American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-11-22
Arctic Exploring Expeditions.

The return of DR.. Kane and his party,
safe, naturally leads the mind to dwell up
on the general subject q Arctic discovery.
Three hundred years ago the problem
which SO many Englisbmen lost their lives
in endeavoring to solve was the discovery
of passage to China It Mas in search
ing fot this passage, as every one knows,
that Hudson sailed up the river which
bears his name, and that Bafin explored
the bay by which he is remembered; lis!
ofgallant names, beginning with Willough-
by and stretching down to Foxe and Smith,
proves how, many there were in that day
who were ready TO sacrifice their lives in
the cause Of discovery. After the, eoloni-
zation Of America. and especially after
Lasalie's voyage on the Mississippi had
proved that no passage existed through
which a ship might sail to China, e3pedi.
tionsw diverted into a different chan
nell During the eighteenth century, no
one made a distinct attempt 10 sail to the
northward ofthe continent Towards its
close Capt, Vancouyer's voyage in the Pa
Glic, aid bis discoveries III Ebat is now
Russian America, once more stimulated
public curiosity. AS before. Great Britain
took tile lead. One of. the FIRST expeditions
which sailed with the definite object. of
passing the norlhward Of America was
commanded by the great man whose bones
long since bleached under the Arctic SHOWS
John Franklin, Then followed, others
of scarcely less note-Ross, Parry, Lyon,
Back, Crozier. Z In 83s, the existence Of
a Northwest passage was abundantlyprov=
ed BY; the journey Of Desse and Simpson,
who walked from the point reached by
Ross on the one side to that reached by
Parry on the other. But science was not
satisfied, nor the explorers tired. Again
sailed Sir John Franklin. on his great, last
journey. in May, l845, From that Tins
to this, every expedition that has sailed to
the northwest has had for its chief objec!
the rescue Of Franklin and his companions
Accidentally the operation performed by
Dease and Simpson in 1889 was repeated
in 1851 by Mcclure, and this time, the
British government was very glad 10 put
an end tothe voyages 6f discovery by
acknowledging that the problem was ,selv.
ed and the reward won. But the chiei
thing in view both in British and Ameri-
can expeditions which have sailed since the
year !848, has, been to find some of tbe
first Of Arctic nayigators. s.1eL
Three expeditions have sailed from tn,
United States--thc first, the GrineH ex
peditiou, under Lieut.. De. Haven. which
sailed in May, 1850, and returned unsuc
cessful lbesecond, DR.. Kane's expedition
IN, the Advance; and the third, the expedi
ton sent for his rescue in the Release ans
Active under Lieut. Hsrtstein. The las
expedition Of Kane has led to valuable dis
toyeries in scionce.7f The United States
may now claim tho honor of having frs
sent shiplto discover the great open ses
near the Pole, as they have the honor o
having given birth to the men, who frs
discovered the Southern Continent. Whs
use these discoveries may hereafter Prov
to be, no one can yet conjecture; but q
they have cos. SO little ore cannot but re
joice that they have, beet brought to light
Science may possibly derive some benefi
from tho curious meteorological and geo
graphical observations ,madeby Dr.. Kane
1t is well to know that the north coast 0
Greenland has been mapped. and the coss
ofSmith Sound surveyed. 1n other point
, of view, the researches of these bold mel
into the gloom Of the Polar night may no
prove wholly devoid ofproit. o." 'a .-