The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-11-09
An Almost Successful Cruise
by the Pandora.

An Almost Successful Cruise
by the Pandora.
The Arctlc-exploring steamer Pandora
has returned to England for the winte,
after an eventful cruise in search for the
northwest passage to the pole, which al
one time was seemingly almost crowned
with success. The Pandora left Uper
navlk, August Is, and crossed the dread
cd Melville bay without any mishap, for
contrary to previous expectation, the
usual fields Of pack.ice were not visible
and after touching at Carey island steer.
ed for Lancaster sound, and, on reaching
that point, encountered for the first time
the Ice foes. So great was the pressure
OF floating ice that it was with great diff.
iculty that the Pandora was forced on
her way, but despite the ice and the diff
ficulty OF passage succeeded in traversinp
the entire length of Barrow strait, When
progress was again impeded by a dense
and binding fog, SO thick and impenetra.
BILE that men few feet from each other
were invisible. Moving slowly and eau.
tlOusly by compass aud soundings, the
PANDORA succeeded, however, in reaching
Beachy island, August ~.
When land was sighted considerable
excitement was caused among the crew
by the discovery of the yacht Mary,
which had been drawn upon the beach by
Capt. Ross in 1850. The yacht was still
standing, with masts upright The store.
house built for the benefit of sailors and
castaways of ice bound vessels was found
broken into, and the clothing and provis.
ions left there thrown into state of ter.
rible confusion, evidently by polac bears
the tracks Of which we're visible in every
direction, both inside and outside the
building. The headboards over the graves
of Sir John Franklins men, who lie
buried there, we're still standing upright
and in good preservation
On the Goth of August the Pandora
steamed away from Beecby island for
Peel strait, and then ensued the most
critical period of the entire voyage, for
baaess!!faln' %uenoala2teTad pSast gffI4s s,6aal Sd
vessel most difficult and laborious one
Struggling through the pack. ice the Pan
dora steadily worked her way onward,
and, despite the difficulty. soon passed
the farthest point reached by the Fox
when McClintock was 10 search of Sir
John Franklin's relics. Soon after reach
ing 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, and where, no doubt, that
explorer was finally beset by the masses
OF ice that proved his destruction. From
King Williams island the Pandora steam.
ed down the west coast Of Prince of
Wales land, and there encountered most
delicious weather the atmosphere was
soft and refreshing and the bitter cold
OF the Arctic zone was replaced by warm
air currents and open expanses of water.
AT this time the most intense excitement
prevailed among the officers and mem.
bers OF the expedition. Many believed
that they would be sure to discover
traces Of the Franklin expedition, and
some were sanguine that even Sir Johns
papers would be found. Ia this, howev.
er, they were disappointed.
The Pandora eventually reached Beh.
rings straits Rouquette island was
discerned ahead, and it was then consid.
cred probable that the vessel would be
able to reach Bellot's straits, but on
reaching Roiquette island the officers
and mem saw the edge of a solid pack of
ice, which stretched across the strait in
one unbroken expanse of hummock ice,
and etfectually blocking the entrance to
Bellot's straits. The Pandora stayed at
this point until the 7th of September,
when, finding tina. no further progress was
possible, it was decided to be useless to
remain in winter quarters, and that it
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 constant
series Of exciting scenes and narrow es.
capes from the moving ice foes. Final.
ly, escaping through Peel strait, the ice
still rapidly forming and accumulating,
the steamer reached Carey islands in
safety. From Melville bay the home.
ward voyage was almost uneventful, the
dreaded bay being again safely passed
unharmed, and the Pandora reached
Portsm mouth, Saturday, having only lost
two topgallant yards and two jibboom
ends during the whole voyage, and with
all on board alive and we'll.
Capt. Young and the officers of the
Pandora report that. from the prevalence
of north winds, there is abundant prom.
ise that Capt. Mares, with the British
government expedition, will prove sue.
cessful. Should the expectations of the
Pandora's commander be verified, Capt.
Mares will proceed to the highest lati.
tude possible for an Arctic vessel TO
reach.
The Pandora, which formerly belong.
ed to the government and was only last
spring purchased by Capt. Young, her
present commander. is exceedingly we'll
constructed for Arctic work, the hull hav.
ing been doubled with four and quarter
inch American elm planking, and the
bows further strengthened by lion bars
and shoes over the steam press, while the
inside has also been fitted with very
strong additional beams and stringers, to
resist, as far as possible, the pressure Of