New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
THE ARCTIC REGION.
A WINTER AT CAPE BELLoT.


GOOD ANCHORAGE SECURED THE CREW CHEERFUL
AND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ENTERTAINMENTS
wEEKLY-GASiE SCARCE.
The British Admiralty has published the
report in which Capt Mares describes hs experience OF
an Arctic Winter During August, 1873. the explorers
met with many delays from the ice The land, as far as
their explorations went very bare Of game and not
well vegetated. On the morning OF Aug. 20 she ships
were secured in the weprotected haroor west Of Care
Bellot:
On entering the harbor had the satisfaction Of sight
ing herd of nine musk KEN all Of which we're killed,
Joy the good luck of the sporslncn and ourselves
being greatly Increased by the news mat the vegetation
considerably richer than that OF ans part OF the
coast viaed by north Of Port FOuke, the EyHnm Of
the Arctic regions Finding that the harDor was suitable
IN every for Winter quarters, ana the abundance OF
the spare Arctic vegetation in the ncig bOhood giving
every promise OF game being prOcur2blc, here decided
to leave the Discovery aud to push forward Win the
Alert alone.
The Alert proceeded and met with increasing thick
ness Of ice as it advanced north BY the 31 of
August the Alert arrived a latitude $50 "a NJ higher
latitude than any vessel had before attained The
weather began TO change; gale experienced one
night and few days later there a heavy fall Of
snow. On the 18th OF September Capt. Mares says:
The sky being fairly clear this was the fret day on
which able 10 pronounce decidedly concerning
the northern land reported to exist by the POaris After
the darkened patches was now with much reluctance
forced admit that land existed 10 the northward
for "A very considerable distance. As seen through the
light the dark reflection Of the sky above the de
taehed pools of water III the ofing in strong contrast By
The side Of gt reflected from the close ice, which IA
great measure is similar 10 the bright glare reflected
from large sand fat creates very decided APPEAR
ance of land when there is mirage indeed sufficiently
so as TO deceive many OF us when anNousy expecting
and hoping to ace it, We therefore, cease to wonder at
the casual lookout men from the Poars being mistaken
but the experienced board should not have al
lowed themselves 10 be so readily misled.
Severe weather began to set and In days the
Alert was closed In by the for the Winter. Early in
October an unsuccessful attempt made 10 cOnmun-
cate with the Discovery anchored in another harbor
On the of the travelling parties the sun had hidden
farewell TO explorers who began TO make prepara
tions for the Winter
The long Arctic Winter with its unparalleled intensity
and duration darkness produced by absence OF sun
light for I42 days, passed by each individual on
hoard with much cheerfuness and conentment. Owing
IN fhe sameness In the daily rOutne, which, when look
ing into uturty IL thought 10 entail long duration Oh
dreeaTv monotony the time in reality, passed with
Sreat rapidity and in January, when the first
9immering increase In the midday twilight began
70 lengthen sense Gay oy Gay tue ou want and ID
not until actually returned on the ls OF March
did we any way realize the intense darknoss we iusi
have experienced for 80 long period The manifold
ordnary duties Of the shp-to which we're ADDED the
constant repair Of the snow embanknen which ID con
se0ence of being frozen IN close TO stranded piece
OF nee was thrown down every splioS tlde-kept the
ships company fully employed ana gave tne plenty VI
exercise during the day. On fine evenings Ia the week
school, formed tbs lower Geek uhder Cphulahder
Markham and several OF the otcefs Vac wen a'I'nuou
each THURSDAY being devoted To lectures songs IN chaT
acter, and readings, with oeeas9na ne e d e c
tatiOns: the whole so adnliaoly aiIeiistu anu ~,
Quoted by Commander Markham Is 20 Keep up INC
nleased interest OF All FOR the "iiolc I'Ii"u
Capt Mares gives some interesting Information reeau
ing the Winter they experienced 49,.
After the heavy snow fall in the Autumn very ttle
fell: and much trouble was experienced III DtiII.h
sucirnt for enhancing the ship; 10 being necessary TO
drag some from the shore for that purpose OWING 70
the small quantity which fell during the Wl.e', ~
mated at from eight inches, the SUBMITS VI o
coast hills were uncovered by the wind ana reaed 80
until May and the early part oil june, wheh We asa'
EXPERIENCED d heavy snow fail estimated at q mean
thickness foot In the valleys and on the shores
having an eastern aspect the which fch refahel
light and unless snow shoes were USED cauH5u WIZ
heavy travelling the unprotected valleys ana on t1o
weather coas;s the sufficiently compact 10
sord fair travelling the that experienced
i'm Southern lattudes, where the variable WINS
harden the snow everywhere lAght hasnes OF auIoIa
were occasionally various bearings, but most
commonly passing through the zenith None were OF
snficieu brHsney to call for notice. The phenomena
may he said TO have been insignificant In tine extreme
and as far az we could discover, were totally uncOn
nected with any magnetic or electric disturbance
The vicinity OF their Winter quarters proved TO DO I'M
favored by game.
On our first arrival few ducks were seen anu nve
shot and during the Winter and Spring three mares were
shot In the neighbOrlood OF the ship Ihs OUT
ljst up 10 the end of May. In March Won suaueny
made his appearance the same day the track OF tIee
muskoxen reindeer were seen wthn Two VI so
shIp hut they had evidently only paid us nyDg Visit
In 1uly six Musk shot, the only ones seen ~
our neighbOrhood The travelling partes were q 1ny
sRhtly more fortunate In obtaining game. IN 'uns
used By the sick In July and August they obtained
a ration Of fresh meat daily. In March anu sns
beginning of April about two dozen ptarmigah passeu
the ship flying towards the northwest In pairs nhoIng
they dew on seeking better feeding grounds they were
nearly all shot subsequently BY the outlying pafes nea
Cape Joseph Henry.