Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-11-07
KANE'S ARCTIC EXPEDI-
TIoNS.

KENT KANE, have just been published BY
Petersen & Childs of Philadelphia. The
work is one Of deep interest, and mus, have
m extensive circulation. We copy few
extracts which we fLd 10 late number of
the New York Tribune
The specific features Of DR.. Kane's plan
Of research, consisted in making the land
misses Of the north Of Greenland the basis
Of operations, assuming, from the anoloeies
Of geographical structure, that Greenland
was TO be regarded as peninsula approach
ing The vicinity of the Pole, rather than as
acongerios Of islands connected by interior
glaciers On tits hypothesis, the course
was to pass up Baffn's Bay to the most
northern attainable point. and thence, press
ing on toward the Pole, as far as boats or
,eJgas eoalI reach, to examine the coast
lines for yestigcs of tie missing party. The
Expedition which sailed in the Advance
consisted or seventeen mau, tesides the
commander The equipment was simple.
quantity Of rough boards 10 serve for
housing the vessel in winter, someIndia rub
Der aUd canvas tents, and several strong
siedges, built on conve nient model, com
p!etod the outfit. For provisions, they took
liberal supply Of pemmican, portion of
Bor1en's eat-biseuit, some packages of
prepared potato, store of dried fruits and
vegetables, beside pieEled cabbage, the salt
beef aud pork of the Navy ration, hard bis
cut aad -four. A moderate supply of IL
qaors made up the bill of fare, although
tie party we're pledged to total abstinence
fron this article. unless dispensed BY spe-
.cial order.
Leaving New York on the 30,h of May,
1853, the Advance arrived at the hasbor of
FiskernaneS on TIE 1st Of July. They pro-
ceeded gradually along the coast, until on
The 27.h of July, they neared the entrance
Of Melville Bay. Here they encountered
their fest serious obstruction from the ice;
DR.. Kane promptly decided to attempt
passage through the bay by new track;
and after rough transit OF eight days, the
wisdom Of the plan vas confirmed BY its
success. IL less ilsn week they entered
Smiths Sound, and landing near Li,tleton's
Island, deposited boat with q supply of
stores, wi,h the view Of securing a retreat
In case Of disaster.
We found TO our surprise that we we're
not the ffst human beings who had sought
shelter ia this desolate spot. A few ruin
cd walls here and there showed :hat it had
caee been the scat Of rude settlement; and
u be little knoll which we cleared away,
10 cover in our storehouse of valuables, We
fogad the mortal remains Of their former
inhabitants.
Nothing can be imagined more sad and
homeless than these memorials of extinct
lie. Hordlya vestige of growth was trace
able ou the bare ice. rubbed rocks: and the
butts -esembled so much the broken frag-
mahls that surrounded them, that a, 6rst
sight ii vas hard to distinguish one from
the other. Walrus bones lay about in all
directions, showing that this animal had fur
nlshed the staple of subsistence. There
were some remains, too, Of the fox and the
h'r"bale, but found no signs of the seal
orreindeer.
"Ihese Esquinaux have no mother earth
20 receive their dead, but they seat them as
IN the attitude of repose, the knees drawn
close to he body, and inclose them in
saeE of skins. The implements of the lig-
Ing man arc then grouped around him; they
are covered with rude dome of stones, and
a earn is piled above. This simple ceno-
APh VIII remain intact for generation after
generation. The Esquinaux never disturb
grave"
On tbs western cape OF Littleton Island
'asy erected cairn, which might serve as
beacon TO any following party, wedged
san INTO the crerices Of the rocks, and
Spreading the American flag, hailed its folds
VIA three cheers, as THEY expanded III the
cold midnight breeze. They Immediately
resumed their cour Sc, bearing toward the
north against wind and tide, and soon arriv-
ing at tho regions Of thick-ribbed leo, where
'aeY we're compelled to moor their vessel to
'ae rocks. Among the petty miseries which
'hey now began TO suffer, was pack Of
some fifty dogs, which formed very incon-
Eenient appendage TO the travelling party.
These animals were voracious as Wolves
L was no easy latter to supply such
family with food. They devoured couple
0i sears in eight days Two pounds of
"a" flesh every other day was scanty al
'0Hance; but to obtain this was almost inn
possible. The pcmmican could not be spar
eG-eorr-meal OF beans they would not
'oueh-and salt junk would have killed
them. The timely discovery Of dead nor