Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-01-25

adjoining room. This illness of our hero was
long and doubtful, and heWas reported dead to
his friends at home
When he recovered and returned, he was en-
4 ployed In the Coast Survey. While engagedin
q this service the government by its correspond
enec with Lady Franklin became committed for
an attempt at the rescue of SirJohn and his III
starred companions in Arctic discovery. Moth
ing could be better addressed to the Doctors
governing sentiments than this adventure. The
enterprise of Sir John ran exactly in the current
! kof oneeof his own enthusiasms- service of
natural science combined with heroic personal
efiort and, added to this that sort ofpatriotism
(which charges itself with its ownsfull share in
the execution ofnational engagements ofhonor;
and besides this cordial assumption ofhis coun
try debts and duties, there was no little force
in the appeal of nobly brave spirited woman to-
the chfyslry of the american navy.
He was bathing in the tepid waters of the
Gulf of Mexico, on the 18th of Nay, 1885,
!. when he received his Geographic order to pro-
ceed forthwith to New York for duty upon the
Arctic expedition. In nine days from that time
he was beyond the limits of the United States,
on his long and dismal voyage to the North
/ Pole Of this first American expedition, as is
well known to the public, he was the surgeon,
the naturalist, and the historian. It returned
disappointed of its main object, aftera winter
in the regions of eternal ice, and 10 months
absence.
Scarcely allowing himself day to recover
from the hartiships of this cruise he set on foot
the second attemp', from which he has returned
after verifying by actual observation the long
questioned existence of an open sea beyond the
latitude of 50 deg. and beyond the temperature
also of 100 degrees below the freezing point
His Personal Narrative, . published early in
1858, recounts the adventures of the first yoy-
age, and discovers his diversified publications for
such an enterprise.
The last voyage occupied two winters in the
/ highest ATTITUDES, and two years and half of
unintermitted labor, with the risks and respon-
! sibilities attendant Hc is now preparing the
history for publication. But that part of it
which best reports his own personal agency, and
would most justly present the man to the rea-
der, will Of course be suppressed. We would
gladly supply it, but as yet this is impossible to
US His journal is private property, the ex-
tracts which we may expect will be only too shy
of egOtifm, and his companions have not spoken
Yet, as some day they will speak, of his conduct
throughout the struggles which together they
endured.
To form anything ike an adequate estimate of
this last achievement it is be recoIlected that
his whole company amounted to but 30 men,
and that of this corps or crew he was the COM
plander, in naval phrase; and when we are app
prised that his portfolio of scenery, Sketched on
the spot in pencil, and in water colors kept fluid
over spirit-lanp, amounts to over three hun
\ tlred sketches, we have hint of the extent and
variety of the offices he filed on this voyage
Ho was in fact surgeon, saitng-master, aStrono-
mer and naturalist as well as the captain and
leader of the expedition
4 This man Of all 'Ssvork, and desperate daring
and successful doing, is in height about five feet
seven inches; in weights say one hundred and
thirty pounds orso if health and rest would but
give him leave to fill up his natural measure
His complexion is fair; his hair brown, and his
4 eyes dark gray, with hawk look. He is a
hunter by every gift and grace and instinct that
: makes up the character; an excellent shot, and
a brilliant horSeman. He has escaped with
whole bones from all his adventures, but he has
several wounds which are troblesome; and, with
such general good health as his, most men would
/; call themselves invatitis and live on Through
from all the active duties of life; yet hehas won
the distinction of being the first civilized man
to stand in latitude 81 deg 80 min. and gaze
fi.upon the,opcn Polar Sea-to reach the norther-
most point Of land on the globc-to report the
!, lowest temperature ever enlured-the heaviest
sledge journeys eyer performed-and the Wild
!, est life that civilized man hassuccesSfully under
gone; and to return after all to tell the story of
his adventures. - aste.saz-s Is
Il Tee secret spring Of all this energy is in his
religious enthusiasm discovered alike in the
generous spirit ofshis adventures in pursuit of
Science; in his enthusiastic fidelity to duty, and
in his heroic maintenance of the point of honor
lin all his intercourse with men.
InEhis department there is the mixture of shy
ness and frankneSS simplicity and fastidiousness,
sandwiched rather than blended, which marks
the man ofgenius. and the monk of industry
he seems contidenti ia himself but not Of himself
4 His manner is remarkable for CELEBRITY ofnlove-
meut, alert, attentiveness, quickness Of comprc-
thenSion, rapiGiti of uttcrance and contentious
\ ccmpaetneSs oftlietion which arises from habit
ual watchfullneSs against the betrayal of his own
ienthuSiaSms. He seems to fear that he is bor
ing you, and isalways discovering his unwilling
ness to sit for your admiration. If YOU ques-
ton him about the handsome official acknowl-
\ Judgements Of his services by the British and
/ American governments, or in any way endeavor
to turnshim upon his own gallant achievements,
he hurries you away from the subject to some
! point of scientific interest which he presumeS
will more concern and engage yourself; or he
Fsays or does something that makes you think
he Is occupied with his own inferiority in some
matter which your conversation presents to him.
DIR. Kane's Narrative of the Expedition now
preparing, and in process of publication by Mes
tsers. Chilis 4 Peterson Of Philadelphia, viii
ttemhrace the important discoveries made in the
frozen regions far beyond the reach of all the
+ predecessors of the American exploring party,
tsnd their perilous adventures crowned with ro-
mantle incidents, which, in the language of the
Secretary of the Navy, mot only excite our
wonder, but borrows novel grandeur from the
)! truly benevolent considerations which animated
and neryed him to his task. y GraAam's Hugo
zine, ts6., 1856.
i tBY AND BY"
i There's music enough in those three words for
the burden of song. There's hope wrapped
up in them, an articulate beat of human heart