Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-01
THE ERAS MISSION.
PROBABLE Great Success of the Enterprise
Tho Possible Beginning of a Profit
able Commerce With tho DesOate Arcti
Region.

.snIe commerce with tho DesOate Arcti
! Region.
There will arrive at Philadelphia, il
a few days, from the Arctic regions,
vessel, whose expedition possesses pecu
liar interest. Heretofore the invasion
OF that quarter of the globe has con
templated either scientific exploratio,
OF one kind or another, or else tn,
capture of the whale for OIL But the
top-sail schooner Era, which left New
London, Conn.,, on the 9Th of last June
tor Cumberland Inlet, and which
touched at St. Johns, Newfc midland, {
few days ago, on its return, went for al
entirely different purpose; and the
success of the enterprise, the extent of
which is concealed by the protector te
tn" best of their ability, encourages the
belief that it will open up new, i'm
portant, and most profitable commerce
with that d isolate region. For, if the
guesses of certain partially inform &c
and shrewd persons be correct, the Era
comes lack laden with minerals OF
rare value, worth an immense fortune
to those who sent her on this expedi.
ton; and when the whole case is known
there will doubtless be more than one
similar enterprise speedily projected
The large quantities in which these
minerals are found, and the increased
supply thus thrown on the market, will
undoubtedly effect their values, vet
probably not enough to prevent their
importation from being highly remun-
erative.
The history Of the enterprise, so far
as known, is as follows. It will be re-
membe red that more than two years
ago intelligence was received that the
Polaris Expedition had been an unfor-
tunate one, part of the crew under
Captain Tyson having become sep
arated from the ship and their
companions, having foated 100 days on
cake of ice, undergoing meantime
the utmost privations and suffering.
Immediately on receipt of this news,
the United States government char
tered the Tigress to 60 in search Of the
Polaris and the rest of Captain Halls
party. Among those who went on this
errand was one Lieutenant W. A. Mint
ger, of the United States Navy, a
skilled engineer and mincralogist
While engaged in this special service of
of the government, Lieutenant Mint
yer found signs of rich deposits of mica
and graphite along the shores of Cum
berland Inlet. Other persons were par
TALLY cognizant Of the discovery, but
not fully alive to it's significance and
value. To this gentlemans mind,
however, there were undoubtedly some
such visions of wealth presented as to
Aladdin in the cave, for upon his re-
turn he interested some capitalists in
Philadelphia in. the matter, and was
sent by them on a special exploration.
Accordingly he chartered small steam
vessel at Newfoundland last year,
making his journey and examination,
however, with the utmo st secrecy. The
result was sshighly satisfactory, and in
CONSCIENCE the enterprise of last sum-
mer was projected.
Last spring negotiations were COM
pleted by Lietenant Mintzer, on behalf
Of his Philadelwhia hackers, with the
firm of Short Brothers, in New London,
for the purchase and fitting out of
vessel for an expedition to the Polar
regions The work was Immediately
undertaken and pushed with all the en-
ergy and secrecy that was possible.
The little topsail schooner Era, which
had braved the dangers of that part of
the world more than once before, un-
der the command of Captain George
Tyson, in the the whaling traffic, was
purchased and made ready for voy-
age. Old sailors who were familiar with
TIE necessities of Arctic expeditions
noted with surprise tie small store of
provisions taken aboard, and naturally
inferred that g. long absence was not
anticipated. 4 crew of nearly thirty
men was secured, and rhe services of
Esquimaux Joe, who had been with
Captain Hall, ION the Polaris, and to
whom was due in large measure, the
preservation of life in Tyscn's ice-foe
party and of Captain James Budding
ton, of Groton, Connecticut, an old
wha]er well acquainted with Arctic nav
igation, and ice-pilot of the Tigress,
were secured, the latter as sailing mas
ter of the Era. The former was incor-
rectly represented as having sailed with
the Pandora, from London, last May,
under the auspices of the New York
Herald and London Telegraph. The
Era took aboard; as part of her equip
some 5000 feet of tramway, a quaint
ty of mining tools, and lumber for tool
houses. All questions of the curious
were met with evasive answers on the
part of those engaged in these prepara-
tons, and the slightest publicity given
to their operations was resented.
At length, on the 9Th of June, without
having attracted much notice, the ex-
petition sailed from New London
under command of Lieut.. Mintzer, who,
it is said, had obtained a six months
leave from the Government for this
purpose. The impression was given ont
in New London that he was going for
specimens of Arctic fauna, fora and
minerals for the Smithsonian Institute;
but this, evidently, was a secondary o.
ject, and was used as vail to cover the
principal aim of the expedition. Be-
tween two and three weeks ago the Era
touched at st. Johns, Newfoundland, on
her return. Lieutenant Mintzer left
her at that point, she continuing her
voyage toward Philadelphia, under
Captaid Buddington, and he taking
more speedy modes of transportation