The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-26

ing from labor when the winter darkneos
made il impossible to travel.
The extreme severity oil the previous sea-
son made il evident that the bris could not
be liberated before the winter set IN. She
was fast imprisoned in large field OF Ice
The provisions, though abundant, were not
calculated to resist scurvy, and the fuel, ow'
ing to the emergency Of the present WINTER
was deficient in quantity under these cir
cumsiances.
DR.. Kane, with a party OF volunteers,
made an attempt to reach the English expe-
diiiOn, and thus giving relief to his ascot
ates. They passed in open boat over the
track Of Baffin's travel, riding out
heavy gale. They found an uninterrupted
barrier OF Ice, extending. in one great horse
shoe, from James to Murchi.en's sounds, and
were forced, after various escapes, to return
TO the brig.
During the winter which ensued, they
adopted the habits Of the EsquimauI, living
upon raw walrus meat, and surrounding
themselves by walls Of moss. In spite OF
these precautions, the scurvy advanced with
steady progress but by the aid OF single
team OF dogs, DR.. Kane succeeded IN eject,
WIN
Esquimaux, 20 miles South, aud by organ
hing hunt relieved the party. AT one
time. every man Of tho expedition, except
DR.. Kane and Mr.. Bunsel, was confined 10
his bunk, but by providential interPos'''
ION. the party escaped without death.
Dr.. Kane followed and chartered Green
land, towards the Atlantic in northern
direction, until his progress was checked
by a stupenduous glacier. They followed
this glacier by means OF sledges, and ascot
tanned that il connected Greenland with
new land farther north, which they named
Washington. A large bay intervening be-
tween this land aud Greenland was named
after Mr.. Peabody, Of Baltimore.
But the real discovery Of the expedition is
tho open Polar sea. The channel leading
TO these was rendered the more remarkable
by the existence OF belt OF solid ice ex.
tending l25 miles TO the southwark. This
sea verified the views Of Dr.. Kane, as ex.
pressed 10 the Geographical Society before
his departure. An area oil 5000 square
miles has been seen entirely free from ice.
This channel has been named after the Hon.
J. p. Kennedy, Secretary o. the U. s. Navy.
under whose auspices the Expedition was
undertaken.
The land TO the north and west Of this
canal has been chartered as high as 800
30'. This is the nearest land 10 the pole
yet known. Ii bears the name OF Mr.. Henry
Grinnell, the founder Of the enterprise.
The grea, bel, Of ice made i, clear ,ha,
no relief expedition from the south could
reach the patty in time 10 prevent the i'm
priSonmenl Of third winter, which, with
their deficiency Of fuel, would have proves
most disastrous, IL no, fatal. Under these
circumstances. DE-. Kane determined Il
abandon his brig, and attempt 10 escape Il
the south by boats and sledges.
Ia accordance with this view they leii III,
brig on the nth Of May, the temperature a
thai time being deg. below zero. The.
crossed belt OF ice 81 mile in diameter
dragging their boats behind them and car
rying !our Of their six comrades by mean
Of dog sle1ge. Aher travelling $40 miles
with 81 days constant exposure, they reach
ed Cape Alexander, and embarked in opel
! wafer.
From Cape Alexander they travele
southwark sometimes over ice and some
times over wafer.
. At Cape York they burned up their spar
boats for fuel, AMI Left the coast, putting on
9 into the sea OF Melville Ray, and sped f
\ the northern Danish Provinces Of Greer
i land. Here they were proyideu,ially lane
!. ed on the 9th Of August, in vigorous healll
!, after travel Of 1000 miles, and 81 days e,
. posture.
h laFrom Upernavick, the largest Of thes
settlements, they took passage in DAMS
vessel for England. By grea, good fortune
, they touched a, Driscow. where they me
Capt. Harsiein's expedition.
The searching expedition had found III
ice at Smiths Sound still unbroken, an
!, having heard from the E,quimaux Of III
) departure of DR.. Kane. had retraced the
} steps,
DR.. Kane, accompanied by the Secretar
D OF the Navy, paid his respects TO the Pres
; dent on the 18th inst. He had made
: important correction in his official report
o the expedition, which should read that
$ surface Of 5000 miles, instead Of 800 squa
/, miles, Of open sea, free nom ice, &C., hi
l. haan ,liscovared