Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-10-26
Kane's Arctic Expedition.

was undertaken, has added considerable
to the aggregate of scientific and geograph-
ical knowledge, and established beyond all
doubt the existence Of Polar Sea, and
the almost total inpossibility of gaining
access to it. The most interesting item
IN the account is the descri ption Of this
last wonder, which although hemmed in
by thick-ribbcd ice, and immense glaciers,
accumulated by the intense cold Of 4 thou
sand winters, is itself free from the frozen
obstructions further south. From high
stand point on the summit of all immense
glacier which forms the southern barrier
of this newly discovered ocean, DR.. Kane
noted that,i all its visible extent Ofabout
5000 miles, with north wind of fifty-two
hours duration sweeping from the north,
he did not observe any ice in it, or any ob
struciion to the navi cation Of q vessel once
within its limits More than this, it
abounded in animal life, which is not the
case in the waters farther south. Bywhat
singular phenomena this is occasioned Is
mystery ye, to be explained. 1t has
been presumed by all previous Arctic ex-
plorers that beyond a certain latitude ami
nal life could not exist near the poles.
Here is fact which conflicts strangely
with the theory. In the highest known
latitude polar sea has been found where
animal life is abundant, and the water is
perfectly free of ice.
Specializing upon this curious fact, the
Worth american is of opinion that further
explorations should be made to penetrate
beyond the ultima thule of modern adven
ture. 1t says:
In that remote and inaccessible region
what wealth of whale oil must exist if
the vhalers could only get at it. There,
safe from the harpoon which has merciless-
ly pursued them all round the globe, the
fugi,ives from Spitzbergen and the Green
land seas, and Bafin's Bay and the North
Pacific have been for years disporting in
safety, bidding defiance to all the adven-
turous whalers. The question, what has
become of all the whales, is at length ap-
preaching solution. The hiding place has
been found, and though DR.. Kane does
not mention the fact, it is Of course pre-
sumeable that the animal life found in the
Polar Sea must include whales, for they
exist everywhere in the Arctic Seas. The
importance of this discovery is limited only
by the extent and iuacessibility Of the sea
itself, and though at present the prospect
is not the most promising for its utility,
yet future revelations and discoveries may
relieve the difficulty. There is ample room
about the pole and in the Arctic circle for
a sea of very large area. Tie extent north
ward of the Arctic ocean, lying above Eu-
rope and Asia and the western part of the
northern face of America, hes never yet
been defined. Fhe eastern part of the
northern face of this continent, is border
ed by perfect labyrinth Of inlands, great
and small, reaching as far north as disco
very has gone, until at last DR.. Kane Las
found the limit of the system in the open
Polar Sea. The question now to be solv-
ed is whether this sea is connected with
the Arctic Ocean, before alluded to, and
thus stretches clear across the pole, or
whether new islands remain to be discover
ed, which separate it from the ocean. The
probability seems to be that the Polar Sea
must be of great extent and depth, or it
could not remain free of ice. An approach
nor,hward from the eastern continent,
would probably show the reality. Unless
it be more accessible than by .ee opening
at present discovered, it must continue all
unknown realm, where the whales may
laxuria,e unmolested, and the seals and
walrusses multiply at their leisure
The Ledyer on the other hand, thinks
tina. there is now no longer any induce
ment to incur the perils Of a voyage to
those high northern ATTITUDES, and predicts
that these arctic expeditions should now
be abandoned. "For three centuries" it
says, "the idea Of a Northwest passage las
stimulated succession of heroes to endure
the rigors Of an arctic winter, in the hope
of finding passage from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. At last the great problem has
been solved. The successful voyage and
Journey of Com. Mcclure, terminating last
year. has proved that there is really such
a connection by water. But it has also
proved that the passage can never be made
available for commerce: and that, for four
years out of five, it is rendered impossible
by ice. There is, therefore, no lOnger any
call, nav, there is no longer an excuse, for
voyages of Arctic discovery. Hereafter
such expeditions would be totally indie
fensible. Even the natural curiosity Of
science, eager to determine disputed facts,
will be no justification fer the perils, ex
posure, and loss of life involved in those
enterprises. From this day out, therefore. |,