New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-11-22
Netu 0rlfans 1aiIp Gresfsrt.
DR.. Hayes Arctic Expedition.
RETURN OF SURGEON IouesHAw.



INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION
From the Boston JourraIl
The public were informed few days since that
dispatches from DR.. I. I. Hayes commander Of the
expedition which sailed from this port in July last
upon voyage Of discovery to the Arctic regions,
had been placed in the hands of the American
Consul at Copenhagen with instructions to forward
them to certain scientific societies in New York,
and to committees in that city and Boston who
c6operated with DR.. Hayes in fitting out the expe-
dition. The dispatches, from some cause, have
/ failed to come to hand, but the gentleman to
whom they were entrusted CDR. William Long
shaw, Jrt, of East Cambridge. who went out as
Surgeon to the Expedition, and who delivered the
dispatches to the proper authorities in Copen-
hagen) arrived hsme on Friday last, after having
visited Paris, London and other places in Europe.
DR.. Longshaw was at first disinclined to make
any statements respecting the progress OF the ex-
petition eat his account might anticipate the dis.
patches of Dr. Hayes, but by the advice of several
members of the Boston Committee, he has been
persuaded to communicate to the public the follow
ing particulars which form interesting narrative
of the expedition up to the time he left it:
| THE DEPARTURE Prom BOSTON.
The United States, for by that name the schooner
| formerly known as the Spring Bill is now called,
sailed from Nantasket Roads at o'clock on the
morning Of the 10th Of July, and at O'Clock a. NJ,
the day, discharged pilot. The first two days
| after leaving Boston they had favorable winds.
| On Wednesday spoke fishing vessel, and sent
1
| would report the expedition at New York. On
Friday the schooner rolled badly, and the explor
| ers began TO experience the first disagreeable
| accompaniment of a life on the OCEAN wave.e
| Every one Of the officers sea-siek. COM
mander Hayes and Mr.. Sontag were the greatest
| sufferers.
| FoRMAI. PROCEEDINGS. +.5
| On Sunday July l5 all hands were summoned
| to appear in uniform on the quarter deck, where,
| having assembled the American flag was run up
at the peak, and the schooner's signal, star on
white ground, at the main.top, DR.. Hayes interro
gated the men and officers in relation to their CON
diton. He asked each one individually if he was
| comfortable, and received an unanimous reply in
| the affirmative. DR.. Hayes then addressed them
substantially as follows:
"We have entered upon three years task.
will ask none to go where am not willing to lead
| | hope you will swear by the star above us to stick
by the ship and by me, and will stand by you all
| for good OF ILL.,"
The first Sunday service was held in the cabin
| that day. DR.. Hayes conducting in the Episcopal
| form. Nearly continual calm followed on the
| succeeding days OF the second week at sea. on
| Monday and Tuesday the officers and men were
4 employed in breaking out and re- slowing the hold
| and cabin. On Wednesday it blew ten-knot
breeze, and the sea ran high. Heavy waves often
broke over the vessel aud at times dashed into the
cabin through the skylight.
1 - THE GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE.
On the 18th OF July, the day Of the great solar
eclipse, the vessel was rolling in heavy swell OH
Labrador. A dense fog prevailed: there was 10
| wind and the weather was dismal and uncomforta-
BILE. The eclipse of the sun was seen by Mr.. Son
tag and DIR. Longshaw at various times during its
progress the fog obscuring so as to render obser-
vatfons difficult current of air occasionally
swept the fog away, and disclosed the to view,
when Mr. Sontag made some scientific calculations.
| As the expedition neared Sable Island, in the
second week, tho fog became rather annoying,
even to those who were disposed to look on the
bright side of everything. For six consecutive
days they were unable to obtain an observation.
IL FIRST LAND-BREAKERs AHEAD.
During this season OF darkness incident oc.
Cured which strongly impressed the little band Of
explorers with the thought that they were doomed
to an inglorious end; and but for the consummate
skill and prompt decision of the sailing master
Capt. Mccormick, their fate would probably have
been sealed. As the officers were about sitting
down to breakfast, the usual grace having been
said by DIR. Hayes, the cry Breakers ahead!n fol
lowed by "All hands on deck for your lives !? "
startled them from their coffee and biscuit. There
were but two men on deck at the moment-the mar
at the wheel and the lookout. All hands rushed or
deck instanter, when scene of wild sublimity me-
| their bewildered gaze. Within stones throw O
! the vessel were line Of white.capped breakers
dashing and foaming upon reef of low rocks, ant
Immediately behind them, rising to the height o
two hundred feet, perpendicular clif, Withou
a sign of vegetation on its bare front. The roar o
: the surf-breakers was so loud as almost to drow
e the voices of the officers. To wear ship and &c
upon the other tack was the work OF minute only
for the staunch little vessel, in the language Of tn
saing-master, minded her helm "beautifully.n
As soon as possible the lead was thrown an
soundings obtained-at first four fathoms-an
. every five minutes for three hours either the hant
or deep-sea line was used to ascertain the position
of the vessel. As she slowly left the dangerou
locality astern, the pale faces of the ships com
pany resumed their natural hue, and the voice los
its sternness. For while they were safe, although
there was strong current setting upon the shore
An hour later breakers were again heard, but thi
!. time all hands were on the alert; they made lam
amid thickening perils and providentialiy escape
its dangers.
The next day an observation was obtained, and
was ascertaned that the vessel had run into MuttO
Bay in the fog, and the note the chart containe
the cons0ling remark: Very dangerous; note
for frequent shipwrecks.5
The night after getting out of the breakers tn
expedition rounded Cape race, and at breakfast TIL
next day Commander Hayes officially announces
that they We're steering due north, direct for th
: Pole They passed st. Johns under seven-kno
breeze, and saw vessel which was supposed to b
the Astronomical Expedition sent out to Labrador
They continued to Fave favoring winds until til
vessel passed Cape Farewell.
f THE SCHOONER IN A GALE.
j, On Monday, July 49, the expedition encountere
d a severe gale, during which heavy sea brok
over the bow, and sweeping the deck, stove th
cabin skylght and filled the cabin with water
the depth of fifteen inches. The carpenterreliev
q the unwelcome visitation by boring several hole
in the floor and letting it run off into the holt
During the next hour thereafter, five several sea
broke over the vessel, descended to the cabin, an
: The main boom guy was snapped, and the bool
swinging across the deck, knocked down two Sc;
:, men, and did other damage.
o, POLAR INDICATIONS.
I'd About this time the days began to grow longs
pr the first indications of the approach to the Ar
y tic regions. The new moon was visible at6 o'cloe
P. NJ, the planet Mars at $40, quite red in ii
u southern sky. The sun set at 81, and twiligl
rs lasted until 10 o'clock. The pinnacle lamp Wi
,, not lighted till 81. The thermometer indicate
II Northern progress, being at 45 degrees The fir
ls ceberb was seen the oath of July, and two day
u later the explorers enjoyed the rare felicity of
p sight of fog bow, aphenomenon only seen in hig
Northern latitudes.
: ANOTHER STORM MAN ovERBoARD?"
y y On Friday, the 27th the barometer indicated 0
r. approaching storm, and early in the morning IL
ar gale commenced, accompanied by heavy Sc
oi rain and hail. The vessel shipped many seas dn
ing the day, the most dangerous breaking oyeT h
in the afternoon. One OF these came in over Il
IL stem, carrying the stern boat and the daVits
ct which it hung. The foreyard was carried ava
IN and several oars large quantity of lumber, al
m everything that was not lashed We're swept off,
seaman named Mcdonald was washed oRerboar
but catching rope he went over the side
- the vessel. he sustained himself until assistant
.e reached him, when he regained the deck. He hi
a narrow escape, for had he gone clear Of the We
ef sci, no human hand could have saved him. Viii
nd the gale was at its height, the officers and mi
m nv lashed themselves to the vessel for safety Duri