Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-12

Rsss,.
Soon aftef the return Of Sergeant Rice
Dr. PAW, and the EAquiman Jeus. Lieu
tenant 0ree,y came back 10 Fort Conger
alter An expiorafioa Of eleven days In tht
interior Of 0rtuuell Land TO the westward
q the etatiou. They arrived on the eve
ming OF May Z, 1882. Lieutenant Grcely
expected to be gone q much longer time
and his Appearance was surprise. Ths
following sketch OF bis discoveries and ths
adventures Of the party h from the graphic
pm Of Sergeant Rice, a. recorded ia his
diary.
ruk sTARr.
The commander started from Fort Con.
ger on April 10th with the purpose oil
travelling westward over the country un.
I'LL ~ possible. the western coast OF Grin
nell Land should be reached. He was &C
compsnied by Strgeants Cross aud Lons
and Privates Csnnell, Bender, and Whist.
Ter. Cross and Long were supporting and
returned after two days. The pi-ty visited
the English cache at Stony Point and APP
rfopTiated snch OF the contents as they re-
Quired, aud then proceeded up Conybeare
bay. This opening bad not been explored
by the English aud was found much deeper
than they supposed. Lieutenant Archer
passed the mouth OF the bay and has
mapped out It's entrance very correctly. but
our travellers found II 10 be thirty miles
deep instead OF ten. Al the head Of the
bay three valleys were found leading into
81, but none were practicable for travel
iing. On April 18th they opened out
a new ford, which they entered and
found TO be about three miles wide
and fifteen 10 twenty long. running north
northwest. II was surrounded and en-
closed iy lofty. frowning cliffs, strangely
imposing and picturesque. In the valleys
before mentioned musk.oxen and wolves
were seen. Into the ford. afterward named
after Captain Howgate, there emptied
river. on the icy surface OF which they
travelled some distance before i.s character
was discovered. The ice running together,
IL was difficult TO observe where the ford
ended and The river began; but as they
advanced the evidences OF its being fresh
water, and not an arm OF the sea, multi.
piled. They noticed that the water forced
up in cracks was brackisb, and gradually
grew fresher. Further on Lieutenant
Greedy found the stream to be open, with
evidences OF It's having remained 40 all the
year round.
on TIE RIVER.
The travelling was now Of the finest de-
scriptlon. The fresh water from The open
channel Of the stream inundated the ice
that covered the shsllower parts AUDITING the
banks, and over which the party was travel
ing. This thin sheet OF water freezing
without any inequalities, gaze TO their icy
highway the appearance Of a waxed floor or
D plain covered with lamnated steel. IL was
e..
10 keep the footing. The great reflective
Qualities Of The polished ice also caused
much Inconvenience from snow-blind ness.
with which one member OF the party whist
erl was especially affected. But these were
light drawbacks compared with the great
advantages they were enjoying. Probably
no Arctic travellers were ever so favored
b. these. The sledges glided over the ice
without requiring the least exertion TO
irpw them. Ia fact, it was difficult to keep
IN advance OF them. At one time the com
maDder judged that four aud half miles
wers made in one hour. He arrived at this
conclusion from counting his steps. which
wers measured. After meeting with the
open water OF the stream few steps to the
EDGE a the lee furnished them delicious
Taught OF pure ice water-a boon which
no mortal except an Arctic traveller or
,erbaps a vanderer IN the desserts Of AZ
lea can fully appreciate.
DISCOVERING A LAKE.
A small island in the river was next dis
oyered and the source OF the river soon
cached. II proved to be large lake, FROM !
fly TO seyenty-fve miles long and about |
even broad. II was open at the point |
rom which II fed the river, where the ac-
eierafed movement Of the water wore
way the ice by attrition or prevented II
ON forming al all. The stream also start
x out with great rapidity was open for
bout three miles. and, as already stated.
nd the appearance OF remaining so all the
EAR round. The depth OF the river at ITS
cad was three and half feet. width fifty
lrds In its narrowest part. increasing TO
bout three miles at its estuary. Along
ie valley thus drained the party found
DouRh driftwood, OF the ground will
w, 10 serve for fuel. Abundant
aces Of ume-musk-oxen. hares, and
xes- were seen In all directions, and
ey were led 10 believe that these animals
ID not migrated during the winter. The
aces bore the stamp OF continuous occu-
fion Of the ground, and, as nearly rs
ulJ learn, resembled those seen by Dr.
IVY and the writer near Lincoln bay.
nail fisb, resembling mnnows, were seen
the head OF the stream. Lieutenant
RELY and his party now pushed or over
e lake. following ils south side for a short
.fance. Here the snow was found TO lie
ry deep, and the party found good usefor
sir snow-shoes. They soon left the shores
the lake and started across for its west
e. Laylng for their objective point the
nth OF valley through which the CON.
nder hoped TO continue.
BLOCKED BY A GLACIER.
As they neared the shore, which they
icbed next day, they saw that a glacier
great size aud niagni1eenee filed the
Hey and abutted on the lake. On tue
animation which closer proximity af-
Tded, they found the glacier facing the
&c with perpendicular front OF from
c hundred TO two hundred feet in
igbt, back Of which the ice rapidly in-
ned 10 greater elevation, increasing 20
least six hundred feet at distance OF
ly one hundred yards from its face.
irther up the valley u wound its way.
cedlrg from view in the dim perspective
milky, undulatiDg folds. The frown-
z front OF this magnificent mer de gIdce
Is awc.inspiring In its grandeur aud
zzliDg in its beauty. The sun scintil-
Ing and glistening on the crystal points,
{ strange freaks OF color that the
rect and rejected light made IN playing
,ong the blocks and protuberances ad-
ring 10 the irregular front OF this frozen
iagara since the last great segments OF ice
ID fallen away and dropped like glass
ask at It's feet, giving 70 some the appear
ice OF green chalcedony and to others
at OF pure. transparent crystal. added to
e enchanting spectacle. The glacier,
hich Lieutenant Greely has bonored with
70 name OF his wife, was two miles vide at
> face. A moraine was formed at the
argin o. the lake-since called after the
hief signal oiffcer--about one hundred
ards from the glaciers present face, aud
royss that In forcing TIE debris TO that
ositlon Il must at some time have extended
lai Ear.
MAJESTIC PHENOMENON.
The most glorious spectacle was afforded,
owever, by the calving" or breaking
way OF portion Of the ice. 1t was
Ight which has been vouchsafed 10 but
ew. Dr. Hayes was so fortunate a. TO
FITNESS similar process OF nature at one
. the Greenland fords, and has left
Iraphic description Of the same. Our
,arty have rhapsodied considerably over
hat which they now saw, aud agree that
10 Idea OF its beauty and sublmity can be
conveyed. They were encamped within
ale distance, and had their attention at.
racted by the cracking noise which at
ended the disruption 81 the ice a. the
Dass-so huge and immense 10 Itself, but so
mall con nared 10 the GREAT body az the lee