American explorations in the ice zones. The expeditions of De Haven, Kane, Rodgers, Hayes, Hall ...

Front matter

Hass Cy 6 ^^3

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

American Explorations

Chapter I

The Arctic regions, sea and land — Comparison of the ice zones of the North and the South — The problem of the Pole and the Northwest Passage — Chief attempts for its solution — Participation in these attempts by the American Colonies — American Toyages resulting from the Franklin Expedition, and their renewal in 1850 ... 17

Chapter II

The Grinnell Expeditions — Reviving Arctic exploration — President Taylor's message to Congress transmitting correspondence with Lady Franklin — Eesolution authorizing the expedition approved, May 5, 1850 — Mr. Grinnell' s memorial supported by Clay, Seward, and Pearce, in the Senate — OflB.cers of the First Expedition — Instructions of Secretary Preston to DeHaven, who sails from New York, May 22, 1850

— Dispatches from St. Johns and the Whale-Ship Islands — DeHaven' s report of the graves found at Beechey Island — He arrives at Griffith Island — Drifts northward — Geographical discoveries — Eastward into Baffin's Bay — Freed from the ice, June 10, 1851 — Again released, Aug. 18 — Sails from Holsteinborg, Sept. 6 — Arrives at New York, Sept. 30 41

' CHAPTER III.

THE SECOND GEINNELL EXPEDITION, 1853-55.

The expedition designed by Kane — Contributors — Paper read before the Geographical Society of New York—Assistance by the Secretary of the Navy— Officers of the ''Advance "— Fiskernaes — Crossing Melville Bay— The "Advance " moored to an iceberg — Rensselaer Harbor — Provision depots for spring explorations — The observatory — Daily ship life — Morton's reported Polar Sea — The brig fixed in the ice — Attempt to reach Beechey Island — Nine of the company leave /or the •South; their return — Scurvy — The brig abandoned — Boat and sledge journey southward — Rescue of Kane by Captain Hartstene at Disco — Arrival at New York

— Reports to the Department — Summary of results — Appreciation by the British Government— Publications of the narrative — Kane's failing health — Request of Lady Franklin to him to undertake a new expedition — He sails for England — Return voyage — Death — Funeral honors at Havana, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Columbus, Baltimore, and Philadelphia — Kane's religious confidence . ... . 66

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER lY.

EXPLORATIONS OF LIEUTENANT JOHN RODGERS, U. S. N.

The Exploration of the *'Vincennes " a part of the United States Expedition under Commander Ringgold — Appropriation by Congress — Objects — Secretary Kennedy's instructions — Sickness of Commander Ringgold — Lieutenant Rodgers succeeds to the command — Loss of the " Porpoise " — The "Yincennes" leaves Hong Kong for her Arctic cruise — Arrives at Petropaulovski — Condition of the town — Enters Bering Straits — Leaves a party under Lieutenant Brooke at Glassenapp — Habits and customs of the natives — The "Vincennes" in the Arctic Sea — Anchors in latitude 72° 5' North — Sails over the tail of Herald Shoal and locates Herald Island

— Can see no trace of Plover Island — Approaches Wrangell Land — Returns to St. Lawrence Bay and Glassenapp for Lieutenant Brooke's party — Arrives at San Francisco, Oct. 13, 1855 — Suggestions for the publication of the full narrative .... 108

CHAPTER V.

EXPLORATIONS OF DR. ISAAC I. HAYES, 1860-61.

Design of Dr. Hayes for a new exploration suggested while on his first voyage with Kane — His plans supported by the Smithsonian and other institutions — Sails from Boston with Sonntag, July 7, 1860 — Arrives off Proven on the twenty-fourth day out — Adds to his ship's company and supplies at Upernavik — Crosses Melville Bay in fifty-five hours to Cape York — Winters at Port Foulke — Observatory set up — Observations made — Experiences of the season — Death of Sonntag, Hans' account of it — The Arctic night described — Attempts to launch the boat on the Polar Sea

— Highest point reached — Belief in the existence of the open sea confirmed — Experiences of recent navigators compared with this — Explorations and surveys made on the return voyage to the United States — Purpose of a new expedition — Reception of the gold medals from abroad — Volumes published 132

CHAPTER VI.

THE GRINNELL AND HAVEN EXPEDITION OF C. F. HALL— THE

FIRST OF HIS THREE VOYAGES, 1860-62.

Hall's motives for his first voyage — Arctic study — Limited resources — Reasons

for believing that some of Franklin's men still lived — Circular endorsed by leading

men of Ohio — Generous aid by Mr. Grinnell and by Williams and Haven — Sails

from New London — Buries his native companion, Kud-la-go — Visits Holsteinborg

— The kayaks— The belted and the gothic icebergs —Arrives at Cornelius Grinnell Bay — First impressions of the natives — Destruction of the "Rescue" and the expedition boat — First acquaintance with Ebierbing and Too-koo-li-too — Inland excursion — Explorations in the spring following — Discovery that Frobisher " Strait" is a bay — Finding of the Frobisher relics confirmed by Barrow's history

— Explorations in the spring and summer of 1862 — Notes of Eskimo dress, habits, and superstitions — Return to the United States with the two natives and their child 161