Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-23

ward for their recovery was offered by the late
Lady Franklin, whose indefatigablc zeal and de-
votion so long kept the search IN active operation
The PANDoRA's MISSION.
1t was mainly, as understand, to secure these
records that the Herald, Lady Franklin and Cap
tain Young Jointly fitted out the Pandora, whose
course We have traced to Barrow Straits. Instead
of following the course of Captain McClntock
down Prince Regent Inlet, the Pandora sailed
down Peel Sound. The cable despatch states that
when on the west side of Prince of Wales Land
they met with fine weather. "West" should there
read east" and, in order to further make the
despatch Ineligible, it should be stated that the
Pandora was going for, and not from, King Will
hams Land. Roquette Island, mentioned in the
despatch, is in Peel Sound, nearly opposite Belloit
Straits, agar mentioned, and beyond which they
could not pass to any considerable distance be-
cause of the heavy pack OF ice. Into this pack
Sir John franklin penetrated in 1916 and sue
ccedcd in reaching within fifty miles OF Victoria
Strait, which had been previously navigated with
boats, and which, if once reached, would doubt
less have led the way to the Pacific and the ac-
complishmcn. Of the long sought-for Northwest
Passage.
CAPTAIN IoUNG's COURSE.
There is no doubt that Captain Young did wise
ly in not entering this pack. The fate OF frank
lin would have been his, in all human probability.
There was nothing left for him. therefore, but TO
search with slcdges, retreat; and-since the
to admit of any chance Of success by the former
method without wintering i'll the ice and sedging
so far appears, not being down IN the plans-lt
was. no doubr, the part of wisdom, s9amansh'p
and safety to adopt the latter alternative. but
wisdom. scamanship and safety are not matters
for which men have usually been famous III CON
nection with Arctic navigation. DE Haven was
called the Mad Yankee" for his reckless dlsre-
gard of his ships bows, and reckessness Is hardly
less the characteristic of corsar than OF an Arc
tic voyaeer. Hence il is that the Pandora brings
us no results further than the record OF bold and
spirited dash. But to find what was sought iof
required a different course OF action. In order TO
accomplish ANYTHING new in that direction II Is, as
| believe absolutely essential that a winter should
be passed there. As for wlnteilng there now, II
is no great hardship, further than it deprives one
of the society of friends and the tenn ut OF the
great world. But il is healthy and has its pecui-
lar charms; and for spiing travel, no matter
how cold il may be there is no particular risk or
discomfort attending it fi'ther taan what falls to
the lot of soldier on an ordinary campaign. 1t
does not seem, as is much to be regretted, that we
now know anything more about the fate OF Slr
John Franklin than We did before; mol has any
thing apparently been added TO the geography or
science of the extensive region traversed. VI
course | do not know anything about Captain
Ioungs instructions; but, since l beheTe that
nothing further can be found out covering the ro-
mantle history of the Erebus and Terror, without
minute search with sledges must express nv re-
greet that while there the Pandora was not put INTO
safe winter hal Dor September 1.-THE date OF hef
turning back and every foot of the coast OF hing
Williams Land carefully searched for what they
went after and for information OF scientific char
acter, which we all SO much desire from that I'M
mediate vicinity of the magnetic Pole 10 1917
Captain Scorsby reached latitude 81 deg. 80 min.
in the Spitzbergen Sea, finding everything open
before him, and he had no doubt that he might
have sailed on to the North Pole, but his was
whale shp and anty to his employers required
that he should return South, since IN that sea he
Il Al 81, - lar.
with expeditions to the North. They have all
turned back short of their main object or been de-
stroyod in the effort for its accomplishment.
THE PRospECTs OF THE ENGLISH SHIPS.
Let us hope that the same fate may not be ln
store for the English ships Alert and Discovery,
even although we may regret that they do not car
~ the American flag into quarter where Ameri-
cans only have penetrated. Their chances seem
to me to be exceptionally good And OF tins We
find evidence in the fact that comparatively little
ice encountered in any part of Batfn Bay by
the Pandora. This is due 20 the great prevalence
of northery winds during the past spring and
winter One result of this has been brought close
home to us in the great danger encountered in the
navigation of the North Atlantic by reason OF the
numerous ceebrgs lying otf the Banks and IN latl,
tudes where they have seldom or never appeared
before. These enormous masses ere, as IS well
known, product of the Greenland glaciers, and,
being formed of snow upon the land, are fresh,
sometimes rising two and three hundred feet above
the surface of the sea, although seven times deeper
beneath. They present broad surfaces, not unire-
quently of a quarter or half a mile to the wind,
and are driven speedily south when the wind pre-
walls long from the norh thus clearing the waters
The field ice follows the same direction, and hence
it may be inferred that, the North Atlantic has
this season been unusually crowded with ice
while Bai.;n Bay is free like open condition will
prevail beyond in Smith Sound AND the ADJACENT
waters And still believe as always have be.
leved since my first voyage thereto, that in the
vicinity of the Pole there is an open, navigable
sea in the summer; that it may be reached by
ship or boat by way Of Smith Sound; and that
the north pole is within reach of any nation that
will think it worth while to spend money enough
to get L." Respectfully yours
- Isaac r. HAYES