Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-10-20


northern land (This glacier is. we believe
the largest discovered by any navigator)
THE NEW LAND.
This new land, thus cemented to Green
land by protruding ice, is named Washington.
The large bay which intcrvenes between it
and Greenland, bears, we understand. the
iectors of the Expedition. This icy connec-
| tion Of the Old aud New World is a feature
of singular and romantic interest.
The range of the sledge journeys may be
understood from the fact that the entire cir
cult of Smiths Sound has been effected, and
its shores completely charted.
THE OPEN POLAR SEA.
Bnt the real disc Jvery of the expedition is
the OPEN Polar Sea. The channel leading TO
| these waters was entirely free from ice, and
! this feature was rendered more remarkable by
the existence of zone or solid belt of ice,
extending more than one hundred and twenty
! five miles to the southwark. This sea ver-
ties the views Of DR.. Kane, as expressed TO
the Geographical Society before his depar-
ture.) The lashng-of the surf against this
! frozen beach of ice was, we are assured, i'm
pressive beyond description. Several gen.
| tlemen with whom we have conversed, speak
Of it with wonder and admiration. An area
of three thousand square miles was seen. en-
tirely free from ice. This channel has been
named after Hon. John p. Kennedy late
Secretary of the Navy, under whose auspices
| the expedition was taken. The land to the
north and west of this channel has been char
ted as high as 81 deg. 10 min. This is tie
nearest land to he Pole get diScorered. 1t
bears the name of Mr.. Henry Grinnell, the
founder OF the expedition which bears his
name.
THE WINTER OF lS54-'55.s g
The extreme severity Of the previous sea-
son made evident that the brig could not be
! liberated before the winter set in. She was
fast imprisoned in the centre of large field
OF ice. The provisions, although abundant,
were not calculated to resist scurvy, and the
! iuel, owing to the emergencies Of the winter,
was deficient in quantity. Under these try
| ing circumstances DIR. Kane with a party Of
volunteers, on an attempt to reach the mouth
of Lancaster Sound in hopes of meeting the
| English expeditions, and thus giving relief to
his associates, passed in an open boat over
the track Of BuilinS travel. riding ont a heavy
gale. They found an uninterrupted barrier
of ice, extending in one great horseshoe from
Jones to Murchison's Sounds and were for.
ced, after various escapes, to return to the
brig.
| During the winter that ensued they adop.
ted the habits of the EsquimauX. Hring upon
raT Wdirus meat. and surrounding themselves
with walls Of moss. In spite Of these prccau.
tions. the scurvy advanced with steady pro.
gress; but 10y the aid of single team OF
dogs. Dr. Kane succeeded in eHtcting II com.
munication with the Esquimaux, seventy miles
to the southwark. (the coolest drive, accord
! ing to the doctor. that he ever had.) BY the
system of mutual assistance, the Expedition
exchanged meat with the ESQuinauX. and by
organizing hant, relieved their party. At
! one time, every man of the Expedition. eX.
cept Dr. Kane and Mr.. Bonsell, were conf
ned to their hunks with scurvy. DIR. Kane
had Ia cook. cut ice &c. and Mr.. BonsclI had
10 do other menial service. BY Providential
| interference, the party escaped without sim
gle death.
ESCAPE TO THE SOUTH.
The great belt of ice made it clear that no
relief expedition from the south could reach
the party III time 10 prevent theiI imprison-
ment for third winter. which, with their de-
iicicncy OF fuel, would have proved most dis
uStrouS. il not fatal. Under these circum-
stances DR.. Kane wisely determined TO
abandon his brig, and attempt TO descend To
the south by IL combination Of boats and
/ sledgeS.
| Ia accordance with this view they left the
brig on the 18th of Mny--the temperature at
that time being s degrees below zero. They
crossed belt of ice 81 miles in diameter
| dragging their boats behind them, aud carry
| ing four sick comrades, by means of a dog
sldege. After Il travel of 3l6 miles. with 81
days Of constant exposure, they reached Cape
Alexander and embarked in open water
Their guns supplied them with animal food
no provisions being carried in the boats eN
cept powdered bTeadStuns and tallOw. Tai
low, says the Doctor. is II very good thing.
From Cape Alexander they travelled TO the
! sOuthward, sometimes over ice, sometimes
through water, shooting eideh duck aud seal
and collecting enough eggs to keep the party
in good condition. At Cape Fork they
burned up their spare boats and sleGges lo
fuel, and LETT the coast. Striking out into th,
open sea Of Melville Bay, they then steerel
for the north Danish settlements of Green
land Here they proyidentaliy landed OF
the 9th of August, in vigorous health, a(te
their travel Of 1900 miles, and eigltg-one day.
Of constant exposure.
LEAVING THE CoAsr-FALIISG IN WITH HART
STEMS EXPEDITION.
From Opernivik. the largest Of these set
Elements, they took passage in Danish sail
ing vessel for England BY great good for
tune, they touched at Disco, where they wer,
met by Capt. IIartstein's Expedition. Thi
last searching expedition had found the c,
of Smiths Sound still unbroken, but having
communicated with the EsQuimaux, had hear,
of the departure of DR.. Kane, and had retra
ced their steps.
THE DEATHS ON THE EEXPEDITION
The Expedition has to mourn the loss o
three of its comrades, two Of whom periShe,
Of lockiaw and one from abcess, following
upon frozen extremity. These men may b.
said to have fallen In the direct discharge o
a noble duty. Their names are :-Actinl
carpenter, Christian Ohlsen; Jefferson Ba
ker, of Philadelphia, and Peter Schubert
volunteers.
OLD DOG TOODLES.
Our reporter found in the forecastle,
somewhat aged and docile specimen Of III,
canine species, whose history is quite event
Cul, He is large full-blooded animal of th'
EsquimauX breed known by the soubriquet o
"Tootles." and is great iavorite with tn
men, both on account of his sagavity, and tn
faithiulness with which he has served then
during the cruise. lie is the sole survive
OF pack of sixty dogs used by DR.. Kane ant
his companions, some of which they were al
terwardS reduced to the npcessiy of killini