The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-03-08
THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE
.,u..o, Kordensl1joId's E1pedi1'"
New DiscOverieH.
Chicago InteT-cceAn


/ 1ftbe vessel reported Blocked in tn
ice above East cape at Behrlngs s',a :.
i the Vega Of Professor NordensFJola,
polar expedition, it may be said thar u, u
Swedish navigator has practically als
covered the northeast passage rom IN
Atlantic to tho Pacific, Describing LII
voyage round the North cape OF ASIA
feat never before accomplished by any
vessel. Lieutenant Hovgaard, OF NOR
deusk iold's staff, wrote in August last a.
the mouth of the river Lena:
We left Dicksonport, at the mourn =,
the Yenisei, on the 10th OF August, anu
had not got far before we perceived 'he
charts to be entirely wrong, for the coast
is in reality far more to the west 1nan
hitherto supposed. The fine weather
with which we were at first favored no"
gave way to dense and continuous Iog'
In spite of the elements we pushed on
ward, and on the 18th passed Cape ster'
legoff, the farthest point yet reached py
any vessel. We constantly perceived
small islands not given on the map On
Monday, the 18th of August, we encoun>
tered ice, but not in such quantity as to
demand special attention. In the after
noon the ice began to thicken and grad
ually to surround us, 80 that we were
quite unable to break through the con
gealed masses. We increased our steam
power and dashed with full force against
the heavy blocks, in order to make way
not only for ourselves, but also for the
Lena, our smaller companion, whose iron
sides are less able to Withstand as much
as the twenty three inch oak planks OF
the Vega. After while, when all efforts
failed, we had to abandon our attempts
at breaking through at this point. Even
ing neared before an outlet was discoV'
cred, through which We escaped toward
the east.
a wonderful panorama spread around
us. To the south lay the Taimnr land,
glittering fiery red in the rays OF the
midnight sun, appearing, by refraction,
high above the northern horizon, while
the ice rejecting in the air assumed fan
tastic forms, Upon the CLASSY surface OF
the sea the two steamers glided smoothly |
passing many little lords with |
coasts. An unfortunate bear
enough to swim too near the
Lena, had to atone with his life for his |
This Arctic splendor was not
Of long duration; the next day we were
again obliged to resume our usual ma
ueuvering between the drifting ice, when
all at once, at distance of barely 800
yards, we sighted land. Of course we
anchored and waited for clear weather,
which finally ensued about three in the
afternoon, only to be soon replaced by
og and ice. Still, as best we could,
We held eastward until favorable
opportunity for anchoring presented it.
elf in the shape OF small bay in the
ound, situated between Taimur Island
md the continent. This haven was
lamed by us Actinia Port, from the
masses of a sort of polypus we saw in the
water. On the 18th of August we were
t last released from our compulsory rest
y q change of weather driving away
he surrounding ice. Continually ent
'eloped in thick mist, we steered toward
)heGuskin, first noticed by us the sue
eeding day. Without really seeing the
and itself, but only following its icy
utlines, we, at the approach of night,
rrived at tine little bay situated to the
rest OF the northern extremitytof Asia,
nd bearing the name OF its first discoy.
rer, the Russian mate Cheliuskin, who
cached it by land in l749. Who can
eseribe the feelings Of triumphant 10y
nth which we at last drew near the long
ought goal?
With all the fagswaving and greeting
he time-honored northern point Of the
Id world with five salutes, the Vega
seamed proudly into the harbor, whileI
ne sun, as If to give additional luster toll
ne festive occasion, dispelled the clouds |
lowing a range o! high, snowscoyered
ills, in the background. From the ton
"a large promontory bear stared in
airingly at his unexpected guests, but
ter seeeiying a few shots deemed it
rudent to retire to the shelter of the
Ills. Continuing our observations the
sxt day we erected cairn. in which
eadeposited document telling of our