The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-11-09

prasisioas, ana prcpoftiooally ehofeeninS
my norshuar journey, reaching shs YES
coast at Cape Hayes, ue Travelled along sh,
land through Kennedy channel until the lSst
OF May, when our provisions being exhaust.
ed, Ne we're compelled to turn cor faces
Sonthsard. The isttitude attained on thA,
day was 81 degrees, 81 minutes, degree
OF northing which believe not TO have beer
exceeded or equalled by any except Sir
Edward Parry. The land was taken pos.
| session OF in the name ut the Uniied States,
with the usual forms, and the Tag which
was used on the occasion has covered the
most northern known land upon the globe.
Although thus early in the season the ice
IN Kennedy channel was everywhere much
deeayed and unsafe, and in some places
was entirely gone. Ia one extensive pool
fock of water fowl was discovered. 1 en-
tertain no doubt that the ice Of Kennedy
chanuel vas broken up and dissolved At !
very early period of the summer. II was IN
this channel that DIR. kane discovered an
open sea at . period Of six weeks later, IN
the summer OF 1854. Before reaching the
vessel lost all but seven of the remaining
dogs, and the ice having broken up around
Cape Ohlsen, further exploration 70 the
northward was Impossible during the pres
ent season. ass
The six weeks subsequent to my resurn
to Port Foulke were occupied in preparing
the vessel tor sea; in completing some un-
finished surveys, in making magnetic and
other observations, in collecting specimens
of natural history, in photographing the
scenery and other objects OF interest in the
vicinity. The schooner had been much
damaged by the Zoe encounters Of the pre-.
yious summer, and it was found impossible
to rtsSore her original strength. Being
without carpenter, a large share Of the
labor Of repairs fell 90 Mr.. Mccormick, the
sailing master of the expedition, of whose
ready ingenuity and practical skill | cannot
too warmly express my ackno owiedsments.-
The ice broke up around the vessel on the
10Th Of July, and We put to sea on she
l4sh. s
After much difficulty and two trials We
reached the west coast, twelve miles south
Of Cape Isabella, and being unable to pass
the cape VIC dropped anchor, and on the
18th made a journey to the north side Of
the cape in whale boat, and from an ele-
vatian Of SIX numbered feet obtained view
TO the northward. In that direction, fifteen
miles above Cape lsabel!s, the ice was solid
and unhrokcn as far as the eye could
reach.
| To the eastward the pack ice was heavy
and impenetrable. To penetrate the strait
under these circumstances, with the view Of
rraching practicable point for future
sledge operations with my reduced forcel for
! bad now only i've dogs) was clearly I'm
practicable, and believing that wns not
justified in incurring the heavy expense OF
another years absence without q prospect
I Nnr L.
abandoned the field and turned southward.
Taking the Whale Sound on the way,
completed the survey Of that remarkable
inlet, and obtained there an excellent set Of
magnetic determinations and some photo
graphs OF the natives, the glaceries and
other objects Of interest. a
After boring through the ice of Melville
bay for $50 miles we reached the southern
water, aud entered the harbor OF Upper
Novik on the l4th Of August. There we
remained ten DAYS, engaged during that
time in various scientific explorations. On
the lst of September We reached rGorbam,
or Lively, and were there similarly occu.
pied. We were ready for sen again on the
| 9th, but succession of southwesterly
gales detained US until the l7tb, when We
again put to sea, and, having a fair wind,
We were on the 22d 200 miles to the south
ward Of Cape Farewell. From that time
until the 9th Of October We encountered
constant sou,herly weather, with frequent
gales. When OF Halifax we sustained se-
rious damage, and were obliged to put in
to that port for repairs. We are now again
ready for sea, and expect to leave this port
to morrow. --.. ..l#lssr
While the day lasted We were proftably
A 81 81 4, Il
jacent coasts was made BY the joint labors
Of Mes.rs. Sontag, Mccormick, Dodge and
Radclilf. In September MIR. Sontag put up
in the observatory the fine pendulum apps.
rattus, constructed expressly for the expe-
dition by the Messrs. Bond, OF Boston. and
a full set of satisfactory experiments were
obtained. The magnetic instruments were
subsequently, placed in the same building,
and observations were there made from time
to time. meteorologic observatory was
erected on shore, and observations were
there recorded three times daily, with sew
eral instruments. A bi- hourly record was
kept near the vessel with single iustru.
ment. may mention that all Of the instru-
ments have been we'll compared. A survey
of Johns glacier vas made by Mr.. Sontsg
and myself in October. This glacier, which
was discovered and named BY DR.. Kane,
approaches the sea through deep valley,
and it's face is two miles from the sea. The
angles, not yet reduced, obtained in Octo-
Der. were repeated BY myself last june, and
they show a considerable movement of the
glacier. The survey Of this glacier was
further continued BY me late In October,
with party OF five persons. ] ascended to
the mar de gldce. and travelled eastward
6ftv miles. Our greatest elevation vas
800 feet, the temperature At which eleva-
ton vas Is deg. lower than at the level Of
| the sea.
The winter vas passed III health and
comfort. We wers fortunate in capturing
upward Of 300 reindeer, which kept both
ourselves and the dogs constantly supplied
with fresh food.
1have 10 regret that we could not accom-
piish greater northing, bus situated % We
were, with Smiths strait to cross. and with
small force as command, can bot regard
the summer explorations ~ fortunase and
successful. The Geld research, although
more limited than I bad anticipated, vss
however, new, and my observations 10 dif-
ferent departments OF physicai and natural
| science viii, feel assured, meet the appso.
bssiop Of the patrons Of the expedision.
/ am we'll satisfied that they will be found
fully 70 justify the lsbor and expense which
they have cost. The unfortsnsse accident
which occasisned the death Of Mr.. Sspsae
caused sesieus loss to the expeditian.-
The system of observations and expefimeuts
which We bsd planned IN cenrert bad alresdv
accomplished important additions so. the
Arctic science, when dessh depris ID ne of
bis insaluasle assistance: and wi,h the da.
ties incident 10 Arctic exploration in the
field pressing closely apon me, ] vas not al
~ss. able sa eI.eufe the plsna which we
Aad devised. Nv stbcars, however, os oil
eeeasions eontriba;sd ;hsn best sssissasss,