The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-24

On March q, DR.. Besssl and Mr.. Bry.
an, with two Esquimaux, started south 10
survey the coast between POlaris Bay and
DR.. kanC's Cape Constitution. After
fourteen days absence, they returned
without reaching Cape Constitution. The
winter quarters were in latitude 81 deg.
50 min, Longitude u deg. A min. This
was considerably farther north than
Kane's winter quarters; and the courage
of men who determined on spending the
winter in such high latitude must have
been wonderful.
boat VOYAGE TOWARD THE POLE.
On June 9Th two boats were got ready,
one commanded by Capt. Tyson, tue
other by Mr. Chester The latter had
got but short way from the ship when
she was smashed by the ice. Mr.. Ches-
ter returned TO the ship and launched the
canvass boat. Both boats got as far north
as Newman's Bay, twenty miles north OF
their winter quarters, where they remain
ed, watching Tor q chance 10 push into
the Polar Sea. Meantime Capt. Budding.
ton, who was now commander Of the eX.
petition, sent Hans Christian 10 the boats
with the message that the POlaris was
leaking, and ordering their return to the
ship Capt. Tyson returned; Mr.. Chester
remained another fortnight at Newman's
Bay, vainlY waiting for q chance to get
northward. At the end oil that time he
turned 10 the ship.
HOMEwARD DoUND-TH0UDLE BEGINS.
On the 18Th of August, 1872, tho ice
having slakened, the Polaris was got into
clear water, and started for the south. ln
latitude so deg. 9 min. she was caught in
tho ice and drilled with it until October
18th. On that day strong gale from the
southeast came on; the Polaris was hove
up on her beam ends on the end OF iloe.
She was Creaking iesrfully, and it seemed
rs If she would be smashed into atoms.
Orders were given to land the provisions
on the ice. At 6 o'clock in the evening
when o part Of them had been placed on
the ice, suddenly that part Of the foe on
which the ship rested broke of, and she
took the water, fortunately on her keel,
and, with fourteen Of her crew on board,
was rapidly driven of northward before
the wind. In the gathering gloom oil
nlglI sue sOOu ulsappcalSu'
A LONG VOYAGE BEGUN.
Nowit was that the part Of the crew
left on the foe began 10 realize the
dangers Of Their position. There were
eighteen Of them, including Hans Chris
tian, his wife and four children, the
youngest but two months old and Joe and
Hannah; with their child. Wrapping
themselves in skins, they slept on the iloe,
hoping to sec the Polaris in the morning,
and that they would be taken of. When
morning daWned no ship was visible; and
they decided on trying to reach the shore.
To their great Joy, as they were hauling
the boat on the ice the Polaris hove In
sight, steering south, under steam and
canvass, and apparently nearing them.
Those on board must have seen them, but,
probably owing 10 the pressure oil the ice,
| The Polaris passed in between q small
island called Northumberland Island"
and the mainland; the foe on which they
were began to move rapidly, tho ship dis:
appeared, and their terrible voyage had
begun. They tried hard to make their
way to the shore, but in vain. Next day
the wind blew strong from the northeast
and the foe broke, leaving them on q
small piece with the provisions and boats
and a canvass tent Then they drilled
away westward forty miles from the ship.
The weather being fine they caught three
seals. After this they drove for eight
days to the eastward, and found them
selves not far from the Greenland shore,
but could not land. Now 1t was that
they fell IN with the foe from which they
had parted, and on which were canvass
house and six bags Of bread. The whole
Of their stock Of provisions consisting Of
eleven bags Of bread, fourteen cans Of
pemmican, containing forty.tive pounds
each, ten dozen cans OF preserved meat
and a few hams. They had nine musk.oG
hides, one bear.Skin and plenty OF Ordin-
AIRY clothing, but no lurs, only few seal
skins. Fortunately they had six or eight
rifles and plenty OF ammunition.
THE FLoE DRIFTING SOUTH.
All hope OF going ashore was now al
an end, the foe drifting south. With the
aid OF the EsqulmauX they built three
snow huts and one storGhouse. Their
provisions were equal to the support Of all
Tor one month, by going on short allow
auce they determined 10 make them last
five months. The allowance for the nine
men, who were in one hut, for each meal
was ono and half pounds Of bread
three-quarterS Of pound Of pemmican;
this, mixed with plenty Of water, was
served out twice day. The Esquimaux
! got the same proportion. When they
caught seal they had "bloW out" and
ate every scrap Of It except the gall
During November, December and jan
uary they caught few seals. One boat
was cut up for fuel to melt ice and cook
For Christmas Day they reserved theil
last piece Of ham, and ieasted luxuriOusly
on few thin slices Of II, and even wen
TO the extravaganza OF serving out two
biscuits to each. On New Years Day
they could afford no extras,
BRIGHTER DAYS.
On January 10 their hearts were glad
dcued by the first sight oil the sun. Thu
, first land they saw was believed 10 b.
Cape Walsingham, but they were man!
miles from It. In tho latter and OF Feb
ruary they caught enough OF doVckies L
; give two 10 each man and woman twic
: a day. The I'd of March was brigh
. day in their calendar; they caught g larg
@ square tlipper seal, which kept them II
provisions for twelve days. Later the!
!, killed an ice.bear. During March the!
D did not suffer at all from hunger, On tn
y l2lh OF March heavy gale and SNOW
Q DRIFT set in, the ice was cracking ant
:, roaring ali around. During the who'll
night they stood ready TO take 10 the boat
c With fearful crash the foe split, happi