Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-22
EAST LIRERTY.
Return Of the Arctic Exploring Vessel
Pandora.

The Pandora arrived safe and sound at
Portsmouth this afternoon, after an ad-
venturous and eventful voyage in the Arc
tic seas. The Pandora arrived safely at
Disco, Greenland, and left that port on the
7th of August, reaching Upernavik in
time TO leave there on the 18th. After
sailing from the port OF Upernavik, Green
land, the Pandora crossed the dreaded
Melville Bay without any mishap, for,
contrary to previous expectation, the
usual fields of pack-ice were not visible,
and almost a clear sheet of water was
found. Consequently the passage was
made in good time and in smooth water.
In due time the expedition reached
Carey Island, where Commander Young
anticipated finding dispatches that might
have been left there by Capt Mares to be
taken to the British Admiralty. In this
he was disappointed, as no signs of the
Government exploring expedition were
visible. There being nothing further to
be done at the island, Capt. Young de-
cided to steer for Lancaster Sound, the
northwest corner of Baffin's Bay, and, on
reaching that point, encountered for the
first time ice-hoes. So great was the
pressure of the floating ice that it was
with great difficulty that the Pandora was
forced on her way. Despite the ice and
the difficulty of passage Capt. Young sue
ceeded in traversing the entire length of
Barrow Strait, making the passage in
good time. The Pandora's progress was
then impeded by q dense and binding
fog, which was so thick and impenetrable
that men few feet from each other were
invisible.
As soon as the steamer arrived at an
anchorage off BECKY Island several of the
officers and crew went ashore and made an
examination of the buildings. They found
the storehouse built for the benefit of sail
Ors or castaways of ice-bound vessels
broken into. On entering the building
the visitors found the clothing and the
provisions left there to be in state of ter
rible confusion. Everything of a movable
nature was scattered about in the most
singular manner. At first it seemed TO be
an act of human beings, but, on further
investigation, the Pandora people were
satisfied that the destruction of stores had
been accomplished by Polar bears, as the
tracks of those animals were visible in
every direction, both inside and outside
the building.
One of the discoveries made by the
Pandora officers was that the headboards
over the graves of Sir John Franklin's
men, who were lying buried there, were
still standing upright and in good preser-
vation. On the 2Sth of August the Pan
dora steamed away from BECKY Island for
Peel Strait, and then ensued the most
critical period of the entire voyage, for
the steamer encountered vast fields of
pack-ice, which made the passage of the
vessel most difficult and laborious one.
Struggling through the pack of ice, the
Pandora steadily worked her way onward,
and despite the difficulty soon passed the
farthest point reached by the Fox when
McClintock was in search of Sir John
Franklin's relics. Soon after reaching
that point the Pandora neared the island
known as King Williams Land, thus
navigating sea where no ship was ever
before except, perhaps, that of Sir John
Franklin.
AT this time the most intense excite
ment prevailed among the officers and
members of the expedition, as it was ex-
pected that some important results were
at hand. Many believed that they would
be sure to discover traces of the Franklin
expedition, and some were san
guine that even Sir Johns papers
would be found, and of event
ually making Behring's Straits. In
this, however, they were disappointed
Roquette's Island was discovered ahead
Itwas then considered probable that the YES
sci would be able to reach Bellot's Straits.
As the steamer moved forward all hands
were gazing eagerly ahead to the south
ward, but, on reaching ROquette's Island,
officers and men saw the edge Of the solid
pack of ice which stretched across the
strait from side to side in one unbroken
expanse of hummock-
This pack blocked the entrance to Bel
lots Straits. 1t was the same pack of ice
that stopped Capt McClintock on the
Fox. SO there was no hope of a speedy
movement of the icy barrier. The Pan
dora stayed at this point until the 18th OF
September, when, finding that no further
progress was possible, Capt. Young and
his officers saw that they must decide
either to remain through the winter in the
ice or return. After a mature delibera-
tion it was decided to be useless to remain
IN winter quarters, and that it would be
far better 10 return next year. The re.
turn journey was fiIll of difficulties, as the
ice was rapidly forming, and the passage
| of the Pandora was constant series OF
exciting scenes and narrow escapes from
moving ice-hoes. Esf|
Finally escaping through Peel Strait, the
ice still rapidly forming and accommodating,
the steamer at length reached Carey
Island In safety. There Capt. Young
found the long looked-for dispatches from
Capt. Mares for the British Admiralty.
From Melville Bay hOmeward the voyage
was almost uneyentful. The dreaded bay
once safely passed unharmed, the Pandora
steamed directly for England and arrived
safely in port
Capt Young reports that from the prev.
alence of north winds there is abundant
promise that Capt. Mares will prove sue.
cessful Should the expectations Of the
Pandora's commander be verified Capt
Mares will proceed TO the highest latitude
possible,
"A sweetp0tato plantation Of 700 acres
near Atlanta, Ca, is expected 70 yield 4o,'