The Placer herald., 1855-11-17

their dogs obliged them, as an only alterna-
tive, to adopt this early travel. Many Of the
party were trost-bitten, and underwent an
amputation 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
ceasing from labor when the winters dark
ness rendered it impossible to travel
The GEOGRAPHICAL REsuLrs OF THE Ex-
PEDTIoN.-Greenland has been followed by
DR.. Kane, and surveyed, with a coast line to-
wards the Atlantic, fronting due North, until
stupendous glacier checked their progress.
This mass of ice rose in lofty grandeur to a
hight of five hundred feet, abutting into the
sea. 1t undoubtedly is the only obstacle to
the insularty of Greenland-or, in other
words, the only barrier between Greenland
and the Atlantic. 1t is, however an effec-
tual barrier to all future explorations. This
glacier, in spite of the difficulties of falling
bergs, was followed out to sea, the party
rafting themselves across open water spaces
upon masses Of ice. In this way they sue
ceeded in travelling eighty miles along its
base, and traced it into a new neag northern
land (This glacier is, we believe, the lar
gest discovered by any navigator.)
THE New LANp.-~This new land, thus ce,
mented to Greenland by protruding ice, is
named Washington. The large bay which
intervenes between it and Greenland bears,
we understand, the name of Mr.. George
Peabody, one of the projectors of the Expe-
dition. This icy connection of the Old and
New Worlds is feature of singular and ro-
mantle 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-But the real dis
covery 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 exist
ence of a zone, or solid belt of ice, extending
more than one hundred and twenty-five miles
to southwark. This sea verities the views
of DR.. Kane, as expressed to the Geographic
cal Society before his departure.)
The lashing of the surf against this frozen
beach of ice was we are assured, impressive
beyond description. Several gentleman with
whom we have conyersed, speak Of it with
wonder and admiration
An area of three thousand square miles
was seen entirely free from ice. The chan
mel has been named after Hon. John z. Ken
nedy, late Secretary Of the Navy, under
whose auspices the Expedition was taken.
The land to the north and west of this
channel has been charted as high as 80 deg.
80 min. This is the nearest land to the Pole
get diScog@ed. 1t bears the name of Mr..
Henry Grinnel, the founder of the expedition
which bears his name.
The WINTER OF lS54I55.-The extreme
severity Of the previous season made it evil
dent that the bri 9 could not be liberated be-
fore the winter set in. She was fast impls-
oned in the center of a large field Of ice.
The provisions, although abundant, was not
calculated to resist scurvy and the fuel,
owing to the emergencies of the previous
winter. was deficient in quantity.
Under these trying circumstances, DR..
Kane with party of volunteers. made an at
tempt to reach the mouth of Lancaster
Sound, in hopes of meeting the English ex-
peditions, and thus giving relief to his asso-
ciates, passed in an open boat over the track
of Baffin's travel, riding out heavy gale.
They found an uninterrupted barrier Of ice,
extending in one great horseshoe from Jones'
to Murchlson's Sounds, and were forced, af-
ter various escapes, to return to the brig.
During the winter that ensued, they adopt
the habits of the Esquimaux living upon
raw walrus meat, and surrounding themselves
with walls Of moss. In spite of these pre-
cautions, the scurvev advanced with steady
progress, but by the aid of single team of
dogs, DR.. Kane succeeded in affecting com
] ~, -,
miles to the southwark, (the coolest drive
according to the Doctor, he ever had.) BY
the system of mutual assistance, the eYped-
ton exchanged meat with the Esquimaux,
and by organizing a hunt, relieved their
party.
: At one one time, every man of the expe-
dition, except DIR. Kane and Mr.. Bonsell,
; were confined to their bunks with scurvey.
DR.. Kane had to cook, cut ice, &c, and Mr..
Bonsel had to do other menial service. BY
Providential interference the party escaped
without single death.
ESCAPE TO THE SoUTH.-The great belt of
ice made it clear that no relief expedition
; from the south could reach the party in time
to prevent their imprisonment for a third
winter, which, with their deficiency Of fuel,
; would have proved most disastrous, if not
fatal Under these circumstances, DR.. Kane
wisely determined to abandon his brig and
attempt to descend to the south by com
bnation of boats and sIedges.
IN accordance with this view they left the
brig on the 18th Mav-the temperature at
that time being degree below zero. They
crossed belt OF ice 81 miles in diameter,
dragging their boats behind them, and car
rying four sick comrades by means of dog
sledge. After travel of 3l6 miles, with 3 |
days of constant exposure, they reached Cape
Alexander and embarked in open water.
: = Their guns supplied them with animal food.