The New York herald., 1873-10-26
"A Duty Faithfully and Fear
lessly Performed.
Interesting Narrative OF
the Search.
Among the Icebergs and the Thousand
TerrOrs Of the Arctic Region.
The Welcome Order To
Return Home.
UNITED STATES SLoop-oF-wAR JuNIATA, |
llrr CIR ArHN ISI AMI Oct Oh 1S72

J
The United States sloopofwar Juniata, Com
mander Braine, arrived here this morning from
Greenland, via st. John, N. F., after a splendid
passage of six days. Her cruise to the Arctic
regions In search OF the missing crew OF the
ll-starred exploring steamer Polaris, concerning
whom so much anxiety was for various reasons,
universally displayed, has been q remarkable one.
Whatever may be said of the policy or prudence OF
despatching such vessel on so perilous mission
that allotted to the Juniata, certain is it that
her task has been performed faithfully and fear
lessly and in manner well calculated to reflect
credit on the naval service of the country. True,
the major part OF the actual search devolved upon
the steamer Tgress, just as would her share of
the honor have been greater had her efforts been
crowned with success Yet in recalling the events
OF the past four months-months that seemed
as many years-I fail to remember an
instance in connection with the expedition to
which both the officers and men Of this vessel may
not justly look back with feelings of sef-satisfac
tIon and pride. Imbued, in the first place, with
true OF the important duty assigned to them,
to say nothing Of the sterling motives OF humanity
which prompted oil hands from the commander
down. the rescue OF the suffering people was strug
gled for with that commendable spirit Of ambition
which ever stimulates the noble minded in worthy
cause and seeks ITS reward in the appreciation Of
their fellow beings.
THE SEARCH.
With all the elements of success save one-the
vessel herself--there is little doubt the Juniata
would have accomplished much more had she not
been emphatcally restricted by stringent orders
from venturing beyond her limited capacity for en-
counterlng ice. Once hemmed in, her fate was
sealed forever. The Juniata was never dt to cope
with the terrors OF the Arctic seas, and
Miserable they
Who here entan rled in the gathering ice.
Take their last look Of the Descending ,I,t sun;
the long long night incumbent DER their heads
Falls horrible.
Despite the cautious mandates which circum-
scribed her efforts, her record is something that
may well elicit admiration from those who can
appreciate the dangers through which she has
passed The fact that Buddington's party were
rescued through the instrumentality OF q Scottish
whaler will scarcely lessen the credit which at
taches to the officers and men OF the Juniata for
their enthusiastic and well directed exertions In
the undertaking; and, while there is reason to re-
joice at the timely escape OF the people from the
jaws OF death, the propriety OF sending the little
steam launch to Cape York, however hazardous
the experiment, can now be better understood,
since it was in that vicinity the survivors were
deserted and picked up, fully six weeks before the
tiny craft sighted the memorable spot Now.that the
details OF the rescue are spread broadcast to the
world it is not difficult to speculate what might
have been done; but 1t should not be forgotten
that, though the most minute inquiries were made
by the Juniata along the coast OF Greenland, and
the camp of Littleton was subsequently discovered
by the Tigress, nothing definite was known OF the
whereabouts of the party until the 18th ult.,
when the joyful news OF their safety was flashed
across the wires. Under all the circumstances
there is room for congratulation, first. that the
painful suspense is at an end, and, in the next
laft md IN nary mt
the noble object in view.
CRUISE OF THE JUNIATA.
SO familiar are the public with the details Of the
famous cruise OF this vessel well with that OF
the Tigress, that 1t seems superfuous to recapt.
ulate the novel incidents with which 1t was re-
plete. 1t is, moreover, satisfaction to think
that the Navy Department has acquitted itself
with credit from the beginning. The strong
appeal Of the community to hasten forward
to the rescue OF the missing party,
when Tyson's story Of the ice first startled the
world, was not made in vain. The Juniata was the
most available vessel at the moment, and, without
waiting to inquire much into her capabilities for
ice navigation, she was promptly despatched on the
23d OF June, as the precursor Of the relief which
was to follow. We next see her steaming from st.
John N. F., and battling bravely with all the
elements most likely to discourage the most
resolute mariner. Buoyed up, however, with hopes
OF final triumph, she drives through the thickening
fog and rides the gae-and that OF the 18th Of July
last Is still remembered by those on board-as II
conscious OF her noble mission. And now, ap-
preaching the southern coast OF Greenland des-
olatng waste, but little known except by the pious
strain so familiar to the schoolboy-tne Juniata
works her lonely way through drifting ice. AT
length she stands OF Fiskernaes and vanly fires a
gun, by way Of signal, for no answer
headed north. On every hand appear new
forms OF danger. l have previously ma rrated how
once, amid the densest fog the mind can coniure
up the faithful watch aloft startled US with the
cry or "Iceberg ahead" !" followed In twnkng
with breakers close aboardl" How, in the try
ing moment, want Of Judgment meant total loss,
and that just in time, the vessel shot right be-
tween
THE DEATH TRAPS
with not ten feet to spare now, in the teeth OF the
nercest gale yet encountered, the Juniata be-
lated stranger In this land OF desolation, snugly
anchored in safe retreat adjacent to the irown-
ing peak OF Sukkertoppen, and finally made the
harbor that bears that name Unable to procure
dogs and skins for future use at this forlorn port
though the place Is not without It's pleasant memo
res-the Juniata next heads for Hostelnborg,
where the genial Governor proves liberal to a fault.
NO tlmeis lost in slowing the voracous hounds.
whose hideous hows CRATE upon the ear like q
warning OF dire disaster, and away speeds the ves-
manifold dangers that nlomentariy oeset the ship
THR HAIR> BREADTH ESCAPES.
the weird and dismal surroundings rho gloomy
prospects, the painful suspense, rendered more
distressing by the SAD, though sometimes hopeful,
speculations as to the Whereabouts OF the missing
crew; yet the CHEEKY patience, unceasing yiCiance
and enthusiasm that prevailed the lace OF every
obstacle could not but make deep and iastno
impression on the mind OF the stranger unaccns
tomed to such varied scenes The cheers OF the
benighted Esqumaux stu rung merrily in our ears
as, leaving the r0ck-bound harbor, the Juntata
laden with coal to the very rail. pointed TO the
north. And now the iceOergs loom up In grand
array like niabaster mountains presenting pano
rama stranger and more picturesque than the
widest dream OF the opium eaters revery. and
basklng dcnantly In the rays OF the summer sun.
Bolder and more startling becomes the grim
land rugged coast more cheeress and less
<.sheltering than the broad Sahara, and