American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-20
FROM THE ARCTIC SEAS.
The Existence of Northeast Passage Fully
Demonstrated.


T1}y Cable to the New York Herald
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Sept. 4.-The
Swedish exploring steamer Vega, belonging
to the Nordenskjold expedition, arrived at
this port Tuesday evening, having success
fully accomplished the northeast passage.
The health of the entire ships company is
excellent. / have just seen Prof. Nordensk-
jold, who says during the latter part of Feb
ruary he sent n letter to DIR. .. Dickson of
Gothenburg, from winter quarters of Vega,
but has no intimation his patron received it,
THE PROFESSOR SAYS:
ave sailed from Gothenburg July 4, 1875
and four days sail brought Us to TrOmsoe,
where our outfit of furs and necessaries for
| high ATTITUDES was completed. Here
we were joined by the companion
steamer Lena. July % both vessels sailed
Strait Aug. >. There was not a particle of
ice to be seen between Waigatsch and the
Continent. The Karaza, hitherto dreaded
by all sailors in Arctic regions, was equally
free from ice, and anchor was cast at Port
Dickson, near the mouth of the Yienessi,
Aug. g. After three days delay there the
two steamers of our expedition steered north
east toward the dreaded Taimur land and
North Cape. Ice arrested our passage, and
we were compelled to remain at Tajoyr four
days. Aug. 10, Tsejekin, the extreme north
ern point of Asia, was reached, where short
rest was taken. The Vega coasted the PENN
sula, very little ice being encountered, and
anchored at the mouth of the Lena River
Aug. 26. To the northeastward we could see
the Islands of New Siberia, but were unable
to explore because of the great field of ice
that girt their shores. The mouth of kO-
lowya River, broad estuary, was found
open, and we fastened to make all possible
progress eastward.
OUR DIFFICULTIES
soon began to be heavier, and increased dali
ly. We were delayed much by ice between
Cape Cook and Van Karema. We crossed
kolintsch Bay on Sept. 81 with comparative
ease, but were imprisoned on the 2Sth near
ice at this point, one mile from land. The
entire ships company maintained the best
of health and spirits. Not a single case of
scurvy occurred on board. During the
shortest day the sun was above the horizon
less than three hours, and then only the
upper limb was visible. At this point
much time was devoted to interesting
scientific and photographic studies. There
We're 1900 inhabitants in the several
villages near by, who subsisted by fishing
and sealing. They are called Tchuktchi,
and are very agreeable class of people for
an exploring party to meet. They supplied
the expedition with bear and reindeer meats.
The cold was intense, averaging 1922 de-
grees below Fahrenheit. The game was
abundant in the spring, wild fowl being Ia,
ken in large numbers. We were detained
in the ice at this point 264 days, but We're
released on July Is, and passed the East
Cape into Behring Straits on the Goth. Such
Is the story OF our voyage.
FULLY ACCOMPLISHED THE OBJECT
for which the expedition was sent out by DR..
Dickson, namely: practical proof of the
existence of northeast passage. Then the
Asiatic coast was followed, and st. Law
renee Bay was crossed to Port Clarence,
Alaska. There we crossed to Kanyan,
dredging carefully in order to determine the
formation of the bottom of the sea, many
specimens of the fauna and flora being obtain
ed. The location, breadth, velocity, and APP
proXimate volume of the currents of the
Arctic and Pacific polar currents were char
tered and calculated. Having touch
ed mt st. Lawrence Island,
next proceeded to Behring Island, where we
received the first news from Europe through
the resident agent of the Alaska Trading
Island are of immense variety. A new ma
rine animal was here discovered, which was
named Rhytina StelIari. The Vega left the
island on August 10, and had pleasant voy-
age until August 81, when a severe gale was
encountered, accompanied with lightning.
During the storm the lightning struck and
shivered the main topmast, slightly injuring
several men.
WE ARRIVED OFF YOKOHAMA
at half-past s, Sept. 9. All are well, and no
deaths have occurred during the voyage.
The Vega is the first vessel to make the pas
sage, and think the voyage from Europe to
Asia by Behring Strait is certain and safe,
with very little more experience of naviga-
ton in the Northern seas, from Japan to the
mouth of the Lena River. There are no diff
culties in the proper season for experienced
sailors. The Lena River taps Central Siberia,
and large prospective trade can readily be
developed. The Vega will remain at YOkO-
hama about fourteen days"