Year: 1873

ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.


The Marvels Of the Frigid Zone Inter-


esting Experience in the Search for


the Open Polar Sea- Surrounded by


Icebergs,


Dr. Isaac j. Hayes, in one of his lee
lures descriptive Of his search of the open
polar sea, described the glaciers and Ice
bergs of Greenland vividly. All the inte-
rior Of Greenland, the lecturer said, is one
vast field Of ice, which gradually and
imperceptible moves downward toward the
sea, the centre moving somewhat more
rapidly than the sides, and by the fractures
thus created giving to the ice those fantastic
shapes which from time immemorial have
been at once the marvel and admiration of
explorers When the glacier reaches the
sea it passes on as before over the inclined
plain beneath the surface, until so much
Of it is immersed that it is no longer able
to resist the buoyancy of the water, and
breaking from the glacier, with a roar that
can be heard for miles, the iceberg rises to
the surface, and floats away sometimes as
far as the coast Of Newfoundland, while
the glacier continues its ceaseless move
ment downward to form new icebergs from
age to age. The masses of ice thus de-
tached of course vary in size, but in all
Of them there is seven times as much ice
under water as appears above the surface.
From the deck of his vessel DR.. Hayes
once counted as many as 500, some as
large as the hall in which he stood, others
as large as Trinity church, still others as
large as the city of New York, and yet
Others twelve times the size Of New York.
One in especial arose 317 feet above sur
face, and he computed its weight to have
been not less than twenty-seven millions
of tons.


With regard to the midnight sun, Dr.
Hayes related an incident which, had he
not actually witnessed it himself, might
possibly have been received with incredu-
lity by his audience. As he travelled
northward the days gradually heightened
until darkness ceased altogether, and the
sun was never out of sight The passen-
gers on board the ship were much incom-
moded, and were obliged to create artificial
darkness by drawing curtains around them
when they desired to sleep. The dumb
animals on board were in pitiful state of
CONSERVATION, the dogs howled increasingly,
and evinced desire to bay the sun. But
the most remarkable effect was created upon
an old rooster, the last of their stock of
fowl, whose life had been spared in con-
sideration of his age and consequent tough
ness. This venerable bird, day after day,
watched the heavens, but found no oppor-
tunity Of heralding the approach Of dawn
by his wonted crow. His mind at last
gave way, and one morning, in full view of
the astounded voyagers, the unhappy bird
flew upon the rail Of the ship, stretched
his neck toward the sun, and giving the
merest apology for crow, sprang into the
ocean and was seen no more


In 1859 DIR. Hayes, first expedition
sailed northward, and by breaking through
the ice in Bafin's Bay, penetrated as far
as latitude 750, this, up to that time, being
the furthest point ever attained by explo-
rers. On the icebergs which he encoun-
tered polar bears were very numerous.
These animals, he said, are far from being
the ferocious monsters which voyagers are
so fond of depicting. They are, in fact,
very timid creatures As an instance Of
their cowardice, he related an account of
his suddenly meeting one in the middle Of
an arctic night, that is to say, broad day.
light. Without moments hesitation the
doctor turned and ran, never stopping until
his breath was utterly exhausted; he then
looked behind him to see, as he said, how
long lease Of life remained for him, and
to his unspeakable relief saw the bear was
running also, but in the opposite direction.


A very perilous adventure through
which he passed during this voyage was
listened to with breathless attention. The
ship was lying IN large natural bay or
harbor, close to glacier; one day a ter
rife roaring startled every one On board.
An immense iceberg had parted from the
glacier, and risen to the surface so near
the ship that the first of a succession of
waves which it created carried the vessel,
dragging her anchor, entirely across the
bay, leaving her within few feet of the
rocks on the opposite side. The wave re-
coiling, threw over the deck a volume Of
water that swept before it everything not
made fast, and forced the crew to hold on
for their lives.


Two Of the finest glaciers the lecturer
saw he christened after Prof Tyndall in
compliment to the great scientist for his
Alpine researches. Among the interest
ing features of the lecture was the exhibit
ton Of some exquisite photographs Of
Arctic scenes reflected upon curtain on
the stage. One Of these was gigantic
rock on the coast Of Greenland which was
similar to that on which the Inflated
Atlantic had struck, and it was a matter
of surprise to DR.. Hayes, in view of the
nature Of the coast; that so many Of the
Atlantic's passengers had been saved.
Melville Bay was the highest point reached
in this expedition. In concluding his
lecture DR., Hayes said that this trip might
be made by any gentleman during the
summer months In his own yacht Noble
sport conld be found in shooting polar
bears, and the trip would be no more dan
gerous than crossing the Atlantic. At the
first blush it might seem that sailing among
these tremendous glaciers and icebergs was
perilous navigation, but il should be borne
in mind that at the proper season darkness
navar hide tla,. - L.. l......- g..