Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-12-30
Fremont Journal.
Col. sbnffner ana the Northern Telegraph
ROufo.

Col Nnnthncr anu lto y kNoNNAANhh ANAoAhoFhA
Our readers will remember that months
since, we spokeof Col. Shatfner--who then
was in this city-and Of his contemplated
enterprise Of stretching the wires through
British America; thence submarine wire
to Greenland across Greenland; thence a
submarine wire to Orkney Isles; thence sub
marine wire South, to Scotland, and anoth-
or, East, to Norway.
Advices have been received Of the aui-
val Of Col. s. in Scotland. A Glasgow pa
per gives tho route pursued by Col. S. as
follows:- Cleveland Herald.
Many experiments having shown that
the North Atlantic route was feasible, tele-
graphically speaking he on the Goth of Au-
gust last, set out on his surveying expedi-
ton in order to prove that it was physically
possible. Having left Boston thoroughly
armed with the most perfect apparatus both
for surveying and sounding, he proceeded
northward through Belleisle Straits to the
coast of Labrador, where he exposed various
inlets and bays, and came to the conclusion
that the best starting point for the cable
would be between the 54th and 55th de-
grees Of north latitude. From thence he
shaped his course to Greenland, distance
Of about five hundred miles, and found
that the greatest depth was 1900 fathoms.
The bottom gradually sinks as it recedes
from the west, until about one hundred
miles from Labrador, where it is found at
1,s4O fathoms. Afterthis basin of nearly
the same depth succeeds until within eighty
miles or so Of the Greenland coast, when it
sinks to 5000 fathoms, and from thence
rises somewhat abruptly. The ascent, how
ever, does not terminate at the coast line,
but continues up the fjords or bays, of which
there are several along the coast. These
fjords are, in fact, exceedingly numerous all
along the Greenland shores, extending even
as far as fifty miles inland, and are never
frozen. Having finished his sounding op.
erations, Colonel Shatfner next proceeded
to examine the coast as far north as sixty.
three degrees, and then struck out for the
interior, in order practically to ascertain
how far the country was adapted for laying
the wires, and came to the conclusion that
the thing could be done without the great
destructive effect which it was hitherto sup
posed would ensue from the frost. On pen
etrating into the country, and ascending
the high lands, Col. Shatfner was agreeably
surprised to find that the climate was ex.
ceediugly mild, nay warm-so much SC
that his companion took off his coat
~ while walking along, and he himself
could afford to do without his gloves. In
order thoroughly to examine the place, he,
with friend, pushed on to point where
Europeans never before had reached and
at high altitude regaled themselves from
a perfect garden of buckleberrie (blackber-
ries) which abounded there in profusiop.-
Darkness prevented them from further ex-
tending their walk, but enough was seen to
show them that the country was not so dread
fully cold as it has always been held to be-
During the soiourn of the exploring party
in Greenland, they were most Hospitality re-
ceiyed at all the places they visited; illu-
limitations even having been got up in some
places in honor of their arrival. After sur
veying the southern coasts of the country,
they proceeded to the east, which is of q
similar character to the west. From thence
the bottom makes rather an abrupt descent
AT Tdlner over Ine augle ol lorIy-nVe ue
grees until a short distance from shore
whence there is much more gradual as
cent until Iceland, two hundred miles of, i,
reached. The remainder of the voyage
showed eight hundred 10 one thousand faith.
oms depth from this island past the Faroes
to Cape Wrath, in Sutherlandshire, the
submersion of the cable being two hundred
and seventy-two and two hundred miles re-
spectively.