The New York herald., 1879-09-05

sides the Captain returned. About lifetime back
tho English finally succeeded IN discovering the
Northwest Passage. and the names of Franklin and
Mcclure among others, are indissolubly connected
with the achievement. The explorations Of the
Northeast Passage also 60 far back in time The
great navigator Sebastian Cabot managed to interest
the English King Edward VI. in this route. and
English merchants formed company. which, In
1853. fitted out three ships. bound to navigate
north of Asia to Japan and China.
j, ATTEMPTS REACH JAPAN CHINA.
\ The first ship commanded by Hugh viii
loughby. who at the same time admiral Of the
squadron. and the second by Richard Chancellor.
Shortly after their departure however. the vessels
separated and WillouShby came with his own and
the third vessel to the River Arzina the Lap
ponian peninsula which divides the White Sea from
the Arctic Ocean. Here during the winter he and all
his men died. Chancellor. however, entered the
White Sea. and hearing that the adjoining land be-
longed to tho Czar. he went to Moscow. whore he
Was very amicably received, and concluded treaty
Of commerce between England and Russia. From tins
period extensive barter trade sprang up between
the English and the people inhabiting the country
along the White Sea, SO that Willoughby's hapless
voyage formed turning point. not only in the mari
time trade Of England and Russia, but also In the
commerce of the world. The English. in the mean
the year 1856 Stephen Burroughs was despatched
northward. and he arrived at Nova Senila and dis
covered Waigstz Sound. He sailed through tho
sound into the Kara Sea. then turned back in the
full belief that he had found the route to Japan and
China In 1880. during the reign OF Elizabeth. Ar
thur PETIT and Charles Jackman set ont for Waigstz
Sound to follow in the wake OF Burroughs and they
even entered tho Kara Sea- but found it so full Of
ice that. after rencounerng many dangers. thoy
obliged return and the English abandoned for the
time all hopes of penetrating any further this
route.
t1 t'r RrPonTs OF THE DUTCH.
The Dutch, rivals of the English in the field OF
commerce. were not idle, however, and they sent
out in 1894 an expedition Of three ships with view
to discover tho Northeast Passage. These vessels
commanded by Cornelius Mai twho was also
the admiraD Brand Yszbrandsy and Willem Bar
rentsz. and they went as far the OBJ River. but
turned back in consequence of the ice. In tho fol-
lowing year squadron Of seven vessels took the:.
dcpartsre. under command OF Cornelius Mai. sd-
miral and Willem Barrentsz one Of the captains.
but this expedition did not 90 far tho pre-
vious In the year 1896 third Dutch exploring
expedition sail. It consisted OF three vessels
commanded by Jacob Heemskerks. Willem Bar
rentsz going out as first officer. This expedition.
also. did not reach further in castery direction
than its but 1t is extremely noteworthy
because the Dutch then discovered Spitzbergen,
which they fancied part Of Greenland. The ex-
petition spent the winter in Nova Semla. where
Barrentsz died in June. 1897. Being unsuccessful
with reference the Northeast Passage. the Dutch
all relish for further operations In that direc-
tion. They settled. however. In Spitzbergen, and
carried extensive whsle Ashery in its waters.
Instead of gold and precious stones from China.
other products of the whale, but this paid splen-
didly. and the Hollanders founded q town in
spitzbergen with most expensive warehouses and
oil rehneres and this settlement received the signif
cant name of "Smeerenburg." the Dutch word
'smeer" signifying grease. Again. during the period
l607-l6lO the English fitted out three expeditions in
search Of the Northeast Passage all three under the
command Of Hudson, the celebrated navigator. but
they miscsrried. and the same fate in store
for q couple Of similar undertakings the part Of
England at later date.
RUSSIAN EXPEDITIONS
This much IL rs far as regards expeditions origi-
mating in Western Europe with the route to India
object. We now approach another range of
expeditions. which in great measure have ap-
peared in less grandiose dimensions. and the
principal purpose Of which wore to levy
taxes for the Russian government and thus
cnriching ITS treasury. Having got possession of
Siberia in the year 1887 it s natural that the Russians
gradually ondeavored to get Arm footing in all
parts that vast territory. and with such u view
their emissaries were despatched In all directions.
These woro generally common individuals. not bent
upon geographical discoveries. though many OF them
became real discoverers to whom science is greatly
indebted. Little is known. however. OF most Of
their explorations and when any knowledge Of such
has been cleaned II has resulted from some legal
dispute other which made it necessary to
the Siberian archives. wrangel. the Russian naval
officer. in his travels has given some geographical
Information. As early as 164s. Deschnef, aCossack
went with three others from tho Arctic Ocean
passing East Cape along tho eastern coast
Of Kamschatka. and In this way the great dis
covery was made that Asia aud America were not
contiguous. but separated by sound, which subse-
quently received the Of Bchring Straits
This nomenclature has boon conferred on tho
sound in memory of vitus Behring. q native
Of Denmark, who. with several other Danish
mariners. had enlisted in the service of Peter
the In year l72s few days before death
of the Cxar. Behring. together with Martin spangs
berg, another Dane. went overland through siberia
in order TO discover whether Asia and America were
connected or not They hrst went along the coast
Of kamschatka and were, after four weeks north
ward sailing convinced that there no connec-
tion by land between the two parts OF the world.
After absence of Ave years Behring and Spangs.
berg again back IN st. Petersburg. where they
received great honors. Three years later they wcrc
again sent travelling. This time Behrng. among
other things. was to explore the whole OF tho
north coast OF siberia While spangsberg set out tor
Japan Behring went to kamschatka. During the
year l7ll he sailed around considerably tho lay of
Kamschatka and finally arrived at desert island.
where he died ON the Sth of December of that
year, and the island. which lies northeast Of
Kamschatka. was called after him. Almost SIM
ultaneously with Behring's explorations other
parties we're coasting along tho northern shores
of Siberia. using in their expeditions small and
miserable river boats. buit in the interior of ST.
bcria In this way about as much Information was
gained was necdful to draw up maps of the whole
northern range of the Siberian shores. though, to
L.. iaassesGst