The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-18

The Advance lcft in the Ice.
NEW LANDS FOUND.
A BRIDGE OF ICE FROM GREENLAND
TO THE CONTINENT.
AN OPEN SEA FOUND.

their visit to the Arctic Seas is graiifyin:
termination of an adventurous undertaken.
of more than ordinary peril. The expedition
started in May, 1853, and had not been hoare
OF since July of the same year.
The Expedition succeeded in crossing
Melville Bay, and reaching the headland o.
Smiths Soutd, as early as the 9Th OF August
1853. Finding the ice to the North com
ple,ely impeneIrable, they were forced 10 at
temp, temporary passage along The coss,
where the rapid tides, running al the rate o.
four miles an hour, with a rise and fall offs six
teen feet, had worn temporary opening
Previous TO taking this step, which involved
great risk-which was, in fact, equal 10 a
sacrifice of the brig in which DR.. Kane was-
Francis metallic Efe.boat, with a eashe oi
provisions, was concealed as means of re-.
treat.
The penetration of the pack-ice was aiten-
ded by many obstacles. The vessel ground.
ed with every tide, aud but for her extreme
strength she would no, have been able to
sustain the shocks. She was several times
on her beam ends, and once on fire from the
upsetting of The stores.
Some idea oi this peculiar navigation may
be formed by knowledge of The fact Of her
losing her iibboom, best bower anchor and
buwarks, besides abou, 600 falhoms OF wrap.
ping line. They were cheered, however, by
small daily progress; and by the 10Th Of
September, 1853, they had succeeded in
gaining the northern face Of Greenland, a, a
point never reached before.
Here the young ice froze around the ves-
sci, and compelled them TO seek winter
asylum, in which they experienced degree
of cold much below any previous registra.
tion. Whiskeytr troze in Nopember, and f'rJour
months in the year the mercury was SOLID daily
The mean annual temperature was five de-
grees below zero. This is the greatesl de-
gree of cold ever experienced by man, and
their winter quarters were nearer the Pole
than ever before occupied.
The scurvy was easily controlled, bnt the
most fearful, as well as The most novel fea-
ture of the winter was lelanus, or lockiaw
whict defsd all treatment II carried away
fifly-seven of the best Esquimaux sedge
dogs, and was altogether a frigliIfu scourse.
THE SEARCH.
The operations of search were commenc-
ed as early as March--ihe 6rs. parties under
the personal charge DR.. Kane, crossing the
ice AT temperature of ffty-seUen degrees be.
loso zero. The loss of their dogs obliged
them, as an only alternative, to adopt this
travel. Many of The party were frosl-biuen,
and underwent an ampu,alion OF their toes.-
II was by means Of these efforts that the Ex-
pedison succeeded in bringing back its re-
sulfs. The parties were IN The field as late
as the 10Th of July, only ceasing from labor
when the winters darkness rendered il i'm.
possible 10 travel.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL RESULTS OF the KxpEpI-
TIoH.
Greenland has been followed by DR.. Kane,
and surveyed, with coast iinB towards the
Atlantic, fronting due North, until a .tupen-
dous glacier checked their progress. This
mass of ice rose in lofty grandeur to a height
OF five hundred feet, abuuing into The sea-
II undoubtedly is the only obstacle TO the in-
suiarity of Greenland OF in other words, the
only barrier between Greenland and the AT.
iantic. 1t is, however, an effsctual barrier 10
all future explorations. This glacier, in spite
of the difficulties of falling bergs, was fol-
lowed out 10 sea, the party rafting themselves
across open water spaces upon masses of
ice. IN this way thew succeeded in travel
ing eighty miles along its base, and traced |,
into a ne,g northern land. (Ths glacier is,
we believe, the largest discovered by any
navigaior.)
THE NEW LAND.
This new land, TINS cemenled to Green
land, by protruding ice, is named Washing.
ton. The large bay which in,ervenes be.
tween il and Greenland, bears, We UNDER
stand, the name of Mr.. George Peabody, one
of the projectors OF the Expedition. This icy
connection Of the Old aud New Worlds is
feature Of singular and romantic interest.
The range of the sledse journeys may be
understood from The fact that the entire cir
cult of Smiths Sound has been effected, and
lis shores completely charted.
THE OPEN POLAR SEA.
But the real discovery 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 verifies the views Of Dr.. Kane, az ex-
pressed TO the Geographical Society before
his departure) The Iashing Of the surf against
this frozen beach of ice was, we are assured,
impressive beyond description Several gen.
,lea.en with whom We have convefsed,
speak of ii with wonder and admiration. An
area of three thousand square miles was
seen, entirely free from ice. This channel
has been named after Hon. John P. Kenne-
dy, iase Secretary of the Navy, under whose
auspices the expedition was taken, The land
IN the north and west oil this channel has been