The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-08

sequence OF the great number of icebergs).
then Judged It. was seven Or eight miles distant
distinct. BY measurement we made the ex-
tent OF coast OF the Antarctic continent
miles, ma and by s1sa approximat nate measuremens
5000 feet nigh. 1t was entirely covered with snow;
discolored with earth, and, finding we could not
approach the shore any nearer determined TO
land on the largest ice Island 5has seemed access
tons On coming up with It, about one and
half miles from where the barrier had stopped us,
hove the ship to- lowered the boats and for
tunately erected a landing. We found embedded in
1t in places boulders stone, gravel, sand and
mud or cay the largest specimens were OF red
sandstone and basas. Many specimens were OBJ
tanned, and IT was amusing to see the
selves OF piece Of the Antarctic continent These
pieces were in great demand during the remain
der Of the cruise In the centre OF this Iceberg
which was q scum OF ice about ten inches thick.
We obtained from 1t about 500 gallons. We re.
amused themselves TO their hearts, Content slid
ing. The pond was three feet Deep extending
water FOR Sl sslf dozen ems SHIPS there was
no doubt that this iceberg had been detached from
the land, which was about eight miles distant.
Accompanying this detailed description Captain
Wilkes publishes in hts narrative
PICTURE REPRESENTING THE ICEBERG
on which the party landed, and where they all
seem to be very Jolly with the ice barrier-beyond
sQOW-ClaQ
mountains OF the Antartic continent. From this
point Wilkes pursued his way to the westward,
and on the 15tn OF February was in Ga deg Q min.
south and longitude 1o4 deg. east nearly on the
same parallel, and deg. to the eastward Of the
position OF the Challenger, when she started out
OF the ice in her rutless search for wilkes Land
As in the case Of the Challenger, numerous whales
were seen, and also plenty OF birds, principally
pengulns, which seemed greatly enjoying them
selves on the ice. On the nth he was In
longitude 81 deg. 81 min. east, in nearly the same
latitude as before, and now they discovered the
ice barrier, instead of trending east and west as
before, to run north and south. Wilkes was very
anxious to pursue his way further to the west
ward, In order to reach Enderby's Land, believing
that the continent he thought he had discovered
extended that far at least. He was now, as he
reports, 200 miles further south than where Cook
had found the ice barrier in INA, and within
lew miles Of the position OF the Challenger on the
23d, 24tn and 25th OF the same month OF the pres
emit year. The same natural conditions were OBJ
served In both cases-numerous tcebergs wilkes
counted upwards Of 100 at one time, without the
aid OF glass)-a sea open enough for navigation,
plenty of whales and birds. Some Of the cebergs,
or Ice islands as he sometimes called them, were
several miles long. Remarking upon their mag
niHcence he says
We enjoyed this beautiful sight with the more
pleasure ior we had become used TO them, and
knew from experience that II was possible to
navigate through them without accident. In the
midst or all this there came splendid exhibition OF
the aurora austrahs. 1t exceeded nything OF the
kind that had heretofore witnessed. Its activity
was inconceivabe, darting from the zenith to the
horizon In the most brilliant c0ruscating RAYS,
proceeding from point in the zenith, Mashed In
the brilliant pencilings OF light like sparks OF
electric fluid In vacuo and reappeared again to van
ish. Forming themselves into one body, hike an
umbrella or fan smut up, again emerging to hit
across the sky with the rapidity Of light they
showed all the prismatic coors at once or In quick
succession.
From this point the expedition stood northward
and eastward following the line Of the ice barrier
Land, It was thought, lay to the west and SOUTH
but they could not get in with IL through the Ice
This was tho Termination Land which the Chal-
enger could not ana. After encountering dangers
OF the most appalling character the expedition
finally reached Australia, from whence 1t had
started
Now the question arises as to whether wilkes
SAN land OK only lcebeTge, No landing was az apY