Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-18
ARCTIC EXPLORATION.
Cruise of the PdHdora.
Exciting search for the Northwest
Passage stopped by Pack leo Nav
fgattug n Hitherto mex Plored SeA-
Remaios Of the Ross Expedition -
Destructive Work OF Polar Bears.

A cable special from London says that the
Pandora arrived safe and sound at Ports
mouth Saturday afternoon, after an adven-
turous and eventful voyage in the Arctic
seas. Mr.. McGahan, the New York Herald
correspondent. teleg raphs brief outline OF
the experiences and events OF the expedition.
The Pandora made "A swift passage penetra
ting fields of ice and sailing over dangerous
seas with a celebrity that is astonishing
from the moment Of leaving Cpernavik she
encountered many dangers. but met with no
mishapS- Melville bay was crossed in safety
and then there was "A disappointment at not
receiving dispatches from Captain Mares
VINO by tins time Il far on his way toward
the Pole. But the Pandora bad different
mission from the discovery OF that enticing
mystery, and her commander at once went
IN search OF those objects of tender interest
relating To the Franklin expedition, which tt
was an important part of his purpose To dis
cover. Despite the pack ice and frozen seas
he partly retrsced bis track through b an l's
bay, and, entering Lancaster sound, VISITED
Beechy island on the 18th of August.
THE YACHT MARY.
When land was sighted considerable ex-
citement was caused among the crew hy the
discovery Of the yacht Mary, which hal been
drawn up oiI the beach Captain Ross, in
lS0. The Pandora anchored, and IL was
found that the yacht was Still standing with
masts upright,
POLAR BEAR DEPREDArIoNs.
AS soon as the steamer Pandora arrived al
the anchorage off Beechy Islaud several OF
officers and crew went ashore and made an
examination OF the buildings. They found
or castaways of ice-bound vessels broken in
to- On entering the building the visitors
found the clothing and provisions LETT there
10 De IN "A state of terri BILE confusion. Every
thing OF movable nature was scattered
about in the most singular manner. At first
listened 10 be the act OF human beings; bat
on further investigation the Pandora people
were satisfied that the destruction of the
stores had been accomplished by Polar bears
a. the track OF those animals were visible in
every direction, both inside and OUTSIDE the
FRANKLIN HEADBoARps
one OF the most interesting discoveries
made by the Pandora officers was that the
headb0ards over The graves OF Sir John
Franklln's men who were lying buried there
were still standing upright and in good pre-
A CRITICAL PERIOD.
On the 2sth of August the Pandora stea NJ
ed away from Beechy island for Peel strait,
and then ensued the most critical period OF
The entire voyage, for the steamer encoun-
tered vast fields Of pack ice. which made the
passage OF the vessel a most difficult and la
borious one. Struggling through the pack
Ice The Pandora steadily worked her way on
ward, and despite the difficulty soon passed
the furthest point reached by the Fox when
MeClintock was in search OF Sir John rank
Inns relics
AN UNKNOWN SEA.
Soon after reaching that point the Pando-
ra neared the island known as King Will
liams Land, thus navigating i'm sea
where 10 ship was ever before, except, per
haps, that of Sir John Franklin. Here il
was, no doubt. where the explorer was final
ly beset by the masses of ice that proved his
destruction. From King Williams island
the Pandora steamed down TIE west coast of
Prince of Wales land, and encountered most
delicious weather. The atmosphere was soft
and refreshing, and the bitter cold of the Arc
tic zone was replaced by warm air currents
and open eXpaIses Of water.
An EXCITING MOMENT.
At this time the most intense excitement
prevailed among the officers and mem bsrs of
the expedition, as il was expected that some
important results were at hand. Many be-
lieved that they would be sure 10 discover
were Sanguine that even Sir Johns papers
would be found. In this, however, they
were disappointed. Tie Pandora eventually
making behring's straits, the voyage of the
steamer seemed TO be In successful progress,
as ROuQuette island was already discemed
ahead. II was then considered probable
that the vessel would be able 10 reach Bel
lots straits.
AN ICE BLOCKADE.
AS the steamer moved forward all hands
were gazing eagerly ahead TO the southwark,
but OIL reaching Rouquette Island the officers
and men saw the edge OF the solid pack OF
ice, which stretched across the strait from
mock ice. This pack blocked the entrance
TO BellOt's straits. 1t was the same pack OF
Ice that stopped Capt. McCliutock In the
Fox, SO there was no hope OF speedy move
ment OF the icy barrier.
END OF THE TRIP.
The Pandora stayed at this point until the
Ith OF september, when, finding that no fur
ther progress was possible, Capt. Young and
his officers saw that they must decide either
To remain through the winter I'm the ice or
return. After mature elaboration il was de-
cided TO be useless TO remain i'm winter Qua.-
tiers, and that 1t would be far better to return
next year. The return journey was full of
difficulties, as the ice was rapidly forming.
and the passage of the Pandora was a con-
slant series of exciting scenes and narrow
escapes from the moving ice foes. Finally
escaping through Peel strait, the ice still
MID for aSr.D ov,<l .r4S.
steamer finally reached the Carey Islands in
safety. There Capt. Young found the long
looked for dispatches from Capt. Mares for
tue British admiralty. These he brought
home.