Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-09-11
MEXICO MISSOURI THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1884


ed solid fifteen days. The mercury
in the thermometer invariably rose
during storms Or high winds. The
highest barometer was eighty above
81 inches, the lowest slightly below
30 inches. The greatest variations
were in winter. The electrometer,
an instrument used to ascertain the
presence Of electricity, was set, but
not the slightest result was obtained.
The display Of the aurora was very
good, but not compared with those
seen on Disco island on the Uperna-
vik. As far as Greedy could observe
no cracking sound accompanied the
displays and the general shape was
that of q ribbon. Southwesterley the
horizon wss the quarter in which the
brightest display was seen. Mares
reported in 1876 that no shadow was
cast by the aurora, but Greely says
he distinctly observed his shadow cast
by it. There were no electrical dis
turbances save those manifested by
the rumbling of thunder over head
twice as far away to the north. In
the cause of the tidal observations
made, the very interesting fact was
discovered that tides at the Lady
Franklin bay came from the north,
while those at Melville bay and Camp
Sabine
CAME FROM THE SOUTH.
The temperature Of this north tide
is two degrees warmer than the south
tide at Cape Sabine. Why this was,
Greely would not venture to state.
He used in measuring the ebb and
flow of tides, fixed gauge Of iron
rod, planted in the mud. The aver
age rise of the spring tide at Lady
Franklin bay were found to be eight
feet, at Cape Sabine the highest tide
rise was twelve feet. The surf was
only observed twice in two years. At
Lady Franklin bay the average tenn
perature of the water was 2 degrees
above zero.
Wolves weighing ninety pounds
were killed around Fort Conger; there
are foxes and other animals here.
Fish is wonderful scarcity, and
perhaps the greatest surprise to the
expedition was taken from Lake
Alexander, fresh water lake, fifteen
feet above the sea level, four pound
SO lmon. From the bay or sea, only
two very small fish were taken during
the entire two years, and few found
north of Cape Sabine. The vegeta-
ton at Lady Franklin bay is about
the same as at cape Sabine, and COM
prises MOSES, ichens, willows and
Sanfrage. The highest velocity OF
the wind was registered during a ter
rife snow seventy miles an
hour. Lockwood's trip to the north,
in 1882 and 1883, was productive Of
the most valuable results. Standing,
on the 18th Of May in each year,
where DR.. Hayes had formerly stood,
at about the same time of the day,
Lockwood, from an elevation of 2 ,OOO
feet, using his strongest glass on the
Halls basin and Robinson's channels,
could discern nothing but ice packs.
Here it was that DIR. Hayes claimed
to have seen
HIS OPEN POLAR SEA.
On his trip of 1882 Lockwood reach.
ed the highest latitude ever attained,
83 degrees, 25 minutes north. This
was about 500 miles directly north Of
Lady Franklin bay, but together we
travelled 100 miles on open water
and broken packs frequently caused
him to retrace his steps fifty miles
Lockwood sounded the sea both years
between Cape Britannia, but could
not touch bottom with q 135-fathon
line.
Markham, few. years before
about 100 miles to the west, got bot
tom at ~ fathoms. Lockwood found
at his farthest north point about thu
same vegetation as at Lady Franklin
bay. but no signs of a polar curren
or open polar sea. In 1883 he wal
stopped near Cape Bryant, 1875 miles
from Lady Franklin bay, by an oper
channel extending west to the coas
of Grlnnel Land. The width Of thi
channel varied from two hundret
yards to five miles, but on the nortl
the ice packs extended as far as coul'
be seen with a glass. With his sup
ply of provisions, the failure o
which had caused his return the yea
before, Lockwood was confident h
could have reached IS degrees mort
if this open channel had not barret
his way.
Il No fossil remains were discovere'
on the trip, and the only ones foun'
we're trunks Of trees on the southwes
. coast of Grinnel Land. The onl
, sea animals seen by Lockwood at 8
degrees and Is minutes were walru
and seals, and. strange to say. th
. walrus is not to be found at Lad
Franklin bay. At SO degrees and 2
minutes the detection Of the magnet
needle was 104 degrees west, mor
than one-fourth Of the circle. As IA
as Lockwood went the Northwestern
. tend OF the Greenland coast contir
ued. The maps Of the regions b
discovered are in the possession {
T.;eutenant Greelv. and are very care