New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-11

II ~ nlh 0iHpDtal9 huo oAAohSDAAOhto hNAO ~
refit her for the voyage. Her velvet hAngingS and
splendid furniture were, of course, rcmOVedi the
large skyHghts and capaciOus ladderwAys we're 70
luced 10 limits more suitable TO polar cline; the
| whole vessel was externally sheathed with stout
thanking, and internally fortified by strong crOss-
| beams, longitudinal beams, iron stancheOnS, and
| diagonal fastenings; the false keel was taken off,
the slender brass propeller replaced BY more mas
live iron one, the boiler taken out, altered and en-
| lsreed; the sharp stem cAsed in iron, until II
resembled a pOnderouS chisel set up edgewayS; and
the whole rig of the yacht adapted to her new and
| hazardous duties. The strictest economy was
necessarily observed in the internal fitting up oil
| the vessel The officers were crammed into little
sabins, hardly better than PigeOn-holes, in order
| 10 make room for provisions aud stores. The
| mess-room for five persons measured eight feet
square. The only apparatus for heating the yacht
was few very small stoves.
As soon as the design of the enterprise was made
known, many old shipmates Of Capt MClintOck,
in previous Arctic voyages, offered their services,
and in this way an excellent crew was obtained,
seventeen out of the twenty-five persons of whom
il was composed having already served in the Arc
| tic search. The second in command was Lieut..
! W. B. Hobson, an officer distinguished in Arctic
service. An intelligent commander in the mercan-
| Tile marine, Capt. Young, who had been actively
employed in the Black Sea during the greater part
Of the Crmean campaign, joined the expedition as
sailing-master. DR.. David Walker volunteered for
the post of surgeon and naturalist; and just before
sailing, Carl Petersen, the Esquimaux interpreter
for Capt. Penny and DR.. Kane, arrived from Co
penhagen to take part in the enterprise.
Provisions sufficient for twenty-eight months
we're taken on board, including preserved vegeta-
bles, lemon juice and pickles, for daily consumption,
and preserved meats for every third day, together
with as large supply of AlsOp'S stOutest ale as
room could be found for. Several tuns Of pemmi-
can were added to the stores, composed Of prime
beef cut into thin slices and dried over wood fire,
then pounded up and mixed with about an equal
weight Of melted beef fat.
The little vessel sailed from Aberdeen on the first
of July, and arrived in Melville Bay on the twelfth
| Of August. Thus far the voyage had been without
difficulty, but here the ice began to press in cover
ing the whole bay toward the nsrth, quite in the
steep face of the great glacier which takes the place
Of the coast line. The appearance of this stuPen-
dous glacier, extending its unbroken length for 40
or 80 miles, was in the highest degree imposing.
Its sea-clis at the distance Of or miles, seemed
comparatively low, yet the icebergS detached from
Il were Of the loftiest description. The far-OG out
line seen against the eastern sky, had faint hnge
Of yellow; it was almost horizontal, and Of I'M
known distance and elevation. There was an I'M
usual dearth Of birds and seals; everything around
vas painfully sti, except when occasional iceberg
was split Of from the parent glacier; when rum.
bling crash was heard, like distant thunder.
After several Intellectual attempts to escape from
he ice, IL became apparent, before the cOse Of Au
rust that the vessel would be compelled to winter
IN the pack. The dreary season passed away more
cheerfully than one would imAgnej Christmas was
celebrated by general Festivals hams, Plum-Pud-
diDes, preserved gOoseberries and apples, nuts,
sweetmeats, and Burton ale raced the merry
board; the officers joining with the crew in the
oOnvivial enjoyments Of the day. Nor was the ar
hval Of the New Year permitted TO pass without
Observance due" Exactly at midnight, the
band, consisting Of two flutes and an ACCORDION,
struck up lively tune at tho door Of the captain,
and procession was formed Of amateurs in gro
esque apparel, armed with frying-pauS, gridironS,
kettles, pots and pans, with which 10 add 10 the
charms Of the concert
After almost incredible peris, the vessel was
once more in the open sea, on the 18th of April,
having been carried back by the floating ice nearly
0urteen hundred miles, the longest drit on record
Steering for HosteinbOrg, the expedition safely ar
rived at that place in two days, where they re-
NAMED little mere than week to refresh and reft
the crew. They left HOlsteinborg on the 9Th Of
Nay, and proceeding steadily nOrthward, arrived
once moro in Melville Bay in about thirty days
Tbe latter part Of August was spent in struggling
with the ice in Bellot Strait narrow passage be-
tween North SOmerset and BOOthia Felix, and after
five different attempts, they succeeded in steaming
through on Sept 6, and made fast 10 the ice acrOss
its western outlet, at distance VI two miles from
the shore. The ice was in large, stout fields, Of
more than one Winters growth, apparently immov-
able in consequence Of the numerous sets and rocks
which rose through and held it fast. Here they
took up their quarters for second Arctic Winter.
During the early part Of September, Captain
MClintock was employed in preparing provisions
and equipments for travelling parties on sledges,
with which he determined to mAke thorough search.
| in the Spring. The plan included three sePa-
rate routes and parties of four men, commanded
respectively by himself, Lieut.. HobGon, and Capt.
Young, q dog.sledge and driver being attached
to each party. Capt. MClntOck'S route was
arranged for the Great Fish River and the shores