Mower County transcript., 1869-09-16
THE HAYES ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Letter from bradford, the Artist -
what was Done TO July 27-HnrrOxv
EsCapo from tho Discharge Of Seven
lcober8s.
IvlauT, Greenland, July 27- Since leav-
ing st. Johns We have had tino weather
most of tho time. Wo made Capo Desola-
tion after weeks run from St, Johns.
There welay three days, and started thence
to Julienshab, tho most southern settle
ment of any Importance in Greenland
There Dr. Hayes and myselftook IN omcak,
or Esquimeaux womnn's boat, and visited
the ruins of the old cathedral Mt Krakortok,
built about $50 years ago by the Northmen.
This, with other ruins, which wero sur
rounded by wall, were photographed, and
the doctor made careful survey of the
whole, and he will no doubt publish somc
account Of these rarely visited and very
wonderful ruins. The old cathedral or
church is in good state Of preser-
vation; the foundations and doorways arc
perfect. The walls arc of 14mcnse thick
long One gable is firm, and still eighteen
feet high, and the other is crumblins away,
and the arched window in ii will soon fall
From Krakortok we returned to Juliershab,
thence to large glacier which pours down
into ford to the north and west. This
was tho most magnificent sight have over
beheld. 1t was moro grand and imposing
than could have dreamed Of; and tho i'm
mensity of ice which covers the interior of
Greenland and discharges into the sea,
creating hundreds and thousands of ice
bergs, is something which cennot be de-
scribed in words. Photographers have been
very busy, and, with upwards of 40 different
views trust to be able, on my return, to
give you something like correct impress
sion of what seems to me one of tho most
wonderful works of nature. Farther north
we shall no doubt have numerous opportu-
mites of visiting other glaciers, and of null
tiplying our material for the illustration of
this grand and picturesque Arctic scenery.
1t greatly exceeds all my previous expecta-
tions. The mountains are more rugged
and lofty, the glaciers more extensive, and
the great Mer de Glace, which they call here
the Eisblinten, is moro suggestive OF vast
extent and solitude than any thing had even
thought possible in nature; and then the
power displayed in tho glacier flow and the
discharge of an iceberg is most surprising.
With the icebergs the coast is everywhere
lined. The sea is dotted with these great
white floating islands, which ore often from
one to three hundred feet high. Iu
single view have seen many hundreds,
spread before me on the waterg, leading the
eye away into extreme distance
beyond anything have ever seen.
We were fortunate enough to witness
seven bergs discharge in the manner
first described, believe, by DR.. Hayes;
and althoug Il we were at one time exposed
to some danger, and lost part of our pho
tographic materials by the wave which
rolled thirty feet high upon the rocks, yet
all the party escaped without personal in-
jury. Tho Photographic party heard the
crash and saw the wave coming in time to
climb the rocks, and thus escaped being
washed into the sea, meeting with no fur
ther mishap than a good ducking from the
crest OF the sea. It was narrow and pro-
vidential escape. Twas on the vessel at the
time, making study in oil of the glacier
front, which is two hundred feet high, and
had We been nearer the shore We should
have been, in all probability, dashed to
pieces. We We're not long in getting under
way. and, although DIR. Hayes seems bard
ened hy experience, and appears to regard
think the inexperienced are disposed to
hold a Greenland glacier hereafter at more
respectful distance. From here we shall
proceed north into Melville. Bay, which I
trust the experience of, Dr.. Hayes will ena-
bic us to pass through without risk, and
which will give me the opportunity OF OBJ
tanning all the artistic material T.. now re-
quire to complete my collection Of views
and studies of this Arctic world of ever
lasting ice and rugged mountains We
shall return as early in the tenth month az
possible. Thy friend, :,e
WIrJJAS RRAnrors,