The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-10-18


following highly important facts aud incidents ii
addition:
The expedition succeeded in crossing Melville
Bay, and reaching the headland O. Smith Sound a.
early as the 6th OF August, 1853. Finding the ice
/ TO the North completely impenetrabe, they were
forced TO attempt temporary passage along the
coast, where the rapid tides running at the rate o.
! four miles hour. with rise and fall of sixteen
! ieet, had worn a temporary opening. Previous "a
taking this step, which involved great risk, aud
was, IN fact, equivalent to sweeping the bay Fran
els Metallic Boat, with a cask Of provisions, was
concealed as a means of retreat. The penetration
OF the pack ice attended by many Obstacles
The vessel grounded with running tide, and but for
her extreme strength would not have been able 90
sustaio the shock. She was on her beam ends, aud
once on fire from the upsetting Of the stoves Some
idea OF this navigation may be formed from TIE TACT
OF her losing her Jbbo0m, best bower anchor, oul-
warks, besides about 600 fathoms OF warplng line.
They were cheered however by small daily pro-
gress, and by the 10th Of September, 1898, had
succeeded in gaining the Northern lace al Green
land at a point never touched before. Here the
young ice broke around the vessel, and compelled
them to seek winter asylum.
The winter gave them degree OF cold much be-
low any previous registration. Whisky troze an
NoysDtbcr-and for four months in the year Mercury
was solid daily. The mean annual temperature was
five degrees below zero, (winter and summer inclu-
ded) This, without doubt is the greatest cold
ever experienced by man, as their winter quarters
nearest the pole,
The scurvy readily controlled, but the most
fearful well as the most novel feature of winter
was a TetanuS, or lock jaw which deied all treat
meut. 1t carried away fifty seven of their best
Esqumax sledge dogs, and was, altogether fright.
full scourge.
The operations Of search commenced early as
March, the first parties, under the personal charge
IT q
81 below zero. The loss of their dogs Obliged
them, an only alternative, TO adopt this early
travel Many Of the party were frost bitten, and
underwent anputation OF the toes. 1t was by means
of these efforts that the expedition succeeded in
bringing back its results
The parties were in the field as late as the 10th
of July-only leaving from labor when the winter
darkness rendered it impossible to travel.
The Geographical Results of the Expedition.
Greenland has been followed by DR. Kane and
surveyed towards the Atlantic, with coast line
pointing due South, until a stupendous glacier ab
solutely checked their progress This snag of ice
rose in lofty precipce 800 feet high abuttinginto
the 1t undoubtedly is the only obstacle to the
nsularity OF Greeuland-the only barrier between
Greenland and the Atlantic. This glacier in spite
Of the difficulties of fallen bergs, was followed cut
to by means Of sledges; the party rafting them
selves open water on spars, upon masses of
miles along It's base; and traced it into n new North
eru land This glacier is, we believe, by far the
largest discovered by any previous navigator.
The New Land.
This New Land, thus cemented to Greenland By
protruding ice, is named WASHNGToN. The large
bay which intervenes between il and Greenland
bears we believe, the name OF Mr.. Geo. Peabody,
of Baltimore, one of the projectors OF the expedi-
ton. This new connection OF the old and new world
seems to as q feature OF singular and romantic in
tercst.
The range of the sledge journey may be under
stood from the fact that the entire circuit of Smiths
Sound has been effected, and its shores completely
charted.
The Open Polar Sea-
But the real discovery Of TIE expedition is the
open Polar Sea. The channel leading TO these wa
tiers was entirely free from ice and this mysterious
feature rendered more remarkable by the exis
tence OF a zOne-all solid iCe-extending more than
l25 miles to the South. This verifes the views
of Dr. Kane, as expressed to the Geographical So
ciety before his departure. The lashiugs Of the
surf against this frozen beach of ice impressive
beyond description. The several gentlemen
with whom we have cOnversed, speak OF 1t IN terms
of admiration. An OF 5000 square miles has
been seen entirely free from ice This channel has
been named after the Hon John P. Kennedy, late
Secretary of the Navy, under whose auspices the
expedition was undertaken.
The land to the North and West of this channel,
has been charted as high SO 30 This is the near
est land to the Pole yet known. 1t bears the name
of Mr. Henry Grinne the founder OF the enterprise.
Escape to the South.
The great belt of ice made it clear that no relief
eYpcditions from the South could reach the party
IN time TO prevent the imprisonment OF third win
ter which, with their deficiency OF fuel would have
proved most disastrous, if not fatal Under these
circumstances, DR.. Kane wisely determined TO aban-
don bis brig and attempt escape to the South by
q combination of boats and sledges.
In accordance with this view, they left the brig
on the 18th of May, the temperature at that time
bcnr 8 deg below zero. They crossed belt of
ice 80 miles 10 diameter dragging the boats behind
them. and carving four Of their sick comrades by
means of a dog sledee. Alter actual travel of
36l miles, they reached Cape Alexander, ana en-
barked in open ter. Their guns supplied them
with animal food no provision being carried in the
boat except breadstufs aud tGllow.
From Cape Alexander they travelled TO the
South ward, sometimes over ice, sometimes through
wafer shooting duck and teal and collecting enough
eggs TO keep the party in good condition. At Cape
York they burnt up their spare boats tor fuel and
left the coast for the open sea- and steered for the
coast OF Greenland. Here they landed on the 9th
of August after they had travelled 300 miles in
days OF constant exposure. From here they took
tou hing At Dscoe, they fell in with Captain HAIRS
teins expedition, who had returned to this place
due North The expedition has TO mourn the loss
OF three of its comrades; the may be sad TO have
fallen IN the direct discharge OF their duty. Their
names are Christian Alison, Jefferson Baker and
Peter Sherbert.
Incidents and Accidents Of the Kane Expedition
The Voyage Out.
The expedition left the port of New York, on
board the brig Advance, under command OF Lieut.
Kane, on Tuesday, 3lst May, 1898, Two years ana
five months ago. The voyage out was performed
without incident After the usual run the ship en-
tered Davis Straits following the route OF Arctic
bound vessels, sailed through Bafiin's Bay, pene-
trsted 20 Smiths Sound, returned through Barrows
Stratls and finally took uD the first Winters quar-
tiers in Rensselaer, BAY in the month OF September,
1853 Since that period the vessel has not moved
from her position. The ice is closely packed around
her, aud there Is no open water within ninety miles
She will probably remain there until she breaks up
Esquimax Ideas Of Meum and Teum.
The distance OF the Winter quarters from the