Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-20
The Arctic REGIONS.

The Arctic exploring steamer Pandora
has returned to England for the winter.
after an eventful cruise in search of the
north wcst passage to the pole, which ut
one time was seemingly almost crowned
with success. The Pandora left Upernavik,
August Is, and crossed the dreaded Mel
vile bay without any mishap, for, contrary
to previous expectation, the usual fields of
packicc were not visible. and after touch
ing at Carey island steered for Lancaster
sound and or reaching that point, encoun-
tered for the first time the ice foes.
With great difficulty the Pandora forced
her way. and despite the ice she succeeded
in triver>ing the entire length of Barrow
>tr"it. reaching Becchv Island Aug 25
She there found the yacht Mary, which
had b en- drawn up on the beach in 1890
by Capt Ro>s. The yacht was still stand
ing with her mast upright. The store
house, built for the benefit of sailors Or
cast-aways of ice bound vessels. was found
in a state of terrible, confu> ion. The destruc
ton Of the stores was accomplished by po-
lar bears, us tracks of these animals were
visible in every direction. The hcadboards
over the graves of Sir John Frankln's men
buried there were still in u good state of
preservation.
On the Goth the Pandora steamed for
Peel Strait, encountered vast fields of pack
ice, which made the passage most diff
cult and dangerous one The Pandora
steadily worked her way onward, and
soon passed he fltherest point reached by
the Fox. when McClntock was in search
of franklin's relies. Soon after reaching
that point the Pandora nraled King Will
liam Land, thus navigating Il sea which
no ship ever travcrscd before, except per-
hap~ that of Fran Kiln.
The Pandora Steamed down the coast o:
Prince of Wales Land. and encountered
most delightful weather. The atmosphere
was soft and refreshing, and the bitter
cold of the arctic zone replaced by warm
tlr currents AMI an cNpanse of water.
Intense excitement prevailed amo 9 the
officers and men of the expedition. ~ ii
WAS expected important results were at
hand
On reaching pouqnctte Island, they saw
he edge Of IA solid pack Of ice. which cX-
tened across the strait from side t" side in
one unbrokrn cXpansr. This pack block
ed the entrance To Brliot> Strait. The
Pandora sta ed ut this point until the sew
rnth of September, when, finding no fur
thcr progress possible. it was decided Use
less to O. into winter quarters and far bet
ter to return next wear.
The return Journey WAS full of Difficult
lies. ~ the Ice WIS rapidly forming. and
the passage of thu Pandora was a constant
RES OF exciting scenes and narrow e>-
cnpr> from moving ice tlur-. FINALLY. c>
cap nc through Peel Strait. the Ice still
rapidly forming and accommodating. the
steamer at lcnwth reached CHrv Islands
in safety From Melville Bay the HON :
ward vova"c WIS almo>; uncvcntful, the
dreaded bay being a"lin safely passed un-
harmed and the Pandora reached Ports
mouth Saturday. LAYING lost only two top
| galln wards am, two iihhoon ends daI I'M
he whole vovl9c and with all on boar,!
alive anu we'll.
Capt Young and the officers of the Pan
| dora report thu. from 'lle prevalence OF
perth winds there i abundant promise
| tn t { pit \arcs wi h the Is ill-h govern
mrnr expedition. WI! prove successful.
Should the cNprct ,II"ns ot n" Pandorr ;
commando. hr verified Cap,. \rarr- will
proceed to he hi.hr~t lritIir possible fol
IN Arctic vessel to IA, h.
The Pandora. vince t". merry belonged
To the Bril- IN wnvrrnm' nj AMI WA on '
| at spring purch I>o h. Capt. l"in", hrl
| present cumul-tnHrr. j. exceed nTlv we'll
cen>tructcd for Arctic work. the hull 'av
| NJ been doubled with four ana Il quarter
inch American elm pltnkn-. n Il the low
further s.rrpgthn'-d 10y IRON bars and
shoes over thr steam press. while thu IN
side has also been 1i-.ca wiki very Il on :
I'd jtiun Il beams and >trinyrr>. to rc-i-t
rs far rs possible, tn pre->'re Of the ice