The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-24
INCIDENTS, &C. OF KANE's EXPEDITION
ESCAPE TO THE SOUTH


The great belt of ice made it clear that
no relief expedition from the south could
reach the party in time to prevent the
Imprisonment of tie third winter, which,
with their deficiency of fnel, would have
proved most disastrous, if not fatal. I'm
der these circumstances Dr. Kane. wisely
determiped to abandon his brig and at
tempt to escape to the South by boats
iand sledges. In accordance with this
view they left the brig on the 18th May
the temperature at that time being 5 de-
grees below zero. They crossed belt of
ice 81 miles in diameter, dragging their
boats behind them and carrying four Of
their sick comrades by means of a dog
sledge. After travel of 8 l6 miles, with
thirty-one days of constant exposure, they
Iaeached Cape Alexander and embarked
in speh water. Their guns supplied them
with >Nnimal food, no provisions being
carried h>>the boats except powder, bread
stutfs and t&low.' From Cape Alexander
they travelled ssuthward, sometimes over
water, shooting esher duck or seal, and
collecting enough eesss to keep the party
in good condition. At>Cape York they
burned their spare boat AID sledges, for
fuel, and left the coast, puttrse out into
the open sea of Melville Bay, aAd steered
for the North Dapish settlement of Green
land Here they proyidentially landed on
the 9th of august in vigorous health,
after travri of l,S00 miles, and 81 days
I of coustagt exposure. From Upernavick,
| the largest OF these settlements, they took
passage in a Danish sailing vessel for
England. BY great good fortune they
touched at Disco, where they we've metby
Hartstcin's expedition. The expedition
had found the ice in Smiths Sound un-
broken, but having cohllDrfieateo with the
I Esquimaux had leard of the sielescture of
DIR. Kane, and retraccd their stops
Among the crew of fLc lark Release
there was considerable graduation on
the safe return OF the expedition, many OF
them stating ehat at various periods -du
ring their absence they had given UP all
hone OF ever seeing their home again.
AS a general rule the sailors connected
] With this expedition are much superior
lclass of men to those usually found in
their positions, and many of them ex-
pressed opinions concerning the action of
their officers in well-chosen language,
which sufficiently evidenced their intelii-
gence, and y certain degree of cultivation.
George Devys, a fore mast hand, exhibit
ed to us @ series of pencil sketches taken
during the cruise, which were highly COM
meudable for the originality and graphic
skill of their execution. One sketch rep
resented the bark in collision with an ice
berg on the night Of the 4th of Septem-
Der, 1854, during which, the jib-boom was
carried away, starboard bow and cathead
badly broken, and one quarter damaged,
with loss Of the quarter. The remainder
!. Ieonsisted chiefly of scenes among the Ice
bergs, all of which were detailed Ill q WV
id and picturesque manner.
Our reporter found in the forecastle, a
somewhat aged and docile specimen OF the
canine Species whose history IS quite
4 eyentfal, He is large full blooded ami
{ NAL of the Esquilnaux breed, known oy
a THE soubriquet of "Toodies,"' and is
0 great favorite with the men, both on ac'
count of his sagacity, and the falthiulness
! with which he has served them during the
i cruise. He is the sole survivor OF pach
S of sixty dogs used by DR.. Kane and HI:
/, companions, some Of which they were a. a.,
i terwards reduced to the necessity OF XII
h ing for food. Poor Toodles had anarfoS
d escape! One morning found the paf'.
" without a particle of food. and Only IS SIN
is gle dog-this. faithful and alfectiohaV
4e Toodles, who had been the companion 9
ir their vicissftades, Shared their sufterings
ir and who had lost the use of two tees 0,