The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-10-09
fHE NORTHEAST PASSAGE.
Prof. Nordenskjold's Great Discovery
Previous Unsuccessful
Attempts.

I
Swedish expedition under Pro
Nordenskjold, and the arrival of tn
Vega at Yokohama, in Japan, is on
of the greatest achievements O
modern skill and energy. The state
ment received is very clear, and tn
brief time necessary to make tn
voyage is marvellous. The Vega LEI
Gothenburg, Sweden, on the 4th q
July, 1878. On the Sth the Veg
reached Tromso, and Norwegia
port on the Island of Lanew. Their
the Vega was joined by the steame
Lena, and on the 25th OF July bot
vessels started. On August the
passed through Yugor Strait, AM
August 9th dropped anchor at tn
mouth of the Yienessi River. Thre
days were spent in port, and OF
Aug. 26 the Vega was anchored a
the mouth of the Lena River, fou
days delay being occasioned by ice
After several delays, the Veg
crossed Kollentcsh Bay on Sept. 81
and on the 2Sth was locked in tht
ice off the shore of Tchuktchi
There they remained until July Is,
1879, and on July 90 passed through
Behring's Strait. Deducting the
delays and the time spent in port,
the time occupied in actual sailing
from Tromso, in Norway, to Behr.
ing's Strait was about fifty days.
The sailing time from Behring
Island to Yokohama was fourteen
days. The Professor expresses the
opinion that the voyage from Eu-
rope to Asia is certain and safe,
and may, after little experience,
be easily accomplished.
The success of this expedition re-
wives the interest in pola discover
les and attempts to explore the
Arctic regions. In these eXpedi-
tions, covering a period of nearly
400 years, many vessels and many
lives have been lost. The list and
chronology of these expeditions
may be of some interest at this
time, though the adventurous navi-
gators have, with few exceptions,
directed all their efforts to discover
northwest passage through the
Polar Seas around the American
Continent. Not including the sup
posed discoveries of the Icelandic
voyagers, as far back as the year
1000, the first historical accounts
begin after Columbus had announc
ed the discovery of the New World.
In 1897, the Cabots, in the search
for a northwest passage, advanced
as high as what is now known as
Davis Strait. In 1902 the Broth
ers Centreral made three voyages,
losing many lives. In 1853 Sir
Hugh Willoughby reached Nova
Zembla, but with bis companions
persisted in Lap,and. Martin Fro
bisher made several Voyages In
I576-8-just 800 years ago; and
in 1878 Sir Humphrey Gilbert tried
the work, but also failed. In 1857
Davis discovered the strait which
bears his name. A northwest pas
sage to India became at this time
of great Importance, because Spain
commanded all the other routes.
Barentz made three voyages, per-
ishing on the coast of Alaska in
1896. Hendrick Hudson sailed in |
1907, going as far north as so deg. |
After trying several times on that
line, he coasted the continent for a
passage, and discovered the Hud-
son river, which he thought for a
lime was the long searched for
route. In 1910 he entered Hud-
sons Bay, where, abandoned by his
he persisted In 1915
Bay was explored. The
Ru ssians also undertook the discov-
cry of a passage to the Northeast,
md on one of these expeditions
Behring died, and his companions
Tintered on Behring Island. Sew
sral other expeditions failed.
In 1743 Great Britain offered a
.eward of 100000 to the crew
which would find passage through
audson's Bay to the Pacific Ocean.
we're numerous, each
adding a little to the previous stock
IF information. In 1776 Captain
Cook attempted the discovery by
the Polar Sea through
Behring's Strait. At this time the
offered rewards included one to the
rev which would reach within 1
leg. of the pole. In 1889 the Mac
1enzie river was discovered. Capt.
Ross and Lieut.. Parry started to
discover the northwest passage, and
Sir John Franklin sailed to pene-
rate to the North Pole. Parry
md Ross differed in their reports
Is to Lancaster Sound, so Parry
started on a second expedition, and
passed through Melville Bay. In
1921 Parry sailed third time, and
Sir John Franklin, who had in 1919
eft Hudson's Bay on an overland
was to unite with him;
he last, after three years travel,
allied, and the other proved equally
ruthless. In 1928 four British ex-
editions were sent out, one under
Parry and another under Franklin,
nd all of them were comparatively
ruthless. So with another expedi
ion by Parl y in 1927. An expedi-
ion under Ross in 1881 reached
nd fixed the position of the true
magnetic pole; this party was alb
ent four years. From this time to
SAT operations we're mainly con
ned to explorations Of the Ameri
an coast.
In May, 1916, Sir John Franklin
nd Capt. Crozier started in the
hips Erebus and Terror. On July
6, lS45, they were seeA by a whale
hip about the center of Baffin's (
lay. waiting an opening into Ian.
aster Sound. That was the last
YER seen of the two ships. Frank
ms intended route was through I
Sound, thence westward, 1
nd thence to Behring's Strait. l
'wo years having passed without =
eports Of him, various British ex- {
editions started in search, all Of {
hich failed to find any trace OF s
i'm. In 1850, at Cape Riley. were 6
,und some traces of a winters res I
fence. In 1853 DR.. Kane started g
q his expedition. In these re- {
,arches it was found there was /
water-passage from Baf- {
MS Bay to Davis Strait. Frank c