The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-04
ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

MEMENTo TO BE PRESENTED BY THE BRITISH
ADMIRALTY TO THE WIDOW OF HENRY GRIN
NELL-RETURN OF THE DUTCH EXPEDITION
TO HAMMERFEsT, NORWAY.
[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Oct 3, 1879.
The Lords of the British Admiralty have
given instructions for the making of a handsome
piece of furniture from the timbers Of the old
Arctic exploring ship Rcsolute for presentation
to Mrs. Grinnell, the widow of the late Henry
Grinnell, Of New York, who fitted out at his
own expense two expeditions for the search OF
Sir John Franklin.
THE DUTCH ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The Dutch Arctic exploring vessel the Willem
Barentz has returned to Hammerfest, Norway,
after penetrating as far as Francis Joseph Land.
1.-THE Arctic exploring expedition left Amsterdam
May S. 1878. and touched at Vardo on July 10. in
order to land dispatches. The voyage was univer-
SALLY known us a "trial trip" The Wilem Barentz
passed Jan Mayen. Spitzbergen. and Bear Island
falling in with the 'ice-pack in latitude IS deg
and though the weather was not favorable. many
important scientific observations were made.
memorial stone erected ON Amsterdam Island.
and brief visit having been paid to the Barentz
and Kara seas. all that possible in the limited
time nc disposal was done to advance the cause OF
science. Tho crew had fine view of the whole
island of Jan Mayen, sight which few Of their
predecessors had enjoyed, the high land being.
rule. shrouded in mist Tho expedi-
ton returned to Amsterdam in tho autumn
Of 1875 and money again raised in
the spring of that year. certain private persons
subscribing. and the government affording no aid.
toward reftting the Willem Barentz. She is small
sailing schooner Of eighty tons. She is commanded
k.:, lna3-
Ger. with Lieutenants Koolemans Beynen and II. NJ.
Speelman second and third in command, with
three or four scientific men and q crow Of eight
sailors
CAPTAIN MARKHAM's ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
A telegram from Troms5. dated September %. an
nounces the arrival there Of the little Norwegian
cutter Us Bjoru with Sir Henry Gore Booth and Cap
tain Mark ham, after satisfactory cruise. They met
the first on the 4th of June at distance of forty
miles from the part of Novaya zemlya coast
called Goose Land. The Matochkn Shar then
impossible. and they therefore cruised along the
west coast Of Novaya Zemlya until they stopped
by the ice off Cape Nassau on July 10. They sue
ceeded in passing through the Matochkin shar on
July 81 and found the Kara Sea full Of heavy ice
Returning they met the Dutch exploring vessel VIII
lem Barentz on August Is. They then again shaped
course northward along the Novaya Zemlya coast.
and this time succeeded in passing Cape Nassau and
in reaching Cape Mauritius-tho extreme northwest
point of that Iand-on September G. Finally they
pushed northward on meridian midway between
Novaya Zemlya and Spltzbergen and the 18th they
the ice in latitude rs deg north and longitude AZ
deg. east. They pressed onward. and penetrated
through loose Of ice to 10 deg u min about
eighty miles from Francis Joseph Land. good
natural history collection has boon made and further
experience has been acquired respecting the ice in
that sea which leads to the best Poleward route
along tho western coast Of Francis Joseph Land.
Captain Markham was to leave Troms0 on the way to
England on the oath ult.
VALUE OF NoRDENsKJoLDs DISCOVERIES.
The following has just appeared in the Weser lei
h.ng-"Commercial navigation through the Kara Sea
to the mouth of the OBJ is being actively continued
this summer. From the advantage the OBJ possesses
in flowing through the most populous and produc-
tive portion of Siberia, we'll from the circum-
stance that its navigation is already fairly developed
1t offers far greater facilities in connection with the
new route than the Jenisei. Every summer now
for years vessels sixteen in ally have sailed to tho
OBJ and Jenisei without encountering any dangers
from the ice. But the hopes founded on
this fact have received great check
this year. At the beginning Of September the sailing
ship Express, bound for the Jenisei. returned to
Hammerfest with the report tnat the nara Sea was
still full Of ice. which Of the six steamers
despatched to the Oh and Jenisei had as yet sue
ceeded in penetrating. The steamer Neptune Iagain
captain Rasmussen), which In 1878 went safely to
the Oh and back. returned foled tho 9Th OF Sep
TENDER to Bardoe, and is now on the way home to
Hamburg. second steamer, Samuel Owen. has
also returned to Bardoe. The steamer Louise. the
other hand which sailed somewhat later. not being
as yet reported to have returned to Norway. may
BIO inferred that she has got through tho Kara Sea-
Tho three ships which sailed from Tobolsk to
England--namely. the OBJ. the Tjumen and the
Nadeschka-are. it is to be feared. in most unfor
tunate position. These ships built in Tjumen
and laden with tallow and wheat. They must have
made the mouth OF the OBJ about the end
of July and are in tho greatest danger of being
wrecked in the Kara Sea. return to the oh with
present changing winds aud frequent Gains being
extremely difficult That voyage In these regions
with sailing ships unaccompanied by steamers is
most hazardous experiment all captains who have
been in those waters unanimous upon. The fact
of the sailing ship Siberia, also built in Tjumen
having safely reached England last year. entirely
due tho exceptional ice conditions Of that
Decades may oapse before It is possible to repeat
such voyage Professor Nordenskj old's. should
tho three ships mentioned succeed in getting back
Siberia IL will be interesting to learn how far the
Kara Sea become clear of ice. for there pos
sibility that the three western approaches only
namely. Jugor Strait, Kara Gate and Matoschkin
Passage-are obstructed by ice. and that the sea
further eastward is leo free"