Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-31


told It's tale about the previous long calm.
As far as our eyes could reach, nothing
but one immense field OF ice could be
seen. During the afternoon an increasing
swell made our position unsafe the huge
ice masses rising and falling with me
long, slow movements. The sudden
shocks that the side OF our vessel re-
coivcd. made her tremble from keel TO
crows nest on December 2sd In lati-
tude CO degrees MINUTES, longitude lbi
degrees 81 minutes, barometer at 20. ]
shot a wonderful seal OF ordinary size
aud color. but without any signs Of ears,
and with a very thick neck. Not one OF
our experienced hands had ever seen this
kind before.
on December 24th, in latitude 6s de-
grees 3 minutes. longitsude l67 degrees
81 minutes. there was very stormy wealth
er. The evening. however. was
beautiful. and the sun just touched the
horizon on It's lowest descent. ! believe
that we are the only people who ever
saw the midnight sun at Christmas-eve.
on Wednesday, the 26th, we crossed the
Antarctic circle.
degrees a minutes longitude IA degrees
s minutes, at Il o'clock. While the sun
was shining bright we rang the old
year out and the new year in, and saluted
with our guns In honor Of the occasion
In latitude 81 degrees 8 minutes. lOngi-
tude i75 degrees - minutes. east, ! Sc
cured specimen OF appendices for
ster!i. n large penguin. on the 18th, In
latitude 50 degrees s. minutes (south).
longitude III degrees 20 minutes (easD.
We came again into open water, having
spent thirty-eight days in working through
the pack ice. A clear, open space OF wa
ter was now before us. and not breath
OF wind disturbed the surface OF the sea.
The only sign OF fee was small piece In
the shape OF a boat, on which four pen
gums leisurely appeared 10 be rejoicing
ike ourselves over the splendid weather
and clear sky.
We steered for Cape Adare. on Victoria
Land. which we sighted on January 18th.
on the 18Th, in latitude II degrees - min
uteS longitude 40 degrees Is minutes, the
temperature Of the air was % degrees,
and Of the water 80 degrees; the sky was
completely clear. At noon we stood to-
ward bay TO the northwest OF cape
Adare The cape, which was I'm II de-
grees 3 minutes and 1863 degrees % min
utes. rises TO a height Of 3,779 feet, ana
consists Of a large square basaltic rock,
with perpendicular sides. From there
we saw the coast OF Victoria Land, 10
the west and south. as far as the eye
could reach. il rose from dark, bare rocks
into peaks Of perpetual ice and snow, l2'OO
feet above the level OF the sea, Mount
Sabane above the rest. standing out shin
ing in the rays OF the midnight sun.
Comic tops covered the plateaux and ran
over In mighty glaciers. / counted as
many as twenty glaciers In the close
vicinity Of the bay at Cape Adare. one
OF them seemed covered with lava while
q thick layer OF snow appeared under
meath. resting on another layer OF lava,
and that again on the billowy surface
Of the glacier. A volcanic peak. about
5000 feet high. which was comparatively
free from snow. had undoubtedly been in
activity a short time before.
POSSESSION ISLAND.
AT noon of the 18th we sighted Posses
sion Island. with It's peculiar contours
standing sharply against the bright SKY.
We effected a successful landing on the
north island. pulling our boat up on the
shore. and were at once furiousy attack
ed by the pengulns, which covered the
very ground of the island in myriads,
and seemed much annoyed by our IN
trusion OH their premises. Their Eoarse
screams filled the air. and 1t was with
considerable strain Of my voice that on
landing / addressed my countrymen in a
few words, informing them that we were
the second party TO set foot on TINS
island. Sir James Ross had preceded us
having ffty-four years ago landed here
and planted the English dag. We gave
three cheers for that great English navi-
gator. and also for Captain Svsndfoyn,
who sent out this Antartic expedition.
Possession Island, situated in latitude u
degrees % minutes longitude III degrees
10 minutes, is remarkably free from snow.
| Judged this island of the group to be
800 10 $50 acres in size. We gave 1t the
name of Sir James Ross Island. on the
goth we steamed southwark, and sighted
Coulman Island on the 2lst at midnight
Finding the eastern cape OF this large
island unnamed, we called 1t Cape Oscar,
in honor OF his Majesty our King, whose
birthday It happened TO be. on Conlman
Island we found great irregularities in
our compases. Doubtless that island con-
tains secrets of scientific value on the
22d we were I'm latitude "A degrees, south.
No whales appearing II was decided 10
head northward again.
on the sd we were again at Cape
Adare. and successfully effected a land
ing, being the first human creatures who
ever set foot on the mainland. Our land
ing-place was a sort Of peninsula or land
Slip, gently sloping down from the steep
rocks Of Cape Adare until IL ran into
the bay as a long fat beach, covered with
bcbbles. This peninsula forms a com
plete break-water for the inner bay. The
penguins were II possible. even more nu-
merous here than on the Possession
Islands. They were discovered on the
very cape as far up az 1000 feet. They
must often live without food for days,
since IL must take them two or three
days 70 climb so far up the rocks. IL Is
evident that in some way they can store
food for use on these toilsome Journeys.
Here we found the same cryptogramic
vegetation as on the Possession.
We now stood northward, and on the
26th, again encountered pack-ice. reach
ing clear water six days later in latitude
&c degrees, longitude l72 degrees 81 min
utes. On February 18th the aurora APP
peared stronger than ] ever saw 1t In
the north. 10 rose from the southwest,
stretching in a broad stream up toward
the zenith and downward again TO the
eastern horizon. Now II presented long.
shining curtains, rising and falling in
wonderful shapes and shades, sometimes,
seemingly, close down TO our mastheads.
1t evidently exerted considerable influence
upon the magnetic needle Of our COM
pas.
We sighted Tasmania on March 4th, and
entered Port Philip Heads on March 18th.
five and half months after our depart
ure from Melbourne.