The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-04

The FATE OF ARCTIC .ExPLoRKRs:-
Horace says ,that, the hsaltSot the first
navigator must huve been shielded with
ehree-fold brass. and yet tE4t post could
hardly have found words to express his
astonisument at the intrepid seaman
who first ventuFod 10 face tbs unknown
tcrrors OF the frozen world. Many bold
men who have penetrated those inhospi-
table shores have lived to tell the moving
tale OF all its hardships and dangers,
while many others equally as skillful
have sunk into nameless graves boncath
the mighty iceberg. Moro than 300
years ago Heriolf became separated from
his SOD, E;ron, who in vain searched
long and far for his father's vessel; it was
never seen again, ind entities him to
become the first in the roll Of Arctic
victims.
II 1850. tbe Cnrtereals searched in
vain, aud with loss of life, for the North
west passage to Cathay. Following the
leading idea Of Columbus, and fuding
the American continent stretching be-
tween them and the land OF spices and
silks, thcys ondoavo.ed to round it's
Northern shores. and were left amid the
Polar SHOWS. The Spauiards long con
trolled all the known routes TO Indi;i
Instead Of sailing over it's entire circum
ference, the other nations hoped to reach
the Orient by climbing over it's end.
The Muscoyey company, with this view,
sent ont the gallant Sir Hugh Willough.
by, who, with his entire crew, were
frozen to death at the mouth OF the
rishcd OFF tho icy capo Of Russian Ame-
RIGA in 1896. and he was followed in
l61l by sturdy 1Iendrick Hudson, the
Dutoh tliscoverar Of Manhattan, whose
crew set him aflont in small boat in the
centre OF Hudson Bay, whose waters no.
came his gravo.
On the Sth Of December, 17lI, old
Behring gave way to the inf-mities of
age and temper, and was buried on the
bleak Island called after him. and in 1850
Shaiaroif, another Russian, with I'LL his
crew. perished from starvation off thc
coast OF Siberia. Captain Cooks Inst
expedition, although ho met his death
from the club OF Sandwioh Isler dor,
was on its way to attempt the Polar Sea
through Behring's Straits.
On the 9th of July, 1915. the brave
md experienced Sir John Trapklin, in
command of the Erebus and Terror, was
LETT byn whala-ship moored to an ice.
berg near the centre of Baflin's Bay,
waiting for IN opening into Lancaster
Sound, through which ho hoped to
achieve his !ife-dream by fading the
Northwest passage. This wns the last
ever seen Of his crew by civilized eyes,
and beneath some floating hummock or
moving glacier rests all that is mortal OF
him, whilo Arctic explorations have
been changnd from search fo- high
| way of nations into mourning exhumn-
tion Of scattered fragments. Indicating
tho couree and progress Of the terrible
death struggle made by him and lis men.
Dr. Anno survived his voyage in search
OF franklin aud the ship that bore linn,
oniy to lingcr for short timn beneath
the cocoa aId the palm OF the tropics.
\ more pleasing reminiscence is that of
the "Resolute," which waH abandoned
| by Sir f.. Belohor, who was Oh. the same
mission, and was recovered by Captain
Hartstino, who was looking after Kane,
and after floating sixteen months and
1890 miles, WAS brought to New Lon
don. purchased by our Government, and,
amid the mingled music of Hail Bri.
tannin' and "aail Colunbin, was re-
turned to the dominion of q .een Vic
toria.
OhPt. ouiA fIoAC lWo CApG-
litions before he engaged in this last
and fatal one. On the Gosh of May,
1860. he set sail from New London, TO
| find, if possible, some survivors of Sir
JOHN Frunklin's party, whom he hoped
might still be living ON the shores of
that open Polar Sen which Morton,
Kaae's trusty lieutenant in June, 1854,
saw beating aS his feet with the steady
pulsation md regular swell Of mea-
snreiess ocean. In Ju!y, 1864, he sailed
again, and from both expeditions re-
turned safely. proving himself M cxpe-
rienccd traveller for those Arctic regions,
rs well as HI acute and cnreful observer
OF their wonderful phenomena. Ho will
return Io more. Those fatal .uscinn-
tions oil Polar /: lery and adventure
have iured him ill.,, the footsteps Of his
unfortunate predecessors.
The scenery Of Arctic lands and soas
is always awfnl ard sublime, and always
attractive. Tho summer; warmth nt-
tracts countless hosts of migratory birds
and beasts, while shoals Of fish, both
great and small, fill every river ard ill.,
let; but the FIRST frosts cf September
drive them back to warmer regions and
leave the silence of desolation TO brood