Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-11-07
hs1ing probably drift.d- 70 sss With shsl

hs1ing probably dritsd- 10 - with shsI
ice. On his journey the mercury sunk to
So below zero.
lOn9 9Apsil the 4th The spring expedition
set out, being a metallic life boat mounted
on runners, provisions for five or SIX
months, and provisions for seven ,persons
and fourteen dogs for siv iweeks, the boat
and cargo drawn BY the crew and the dogs.
On the 2sth of April DR.. II. became con-
vinced that the summer would be frultIess-
" consumed in trying to transport the
boat, and he sent the main party back, be
continued northward with three ccmpan-
ions and two sledges. The progress over
the ice was SO slow that reaching the west
coast of Cape Hayes be travelled along the
land through Kennedy Channel until the
18th of May, when, the provisions being
exhausted, be turned southwark again,
having reached latitude 81 degrees IS
minutes, a degree Of Northing not exceed
ed BY any explorer except Edward Parry.
The land was taken possession Of in the
name of the United States, with the usual
forms, and the flag which was used upon
the occasion has covered the most Noreh-
ern known land upon The globe.
Although thus early in the season, the
ice in Kennedy Channel was everywhere
much decayed, and unsafe, and in some
places was entirely gone. In one extensive
pool flock of water fowl was discovered.
Ientertain no doubt that the ice of Ken
nedy Channel was broken up very early
period of the Summer. It was in this
channel that Dr.. Kane discovered an open
sea at period six weeks later, in the Sum-
mer Of 1854. Before reaching the vessel
l lost all but the seven remaining dogs,
and the ice having broken mp around Cape
ohlsen, further exploration to the North
ward was impossible during the present
season. ---.-es-.---.----
Returning to his vessel be repaired it
and on July l4lh set sail, the ice having
broken. He sailed to the West Coast, l2'
miles south of Cape Isabella, dropped an
chor, made journey in whale boat 10
the north side Of tho Cape, but fifteen
miles north of the Cape the ice was solid
as far as the eye could reach. 1t was i'm
practicable TO attempt in his crippled con-
dition to remain another year and be re-
luctantly turned back, reaching Halifax
Oct. 9th. Hesays: 4ljl Y f}.tE Z.
l have to regret we could not accom-
plish greater Northing. but situated as
we were with Smiths Strait to cross, and
with small force at command, I can but
regard the Summer explorations as fortu-
nate and successful. The field of research
although more limited than had antici-
pated, was, however, new. and my observa-
tions 10 different departments of physical
and natural science will, I feel assured
meet the appreciation of the patrons of the
expedition. ier'sff 4
I am well satisfied they will be found
fully to justify the labor and expense which
they have cost. The unfortunate accident
which occasioned the mntimely death of
Mr.. Sontags caused a serious loss to the
expedition. The system of observations
and experiments which we had planned in
concert had already accomplished import
ant additions TO arctic science, when death
deprived me of his Invaluable assistance !.
and with the duties incident to Arctic ex-
ploration in the field pressing constantly
upon me. was not always able to execute
the plans which he had devised. -