Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-11-15

run and caught him as be rolled slowly along
the horizon, and before he sank. Twas again
the hrst OF my party to mediate in sunshine
Ii is the third sun have seen rise for mo-
ment above the long night of an Arctic win
ter"
1t was not until the goth of May that the
party were enabled to leave the vessel, which
has irrecoverably imbedded in the ice, and
take up the line of march for the settlement
on the Greenland coast. During the inter
Vening time they had not been idle. On ev-
cry respite from their incredible sufferings by
cold, famine and disease, the search was con-
tlnued Tor the object Of the Expedition, but
after various frutles attempts, they were
obliged to relquish all hope OF success. We
have no space to detail the perlous journal
to the Danish settlements, at which they ar
rived about the 1st of August.
lhe expedition under DR.. Kane, although
NOT succeeding in the great purpose for which
II was despatched, has contributed important
and valuable addition the geography of the
Arctic regions. The highest point reached
was nearly eghty-one and a half degrees of
latitude, within about five hundred miles of
the Pole
In the different explorations by members
oil the party, the northern coast of Greenland
WAS surveyed to its termination iE the great
HUMBOLDT Glacier-this glacial mass was ex-
ahmed and described as far as its northward
extension into the new lund named Washing
ton-a large tract Of Land forming the exten-
sion northward of the American continent was
dlscovered-and the existence ascertained of
en- open and iceless sea toward the Pole. maxi
ing an area, with its channel, of over four
thousand miles. The discovery of this Polar
Sea IS one OF the Bost interesting results of
Arctic exploration. 1t had long been sus-
pected that such tract Of water was to be
found in the vicinity Of the Pole and the sus-
piclon was confirmed TO some extent by actu-
al or supposed discoveries. But hitherto no
satisfactory proof Of the fact had been obtain
ed The evidence which DR.. Kane has had
the rare good fortune to collect is founded on
iacts OF immediate observation. The coast
oil this mysterious sea was traversed for ma
ny miles-the water was viewed from an ele-
walton Of five hundred and eighty feet, pre-
senting the sane limitess spectacle, move d
by heavy swell, free from ice and dashing
in surf egainst a rock-bou shore. In con-
nection with this discovery, several facts were
brought to light indicating mder climate
| near the pole. Crowds of marine birds, the
advance Of vegetable life, the melted snow up
on the rocks, and the rise Of the thermome-
ter in the water, suggested the supposition
of climatic meloraton towards the Pole,
although DR.. Kane declines engaging in the
! discussion Of the question.
In concluding our extended notice OF this
work, We cannot bat repeat the expression Of
our sense of the heroism, energy and intelli-
gence of the intrepid chief of the Expedition.
His modest narrative has certain autcbog-
| raphlcal fascination, unconsciously revealing
the highest order of manly qualities, while in
the interest Of its incidents, it is almost super
duons to say it surpassess the most exciting
wonders of romance. A vein of beautiful hu-
manity pervades its composition, and even in
the describing Of the most desperate scenes,
| a lurking huMor often peeps forth, showing
the Importance Of uncogenial circumstances
to depress an elastic and generous nature
| The ethical lesson Of the volumes is no less
precious gift to the reader than its scientific
instruction and picturesque decinations.