The Trinity journal., 1856-02-23

INTERESTING Account OF THE GRAAr Po-
LAR SEA DISCOVERED BY DR. KANE.-A a
late meeting Of the American Geographical
Society, in this city, the interest of the pro-
ceedingS was enhanced by the presence of
DR.. Kane, the Arctic explorer, who gave an
outline of some of his discoveries. His re-
marks commenced by illusions to the noun
tain ranges in North Greenland:
After leaving New York, we made the
coast of Greenland at its most southern point
We then continued our voyage to Upperna-
wick, and then to Smith Sound On reach
ing Smith Sound we expected to have an
open sea. The reverse was the case. A
boat was launched and landed on the near
est great island, to lay a store Of provisions
to fall back upon, in case Of retreat, and
then we pushed on our ship further to the
northward. From this point our vessel was
forced up to our winter harbor When we
reached this winter harbor the difficulties of
going further north were so great that my
officers addressed me letter requesting a
return to the south. This was not in accor-
dance with my Instructions and | declined
10 accede to the request. AT this point we
have constant glacier stretching out
With great difficulty here we were enabled
to travel 10y sedgeS, and in this way parties
set out for exploration, and in this way we
reached the latitude of 500; the most north
ern point which had yet been reached. At
tins point our parties We're compelled to re-
turn, and did 50 with the intention of re-
ncwng the exploration when the wintcrwas
over. In our winter harbor we established
magnetic observatory, by means OF the
odollte ana common pocket glass We
established magnetic observatory and me-
teoroIogical observatory, the records of
which are now deposited in the office of the
Coast Survey Our alcoholic thermometers
we found to be utterly unavailable, and the
only way we could get at the temperature
was 10y comparison of Instruments, and this
with great care. Our lowest recorded tenn
peraturc was between 10 and 50 degrees be
low zero. At this temperature chloroGorm
was almost solid
This was the temperature in which we
made our explorations. Our first party was
unfortunate. They set ont in March, Storms
overlook them, and they finally got back to
the vessel where three of the number under
went amputation, and two died. 1t was
three weeks before we were able to start out
again, and wnen we did so, we found that
the coast Of Greenland did not, at this point,
run in course represented on the map, but
il presented coast running almost east and
west Here we discovered new land, which
we named Washington. This land was
llanked by range Of lofty mountains, $500
feet IN height, and these ranges stretched
out, apparently, far to the north The lat
ter portion OF this travel was the most in
tcrcstng We found before us Il field Of ice,
and over this we found an open water, which
has since been called the open Polar Sea-
This water appeared icecsS 1t was APP
parentIy without ice. Not particle of ice
lined Its shores. AT an altitude of 800 feet.
as far as we could see, an open sea met our
eye. a gale OF long duration swept over
this water, but brought no drift with it. All
animal life reSortcd to these waters The
seal was saot upon its shores; and the duck
rcsorted to it from every direction We
could not tell the exact temperature of this
water, but it was warmer than any other
found Scientific Amefican.