tide sets from the westward we have aScer-
tanned beyond doubt, as tue opportunities afforded
during our detention along the western shore of
this island gave ample proof.
''The prevailing winds along the American
shore, and in the Prince of w les Strait, found
to be N. E., but upon this coast S. S. W.. to N.
w.
ga ship standsno chance ofgetting to the west
ward bYentering the Polar Sea, the water along
shore being very narrow and the wind contrary,
and the pack impentrabIe; but through Prince of
Wales Strait, AMI by keeping along the American
coast, conceive if practicable. Drilt wood is ID
great abundance uponth the coast of Prince of Wales
Strait, and on the American shore, also, much s
game.
ssIn this vicintythe hills abound in reindeer
and hares, which remain the entire winter; we
have been very fortunate in procuring upwards of
1000 lbs IA
ssThe health of the crew has been, and still con-
tinnes, excellent, without any diminntion of num-
bers, nor have we felt the slightes trace of the
scuryy.
land this season, touching at Melville Island and
Pott Leopold, but, should we not be again heard
of, in all probability we shall have been carried
into the Polar pack, OF the westward Of Melville
Island in either of which cases any attempt 10
send succor would only be 10 increase the evil
as any ship that enters the Polar Pack must be in