The New York Herald Newspaper, September 22, 1873, Page 4

4 THE “LITTUR JUNIATAY A Graphic Account of the Cruise of the Steam Launch. IN THE ICY REGIONS. Preparing to Meet the Perils of the Ice Floss. AMES OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW. The Herald Correspondent One of the Volunteers. DEPARTURE FOR THE NORTH. Terrors ot a Tempest in an Ice Pack. A NARROW ESCAPE. The Launch Half Filled with Water and Closed In. ANCHORED TO AN ICEBERG. A Fortunste Escape from Im- pendigs Destruction. “THE DEVIL’S THUMB.” Progress of the Gallant Craft To- wards the Pole. IN MELVILLE BAY. Heroic Efforts to Penetrate the Ice. MEETING WITH THE TIGRESS. Ucutenant De Long’s {nformation for Com- mander Greer. RETURN OF THE LAUNCH. A Most Interesting Story ot Arctic Adventure. UNITED STATES STEAMER LITTLE JUNiATA, TessUIsak, Greenland, August 2, 1873, THE PREPARATIONS. Although Commander Braine did not intend to send the steam launch on the ploneer expedition antil he was thoroughly satisfied by actual obser- vation that it could be carried out in safety, pre- cautionary measures were taken at St. John’s in the way of preparation, in case clrcumstances per. mitted the experiment. The little boat was lowered from the davits and thoroughly over- tauledon shore. Among other necessary fittings she was strengthened on euch side with green- heart plank, 26 feet long, 5 feet wide and 13, feet thick. Next came tron stern plates, 18 inches long, the same width and 4 inches in thickness. To pro- vide against all emergencies she was rigged as asloop, while her bladed propelfer was guarded by tron framework. Everything complete, the stanch little craft measured 32 feet 2 inches over all, 8 feet 4 inches beam, 4 feet 4 inches in depth. Ger draught forward was 2 feet 6 inches, and aft B feet 2 inches. In fine, she was completely equipped for the service, nothing being wanting that ingenuity could suggest. When the prepara- tions were completed, she was named “The Little Juniata.” While at Godhavn her capacity was thoroughly tested, both in steaming and sailing, and her ability to butt against the ice had ire- quent trials, She was pronounced by all a good seagoing craft, fit to perform the duty assigned to her. On arriving at Uperna vik. Dr. Rudolph assured Commander Braine that this was an unusually open season, and that 0 danger might be apprelended from the contem- plated expedition, while he warmly encouraged the attempt. A competent Esquimau pilot was secured, in the person of Jacob, Who was thor- LATITUDE 73 21 10 N., LONGITUDE 56 5 45 W., } ougbly acquainted with the coast; and at length I may add, that although it was (ntended the Little Juniata should not ce absont more than fifteen days, when her stock of coal would be exhausted, she was never- theless provisioned for sixty days and was other- wise fully equipped ‘or all emergencies, So far as Tcould learn, however, her officer was warned against running any risk that might endanger the doat or the lives of her crew. It being wholly im- possible then for the Juniata to try the experiment, the preliininary task was entrusted to her gallant little namesake, MIE VOLUNTEERS, Thave already expressed my admiration at the Mancer in Which the officers of this vessel, headed by their commander, have, since the inception of the enterprise, endeavored to carry out this noble Mission in the cause of humanity. And, now that {can recall the circumstances under which tho little steamer was fitted for the pertious cruise, the enthusiasm which the very suggestion awak- ened, and the manly sentiments it inspired, I can- not refrain from avowing that, whatever be the tesult of the undertaking, thetr undaunted and anremitting efforts merit the highest commenda- tion and reflect credit on the service. In this con- nection, and in view of the sad dissensions and consequent insubordination on board the ill-fated Polaris, Imay here observe that is is worse than folly to send an expedition in ald of scientific dis- covery unless subjected to naval discipline. In speaking of the volunteers of the ‘Littie Juniata’ 1 must again refer to the hearty co-operation given the commander. Scarcely had the Juniata put to sea when the list of volunteers forall hazardous duties included the names of Qearly every officer in the vessel. They were se- lected, however, in the order of their application ; but had they actually been picked out for efficiency they could not have been bétter chosen, Both ofl- cers and crew were fitted out with sealskin cloth- (ng, a8 well as bear skin bags, wherein and so far 48 practicabie naval discipline was to be ob- served. The company of the ‘Little Juniata’ was 86 follows :—Licutenant G. W. De Lohg command- ing, Lieutenant ©. W. Chip, Ensign Sydney H. May; H. W. Dodge, ice pilot; Francis Hamilton, machinist ; William King, fireman; Richard Street, seaman; Martin T. Meagher, seaman; Jacob, the Esquimau pilot, and your correspondent, in all ten persons, ali of whom cheerfully bade farewell to luxury. GEITING READY. OM we Morning of the sisi of August—a bright NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY; SEPTEMBER 22, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. and glorious one—the steam launch hoisted her colors, and, though somewhat low in the water, looked trim and saucy in the extreme, What witn the coal and provisions there was scarcely room to move about on board the little craft; but she bad been equipped for work, not pleasure. If blocks of coal supplied for the time the place of downy beds, nobody thought the worse of it, At noon the stir commenced in earnest. Steam had been started, and the whizzing sound of the es- caping vapor added to the animation that prevailed. Parcel after parcel was lewered into the steamer—not baggage, for that was the scantiest part of the cargo— but coils of rope, tin pans, anchors, knives and forks and a medicine chest, to say noth- ing of rifles, canned provisions and sealskin ap- Pendages, which, with many more necessaries, were carefully stowed away. At length, at one o'clock, Lieutenant De Long announced his readi- ness to depart, The announcement brought all the officers to the gangway, and amid many a hearty “Goodby” and “God-speed,” the launch was manned, “QHEER THE SHIP." The line was cast offin a twinkling, with a fresh breeze from the southwest. The Little Juniata commenced her hazardous trip. Suddenly the rigging of the man-of-war was studded with hardy seamen, and as the be ae forth from the port deck to cheer th” Bhip, the ‘Hip, hip, hip,” was thrice answered by a lusty shoutthat made the welkin ring. Then brave fellows on the launch responded in royal » and quickly voisting sail she scudded forth Onuher lonely way. All hands were in the best of spirits, and without much ado the voyage was begun under the hap- Plest auspices. We took what is known as the inner passage, and once fairly among the islands icebergs of huge dimensions were to be seen in all directions. They presented every conceivable shape, from @ railroad bridge to a castie on the Rhine, and so closely were they packed togother at certain places that an ordinary rowboat could not, without diMoulty, have made @ passage. We passed KINGILAK, & small settlement on the way, and the excite- Ment,of the inhabitants as the little steamer hove in sight baffles all description, 1 venture to say no such spectacle ever astonished them before, and if howling and whooping aud pantomimic gesticula- tion could be regarded as tokens of appreciation, then we were singularly blessed in having the good will of the natives of that primitive and sweet- scented locality. The moving icebergs roseinall their stately magnificence as we again neared into the open space and once more breathed the un- tainted atmosphere, and as the sun’s rays were re- fected on the gigantic masses of ice which rose into the air like alabaster mountains, the effect was truly gorgeous, But the scene soon changed, A cold, drizzling rain began to tall, and the charming panorama faded irom the sight as the curtain ofiog descended, Our first dinner was a novelty; not that there were dainties of the season at hand, but the situation, the style, the scalds and ex- cuses, the misiaid forks and spoons, the sports- manlike hunt for the pepper and salt, and I don’t know what else, contributed to render the feast an event to be remembered. But good humor and good appetites made up for all deficiencies, and when pipes were lit, with owners snugly wrapped in sealskin furs, no pleasanter faces—and I speak for myself—could be found from the North Pole to the Equator. THE LAST WHITE MAN. A tarpaulin covered the boat and the rain rattled on the outside like a shower of hailstones, At eight o'clock half the crew “turned in,”’ ag the say- ing is, although in fact there was no chance at all for going tosleep, lying four abreast, compelling each man to choose his favorite “side” and then keep still, Jacob, the pilot, flourished nis hand right and left, by way of showing the way, and a aifficult task he had, owing to the fog, to say noth- ing of the intricate passages that marked the route, Shortly after eleven o'clock all hands were startled with the cry ‘“‘Lessuisak!’’ and in less than ten minutes we were at anchor opposite perhaps tne loneliest settlement in the world, and in the most northern where any Christian peo- ple dwell The dogs—the irrepressible ushers to Greenland hospitality—marshailed in full force on the rocks and commenced a charac- teristic yell. This brought the ragged natives to the spot, and itis no exaggeration to say, con- Bternation was depicted on every face. Lieutenant De Long, with Dodge, the ice pilot, and your corre- spondent, went ashore, and in the pelting rain crawied over the slippery rocks toward a little white house near by, from a flagstaff on the roof of which drooped the Danish flag. A tall, full-blooded Dane of forty years, with a fine, intelligent face, welcomed us at the door. He was Peter Jensen, the hunter, who figured so well in the famous ex- pedition commanded by Dr. Mayes in 1861, who had received his services as interpreter and dog man- ager. Jensen inquired very kindly aiter his old master, and did not hesitate to tell us that a better organized expedition than the one on which ho was engaged twelve years before never sailed to the North. He informed us that he had just returned trom Copenhagen, where he had been for the past year; that while there his wife had died; that he Dad taken unto him a second mate, and just as he spoke a young Danish woman, not more than twenty, neat and pleasant looking, came into the room, when he presented us with all the grace of a courtier. Jensen spoke at length of the Hall expe- dition and of the dissensions on the Polaris while she lay at anchor in front of his house, Captain Hall, be said, had requested him to accompany tne expedition, but illness of his wife prevented him. He observed the bitter feeling displayed towards Hall by some of his subordinates and had heard some of tue crew state that HE WOULD NEVER COME BACK ALIVE. This and much more upon the painful subject was voluntarily communicated by Jensen, who strongly endorsed the sentiments elsewhere so openly expressed. But it was getting late, and, after partaking of Jensen’s hospitality, I returned aboard the stcam launch, the rain still falling briskly. All hands save the watch were asleep, and picking up a well thumbed volume, the prop- erty of a romantic tar, I perused “Kit Carson’s Ride” until tne hands of the little ciock pointed to four o’clock. OFF TO CAPR YORK. It isa bright and beautiful morning on this the 24 day of August. The fog has all cleared away, and the sun shines gloriously. The icebergs pre- sent a picture of dazzling brilliancy, and the pros- pects are beyond the brightest anticipation. Ail hands work eheerlly. Steam is started; ap goes the anchor, The little craft moves out proudly on her mission, with the Stars and Stripes hoisted at the peak. ‘Time will tell the reat. Departure of the Little Juniata for Meliville Bay—Description of the Arctic Seenery—A Most Extraordinary Cruise=Lost in the Icy Regions—A Tempest in an Ico Pack—Perils of the Voyage. On Boary Tue VU. 8. Sioor-or-Wan JUNtATA, UPERNAVIky Greenland, August 12, 1873. Had Ito chronicle the neroic expiolts of some great tron-ciad battering down a fort previously deemed impregnable or commend the stanchness of a storm-defying vessel when hope was at the ebb my task might not be novel in its way. But mine is another duty, It is to place before you, tm plain, Unvarnished terms, the record of perhaps the most extraordinary cruise ever made in the Arctic Sea in the noble mission of humanity. I have already Giladed to the circumstances which induced Com- mander Lraine to despatch tne steam launch at his command in search of tidings of tho exploring steamer Polarisa—a name now sadly familiar in the four quarters of tho earth; to the enthusiasm which marked the ineeption of the laudable undertaking; the prompt ana hearty re- sponse of all to the call for volunteers, and the blithesome spirit in which the preparations were carried out; to the hearty wishes of success, the propitious and cheering start, and the final adieu to the last lnk of civilization. In a former letter I have referred to the inability of the s1oop-of-war from which I pen these lines to battic with the ice and the consequent necessity of securing some information upon which at least the Tigress could work with some degree of certainty, and endeavored to picture the surrounaings of tho Orst day’s yoyage of the Little Juniata, Little did I think when entrusting my nurried comma- | both whaler and explorer to keep a sharp lookout, nication to the lonely Governor of the loneliest patch in Christendom that ten days later it would be my lot to complete the record of a voyage 60 auspiciously begun, ADIEU TO TRSSUISAK, SURDAY MORNING.—The dense fog which hang s0 heavely last night on land and water disappeared, and as the launch steamed out between Brom Is- Jand and the main land the sun shone forth, cheer- ing all hands and imparting beauty to the scores of glittering icebergs that sparkled in ite rays, Lieutenant De Long, the commander, had promptly organized his party, and divided them in two Watches, one consisting of Lieutenant Clupp, H. W. Dodge, ice pilot; with Hamilton and Sheet, sea- men; and the other of himself, ensign May and the remainder of the limited crew, the Esquimaux being for the present excluded. This arrangement of Watches was kept up during the entire cruise, the oficers and men working alike, and turning in and out with cach other, At four P, M, Wedge Island was passed to the westward, and four hours later was reported close aboard, the position of the boat then being latitude 73 deg. 42 min. north, longitude 57 deg. west. I¢ was calculated that with an expen- diture of 400 pounds of coal a day an average speed of four knots an hour could be made under asteam pressure of twenty pounds, and, with a view to keep the fuel water for the boiler as fresh as pos- sible, a. steam pipe had been carried from the boiler to the water tank for the purpose of melting fresh water ice which could be picked upon the way. It Was found, however, that the expenditure of steam to melt the tce was too great to maintain the pro- posed speed, and it was finally determined to sup- ply the boiler with salt water—an unfortunate circumstance that reduced the fifteen days’ eup- ply of coal to nearly one-half the original calcula- tion, At four A. M., August 4, the steam launch passed inside of THE DUCK ISLANDS, where it was intended the party should spend some time shooting a few dozen of the millions of ducks that flock there; but the weather being fine it was deemed more advisable to push on. At noon a fresh breeze sprung up from tne northward and westward, and, making sail, the little cra{t stood in for a headland, supposed to be Wilcox Head. The old enemy, the fog, set in very thick as the Little Juniata (not caring to Aght tho ice in the dark) was ANCHORED TO AN ICEBERG, and we hove to in a gale of wind, which, even under comparatively snug circumstances, is at no time of the day or night an agreeable situation, but to be chained to an icy monster, millions of tons weight— @ monster which you are doing your utmost to avoid—never fails to produce a lecling of awe and uneasiness. Suppose it should topple over! St- lence pervades the little craft, and ali await the dissipation of the gloomy mist with anxious hearts. In making fast to an anchorage, which is eftentimes necessary, particularly when @ vessel is besct in ice, one of the hands seizes an iron hook, or ico anchor, and plants itin the berg. To do this a hole is cut in the ice, and into the hole the crown of the anchor ts hooked, Aiter hours of anxtous waiting the fog cleared, and, slipping from the berg, the Little Juniata rounded the headland to the north. The main object now was to get sight of THE DEVIL'S THUMB, from which it was determined to take a fresh de- parture for Melville Bay. A word about the famous Thumb, It is suid to be an island, and from all I have scen and heard I am inclined to believe Greenland is made of islands, The base of the Thamb is said to be an elevation some 1,300 fect, while the rocky excrescence itsell, so to speak, Tises 600 feet above its base. In its vicinity are two glaciers, one about twelve miles wide and the other about three, from which some of the in- Dumerable icebergs that stud Baffin’s Bay take their birth. The scene surrounding the Devil’s ‘Yhumb is one of bewildering desolation. It may be here noted for the information of those wio may get into Allison Bay that the chart is wrong, leaving it tobe imagined that the bay is free ex- cept as to icebergs. It is filled with small islands Tunning along about fifteen miles from the glacier line and extending from Cape Seddon nearly fifteen miles to the southward toward Wilcox Head. As night came on (strange word, with day- light all the time! @ fog shut in, obscuring the land, much obstruction being then met with in the shape of pack ice and icebergs as well as new ico which was rapidly forming. There was danger ahead, and, the fog still holding on, the steam launch attempted to retrace her way, which she suc- ceeded in doing for several miles, LOST IN THE 108 WILDERNESS, Ploughing through ice and fog the little steamer worked her weary way. It was thought that at least her former open sound could be reached, Too tate; the ice had closed. In vain did she rush at and butt the hammocks to free a passage. The track was lost; she stood standatill, a prisoner, hard and fast. Around @ circle of thick ice, with here and there huge bergs looming up in the fog. In the centre of this desolation is the little steam launch, Something must be done, and ap- prehending worse results than a mere temporary imprisonment, the little craft is rammed defiantly at the frozen barrier that surrounds, By constant and steady jamming small cracks are made in the floes, and by dint of perseverance she forces her way by degrees, coming occasionally into small open patches of water and among loose ice, and making perhaps a mile or two before she is again brought ‘up by the solid ice, On missing the track the boat Was headed to the westward, for in that direction the open water was to be found, The temperature was below freezing point, the rigging was covered with ice, while the new ice was rapidly forming around the launch and increasing in thickness, ‘To stop was out of the question, Aware that deiay in such an emergency would be fatal, Lieutenant De Long kept the Little Juniata under full steam pressure, grinding and crushing through the ice in all directions, The commander, moreover, was fully sustained by Dodge, the ice pilot, and the plan of keeping to the westward proved a wise one, Athalt-past eight o’clock the following morn- ing the little craft came into a large space of open water, and an hour later a slight swell beneath gave indications that THE OPEN SKA was at hand. With the exception of some light scratening and the splintering of thé stren; plank, little damage was dome to the boat twelve hours of incessaut battling with a m treacherous foe, The Little Juniata was then headed to the northwesé, and, the fog clearing up, by noon the Sabine Islands were sighted on the starboard quarter, at tbe Same time making out glacters beyond, to the northéast From all that could be distinguished it was thought that. tee pack was tolerably solid from these Sabing to the coast, showing that the little craft was Tot, far from the edge of the Melville Bay pack. Count less icebergs, of all shapes and sizes, dotted the dreary region, and, to one who had nover pre viously traversed the desolating waste, the scene is well caloulated to mspire @ feeling of dread, Be- tween four and six P. M. a light FALh OF SNOW varied the general character of the surroundings, and on the following morning, the 6th inst, there was no land in sight ahead; but the boat was dis- covered to be on the edge of the ice pack, with a thick fog shutting in @md no signs of a “ead” or navigable opeaing in the fee, About eleven A. M. land showed itself abeam in the shape of two high hills, which the ice pilot recognized as the Peaked Hillis, Presently a “iead” was discovered In the pack to the westward; but the fog shutting in thicker than ever, Lieutenant De Long deemed it prudent to ancnor to an iceberg rather than to risk the boat on the edge of the pack. This pack ice, as many are aware, 1s made up of drifting ice foes, vary- ing sometimes miles in extent, and in thickness from inches to fathoms, These treacherous masses occasionally press close together, with littie or no open space between them, though they are often- times widely separated by the action of the winds, It ts, therefore, needless to state that the penctra- tion of this barrier is genoraily A HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING, The difference between the “pack” and the fast ice 18 that tho latter is.close to the shore, To this the experienced run for safety, taking some open Crack, or, asit te termed, the “in-shore lead.” The fear of being caught in the “pack’’ 10e warns, while, should the wind bring the ice down upon them from the westward, the “fast” ice affords them security, for they can always cut a dock for their veasels im the solid ice or discover @ bight or indentation tn which to moor the ship. 4 NARROW ESCAPE. Anchored to another iceberg, thank heaven, some- body with a keen eye saw cracks in it, though how the iceberg could be discovered in the fog with- out bumping against it was a wonder. And when that somebody hinted that the hoary looking mountain might crumble and crush the party no time was lost in giving it a wide berth, and so the anchor was shifted to a small ice cake # hundred yards off. Suddenly there is a crash—a small piece of the berg has broken off, and then follows a sound like a thunder clap, and a huge block comes tumbling down, bounding in the water as if rejoiced at its liberty. The spectacle was witnessed with grim gratification. Had the launch been hardby there ts no knowing what the fate of all hands would have been, At this stage the fuel was nearly half consumed, Up to the present nothing but the prospect of being firmly imbedded in the ice had suggestea any real danger. Cape York, the point of destination, was. only ferty miles off. Might not some definite in- formation be obtained of the missing vessel and crew? Burning coalina dense fog, where speed was fraught with danger, was worse than waste. What was to be done ? A PLUOKY DECISION. Actuated by motives of humanity and, withal de- sirous of carrying out his wisely worded instruc- tions to the letter, Lieutenant De Long determined to make Cape York under sail alone. He had yet to return to the ship and anewer for all the lives entrusted to his care, So out went the fires; and, under jib and mainsail, the gallant little boat headed on_ her course, the position being lat. 75.52 N., lon, 64.05 W. by dead reckoning, and the last bearing taken in the neighborhood of the Peaked Hill. The launch was now fairly in that region of terrors known as MELVILLE BAY, notoriougin the annals of whalers for its many direful catastrophes. The shores of this ill-starred place appear asa curved line upon the Green'and coast, but, as understood by the experienced mart- ner, comprehend much more. Asa general thing the whalers call by that name the expanse of Baf- fin’s Bay which begins at the south with the middle ice and terminates at the north with the “north water.” Itis by the “north water” that vessels havo generally approached the highway of Arctic search, which of course necessitates the crossing of the mysterious bay, where, as related, in one year a thousand human beings were cast shelterless upon the ice, their vessels ground to atoms before their eyes. The statistics of the whalers are something fearful, and scarcely @ scason goes by in which the passage is attempted without disaster. When the steam launch was well under way the ice pack came in sight again, when the boat was hauled up to the northward and westward. A “lead” was subsequently discovered, and the boat stood boldly into it for about five miles, until the lee pilot pronouncea it A FALSE LEAD, the ice closing in ahead. She was compelled to beat out of the lead, ana, the wind freshening, at eight P, M. she commenced to work to the west- ward, endeavoring as much as possible to keep clear of the ice, At midnight she hauled alongside an iceberg to fill up with fresh water ice for drink- ing and cooking, the sea meanwhile being some- what moderate, CAPE YORK IN SIGHT. Up to the present the Little Juniata had worked wonders, and despite many discouraging elements the cheerful spirits of both officers and men spoke volumes for their courage and confl- dence, At1:30 A. M, Angust 18, a highland was sighted, bearing northwest by north and trending to the northward in an apparently low neck. This the ice pilot declared to be the long looked for Cape York. Having worked pretty clear of de- tached pieces of floe ice, the boat stood in toward the land, which was calculated to be about eight Miles distan, At 3 A, M. a dense fog shut in and Cape York was lost sight of Meanwhile tho wind had freshened considerably from the southeast, and toward 56 A. M. it iIn- creased to a gale. The little craft was at once brought by the wind and reefed down as snug as possible. Had she been in open water Cape York could have been reached without danger or dim- culty, but as iaras the eye conld stretch to the northward the ice was in a solid pack trom four to gix feet thick, and she was struggling along the edge of tt searching for a lead, but none could be discovered. To the northeast the ice was also in a firm pack with icebergs and hummocks so closely wedged together as to prevent the possibility of anentrance. At noon the position of the vessel was latitude 75 deg. 48 min, north, longitude 66 deg, 50 min. west. IN THE JAWS OF DEATH. The sea literally boiled with fury, and the frail lttie launch—irall for such asituation—working on the edge of the ice pack, the situation became one of imminent danger. The wind nad started the great Melville Bay pack out from the land, making @regalar indentation, into which the launch was blown by the violence of the storm. The carrying Of sail saved the boat, Steam would have been useless, since she could not for ® moment have steamed against the gale, Lest she might driit to the pack and be ground to pieces lying to was not. to be thought of. Altogether the prospect was a ter- rible one. The sea rose to an enormous height, sending the spray over icebergs 100 feet in height, The spectacle presented on approaching the pack ice was frightful to look at. First the bordering ice would be broken oifin large pleces and then hurled with terrific force upon the more solid mass, to be displaced in turn by other blocks torn adrilt by the gale and rolied over like barrels upon the face of the pack. At one period in the fearful interval the loss of the Little Juniata, and, of course, all bands, seemed a certainty. She was half buried in the seas; besides this, it rained in torrents, Had she split or the mast gone she must have been swept to destruction. It was dificult, moreover, to see the iee pack until the launch was fairly alongside of it, in which case we imme- diately wore her around to save her from being crushed, Providentially everything held fast, and, after being thirty hours in the gale, the succeeding change in the weather found ail hands drenched Gnd exhausted. Tho boat was so full of water that it Was feared she had sprung aleak; but it was only.the seas she had shipped, and, under all the cirgumstances, she behaved nobly and far beyond the expectations which such a smail craft might create. APTER THE TEMPEST. ‘The loll was hailed with joy. Very few had eaten rsel during the trying scene. Scarcely a slept. The sea was still running pretty high, and it was determined to light the fire ander the boiler, The attempt proved a failure, for the matches Were wet and useless, the tinder was sat- urated and of no avail. Ensign May finally suc- ceeded in getting s friction maton dry enough to ignite, With this match @ candle was lighted, which was almost immediately extinguished by a gust of wind. By frequent repetition of the same process a permanent light was finally secured, and after very persistent efforts and the aid of cotton ‘waste and oll tho fire finally fared up into a cheer- ful blaze. Lieutenant De Long calculated the Little Juniata to have been in latitude 75 48 north, longitude 68 30 west. She had been running ona line nearly east and west during the gale, making about twenty-five miles on each tack. A PAINFUL CONCLUSION. It was evident that nothing further could be done, To prosecute the search further was out of the question, Commander Braine had given orders for the return of the launch when the uel was half expended and on no account to risk the boat in the ice pack, The fuel was already half gone, and what was eft was in such a condition as to lead to very grave doubts as to its furtuer utility for steaming purposes, As far as the eye could reach to the northward and eastward nothing but pack ice could be seen, so that further progress was absolutely Impossibie; it was aifficult to say, more- over, how close to the dreaded middle pack the boat had been blown during the gale, and it was feared that if the wind came out from the northwest she would met anly be blown upon ‘the Melville Bar Dack, bat be followed by detached portions of the Middle pack and held as it ing vice between the two. And even if the launch had made her way through a lead towards the tand and had reached it there was not fuel enough on board to work her way back to the pack ice, Up to that time nothing bad been seen of the Polaris or her people. Had they been at Cape York it would scarcely have added to their chances of safety, bad the little party increased their number, with the ice eflectu- ally closing the means of exit. Although anxious to find them and bring them news of coming relie!, no further risk could Le taken without endangering the lives of those in the launch, Under all the circumstances Lieutenant De Long was re- luctantly compelled to announce that the search must be abandoned, and thereupon headed the boat to the southeast on the return having steam enough to go ahead at four P. M. The wind continued hauling to the westward. On Sunday, August 10, the weather became clear and Pleasant, and, for the first time since leaving the ship, an observation was obtained, which estab lished the boat’s position<at noon in lat, 74 45 N., lon, 69 87 W., having run nearly 150 miles in twenty-- four hours. At one P, M. we sighted the Devil's Thumb, distance about sixty miles, The weather now became cloudy and squally, with snow, hail and rain. The iollowing day was very pleasant, the Duck Island being sighted at hall-past five A. M. At noon the launch was headed for Brown Island, Off Tissinsak, being passed with @ fino breeze from the nortl-northweat, THE LITTLE JUNLATA AND THE TIGRESS, As the gallant little pioneer steamer of the ex- Pedition sighted the house of Lensen, the hunter, she also discovered @ steamer apparently at anchor in the rock bound bay. She soon after steamed out towards the launch, and, coming alongside, proved to be the United States steamer ‘Tigress, Commander Greer, trom Upernavik the previous evening, Lieutenant De Long at once boarded her, and imparted to Commander Greer very valuable information as to the condition of the ice, and communicating the result of his ex- Pertence in cruising to Cape York and vicinity. Le exhibited to him his chart showing the track of the steam launch going and returutng, re- ported to him the prevalence of pack and new ice in Allison Bay, and recommended lim to strike to the northwest of Cape Shakleton, instead of looking for the Thumb, Lieutenant De Long also offered him the services of the entire party and launch and expressed his willingness to accompany him to the northward in the search for the Polaris, Commander Greer having also warmly expressed his thanks for the useful knowledge thus gained by experience thus imparted to him, and, although declining the services of Licutenant De Long and party, stated that Commander Braine had already facilitated the progress of the Tigress in every respect, Alter mutual salutations and good wishes the Tigress steamed north amid a hearty cheer from the steam iaunch, which arrived here yesterday evening, when officers and men were welcomed back with cordial greetings. Lieutenant De Long, @ skilled and courageous officer, who commanded the little expedition with markea ability and judgment, ts of the opinion, after careful observation, that the location of pack ice from Allison Bay to Cape York is dependent on the winds, which are at best uncertain; thata lead in the pack with one wind may as surely be a trap- im which a boat can be caught as in another wind; that at this season even new ice an inch in thickness will form in a single night in. Allizon Bay; in August, that even the edges of the pack were three feet and more in thickness, making it extremely difficult, if not impogsible, for a powerfal steamer to work her way through in satety, and that a gale of wind in this region is always attended with great danger if in the neighborhood of pack ice. But in a report to- Commander Braine, Lieutenant De.Long, 23 wellas other commanders, speak favorably of Lieutenant Chipp, Ensign May and Mr, Dodge, for their cool- ness, zeal and valuable assistance. The practical knowledge of the ice pilot proved of the greatest benefit, and altogether the course was avery re- markable one, - The Tigress will proceed north as far as Littleton Island, in hopes of finding the Polaris and crew. In the event of her not hearing any tidings of her there she will winter in that vicinity, and send out sledge parties. Meanwhile the Juviata leaves for Godiavn to-day, where she will remain for about @ mouth or so for intelligence from the Tigress, ART MATTERS, The American and Forcign Art Agency— Opening of the Season. On Satarday an informal introduction may be sald to have been given to the fall and winter art sea- son by the replenisnment of the American and Foreign Art Agency, No. 70 West. Thirty-fourth street, Some months ago attention was asked to the fact that a centre of this kind had been estab- lished, but at an hour when artists and connois- seurs were leaving the city it was not reasonable to suppose that permanent attention could be fes- tered upon it. The quarters are not large, but they are large enough to accommodate between sixty and seventy pictures, some of which are of suM- cient merit to excite the envy of posseesion, Boughton, for instance, has one of his ponsive ideals, in which the sentiment wrought out is ex- pressed in the title, “Far Away from Present Things.” A solitary young woman sits brooding amid a dreary yet tender landscape. Her attitude and expression aro thoughtlul, dreamy, sentimen- tal. She is silently drinking the soft and lonely luxury of grief—nourishing one of those sad and Sweet emotions “which she can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.” There is @ charac- teristic landscape by Corot, who recently created so great a furor and obtained such stu- pendous prices for his pictures in Paris. Mr. J. 0, Thom has several pictures, of which the crown and summit ig his “Woodland Path.” The simple, bath old-fashioned, picturesque rusticity of such jemes as this by Thom {s the expression of a quality unique in him. He blends human interest with naturai beauty, and depicts with equal truth the domestic affections of peasant life and the ever. varying features of woods and landscapes. These charming pecultarities come out strongly in his “Woodland Path.” In one or two of his other paintings, such as ‘The Domestic Raid” and “Foreign Invasion,” the felicity with which ne has made children his study finds quite as emphatic ilustration. Avery strong effect of sunlight is seen in a picture by J. G. Brown, representing a child seated upon @ rock flooded in a rich red shower of ligt. insiow Homer has “Waiting for an An- swer,” in which @ country girl, with drooping head end hat hanging in her hand, fs wvidently keeping in suspense her lover, who stands looking at her, his band on the piough and his heart in his mee. ‘The picture is full of that broad, serene suni nt effect which Mr, Homer is fond of introduotug and which byt Ags introduce so skilfully. 0 girl is not ud fuller, and Ravel once Tastried in her own sphere will have no sickly cravings after @ loftier level. Her hat is not torn and her fece are not bare, and she is ee the meadow, but the heart of her wooen, ny has two of his isk figures, In the treatment of which he . There ig @ landscape which no George Innoes would suspect for an instant to be by any one else, Is has been screened from public view for several and we nin; should not correspond to the inferonts which havo been vaguely felt. A word or two as to its attrac. taveness as be ed to visit, independent of art importance attaching to it, will not be wast It has been fitted up with neatness, yet with a taste that fringes upon richness, and its locality is one that improves itself, Miscellancous. Professor Cromwell’a art entertainment opens to-night at Association Hall, and will continue every evening, matinées being held tn reserve for Wednesday and Satnrday. We are told that the exhibiuion includes specimens of antique and modern sculpture, Quite a large collection of ofl paintings, water- color drawings and engravings has been on view at the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition. KIDNAPPING IN BROOKLYN. Last night the cries of a young girl in Church street, South Brooklyn, who was struggling to free herself from the grasp of @ woman, attracted a crowd of persons. The ‘1 to be taken from the woman, who was trying to take her away. lt was then ascertained thi the woman, Whose name 1d: ry Sano Did, rene was attempting to kidnap re welve Gea seater ke aca tt ree! ie 7 re but succeeded Tn’ mkt bout t ks Der escaber” ‘The wornad Was locked up t answer THE KELSEY BARBARISM. + The Denonement of the Tragedy Seemingly Near at Hand—Witnesses Who Are Expected to Clear Up the Mystery To Be Examined in Secret Session by the Coroner’s Jury—Their Lives Threatened. Huntinaton, L. L, Sept. 21, 1873. There is the strongest reason to believe that the present week will develop some startling revela- tions in connection with the Kelsey outrage, and unless I am greatly misinformed, the tragic mys- tery will be solved and the principal conspirators exposed and arrested. One week ago yester- day, in my letter to the Huratp, I stated that the authorities were on the trailof the guilty parties, and thata mere thread of new evidence had been picked up ten miles trom here, which was to be scrutinously followed, and ‘was expected to lead to the discovery of proof con- cerning the disposition made of another portion of Kelsey's body. That faint clew, which was, in fact, given to the authorities by your corre- Spondent, has, I believe, been followed and @ Succeasful result reached to-night. I had a con- versation with (Coroner Baylis, at Cold Spring, and he informed me that there would be a secret session Of the inquest at Oyster Bay on Wednesday Morning. The evidence to be taken in private is, I believe, of but two witnesses, When I spoke of the circumstances which seemed to necessitate this form of procedure, the Coroner said to me :— “What course can we follow until we have got this evidence? The parties have already had their lives and property threatened, and I must protect them as far as possible, When we have their sworn testimony down I shall then have ground on which to proceed and stop those threats, I Want to make the way as easy as possible for tho witnesses who voluntarily come forward to clear up this matter.” Aiterward he informed me that, should the cir- cumstances justify it, he would at once give the oficial report of the testimony taken in secret ses- sion to the press, “although,” he added, “you will likely find that @ considerable portion of it Will be of such a nstare that you can’t publish it.” OCEAN TELEGRAPHING. + Result of Minister Schenck’s Exposure of the Frauds of the Teiegraph Com- pantes—An Important Reduction Made in the Tarlif for Messages. ‘Wasninaton, Sept. 19, 1878. The Secretary of State has received from Minis- ter Schenck, in London, a despatch informing him that the recent exposure through the columns of the HERALD of the frauds practised by the tele- graph companies has resulted in the proper re- duction of the rates. The despatch is as follows:—~ Lonpon, August 22, 1873, Sre:—Referring to my three several despatc! Nos, 898, 442 and 4¢0, in relation to the overchar that have been exacted here for tho transmission of cable telegrams by the land lines in the United States leading to points west and south of New York, Lhave now the satisfaction to inform you that Ihave ascertained some reduotion 1s avout to be made in those rates, of which complaint has been so justly made, The Anglo-American Gempeny, {gs about to tssue— to take effect on the 1st of September, 1873—a new tariff, of which I have obtained, and send you herewith, a printed copy. You will see by this table that the additions to the four shillings per word which were put on for that portion of the service lying within the United States are to be lowered ‘a8 follows:—That class of stations for which the additional charge has been three pence r word is, alter that date, to be two pense, Ing & reduction from 6.951 cents per word to 4. centa. That class for which the additional charge has been nine pence per word Is to be elght pence, being @ reduction from 20.87 cents to 18.55 cents. The additional charge of one shilling per word for Pensacola ts to be tem pence, a reduction from 27.83 cents ta 23.19 cents. That class of stations for which the additional charge has been fifteen pence per word is to be ten pence, being a reduction from 34.786 cents to 23.19 cents. And the two shill addi. tional per word for Oregon and Washington Territories is to be ten pence, a reduction from 65.66 cents to 23,19 vpn trey the two shillings addsional for all places in Florida (except Pens: cola, Lake City, St. Marks and Tallahissee) is to eighteen pated @ reduction from 56.66 cents to 41.745 cen’ Thave not agitated this subject, therefore, with- out a good result, Other and further reductions will pretty certainly be made hereafter if business men will awake to their interests. And if the Western Union Telegraph Company, as Mr. Orton claims, has not been @ sharer in the profits of the excessive rates he will doubtless rejoice with ua and with the general public in this approach ta fairer charges for the service performed by hia lines. I have the honor to be, sir, &c., RYBERT 0. SCHENCK. Hon. Hammon Fisu, Secretary of State. BRAID ON OOUNTERFEITERS. Arrest of Several of the Craft. For some wecks past the people of Westchester county have been perplexed and annoyed at the quantities of counterfeit money of various de nominations, mostly small bills, that have been circulated among them. The stamps and bills were so well executed that small country mer- chants were easily and frequently deceived. It was believed that @ gang of operators in bogus money were dwelling right in the midst of honest citizens, end plans were laid to capture them if possible. The United States and local deteotives set to work, and, yesterday morning, they succeeded in cap- turing part of the gang, consisting of three men and two women, together with a large quantity of the counterfeit money, plates, dies, rollers, and all the other paraphernalia for coun- terfolting. Tho women were caught in the act passing the stu, and one of them, seeing that she was in the clutches of the law, threw away a package of worthless stamps and bills. The warrants were issued by Commis- sioner John I. Davenport, and the arrests were made near the town of Tremont by Bela Ros States Marshal Joun E. Kennedy and Sergeant Steers, of Tremont. The prisoners will be brought before Commissioner Davenport this morning, at nine o'clock, for examination.. There are othera of the gang still at large, whose arrest ts looked for speedily. [No. 475.) LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, } es, HORSE NOTES, —__+_—_—_ The Monmouth Park Stakes for 1875, closed on the 15th of August, the entries for which we re- ceived @ few days since. The Monmouth Oak Stakes, value $1,000, added to a sweepstakes of $50 each, play or pay, fillies, foals of 1872; the second to receive $200, and the third horse $100 of the stakes; one and a half miles, closed with thirty en- tries, The Jersey Derby Stakes, value $1,500, added to asweepstakes Of $60 each, play or pay, for coita and fillies, foals of 1872; the second to receive $200, and the third $100 out of the stakes, closed with fifty-three ontries, The Mansion House Stakes, value $1,000, added to a sweepstakes of $50, play or pay, for four-year-old colts and fillies, the foals of 1871; the second to receive $200, and the third $100 out of the stakes, two 8 ‘@ half mites, closed with 19 entries, The Ocean tel Stakes, valua $1,000, added to a Cg Ata 350 each, play, or pay for colts and 08, 1s of 1872, to carry 95 Iba.; fillies geldings allowed 3 Ibs., the second to receive $200 and the third horse $100 out of the stakes, one and three-quarter miles, closed with thirty-five entries. The West End Hotel Stakes, a renewal of the Monmonth Oak Stakes, value $1,000, added to a Bw 68 Of $60 each, play oF fy for Milli foals of 1872, the winner ot tne Moninouth Out Stakes to 6 Ibs. extra, the second to receive $200 and the third horse $100 out of the stakes, one and thi juarter milos, closed with twenty- fiye entries. ¢ Robins’ Stakes, value $1,000, ad- d to a sweepstakes of $50 each, play or pay, for colts and fillies, foals of 1872, the second to receive $200 and the third horse $100 out of the stakes, closed with thirty-seven entries, wich are an lu- crease on previous years, James 8. ee claims the name of Will Henry for his horse by Bay Richmond, who was by Kys- ey Hambictonian, out of a Henry Ciay maro. he horse is bay, with star and smiali snip and two white pasterns behind. He ts sixteen hands hia and six years old. This is a very prowising horse, end cau now trot fast, TEMPERANOE LEOTURE. Aseaman, who {gs supposed to be William Craft, mate of the bark Thornton, lying at Harbeck’s Stores, Brooklyn, ae See ait hare thet night and was drowned. Orait 18 . intoxicated at the time, The body bas uot been recovered, Papers ae) | CRN BERLOUS ACCIDENT. James Williams, residing at No, 207 Centre street’ Brooklyn, was admitted to the hospital yesterday, suffering from a fracture of his skull. The injared man ‘wor! "s glass house, Smitb pong ho tt struck onthe head with ao tron lever, used for hoisting the covers of the fur aces, His wjuries may prove fatal,