Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-30
Fioui the Overland Friend Of China, April 7th
North Pacific surveying squadron.


In our number Of the 10th of September last,
we recorded the departure Of the United States
ship Nincennes, Commander Rogers, on sur
veying cruise in the North Pacific, (Corea il was
stated, was the destination.) The sloop Por-
poise accompanied the Nincennes. A little more
than month before this record, in noticing the
i'll SUCCESS which, up to that period had attended
the United States n orth Pacific Surveying Expe-
dition, we said "By the time Certain courts mar
tai are brought to conclusion the southwest
monsoon will be blowing its last vcsper, and then
the fleet may just as well remain III Hong Kong
az try the strong currents and bosterous elements
Of winter in the North" The Justice of this
remark was verified with greater amplitude than
we then anticipated
Nine days after leaving Hong Kong, of the
Pessadores in fearful gale, the Porpoise and
Nincennes parted company. The Porpoise has
never since been heard of, and it is feared, with
too much reason that the ill-iated brig foundered
with all haRds. Peace 10 the names of the gal
liant spirits on board Of her! Less than three
months before that gallo the Porpoise achieved
immortal honor in rescuing from the Pratas Shoal
(perhaps now her bed) five hundred and twenty
Chinese, whom the humanity Of the Pacific and
Oriental Superintendent here would have left 10
perish Of starvation and madness. We thus then
(September Icy wrote Of that cruise Of the Po--
pose:-''Ihe future history Of the u. s. Sur
veyng Squadron in these Eastern seas will con-
tain BIlRHltI WHICH RECORDS the
account Of this GRAND 'on humane deed intent ;
1t should be printed in lettors Of gold margincd
with the word glory"
A better fortune attended the Vinconnes
Following is a brief detail of what was performed
BY her during the four and-a-half months of her
absence from this port:
On the goth Of September reached the BONN
Islands, and proceeded TO determine the longi-
tude Of aud 10 survey Port Lloyds
On the 2Sth Of October experienced, while at
anchor, terrific typhoon, commencing at ~ L. I,
thence Sc, and 10 s. w, moderating at sun
SGT, after six hours fury. In this typhoon two
mountiin barometers were broken, and several
Of the instruments set up on shore blown and in
lured. For three consecutive years, il was stated
4 typhoon had occurred there on the same day
The bay was covered with pumice stone after the
typhoon, floating in perfect beds.
On The 9th of November left the Bonins, and
three days afterwards encountered another ty-
phoon In about latitude 80 as north, longitude
l4l east, sighted the rock d'Oro, otherwise Ur-
misteAd's Peak, a solitary rock, hundreds Of
miles from any land, rising in majestic grandeur
some three hundred feet above the ocean.
On the 18th Of November reached Napa, on
the Great Loo-choo, and remained there survey
ing til December 18Th Taking the sunken w
). Saywood' : crew and owner on board, the Vim
ccnncs left for tho coast Of China, whence, with
out stopping, after dscharging the Saywood's
ti1N ihto thC Nilt again lot
Japan.
On tho 2sth Of December reached Kako Sima
fine bay, said 10 be equal in capacity 10 that Of
Rio or Sydney, being twcnty-six miles deep, and
some half dozen across NJ entrance. The Vim
ccnncs anchored in and surveyed Thmagava
harbor, in this bay; but the mountains being
covered with SNOW ION tho I'd Of January there
was a frightlnl snow Storm and observation diff.
fcult in obtaining, kako Sma was LEFT on the
9Th Of January for a run south.
Passing through Van Dieman's Straits, a sur
vey was made Of Tancga Sima. Passing Jakona
Sima, 5000 feet high, Captain Rogers named
tho channel Vincenncs Straits. Then passed
through Colnett's Straits TO Naka Sma, and
away 10 On Sima. Here the weather was so
tempostuous, tho Vinccnncs taking eight days
after sighting 10 get mp 10 the island, 4 and the
bread placed on board in Hong Kong found so
full Of weavels il was ft for no human being, il
was determined to return to this port TO recruit.
Leaving Kaki Rouma on the 9th January, on
the 30th following, anchored in Hong Kong
harbor.
Yesterday the Vincennes again started for Loo
Choo, from whence she will proceed 10 Japan,
thence to Bherng's Straits, and here again, in
about year S time, by the way Of California.
During the stay here Mr.. Knoor, the hydrogra-
pher, and Mr. Kern, artist to the expedition,
have been busily engaged in completing charts
Of the whole Of the ground trnverssd on the
cruise, which they succeeded in completing for
forwarding by the outgoing mail. Lieutenant
Brooke, in charge Of the astronomical depart
mcnt, has also been fortunate in completing a
series Of valuable observations, the old buildings
Of tho medical mission and rooms in the old Nor
rison shool having been placed by our Govern
ment at tho disposal Of Commodore Rogers for
the use Of tho expedition. We have only TO add
that our anticipation, that cit is through the
great popularity Of the Commodore there is hope
for success in the future, has been completely
fulfilled, and there Is again prospect Of success
fu voyage.
b. The Ladies Calhoun Monument Associa.
ton al Charleston, South Carolina, have now
-on,o * O00 IN their Treasury