The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-08
DR.. Hayes Exploring Expedition.

In the midst OF tho excitiEg scenes which
now surround US, events the most interest
ing can hardly obtain moments hearing
il uDconnected with the war. Tbere NAV bt
few OF our readers however, who will Dc
glad 20 learn that DR.. Hayes has returned
with tho exploring schooner United States
and has published an official account Of his
trip. We can only give brief synopsis OF
the voyage.
The expedition, composed of ono small
vessel, sailed from Boston. July s, 1860, and
from Upernavik on the 10Th of the same
month. On the cath. reached Melville
Bay, and effected its passage in 55 hours.
On the 25 h they were brough, up with a
heavy pack of ice. twenty miles south O!
Smiths Strait. Every effort TO find an
opening through this pack was unavailing
and after contending with heavy gales and
almost continual bad weather for several
days, in which the vessel suffered severely
on Sept. I'd Littleton Island was reached
Examinations from the highlands Of the
island. aod with boats. showed that il was
hopeless to attempt any further progress
that season. Everything was wintry. 1,
showed almost necessarily, the thermome.
ter was IL degrees below freezing, aud the
vessel was coated with ice IL was con.
cuded to 60 into winter quarters 10 Huv
stein BAY. where the vessel was moored
uear the shore. on Sept. OH, and every
preparation made for winteing. The spot
was named Port Forlko. and is in lat. rs
deg, IL min. 81 sec. N, lon. 20 deg. 80
min, 81 Sec. w. 1t is twenty miles furthe,
south than DR.. Kano's winter quarters, and
distant from il by tho coast ninoty miles
Tho winter was spent in various survey,
and observations, for the promotion of ID,
objects of the expedition. ..... .
A melancholy event took place during tn,
winter. Mr.. SOnntag. the astronomer OF
the Expedition, and second in com nand
and Who was with DR.. Kane, volunteered to
go on a journey to procure dogs for the
services Of the expedition. lie took sledge
and nine dogs. and an Esquimaux, named
Hans. After they were out several days
spending the nights in snow huts, Mr.. Som,
tag fell through the ice whore il was thin un
der the snow. He was Immediately cxirica
ted by Hans. who started back with him to
the last station, five miles off, but before
they arrived Mr.. Sonntag was insonsible
from the cold, and died soon after they
arrived. Hans returned to head quarters
and the body was brought 10 and buried
Thus porished this martyr to science.
During the winter Or. Hayes visited
Rensselaer, Harbor, DR.. Kane's Winter
Quarters. No vestige of the Advance was
discovered. She had probably driftcd out
to sea with the ice. During the trip she
thermometer sunk to 68 deg, below zero.
In the spring an expedition was under
taken on the leo with sledges. and after a
great deal of suffering and labor DR.. HAYES
attained the latitude of 81 deg, 35 min., the
highest northing ever attained, excepting
Sir Edward Parry. Tho land was taken
possession of in tho name of tho United
States. and the flag used covered the mos.
Northern known land on the globe. Being
unable to proceed further for want of provi-
sions, and the dogs being exhausted, DIR.
Hayes returned to his vessel, around which
the ice broke up on the 10th OF July, 1861,
and she put to sea on tho l4th.
As the pack Of ice still remained soIid,
and the vossel was very much disabled, il
was concluded to return homo, and the eX-
ped!tion reached New York on the l4th OF
August, and Boston October 23d. DIR.
Hayes says in conclusion, that he is still Of
opinion that Smiths Strait can 5e naVigated
by steam, though not sails alone. He says
he hopes to return in q small steamer, and
for that purpose left some stores at Port
Foulke. aud at Upernayik. Wo look for
an interesting volume from his graphic pen.
-PItsburgh Gazette.