Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-01
TIE OPEN POLAR SEA,

The American Geographical aad Statistical
Society OF New York, held meeting on Thursday
evening to helr the conversation Of DR.. Kane on the
scientific results Of his late expedition The dstin-
gui.hed vnyagcr, on reaching the University, found
instead Of Only the members of the Society, with
whom he expected to have free and familiar con-
vcrsution in their rooms,l thut large and highly in
telpent audience had assembled in the chapel of the
building, in expectation of hearing address, for
which he had not specially prepared himself The
Doctor, not without reluctance, yielded to the ell
treaties of the Society to appear before the audience
and occupied an hour in interesting address,
which was interpreted with highly thrilling incl
dents. In the course of his remarks, DR.. Kane
.poke OF the Open Polar Scn-- @
We found before us field of ice and over this We
found All opeu wafer which has since been called the
open Polar Sea. This water appeared lceess. II
was sppurently without ice. Mol Il particle ui ice
lined us shores. At altitude OF 3OU feet, ms far as
we could ste, an open sea net our eye. gale Of
long duraun swept over this water, but brought NO
DRIFT with il; An animal lie res0red to these writer's
The seul YVES shot upon its shores: and the duck re-
sorted TO il from every direction. We could moi tell
the exact temperature Of this water, but It was
warmer thnn any water found below. In speaking
of this sea can, with pIopr!ety speak OF tide strenns
This term is known 10 the Russans and Danes.-
SPACE in the sea. The opposite Of Greenland remain
cd to be explored TO complete the circuit of Smith
Sound. We had here gone over route OF over 2,uUO
miles. Ii is hardly within the province OF geo
graphicn lecture TO give the details OF our cruise
Upon getting back to our winter hnrbnr II was quite
evident that our little vessel could not escape. She
nt then Anc feet of solid ice under her bows the
sult of one winters freezing.
When we resolved 10 leave our ve:selin preference
10 stary ia or submitting to the dangers from the ma
>, nd al
TO the south. 1.-THE policy OF leaving our vessel |
need not speak. Our sicdges were cut from Inc YES
sci and our boats placed upon heae sedges, and
thus We commenced our voyage TO the souih The
Esuui,nnux natives. must say, at first eneiniss,
were now our firm friends ana gave us assistance,
helped carry our sick and lent gave their dogs
when ours gave out. and died from what appeared 10
be the lockjaw. We had to depend much upon our
guns TO pruvtle us With food At times, during this
tourney, atfuirs looked extremely dreary. But there
was no portion of the time that we were oppressed
by hunger. We were there compelled to consume
mere food than here. Eight ducks per diem is :here
an ordinary allowance. Bat when approaching Mel
vile bay we were Threatened with want but before
we grew hungry seal WAS seen upon the ice, and,
killing this, we were supplied with all the food VIC
wanted. We finally again reached tppernavi", and
there first heard Of the Kind action on The pnrt OF our
government for assistance. shall never forget
the manning Of the rigging, and the three hearty
cheers that welcomed back TO socnl life aud love.
\ gentleman here asked how far horlh ti:e ESqui-
mnu4 were found.
DR.. f.unc seid he had found them at TS.2O. The
E.qaimaux were migratory people He Lad seen
their hGs beyond thet-ut the highest poiut they
reuclled
Q. How far NORTH have yon t,und the reindeer
Dr. kane-As far as We went found the rein
deer
Mr.. Bancroft-How do you account for this open
water!
Dr. Knpe-We can only consider it incident to q
great vpcn area ut the Pole. AT point farther
north.
Alderman Chauncy-Is il possible, in your opinion
to reach this open ssa with boats a.is explore III
| DIR. Kanc-1hat is coming rather near hume.
| tried r. hard as l could 10 reach it, bat faed.-
| ILaush,er.l | only got an India rubber boat there
| think, with proper oil. suiza.nn, n"wever II nigh
he reached, aud have doubt it will yet be reach
sd aud nc explored. Applause.