Mountain Democrat., 1857-05-02
The Brig Advanced
ABANDONED IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
FROM DIR. KANE's EXPEDITION.

On the Goth of May, 1865, twenty-on
long and weary months had passed away,
and the poor vessel, already half cut up
and torn to pieces to afford fuel, must be
abandoned; and there is an attempt to be
cheerful in the commander description
Of the parting scene which u US seems
very touching.
Our last farewell to the brig was made
with more solemnity. The entire ships
company was collected in our dismantled
winter chamber to take part in the ccre-
mOnial. twas Sunday. Our moss walls
had been torn down, and the wood that
supported them burned. Our beds were
off at the boats. The galley was unfur
nished and cold. Everything about the
little den Ofrcfuge was desolate.
We read prayers and a chapter of the
Bible, and then all silently standing
around, | took Sir John Franklln's por-
trait from its frame, and cased it in an
India.rubber scroll. next read reports
Of inspection and survey which had been
made by the several commissions organ
lied for the purpose, all Of them testify
ing to the necessities under which was
about to act then addressed the par
ty; did not affect to disguise the diff
cultics that were before us; but assured
them that they could be all overcome by
energy and subordination to command,
and TINT the thirteen hundred miles that
lay between us and New Greenland could
be traverSed with safety by most Of US,
and hope for all. added, that as men
and messmatcs it was the duty Of us all,
onjoincd by gallantry as well as religion,
to postpone every consideration Of self to
the protection Of the wounded and sick
and that this must be regarded by every
man aud under Hll circumstances as a
paramount order In conclusion, told
them to think over the trials we had all
gone through, and to remember each
man for himself how often an unseen Pow
or had rescued him in peril, and Iadmon-
iShcd them still to place reliance upon
Him who could not change.
! was met with right spirit. After a
short conference an engagement was
drawn up by one of the officers, and
brought to me with the signatures Of all
the company without an exception.
had prepared brief memorial Of the
considerations which justified the aban-
donmcnt Of the vessel, and had read it as
part of my address. now fixed it to q
stanchion near the gangway, where it
must attract the notice Of any who might
seek us hereafter, and stand with them as
my vindication for the step, in case we
should be overtakcn by disaster.
| We then went upon deck; the flags
were hoisted and hauled down again, and
our party walked once or twice around
the rig, looking at her timbcrs and ex-
reminded them Of every stage of her dis
mantling. Our figure -hcad-the fair Au-
gusta, the little blue girl with pink cheeks,
who had lost her breast by an iceberg,
and her nose by a nip of Bcdcviled Beach,
was taken from her bows and placed
aboard the "Hopc." "Shc is at any rate
wood" said the men, when I hesitatcd
about giving them the additional burden,
''and If We cannot carry her far VIC can
burn her"
No ono thought of the mockcry of
cheers; VIC had no festival-liquor to mis-
! lead our perception of the real state of
things. Whcna allhauds were quite ready,
We scrambled Oft over the ice together,
much like gang of stcvcdores going to
work over n quayful of broken cargo.
On reaching the boats the company
was regularly mustered aud divided be-
tween the two. A rigid inspection was
had OF every article of personal equip
mcnt. Each man had woollcn under
dress and an Esquimaux suit of fur clo-
thing-kapetah, ncssak, and nanokc com.
pletc, with boots of our own make; that
is to say, one pair Of canvas faced with
walrus-hidc, and another inside made of
the cabin Brussels carpet. In addition to
this each carried a rueraddy adjusted to
fit him comfortably, IL pNir Of socks next
to his skin, and n pair Of large goggles for
snow.blindnCss, made Esquimaux fashion
by cutting small slit in piece of wood
Some OF us had eutta pcrcha masks fitted
closely to the face as large MS an ordinary
domino; but these were still less favora-
bic to personal appearance than the Cog
giles. The provision bags and stores
were numbered, and each man had his
own bag and place assigned for it, to
prevent confusion in rapid slowing and
unstowing.
Excluding four sick MGR, who were I'M
able to move, and myself who had to
drive the dog team and serve as common
carrier and courier, we numbered but
twelve mcn-which would have given six
to slcdgc, or too few to move it. 1t was
therefore necessary to concentrate our en-
tire force upon one sledgc at time. On
the other hand, however, it was impor.
tant to tho efficiency of our organization
that matters Of cooking, sleeping. baggage
and rations should bC regulated by scpa-
rate mCsscs.
The routine l established was the most
precise. Daily prayers both morning and
evening. all hands gathering round in q
circle and standing uncovered during the
short exercise; regulated hours; fixed
d'tics and positions at the tracklncs on
the halt; the cooking to be taken by
turns, the captain of the boats being alone
excused. Tho charge Of tho log was con-
fided to DR.. Hayes, and the running sur
vey to Mr.. SOntag. Though little could
be expected from either Of these gentle
men at this time, thought it best to
keep up the appearance Of ordinary voy-
aging ;-and Ailer We left the first ice of
Smiths Straits, l was indebted to them
for valuable results. The thermometer
was observed every three hours, ''----
To my faithful friend and first officer,
boatswain Brooks, assigned the COM
mand Of tho boats and sledges. l knew
how well nc was fitted for it; and when
forced, as was afterwards during the
descent TO be in constant motion between
| tho sick StaIinn md 4ho Eeo,,;voa,,,, noA