Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-12-12
THE HALL ARCTIC EXPEDITION.


mander of the Arctic Expedition, which
bears his name, has written the following
letter to Henry Grinnell, already mentioned
by telegraph. 1t is without date, but the
circumstance which it narrates will indicate
the time at which it was written with sufi-
cient certainty:
OK BOARD BARK, GEORGE HENRY"
KNEW GUM-MI-OOKE HARBoR,
Lat. 81" 81 800 n, Lon. 65" 04 450 West
We have just been visited by one of the |
most terrific gales that has swept over these
coasts for years. Captain Buddington says |
that he has not experienced its equal in the |
ten years Of navigating these northern |
waters. Something of an idea may be |
formed from this fact: This is the seventh |
voyage to the Arctic regions of the schooner
Rescue-of the memorable "United States |
Grinnell Expedition" ls50-5l, in search of
Sir John Franklin-this gale of which
write has proved her utter destruction.
The wind commenced blowing a gale on
the eve of the 26th, increasing finally to q
perfect hurricane, abating not to the even
ing of the 2sth, making full forty-eight
hours that we were all under the expecta-
ton of the complete shipwreck of every
vessel in the harhor. The brig Georgiana
parted one of her anchors, and shot like an
arrow, though dragging another anchor,
across the harbor, till brought up to reef
of rocks at the end of a small island.
Against this same island was the Rescue,
already pounding, she having dragged her
anchor along with her. The crew of the
Georgiqna escaped from their craft by means
of a spar running from her larboard side out
on the rocks.
At nine o'clock on the morning of the
9th, slight decrease of wind allowed us to
drop boat astern, by means of whale
line. In this boat were two daring souls,
cheerfully guiding it to the island, for the
object of bringing the men aboard the
George Henry. A landing could not be eff
fected, but finally the boat drifted under the
bowsprit of the wrecked Rescue, from which
all the white men of the island were ulti-
mately, and, in truth, rescued. There were
some ten natives (Esquimaux) who had been
landed there from. the GeorgiaRa-they hav-
ing visited her just before the commence
ment of the gale.
/ regret to add that my expedition boat is
also total wreck, it having been dashed
upon the same reef as the Rescue. Though
this is q terrible blow. to my voyage, yet
have already completed arrangements by
which l prosecute it next season, on the
opening Of navigation. My company, so far
as organized, consists of Mr.. Sterry and Mr..
Smith, of New London, and Kur-jur Sc, an
intelligent Esquimaux geographer and trav-
cling with his nu-li-an-a (wife) Tu-nuk-de-
lien. To this only wish to add one more
Esquimaux.
I Rest assured, my dear Mr. G., that God
willing, will accomplish some thing before
l return that shall be for the benefit of man.
kind. r-afs. .-.-
Iwrote you on the point of leaving Hol.
steinborg-head- wiuds fogs and calms made
it very late before reaching this harbor, ouI
winter quarters. 1t was August II when we
arrived here-just one month too late tc
start on my voyage. Yet, as | predicted
navigation has not been so free from ice fol-
years as this season. Could | have organ
lied proper company, should have pushed
on, late as it was. But the Esquimaux un
derstand we'll their climate-its seasons
their seas Nothing could induce them Il
undertake such a journey, so late in tn,
!, season, though perfectly willing to 60 will
me on the opening of the waters next year
OF course my judgment gave way to thes
men of experience here North.
My observations are as frequent as tn
4 weather will permit. If my health is con
tinued, am in hopes to send home to you
chart of the coasts from the west side c
: Northumberland Inlet latitude of say, Cap
4. Mercy,) down to the north coast ofi@Meat In
II cognita, of Frobisher.
/ have now announced to you that m
p discoveries have already been such that l ar
satisfied Frobisher Strait is a myth. Nearl.
: all aliases, charts, globes, &C., represen
Cumberland Strait and Frobisher Strait q
both running nearly parallel with Hudso
}, Strait-Cumberland Strait q few degree
I north of Frobisher Strait, and Frobishe
Q Strait few degrees north of Hudson Strait
Neither FrobisheT and Cumberland Strai
exist. am now within the so-called Cum
|, berland Strait. 1t is but deep inlet, run
!, ming W. N. W. and E. S. S.; its head bein
fifteen miles north-westerly of this harbor-
its extent south-easterly thirty miles. Th
= Admiralty charts of the islands north of th
s so-called Frobisher Strait are very impeI
y feet. .--.---. -....
Tuesday, August 81, 1860, was day Ion
i, to be remembered by me. At seven o'cloc
p on the afternoon of that day, | stood upo
= the northern shores of the so-called Fro
. bisher Strait. Across the clear blue water
- before me l saw Queen Elizabeth's "Met
Incognita," discovered by Martin FrobishC
f. 2sO years before. saw its mountains, lik
re giants holding up the sky. My eyes fe
le charmed at what was before me. Never di
B l feelso spell-bound to spot as that whereo
=. stood. With my spy-glass | followed Il
~ northern coast of said unknown land. |
!, mountains, l beheld, were united to Il
III main land on which / stood. This did NJ
seem possible. But my views made it s
>, and yet the distance and the fantastic tricl
ly / which nature was playing (retraction) mig
ne lead me into error Westerly and norther
of the place where stood distance approx
mate eighty-fVe miles) the waters before n
OF called Frobisher Strait had an end
AZ least, such was the appearance.
Less than one week after my opinion W
VI confirmed by six of the most intellige
ESquimaux Of the North. In the most po!
al tive manner do they state that but one cha
n' mel leads into Hudson's Strait My obsery
ed tions, thus far show this to be so. 7
happy opportunity for me to make these Q
servations presented itself on the day int
eS Gated, by Captain Buddington ordering O
be the Rescue for trip to a bay a little to
n north-We of Bear Sound, for the purpose
n looking out for wintering quarters for
r Rescue and ships crew, that they might
hv in readiness for carrying on branch
~. spring whaling there. ...... 49,
~ The vessel went down one day and l
- turned the next-or rather, we did not rea
this harbOr till the third morning from Q
Ith leaving it, as the calm detained us twel
st. hours. made many valuable aequisitiG
to to my geological specimens on my Frobisl
Strait trip. The bay, by the by, into VIII
he the Rescue entered, is entered from
a5 north. 1t is fifteen miles deep, and RI
ON ou northwest and southeast true. From
in head to the waters of Frobisher Bay %
distance is two miles-this, of course, bel
an isthmus.
Ia, On tbs Isthmus / discovered coal--no
'ry very valuable quantity, but nevertheless,
eW burns with bright flame, giving forth gr
haof h1af laaUinU a largo Oar cant raai1Vl