The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-11-21
NO. "a.

West-twenty miles farther south than ID
Kane's Winter quarters and distant from tn
coast 80 miles.
r 1 need hardly say that deeply regret tbs
0 we could not obtain a higher degree of latitud
i with the vessel, particularly do regret that W
e could not reach the west coast. That coast wa
4 wholly unapproachable with sail VESSEL
8 | The weather continued boisterous throughor
the Autumn and indeed, during the create
: part of the Winter. In consequence of the re
peated gales, tho water off the harbor was nc
frozen over till March, so that sledge travelin
, to the Northward was impractcable during tn
month of October, at which time had expecte
to carry out provision depots for use in Spring
, Mr. Sontag made an attempt to reach Rensst
aer Harbor in November and although tn
; darkness of Winter had then set in, he was bal
; fled by the open waters.
While the daylight lasted we were proitab
employed. A survey of the harbor and ads
cent coasts made by the joint labors c
Messrs. SOntag, Mccormick, Dodge and Rae
cliff In September, Mr.. Sontag put up in tn
observatory the fine pendulum apparatus, con
structed expressly for the expedition, by tn
Messrs. Bond, of Boston, and full set of salts
factory experiments were obtained. The mag
netic instruments were subsequently placed il
the same building, and observations were Their
made from time 10 time. meteorological lob
servatory was erected on shore, and obServa
tons were there recorded three times daily wit
several nstrume nts. A bi-hourly record wa
kept near the vessel with single instrument
may mention that all the instruments haV
been we'll compated. A survey of Johns ga
cier was mad by Mr.. Sontag and myself in DC
tober The glacier, which was discovered an
named by DIR Kane, approaches the sea through
a deep valley and its face is two miles from tn
Il sea. The angles, not yet reduced, obtained IL
October were repeated by myself last june, ant
they show a considerable movement of the gla
cer. The survey of this glacier was further con
tinued by me late in October with party o
FIVE persons / assembled to the mer de gtacG, ant
travelled eastward fifty miles. Our greatest ell
ovation was 500 feet,the temperature at which
elevation was $50 lower than at the level o
| the sea.
The winter was passed in health and comfort
We were fortunate in capturing upwards of 20t
reindeer, which kept both ourselves and the
dogs constantly supplied with fresh food.
The winter brought however, some serious
mistortunes a disease which had been pre-
vailing in North Greenland for the past few
years broke out among the dogs, and of the fine
pack which I had taken from the Danish settle
ments only eleven animals remained alive on
the Goth Of December You are we'll aware that
my plan of explorations was wholly based upon
dogs as means of transportation across the ice,
and situated as | was-on the east side OF the
strait and ninety miles farther south than had
anticipated became seriously appTehensive for
the success of the approaching effort.
My party being necessarily small, could not
send into the field more than boats crew Of
abe-bodied men, and these | had always CON
sidered as merely auxiliary to the dogs, and
without the dogs altogether Unavailable for the
services to be performed
My anxiety was fully shared by Mr. Sontag,
the astronomer Of the expedition, and my able
second in command. He carly volunteered to go
south to endeaYOr TO open communication with
thesEsquimaux OF Northumberland Island with
the hope of obtaining some dogs His former eX
perience when with DR.. Kane had ialniliarized
him with all the phases of Arctic travel and no
one could have beeen better fitted for the task.
besides the usefulness Of the proposed journey,
it was peculiarly in harmony with Ills active and
enterprising spirit His offer was accepted and
he left the vessel on the 22nd ofDecember with
sedge and nine dogs, accompanied by the Els
quimaux Hans, intending to make the journey
and return during the moonlight period then
setting in Il is my sad duty TO inform you
that he died while absent.
1t appears from Hans report thrt the imme-
date cause of Mr. Sontags death was cold
Hans, upon his return, stated that they Travelled
the first day to Sutherland Island, where they
camped in Il snow hut and were detained two
days Their next camp was at Sorfalik, Il de-
serted Esquimaux station ON the coast fifteen
miles below Cape Alexander, where they built
another snow hut. They set off next day direct
" for Northumberland Island. The ice, aItho'
covered with light snow, appeared 10 be sui
iciently strong; Elr. Sontag walked IN advance
of the sledge, and when about five miles from
the land he came upon thin ice and broke
through Hans assisted him out of the water
and they Immediately put back for Sorialik.-
Before that place was reached, Mr Sontag was
iusensible and he died soon alterward. His re-
mains were subsequently brought to the vessel
and inferred near the observatory.
Hans succeeded iii reaching the EsqmmauA
but by over-dr1ving five ofthe dogs were killed
and the remaining four permanently injured. l
had now only six animals. The Esquimaux
came TO the vessel some six weeks later, and
from them | obtained sufficient number to
make Two teams Of seven each
1t was not until late in March that the ice
formed around Cape Ohlsen and The land being
too mountainous for sledge travelling, was not
until that time, able to set out NOrthward. At
that time | made a preliminary visit to Fog
Harbor, and there established provision depot.
| awaited myself of this chance to visit Hensse-
laer Harbor, DR.. Kane Winter quarters. No
vestige of the Advance was discovered. She
has probably drifted out to sea with the icc.'-
During this Journey, the coolest temperatures of
the cruise were recorded. On one day the Their
mometer sank to G640 and on another to %
below zero. We c&mped at night on thls,as well
as on all subsequent journeys, III the snow nut
of the Esquimaux
Active preparations had been making since
January tor the Spring campaign, and we were
ready for the final start by the 4th of April. The
chief equipment consisted OF metallic HE boat
twenty feet III length, mounted upon runners,
provisions for a boats crew Of six persons for
q 4le for DCrGOng and
fourteen dogs for six weeks, together with a
careful allowance of fuel for the above named
period We started from the vessel on the above
mentioned date with the entire equipment the
boat and its charge being drawn by the whole
available ship company and fourteen dogs. Mr.
Radcliff with two men was lett IN charge OF the
vessel.
Upon reaching Fog IIarbor we made neatly
due North course, intending to reach the
West coast and travel thence upon the land
ice We soon encountered hummoclIed ice Of
extraordinary thickness, through which 1t was
often necessary TO break passage with axes
and shoyels 1t finally became evident from
the slowuess of our pro gress that the entire Sum
rner would be consumed in reaching the West
lana. even if the boat could be transported toit
at ALL Being well assured that nothing could
be accomplished with the boat expedition,
sent the main party back on the 2Sth OF APilI,
and continued NoTthWerd with three couP"iii0
and two sledSes. 1 rre
The ice grew worse as we advanced. an" .na,st
we're fourteen days in reaching the WestcoaSs'
f Ssan9 a6s faet q Hou can o idea Of the
character Of the ice over which we uaVeled'-
ha ,evaritv Of the labor broke down the dogs
and nd was obliged to feed them double rations'
thus consuming rapidly the provisions, and pro
no hort shortening our Northward journey.
Reaching the West coast at Cape Hayes, we
travelled along the land through Kennedy Cnan-
mel until the 18th Of May, when, our proVls-
ions being exhausted, we were compelled to turn
o [0,r' faces Southward The latitude attained by
u.s. upon pom that day was 81 and 35 min, de-
gIee y Of Northing which I believe not to have
6een exceeded or equalIed by any explorer ex-
ceot Sir Edward Parry. The land was taken
nopssession Of in the name of the United States
With the usual forms, and the flag, which was