Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-01-01
DIR. KANE's ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS

The following ample synopsis of Doctor
Kane's Arctic Explorations, is from the re-
view of that work by the N. Y. Tribune
Those that wish to read the book in full,
can get it any of our booksellers:
The specific features of DR.. Kane's plan
of research consisted in making Greenland
the basis of operations, assuming, from the
analogies of geographical structure, that
Greenland was to be regarded as Pc
ninsula approachingithe vicinity of the Pole
rather than as congeries of Islands con-
nected by interior glaciers. On this hy-
po.hesis the course was TO pass up Bafiln's
Bay to the most northern attainable point,
and thence pressing toward the Pole, as
far as boats or sledges could reach to ex-
anime the coast line for vestiges of the lost
party. The expedition which sailed in the
Advance, consisted of seventeen men be-
side the commander. The equipment was
simple. A quantity of rough boards to
serve for housing the vessel i'll winter, some
India rubber tents, and several small
sledges, built on convenient model, COM
pleting the fit. For provisions. they
took liberal supply of pemmican, par
ce, of Borden's biscuit, some packages of
prepared potato, store of dried fruits and
vegetables. picked cabbage, the salt bee
and pork of the Navy ration, hard biscuit
and flour. A moderate supply of liquors
made up the bill of fare. although the party
were pledged to total abstinence from
this article, unless dispensed by special
order
Leaving New York on the 3oth day of
May. 1853, the Advance arrived at the
harbor of Fiskernaes on the first of July
They proceeded gradually along the coast,
until, on the eth of July, they neared the
entrance to Melville Bay. Here they en-
countered their first serious obstruction
from the ice; DR.. Kane promptly decided
to attempt passage through the bay by a
new track, and after rough transit cf light
days. the wisdom of the plan was confirm
ed by its success
In less than week they entered Smith s
Sound, and landing near Littleton's Island.
deposited boat with supply Of stores,
with view Of securing retreat in case of
disaster.
On the western cape of Littleton's Is
land, they erected cairn, which might
serve as beacon to any following party,
we1ged a staff into the crevices of the rock
and spreading the American Flag, hailed
its folds with three cheers as they expand
ed in the cold midnight breeze. They
Immediately resumed their course, beating
toward the north against wind and tide,
and soon arriving at the regions of thick
ribbed ice. where they were compelled to
moor he v>ssel to the rocks.
Among the petty miseries, which now
they began to suffer, was pack of some
fifty dogs, which formed very inconveni-
ent appendage to the travelling patty
These animals were as voracious as wolves.
1t was no very easy matter to supply such
hungry family with food. They devour-
ed couple of bears in eight days. Two
pounds of raw flesh every other day was a
scanty allowance; but to procure this was
almost impossible. The pemmican could
not be spared--corn meal or beans they
would not touch--and salt junk would have
killed them. The timely discovery Of a
dead narwhal or unicorn, proved an excel
lent relief, affording six hundred pounds OF
good wholesome flesh, though of rather un-
savory odor.
But more serious trial was at hand The
vessel bad been released from her moorings
and had fought her way through the ice fol
several days, when the sky gave tokens Of
an approaching storm. On the goth oi
August, the tempest came on with unmis
taxable Arctic fury By the 29nd of Au
gust, they had reached the latitude Of 78 .
Al, distance greater than had been OBJ
tained by any previous explorer. except
Perry, in his Spitzbergen foot tramp
About this time, some Of the party begar
to exhit symptoms of discomfort. The ra
pid advance Of winter, the deprivatons o
rest, and the slow progress of the expedi
ton, tended TO produce depression. On
person volunteered an opinion. in favor o
returning to the south. and giving up th'
attempt to winter. 1t was no time for hal
way measures. DR.. Kane at once called
council Of his officers, and listened to thei
views in full. With but single exception
they declared their conviction that furth
er progress to the north would be impossi
bic, andurged the propriety of returning
southwark to winter. The commander en-
tertaned the opposite view. Explaining