The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-01-31
RAYENNA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 81, 1856

al engagements Of honor; and besides this
cordial assumption Of his country's debts
and duties, there was no little force In the
appeal Of a noble brave spirited woman to
the chivalry Of the American Navy.
He was "bathing in the tepid waters Oft The
Gulf Of Mexico, on the l2ih OF May, 1850
when he received his teIegrnphic order ia
proceed forthwith to New York. for duty up.
on the Afctic expedition. In nine days
from that dute he was beyond the limits o.
the United States on his dism II voyage for
the North Pole. OIthis first American ex
pedition, as is well known to the public, HI
was the surgeon, the nationalist, and the
historian. 1t returned disappointed OF it,
main obje CT, after winter ihihe region o
eternal ice and fifteen months Sbsence.
Scarcely allowing himself day to recov
er from the h1rJship' "f this cruise, he Sc
on foot the second attempt, from which he re
tarned after verifying by actual observa
lion the long questioned existence of an uper
sea beyond the latitude D; 90 deg, and be-
yund the temperature, also, 100 degrees be
low the freezing point. His "Personal Mar
ative. published early in 1853, recount the
adventures of the first voyage, and discovers
his disersifi, qualifications for such an n
terprse.
The last yage occupied two winters in
tire highest la;iludes, aud two years and a
hall Of unintrrmittpd labor, with the risks
and responsibilities attendant. He is now
preparing the history for publication. Blu
that part OF it which best reports his own
personal "gcncy, and would most justly pre-.
sent the man to the reader. will of course
be suppressed. We w"dld gladly supply it,
but as yet this is impossible t. us. His jpur.
nal is private property, the extracts which
we may expect will be only too shy oi egot
ism, aid his companions have not spoken yet,
as some day they will speak. of his cOnduc,
throughout ;he terrible struggles which to.
gethcr they endured.
To furm anything like an adequate esti.
mate OF This last achievement, il must be
recOIlected that his wlI1le comp my amount
ed t. but twenty men, and th,t Jf tn is eorp;
or crew he was the comm inder. in nava
phrase; and whn We are app'is"d thai
his portfolio OF scenery, skctched on the
spot in pencil, and in water colors kept fluid
over spirit lump. amounts to over three
hundred sketches, we have hint vi the ex.
tent and variety of the off es he filled on
this voyage. He was in fact the surgeon,
sailing. master, astronomer and naturalist
as we'll us captain and leader Of the expedi
ii on.
This man of all work, and desperate dar-
ing and succesful doing, is in height about
i've feet seven inches; in weight, say about
one hundred and thirty pounds or 40, il health
and rest would but give him leave to fill up
his natural measure. His cuhplec,ion is
fair, his hair brown and his eyes dark gray,
with hawk look. H. is hunter by every
git and grace instinct that makes up the
character: and an excellent shot and bril-
liant horseman. He has escaped with
whole bones from all his adv "nturrs, bir he
has several wounds which are truublesomp;
and with such general health US his, lost
men would call themselves invalid-, aHd live
on rurloush from all the active duties Of lie;
yet he has won the distinction of being the
first civilized man tu stand tIrs l.titule ~
80 deg. 80 min and gaze upon the open Po
lar Sra-tU reach The norihrrnmost point
OF land on thu gtobe--to report the lowest
temperature, ever rnitred - the hraViest
siedge Journeys ever Frffnfmed- and Wild
est lie that clv!Iz d man has successfully
Undergone: aiid to return after all to tell the
story of his adventures.
The'secret spring OF this energy is in his
religious enthusiasm-discovrred alike in
the generous spirit Of Ills adventures in Pur
suit Of s''ience; in his enthusiastic fidelity to
duty, and IN his heroic maintanance of the
point Of honor in his intercourse with men.
ohynsss and trankhess, simplicity and ias-
tidiousuess, saniw wlched ther than blended,
which marks the mn OF genius, and tie
monk OF industry. His manner i, remurka
Bile Tor celerity Of movement, alert attentive
ness, quickness OF comprehension. rapidity
OF utterance and senlentinus compactnese
Of dicton, which arise from an habitual
watchtulness against the betrayal oi his own
enthusia5m. He seems to tear that he is
boring you, and is always dcov+ring his un.
Willingness "tu sit' Tor your admiration. II
you question him about the handsome official
acknuw Judgements OF his services by the
British and American governments. or in
any way endeavorto turn him upon his own
gallant achievements, he hurries YOU away
from the subject to some point Of scientifit
interest which he prcsumes viii more con.
cern and engage yourself; or he says or does
something that makes you think he is occu
pied with his own inferiorty in some that :
ter which your conversation presents TO him.
Oneis obliged to struggle with him to main 4
tain the tone of respect which his character
and achievementsd deserve; and whe0 the in
terview is over feeling Of disappoint-
meut remains for the failure In your
Efforts TO ranssck the man as you wished.