The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-26

ward and westward has been charted as high
as latitude 81 deg. 30 min. and longitude rs
deg. This forms the nearest land to the pole
yet discovered. It bears the honored name OF
Mr.. Grinnell. 4a -.
As the season advanced II became evident
that our brig would not be liberated. Our inn
mediate harbor gave few signs of breaking up,
anc one unbroken ice surface extended to the
sound. 1t was now too late to attempt an es-
cape by boats our fuel was deficient, and our
provisions, although abundant, were in no wise
calculated to resist scurvy. At this juncture
started with five volunteers on an attempt 20
reach the mouth of Lancaster Sound, where l
hoped to meet the English expeditions, and af-
ford relief to my associates. During this jour.
ney we crossed the northernmost track of Will
Jam Balm in -, bat finding solid pack
extending from Jones Sound to Hakluyt is
land. with difficulty regained the brig.
The second winter was one OF extreme
trial. We were obliged, as measure of poll
cy, to live the lives OF the Esquimaux, envel
0ped, in walls of moss, burning lamps, and
eating the raw meats of the walrus and bear.
At one time every member of our party, with
the exception Of Mr.. Bonsall al d myself, was
prostrate with scurvy and unable to leave his
bunk. Nothing saved US but rigorous Or
gained hunt, and the aid of dogs in procuring
walrus from the Esquimaux, the nearest set
stlemcnt of which people was Omiles distant
from our harbor
with these Esquimaux-a race of the
highest interest-we formed q valuable alli-
ance, sharing our resources, and mutually de-
pending upon each other. They were never
thoroughly to be trusted, but, by a mixed
course Of intimidation and kindness became OF
essential service. s.s...
l have to report the loss of three of my
comrades-brave men who persisted in the dis
charge of their duty. Two of these-acting
carpenter, Christian Ohlsen and Jefferson Ba,
ker-died of lockjaw the third, Peter Shu-
bert, of abscess following the amputation of
the foot. Mr.. Ohlsen was a valuable adviser
and personal friend. He acted in command of
the brig during my absence upon the sledge
journeys. et
Knowing that third winter would be ia
tai, and that we were too much invested by
ice for an expedition from the Sound to liber-
ate US in time for the present season, aban-
doned the Advance on the 18th of May, and
commenced travel to the south The sick,
four in number, were conveyed by our dog
sledge. l had to sacrifice my collection of nat
ural history, but saved the documents of the
expedition.
The organization of this journey was care
fully matured to meet the alternating contin-
gencies of ice and water. 1t consisted of boats
Graded upon wooden runners, with lesser
sledges for the occasional relief of cargo
With the exception of reduced allowances of
powdered breadstuff and tallow, we depended
nv, for huf n ~
Bordens meat buiscuit was kept unused for
emergencies. Our clothing was vigorously
limited to our furs. We walked in carpet moo
cAsins.
"Our greatest difficulty was the passage OF
an extensive zone of ice which interviewed be-
tween the brig and the nearest southern water
Although this belt was but eighty-one miles
in linear extent, such was the heavy nature OF
the ice and our difficulties of transpor cation
that its transit cost US thirty-one days of labor
and an actual travel of three hundred and six
teen miles.
-" From Cape Alexander we advanced by
boats, with only occasionally ice passages at
the base of glaciers. At Cape york 1 erected
cairn and pennant, with dispatches for the
information of vessels crossing Melville bay
and then, after cutting up my spare boat for
fuel, embarked for the North Greenland set
Element, ....,
ave arrived at Upernivik las before stated)
on the 9th of August, without disaster, and in
excellent health and spirits. Throughout this
long journey my companions behaved with ad.
mirable fortitude. Ishould do them injustice
if l omitted to acknowledge their fidelity to
myself, and gallant bearing in times of priva-
tion and danger,
!" From Upernivik took passage for Eng.
land, in the Danish brig Marianne but most
fortunately, touching at Goodhaven, (Disco,)
we were met by our gallant countrymen under
Capt. Hartstene. They had found the ice Of
Smiths Sound still unbroken, but, having me,
the Esquimaux near Cape Alexander, had heard
of our departure, and retraced their steps,
They arrived at Disco but twenty-four hours
before our intended departure for England
Under these circumstances, l considered it OBJ
iigatory upon me to withdraw my contract fol
passage in the Marianne, and return with the
Release and Arctic.
"The present season is regarded as nearly
equal in severity to its predecessors. The ice
to the north is fearfully extended, and the es
cape OF the searching squadron from besetmen,
is most providential. The rapid advance Of
winter had already closed around them the
young ice, and but for the power of the steam
er, and the extraordinary exertions of Captain
Harstene, an Imprisonment would have been
inevitable. Not only Smith, but Jones and
Lancaster Sounds, were closed with an impen-
etrable pack but, inspite of these difficulties
they achieved the entire decentralization Of
Baf6n's bay, and reached the Danish settle
ments by forcing the middle ice.''