The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-17

through 1t. A fleet of vessels the size of the
Advance, Morton said, could have beat easily
to the northward. The wind blew strong from
thenorth for three days, yet. they saw no ice
| driven down from that point Of the compass
during the whole of that time, and what was
more curious, on their return found that none
had gone into the channel through The agency
of this prolonged gale. On the .22d, after
days journey OF. forty.eight miles in straight
line, they camped on ledge Of low rock; and
on the 23d were only able to 60 eight miles
before the land ice terminated altogether, and
the water broke directly against the Gifts.
Contfhulng their course overland, they came
to the entrance of bay, whence they could
sec cape and island to the northward. Here
they left the dogs and prepared for foot
march. This spot was the greenest they had
seen since they left the f1eadands OF the chan
mel; snow patching the valleys and water trick
ling from the rocks. Hans was able to hnu
and glad to eat the young shoots Of the lychRis,
and brought home to DR.. Kane the dried poo
of hesperls which had survived the wear and
tear of winter On the 24h, after tive hours'
marching, the road improved, and they were
fortunate enough-by the aid OF the dogs, which
had broken loose from their fastenings and
Joined them-to kill bear and its cub, which
furnished abundant food for the rayenous
CANNES. Hans now became tired out, and
was sent ashore to follow The curve OF the bay.
Morton crossed on the Ice, whlch0gas hum
mocked and full OF cracks, making 1t very
hard to travel. Walking over this be saw an
opening not quite eight miles across, separa-
ting Two islands Afterwards named Sir John
Franklin aud Captain Crozier- which he had
heretofore supposed was but one island. Near
ing the northern'land, at the east shore which
led to the cape which terminated his labors. he
found only very narrow belt OF Ice under the
leo of the headland and crushed up against
the side of the rock. He went on, but the Ice
broke more and more until about q mile from
the capeit ceased altogether; the waves break
log with o cross sea directly against the land.
The wind had moderated, but was still from
the north, and the current ran up at the rate
Of four or five knots an hour. The cliffs here
were very high; at n short distance OIL they
seemed about two thousand feet, but they
We're 30 overhanging that Morton could not
see the topsas ne drew closer. He tried to
pass round the cape, but 1t was In vain; there
was no shore Ice, and attempting to ascend
the cliffs he could get up not more than few
hundred feet. Here he fastened to his walk
ing pole the Grinnell flag Of the Antarctic-a.
we'll cherished relic which had accompanied
Or. Kane on two Polar voyages. This flag had
been saved from the wreck OF the Dnited
States sloop-of.war Peacock, when she strand
ed off Columbia River, and ha. gone with
Commodore Wilkes in his far southern discoV-
cry of an Antarctic continent. It was now
its strange destiny to doat over the highest
northern /. not only of America but of our
globe. Side by side with this one was ban
ner bearing the MASONIC emblems Of the
square and compass, and these twin ensigns
few for an hour and half from the black
cliff over the rock-shadowed waters, which
rolled. up and broke In whlte-capped pillows at
Its base. Returning, Morton Joined his COM
paaion, and AFTER tedious journey-marked,
however, BY no important incldents-they
reached the brig on the Fourth of July.
DR.. Kane estimates that from the height
where Morton stood when surveying the
mysterious expanse Of water, he was able
to gain mean radius Of thirty-six miles Of
reliable vision, which would give to the SEQ
On area OF four thousand square miles.
There seems to be no good reason to doubt
that William Morton did reach, and as far
as possible under the circumstances, closely
examine o .vast field. Of open water in the
neighborhood OF latitude eighty.two degrees.
Upon that sea no ice was seen, nor did any
appear after strong gale from the North
for three days. The wild fowl along the
shores were such as are only found In COM
paraliyely mild climate, and everything in-
dicated q more moderate temperature than
that which prevailed OF the time at Rensse-
laer barbor, four degrees further south.
Unless Morton is stupendous liar, or the
victim OF o strange delusion, he has estab-
,.shed geographical fact which is an i'm
portant contribution to the sum Of human
knowledge. But his exploration, at the best,
was unsatisfactory, and needs careful elabo-
ration. 1t is to be hoped that Captain Hall,
with Morton as his guide, and with On outfit
much more comfortable and complete than
Kane enjoyed. may be able to bring us full
and trustworthy information in regard to the
open Polar Sea.