New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-25
oRu1sE OF TIE NONONGAHELA.
VOYAGE no KERGUELEN ISLAND.

VOYAGE no KERGUELEN ISLAND.
o,sv,c1Ar REPORT OF TIE CRUISE WITH REFERENCE
TO THE AMERICANS STATIONED ON THAT ISLAND
TO OBSERVE THE TRANSIT or vENUs-DIscoV-
ERIEs IN NATURAL INSTRUMENTATION FROM
THE ISLAND.
WASHINGTON, March PA communication,
dated Cape Town, South Africa, Feb H. 1876 has oeen
received at the Navy Department from LeuIoO"
mander LUDLOW OF the United States steamship Monon
eahela The following extracts are taken from tDiS
letter:
The MonongsAela left ROYAL Sound, Kerguelen Island
on tue 18th January, 1875 All your orders ~ reaton
particular. aud / have Leut-Commanders Ryan anu
Train p A. Surgeon j. A. Kidder, and the three pnoto
stores Instruments and the natural history specimens
of p A. Surgeon KiddeF IN good order ana md
In looking over Capt Th0rnton'5 report, nu u
it completed TO Dec 10. 1874 from which date W F
continue 1t. Capt. Thornton has given tbe Tgas 90
the change Of anchorage Three Island Haroor 70
Carpenters Bay This latter bay Is 80 called from ,ne
fact that two small schoOneFs we're put Ogetne. H.
having been sent out in American wnaler Tor tue
nurnosa of sealing &C., about KereueleD Island Gar
peneIs BAY is situated in the NORTHWESTERN ~
Roya sound The charts not at all correct OF TINS
mart of Ghe island Our anchorage 70 the westward
Of Mount Crozier Point Molloy was ahont SIX mes ~
tle westward OF and the eastern side OF the sane
mountain. The English anchorage ana OBSERVATORY
was about three niles 10 the WESTWARD OF u.s. Az Gar
penters Bay fresh abundant, aud good ker-
Sneen cahbage (rfn0led dnscorbHticG). Uf which the
very fond, muscles tHBtuS edutSl, and nn I,
pets Pate) were also found in great quantities. anu
proved welcome additions to the usual rations Ihose
articles Of food easily obtained and boals were
sent IN frequently TO keep the messeS supped lthhk
that these articles OF Giet had very excellent eect
upon the health OF the ships company Green-"lngeu
teal ducks OF species supposed be peculiar to these
islands IN the South India Ocean, were, on our arrival
very plentiful. Tho whole OF tine kergueen Lana is
simply OF rock in the course OF gradual dsinte
Royal Sound is most beautiful sheet OF water,
studded with islands, snguary free irom all hidden
dangers In all our running about in the ship aud 10
boats no sunken rocks or shoals were discovered
though soundings were carefully taken and re-
corded,
| mills and mountains Tnis causes north aud
| west winds 10 blow III sudden squalls OF
| "Wily Wdws" rendering boat navigation somewhat
haE 1rdous Tie two whale boats purchased at Cape
| Town were of the greatest possible utility and were
used alone under sails or oars or else IN tow OF inc
steam-cutter, remarkably fine boat, sailing aud steam
| ing exceedingly well SOuudlngs and "a preliminary
reconnaissance OF that portion Of the sound adjacent
| our anchorage were made by Lieut. Commander Grld
| ley, navigator, assisted by EUsgn q. A. Merriam In
regard TO the anchorage in Royal Sound am decidedly
OF the opinion that the only really safe one Is that IN
Three Island HarbOr. All others, far known, are
too the high land and ship IS liable to start hei
| This is the objection TO Carpenters Bay, aud
| the Englsh anchorage-Molloy POint-has tins
] drawback also, together with the grave OBJ
| lection of being open to all winds from
northeast to south The holding-grOund u
Of water is from 10 to Is fatnoms Coal has been dis
covered at various points--Chrstmas HarOor, Betsey
| Cove and other places-Dut have not heard OF any
being found ia the vicinity Royal Sound though the
formation seems the same Peiriiied WOOD IN pieces
showing that the growth large has also been found
but not shrub now grows anywhere about ker
! guelen.
The ombarkaton OF stores began on the 4th of Janu
ary 1875 continued with delays, caused By the in
clement weather. until the 10th Of January, when Com
mander Ryan board 10 remain with his assist
and men, their personal effects d. the houses were
left utac excepting the small Photographic house. which
was taken down DC used in constructing crO In the
poop for the reception OF the natural history specimens
which could not be put in the hold. The tents were
carefully dried and slowed in the sail rooms, and every
care taken preserve the Government property A
metallic fe-bOat anu wood balsa belonging TO the
Swatara taken board and slowed Ia
a temporary gallOws frame over the ensIng,
room hatch. Two boat anchors, also belonging
10 that ship were recovered ana taken Gu
BOARD. on the 11th OF January the snip left MOlOy
Point and proceeded TO the English anchorage for the
purpose OF enabling astronomers TO compare chro-
nOmeters with the English and TO receive wnateyer
mail matter Capt. Fairfax, commanding III. b. Nj. ship
Voltage desired to send Cape Town. Capt Thornton
awaited himself of the opportunity 10 call on Cap Far
! fax and Father Perry, the chief astronomer.
Early the morning OF the 12,h Of January tho
Choir was weighed last K5rgueleD,. nd,
after receiving matt on board from the wnalers, the
| ship put to