Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-03-03

ing. When times are tight capital seeks
Investment in lands, snd Of this commo.
dity Dakota has an abundance to sell.
DEATH OF An ARCTIC HERO.
William Morton, Who Discovered the Open
Polar Sea. and an Old Friend Of DR.. Kane,
Dies In Alaska.
Recent news from Alaska announces
the death at Sitka on Dec. 3rd last, of
William Morton, the Arctic explorer,
whose career in tbs service of his coun-
try is one of the most remarkable on
record. He entered the navy in 1S43,
and served almost continually therein
until his death. He served in various
capacities. and sailed in every known sea.
He served during the Mexican war and
the war of the rebellion, was present at
the attack on the forts below New Or
leans, his ship, the Verona, sinking un-
der him on that occasion. He was on
board the Mononghshelalwhen she was
carried inland by tidal wave in the
Caribbean sea, 1867; was one of tho forty
who was left to get the ship afoat. OF
the forty so left twenty.one died of yell
low fever.
In l847 he was selected as volunteer
for the expedition then fitting out, under
the muni6cence of the late Henry Grin
nell, in search of Sir John Franklin,
being attached to the brig Advance. For
bis services in this expedition he received
the thanks of congress, and so signalized
himself by adaptability for Arctic service
as to particularly attract the attention
of the celebrated DR.. Kane, who was the
surgeon of this expedition. Soon after
the return of the Grinnell expedition,
DR.. Kane determined to resume the
search for Franklin and succeeded in
inducing the government to fit out
pointed to the command. The first per.
Morton, who Immediately volunteered.
From that moment he was inseparable
from Kane. The expedition narrative
contains evidence of the courage, fidelity,
and tact of Morton. In one of the most
trying emergencies when Kane had
determined to remain for second winter,
many of the crew and some of the officers
murmured. Kane, selecting Morton alone
as his contidante, succeeded in discover.
ing every man who was disaffected, and
when all was ready, overwhelmed them
by magnaAimously dividing the stores,
assigning them the best coats and dogs,
and designating ali officer, the late DR. l.
|. Hayes, to command them, bade them
God speed IN their journey home. They
departed, but in eight days they gladly
returned to the ship, begged pardon Of
its noble commander, and thenceforth
shared the fortunes OF the expedition. 1t
was during this expedition that Morton
discovered the open Polar sea which had
been the occasion of SO much speculation
His report of this discovery was clear
terse and modest. The dreadful journey
of the Kane party for more than 1900
miles over the ice, even now fills the
mind with horror when it is RECALLED. Up.
on the return of Kane, broken in health,
be was compelled to seek relief in travel.
Morton accompanied him. They were
still inseparable, and his noble command
er died in bis arms, in Havana. Feb. %,
1856. Morton, having had fveyears' ex-
perience in the Arctic regions
10 return. When DR.. G. F. Hall was as
signed to the command of the Polaris
Morton accepted place as second officer
OF the expedition. The narrative of this
expedition is 80 fresh in the minds of al
as to need no recital. The mysterious
death of Hall hangs like pail over Arc.
tic story. Here the character of Morton
for courage and fidelity is again display.
ed. 1t became necessary to reassign the
duties of some, and for prudential rea
sons Hall was compelled to place all the
stores Of the ship under the control O
Morton, in addition to his other dutie
as an officer. These are Captain Hail.
Instructions:
THE duties that deyolve upon Nj
Morton by my appointments are thos,
of paymaster and yeoman. He has full
} charge, under my direction, of all tn,
accounts, stores and provisions on boarc
the Polaris and on shore belonging t,
the United States. Whatever relates t,
the consumption and use of said store
and provisions Mr.. Morton has charge oi
and will be made responsible for th
same. lam sure that this trust hav
committed to Mr.. Morton will be carried
out with fidelity and to th
best advantage of the United State
government, and this its North Polar e1
pedition. All the fuel, kindling and coal
before being used, must be accounted TO
to Mr.. Morton. No box, barrel, packag
or anything else containing stores Q
, provisions, belonging to the Polaris
r must be opened by any one but MI
Norton" There had been trouble abou
these things, and danger was apprehend
cd, which Hall sought to avert throug
tho practical experience OF Morton. Thi
, is the tribute Hall pays to him:
"William Morton has passed thirt
years of his life in the naval service, par
3 of which was during the Mexican an,
, the late war. He had been with d
Haven in the first Grinnell expedition
lS50.5l, and with Kane in the second
. 1886. DR.. Kane said of Morton ths
, he was as gallant and trust worthy ma
t as ever shared the fortune or claimed th
l gratitude OF a commander. Morto
transferred to me the allegiance he ha
formerly given to Kane" The fate c
the Polaris is we'll known. When it wa
r thought necessary to abandon the ship,
4 will be remembered that while engage
in removing the stores to the ice, it sue
denly broke up, leaving Morton an
: q few Of the crew in the ship. The su
3 ferings of the drifting party upon th
a ice were almost incredible, but they vel
4 finally rescued. For a long time the fat
of those left in the ship was unknown
T. but at length it was learned that the
i. had been picked up, after absndonin
Q the Polaris and taking to the sea in q
a open boat. They were rescued by th
Ravenscraig, . Scotch whaler, which ca
J. ried them into Dundee, Scotland. an
). whence the first news of their reset
t was received. Not content with b
= seven years of Arctic life, Morton, upo
= the purchase Of Alaska by the Unite
. States. vas anxious to 60 ther