The Hayes Arctic expedition.
The
Halifax Journal gives the following particulars of the cruise and the arrival of the Hayes
Arctic Expedition:
‘
"Up to the time of their arrival at this port, the party had been for ever 12 months without receiving news from home, excepting, however, a single solitary English news paper obtained at Upernavic, which contained
President Lincoln's proclamation for an extra session of Congress.
It may be readily imagined how eager were officers and crew to possess themselves of newspapers containing news from home.
Since their departure the storm cloud, then a more speck on the political horizon, has spread over the whole heavens, and plunged the country into the horrors of civil war. Events have followed one after the other in quick succession, and to these Arctic voyagers it must seem as if the occurrences of an ordinary lifetime-had been compressed into the few months of their absence.
"The
United States sailed from
Boston in July, 1860. She reached Upernavic after a short passage, and proceeded from thence to Smith's Straits, where she remained until July 10, 1861.
"On the 14th of April, however, a party left the vessel, consisting of thirteen men and sixteen dogs, with boats on sledges.
The leader of this dog team is now on board the
United States, and is a fine specimen of the species.
The party reached latitude 79 in the
Middle Smith's Straits, and here the party divided--
Dr. Hayes and three others went as far as latitude 81 deg. 35 min., west side of Kennedy Channel, and were then obliged to put back, their provisions being exhausted.
Dr. Hayes reached his vessel on the 27th of May. On the 13th July, 1861, they proceeded to Littleton Island, where the vessel remained until the 27th.--Sailing from thence in a northerly direction, they were met by immense packs of ice, which the vessel could not penetrate.
She then made for Cape Isabella, on the west side of Smith's Straits, which was safety reached.--Boat parties were sent out from here to explore, but the ice was so solid that no chance was found for proceeding.
The
United States next came to an anchor at the Esquimaux settlement of Natlik, Northumberland Island, on the coast of
Greenland.
"After surveying Whale Sound, the vessel sailed for Upernavic, on the voyage home, arriving there on the 15th of August, 1861, after passing through one hundred and fifty miles of field ice in
Melville Bay.
Hans, an Esquimaux, on whom
Dr. Kane placed great dependence, who is frequently mentioned in
Dr. Kane's book, and who deserted that expedition while in the ice in the far
North, was found at
Cape York by the crew of the
United States, and returned in the vessel to Upernavic, from whence he started with
Dr. Kane.
The expedition went as far North as 81 degrees, 35 minutes; a latitude which is said to have been before reached only by
Perry in 1827-8.
On the coldest day experienced the thermometer was down to 68 degrees below zero.
The vessel was provisioned for two years, and her returning now, without having had any serious disasters, inclines us to the belief that the party have made some important discoveries which they are not desirous of communicating here.
If so, it will be laid before the public ere long."
’
