The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-21
The Scientific Expedition.


We are informed by one Of the members
of the Scientific Expedition, who arrived in
this city Thursday evening, that the follow
ing, form the Nor. Wester, is substantially,
a correct account Of the movements of the
party, and the result of the expedition
The three American gentlemen who pro-
ceeded to the Saskatchewan in the latter
part of June, to make observations during
the eclipse of the sun, returned to Red River
last week, disappointed, we are sorry to say,
with the results of their journey, owing to
the Intervention of clouds at the most in.
terestiDg period Of the eclipse. The party
lett the Stone Fort on Thursday afternoon,
June 18th, nominally provisioned for five
weeks. On arriving at Lake Winnipeg
next morning, they met a heavy north wind,
which continued without cessation till the
afternoon OF the following day. On the
evening OF Saturday, the 9th, the lake voy-
age was commenced. 1t was attended with
the usual amount of detention and annoy.
ance from storms, contrary winds, and mos :,
quitoes, and the party did not reach the
mouth of the Saskatchewan till July -
only five days before the eclipse. The river
was unusually high and the current swift, so
that great difficulty was experienced in as
ceDding the rapids. Sunday night was
spent on a small island, about two thirds of
the way through Cedar Lake. There was
evidently now no hope of reaching Cumber-
land House in season but as the southern
limit Of the shadow passed near body of
marshy water designated on Kinds map as
Marshy Lake, it seemed possible to get far
enough north to take good observations.
They padded up the current for thirty-six
consecutive hours-from Monday morning
till Tuesday evening-when, it being near
sunset-the men sleepy and almost exhaust
ed-the party some distance past Marshy
Lakeland the Pas lit was supposedly fifteen
miles above-it was concluded to debark
and prepare to observe the eclipse at the
place in which they then were. This was
the first land, not entirely inundated, which
had been seen since leaving Cedar Lake. II
was one or two inches above the surface
of the water and supported fne growth of
tall poplars.
The west side of the river, which here ran
north and south, was selected in order that
the eastern heavens might be visible. The
opposite shore was that of large island,
covered with willow and few spruce. The
evening was rainy, and the astronomers re-
tired without any bright hopes of successful
observations the following day. the early
morning threatened that their fears would
be we'll founded but preparations were
nevertheless made to take whatever obser-
vations might be possible. A stand for the
large telescope was erected by driving four
stakes into the ground and resting on them
heavy alcohol box. A single notched
stake served to support the smaller telescope
The polariscope, with which it was hoped
to determine the nature of the mysterious
glory, or corona, which surrounds the dark
body of themoon was prepared to be fixed to
the telescope. But these arrangements were
all to no purpose so far as any observation of
the phenomena of the total eclipse was con-
cerned. The sun remained covered with
thick clouds during the minute of totality
and until some time after the fash of re-
turning light had struck the eye. One-half
Of the observations of phases were, however
made, with the following result:
Ending OF Total Darkness, 6h. 2om. 56.7s.
Eclipse, III. 2lm. lbs.
The observation for the latitude and lon.
gitude of the astronomical station gave
Latitude, So deg. Ann. 3Ss.
Longitude, 100 deg. Sym. Os.
The party proceeded to the Pas, on the
same day, where they enjoyed the welcome
society of the enlightened missionary (Rev.
Mr.. Watkins) and his lady, who at this
place are so nobly employed in endeavoring
to civilize and Cbristianize the Indians; and
on Friday proceeded to retrace their steps.
On the return voyage, they were delayed
two days in Cedar Lake and four days off
Cape Kitchinashi, by gales, and did not
reach the Stone Fort till Wednesday, Aug.
9th, forty-one days after their departure.
The supply of -four and biscuit with which
they had commenced the voyage was almost
entirely exhausted week, before their re-
turn, but after living on animal food alone
for some two days, they most OPPORTUNITY
met Monseigneur Grandin with some Sisters
of Charity, who generously supplied them
with bread biscuit and eggs, sufficient for
the remainder of their voyage. The mem
bers of the expedition pronounce themselves
most grateful to his Lordship for his con-
siderate kindness. They also speak in. high
terms of the general conduct of tbe men
who composed their crew, and particularly
of their guide, Mr.. George Kippfing, who
never seemed to need either sleep or rest
while it was possible to push the canoe
ahead. H.. e y4
In making collections of Natural History
along the route one object which they had
in view-no impediment could exist such as
nearly rendered nugatory the main purpose
of the expedition; the detentions generally
afording an opportunity of increasing the
stock. The party seem much pleased with
their success Id this department, having filled
two or three large cases with specimens i'm
mersed in alcohol, and obtained besides
several thousand insects, many of rare inter-
est. Afew fossils were secured at one or
two places, where the outcropping of the
limestone afforded opportunities for collec~
ton. They also obtained samples of the
sturgeon and other fishes of the Saskatche-
wan, with mammals, reptiles, birds, craw-
fish, and many shells from the river, the
lake and its shores. For some of these
(among them an immense pelican from &c.
dar Lake. they are indebted to the kindness
OF Mr.. DeLeon of the Cedar Lake House.
10 WE APE ATT Acpuur M .u. w..