St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-02-22
THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE.
Professor NortenskJoid'a Expedition
New Discoveries.
Chirapn Int

Ii Ine Vesscl lepOrteQ DiOcRed III ZIG
ice above East cape at Behring's strait
is the Vega of Professor Nordensbjold's
polar expedition, it may: be said that the
Swedish navigator has practically dis
covered the northeast passage from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. Describing the
voyage round the North cape of Asia,
feat never before accomplished by any
vessel, Lieutenant Hevgaard, of Nor
denskjolds staff, wrote in August last, at
the mouth of the river Lena
We LETT Dicksonport, lat the mouth OF
the Yenisei, on the 10Th of August, and
he'd not got far before We perceived the
charts to be entirely WI png, for the coast
is in reality far more ito the west than
hitherto supposed. The fine weather
with which we were at; first favored now
gave way to dense and continuous fog'
In spite of the clemens we pushed on
ward, and on the 11tb passed Cape Ster'
legoff, the farthest poipt yet reached by
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 s., ch quantity as to
demand special attention. In the after
noon the ice began to shicken and grad
ually to surround us, 50 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
az the twenty~three inch oak planks OF
the Vega. After while, when all efforts
failed, we had to abandon our attempts
at breaking through 1T this point. Even
} ing neared before an outlet was discov-
cred, through which we escaped toward
the east. !:
A wonderful panorama spread around
US. 10 the south lay the Taimur land,
glitteriDg 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. Upor the CLASSY surface Of
the sea the two steamers glided smoothly
onward, passing many little flords VIII
3 ice-fringed coasts. An unfortunate bear
, incsutious enough to swim too near the
Lena, had to atons with his life for bill
:, temerity. This Ar ctic splendor was no
Of long duration; &he next day we were
. again obliged to resume our usual ma
"A neuvering between the drifting ice, whel
i all at once, at distance of barely S0'
> yards, We sighted land. OF course W
% anchored and waiaed for clear weather
which finally ensuad about three in tn
3 afternoon, only to be soon replaced b.
9 fog and ice. STILL, as best we could
y we held eastward until favorabl
70 opportunity for anchoring presented it
/ self in the shape! of small bay in tn
sound. situated between Taimur Islam
- and the continent. This haven wa
~ named by us Aetinia Port, from th
Ii / masses of sort OF polypus we saw in tn
y water. On the 18th of August we wei
- at last released from our compulsory rel
10 by a change of weather driving ava
*, II, the surrounding ice. Continually er
III yeloped in thick mist, we steered towaE
NJ Che]juskin, first noticed by us the SUI
10 ceeding day. Without really seeing tn
y land itself, but only following its ic
o. outlines, we, at the approach of nigh
i" arrived at the little bay situated to tt
7f west of the northern extremity of ASH
'e and bearing the name of its first disco
g erer, the Russian mate Cheljuskin, VII
aS reached it by land in 1749. Who ca
y describe tbs feelings of triumphant jo
!" with which we at last drew near the lon'
:. sought goal?
49, With all the flags waving and greetin
no the time honored northern point of tt
- old world with five salutes, the Veg
steamed proudly into the harbor, viii
er the sun, as if to give additional luster
be the festive occasion, dispelled the cloud
OF showing range OF high, snow coyere
IS, hills, in the background. From the to
ty of large promontory bear stared il
e. quiringly at his unexpected guests, 81
ed after receiving: few shots deemed
ng prudent to retire to the shelter of tt
es- hills. Continuing our observations Il
pit next day we erected a cairn, in whie
he we deposited document telling Of OF
IT. expedition and future plans. At
lis m. on the Goth of August we weighe
nd anchor and steered eastward. Aft
ne battling amid fog and ice, we attaine
Is, the barrow coast of the Taimur PENN
Isl sula, and had: then the luck to me-
ng almost open water. The coast is abo'
NJ fifty English miles more to the we
In than noted down in the chart. On Il
'e- 25th we anchored near bay. We mac
ed final observations and sailed onWar
Is We are now in the mouth of the Len
In where we artjcompany with our Len
on who carries the mail to Lakutsk, D.
&c, destina ion. She will remain there unit
ST. next year, when she will return
oil Europe. We. continuing our course