Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-11-18
!, ARCTIC DISCOVERY. =:
Four Expeditions to vvork-The RI

FOur A1peNataOns TO wOrk-Vhe nc.
suits.
The Weser-Zeitung has obtained infor.
nation concerning the late voyage of tho
Albert in the Polar Seas from DR.. Bessel
himself. The Albert isthe first vessel that
has crossed the Sp:tzbergen Sea, at 100
IS north latitude, from the south coast of
Spitsbergcn to the northern coast of Nova
Zembla. She reached tho most northern
point of her voyage 900 14north latitude,
80 g 81 cast lodgitude,) on the 3Oth June.
The ice, which extended az far is Liefde-
bay, formed solid and impossible bar
rier, so that the proposed visit to ellis
Land had to be abandoned. On the 22d
June she arrived at Kings Bay, on the
western coast Of Spitzbergen. A landing
was effected and an excursion made, but
the attempt proved both difficult and dan
gerous, OH account of the torrents of snow
water which streamed from the glaciers on
every side.
The next point on the proposed route
was the Bels11nd, but the way was choked
with pack-ice. The ship lay off the South
Cape on the 28th Of June, and as a south
wind had sprung up another attempt was
made to reach ellis Land, but without
success, as the ice was still firm, and lay
further to the. south than before The
NuC1O1 WIZ CttSt, btlSl bOSC1uA uUuGAIlR OApO.
ditions undertaken to Amsterdam Island,
number OF birds, particularly ducks, were
shot, and many remains Of tic Dutch set
Element OF the, seventeenth century were
found. Il }.*i ! Il
The ruins of eleven boiling-houses, and
great heaps of old barrels and the bleached
bones of whales strewed the shore. There,
too, stood numerous gravestones, with their
pious Dutch and German inscriptions, the
only remaining racprdsr6 q long forgotten
toll DR.. sBessel took soma Photographic
views Of tie most striking features Of the
LANDSCAPE, ands q pupnel olf sketches in
water-colors.
As the way to the north was still blocked
up, the vessel turned her head southwartls,
and on the 3Oth of June she was sixteen sea
miles south of the Cape. The season was
SO unfavorable that it was impossible to
make eyen tho Thousand Islands, buttheir
position, which is placed too far to the
north in the Swedish maps, was rectifed,
and the southern point Of Hope Island was
determined with exactitude. The ice ex-
tended almost to Cape Nassau, and the
captain resolved to sail along it's borders in
the direction Of Nova Zembla. Though DIR.
BesseI and tho second mate wished to land
at the latter point, the captain thought the
sea was running too high to permit of the
attempt being made without danger. On
the 31st of August the Albert began her
homeward voyage. A large number Of me-
neurological observations were made, and
some interesting geological specimenswere
secured with the dredge.
Three other vessels, belonging respect
lively to England, Norway and Russia, have
also been engaged this summer in exploring
the Arctic regions. The first Of these, the
Diana, is the property of Mr.. Lamont, q
member OF the Royal Geographical Society.
She sailed from Glasgow on the 25th April,
having that gentleman, MIR. w. Leysey, Mr..
Smith, and crew of twenty. one men, un-
der the command of Captain Iverson, q
these gentlemen was pnrtly scientific dis
covery and partly sport. They, too, felt
the unfavorable influence of the season.
Though they reached Nova Zembla in May
and Spitzbergen in June, they were unable
to pass the eightieth degree. Ten years ago
MIR. Lamont succeeded in pushing further
to the north in a sailing vessel. In other
respects they were moro successful, as on
their voyage, and during few weeks stay
in Norway, on their way home, they sue
ceeded in killing so walruses, 80 large seals,
bears and 102 stays. They also brought
homo with them about 10 tons of OIL
The Norwegian expedition, If we can call
single small sloop by so high-soundine a
name, was under the command of Captain
Carlson the celebrated walrus-hunter. In
daunted by the evil name it bears, he push
ed boldly into tho Cari;n Sea, and found it
free from leo. lie sailed along tho Siberian
coast, which is flat and covered with bush
es, while the bottom is oozy, until he reach
ed the White Islands, n few miles from the
mouth of the Obi. His adventurous voy-
age was well repaid in pecuniary point of
view, AZ he secured 238 walruses, 30 great
seals, and polar beals, the value Of which
he estimates at about 7, 800 thalers.
The Russian expedition was fitted ont by
Mr.. SideroT for the purpose of establish
ing dire ct communication by sea between
Norway and Siberia. Tho George left
Hammorfest on the 81 of August, under the
command Of Captain Rleck. Her plan was
to reach and sail up the Obi, and Captain
Carlson believes she will accomplish her
purpose, unless the sandbanks at the
mouth of the river present an unexpected
and insur,nounta1le obstacle. 1t seeInf
that these seas arc free from ice ut least
four months in the year, end the distance
| between Varda in Norway and tho mouths
| Of tho Obi, may be travcrsed by steam in
| from three to four days, eight voyages
| might easily be made in season. Should
| Mr.. Siderotf succeed in his plan, the com.
mcrcial Importance of the route will be
varv f,raat