Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1879 — NORDENSKJOLD. [ARTICLE]

NORDENSKJOLD.

Arrival of the Swcdlab Kxplortaf Steamer Vega at Yokohama, Japan —The Profeaaor’a Aceouut of I • Is Expsrlence In the Arctic Heglono-Tlie Northeast Passage. N«w Yobk, September 5. A special from Yokohama says; The Swedish exploring steamer Vega, belonging to the Nordenskiold expedition, arrived at this port last evening having successfully accomplished the Northeast passage. The health of the entire ship's company is excellent I have just seen Professor Nordenskjold, who says that daring the latter part of February he sent a letter to Dr. O. Dickson, of Gottenbnrg, from the winter quarters of the Vega, but he has no intimation that his patron has received it The Professor says: “We sailed from Gottenburg on July 4,, 1878, and four days’ sail brought us to Tromsoe (a Norwegian post on an island of the Sfijne name), where our outfit of furs and necessaries for the high latitudes was completed. Here we were Joined by the companion steamer, rhe Lena. “On July 25 both vessels sailed from Tromsoe, passed through the Yugor Strait (south of Nova Zembla) August 5. There was not a particle of ice to be seen between Waigatsch (Vaigatz, a Russian island) and the The Kara Sea, hitherto dreaded by all sailors in the Arctic regions, was equally free from ice, and anchor was cast at Port Dixon, near the mouth of the Yenisei, on August 6. “ After a three day’s delay there, the two steamers of our expedition steered northeast toward the dreaded Taimurland and North Gape. The ice arrested our passage and we were compelled to remain at Tajoyr (Cape Taimur) four days. On August 19, Tsejdekin, the extreme northern point of Asia was reached, where a short rest was taken. The Vega coasted the peninsula, very little ice being encountered, and anchored at the mouth of the Lena River on August 26. To the northeastward were the islands of New Siberia, which we soon sighted, but were not able to explore because of the great fields of ice that girt their shores. The mouth of the Kolwya River flat. 69 deg., 30 min.;long. 161 deg., 30 min.), abroad estuary, was found open, and we hastened to make all possible progress eastward.

rr Ouf~ difficulties soon began, however, and increased daily. We were delayed much by the ice between Cape Cook and Vankarema. We crossed Kalintzbm Bay on Sept. 27 with comparative case, but were imprisoned on the 28th near a Tshutcchi settlement (lat. 67 deg. 7 min. north; long. 117 .leg 21 inin. west ) “We wintered in the pack-ice at this point, one mile from land. The entire .ship’s company maintained the best of health and spirits. Not a single case of scurvy occurred on board. During the shortest day the sun was above the horizon less than three hours, and then only the upper limb was visible. At this point much time was devoted to interesting scientific and ethnographic studies. ' “There were four thousand inhabitants in the several villages near by, who subsisted by fishing and sealing. They are called the Tchuetchi, and are a very agreeable class of people for an exploring party to meet. They supplied the expedition with bear and reindeer meat: The cold was intense, averaging 36 centigrades (32.2 degrees below Fahrenheit). The game was abundant in the spring, wild fowl being taken in large numbers. We were detained in the ice at this point 264 days, but were released on July 18, and passed East Cape into Behring Strait on the 20th. Such is the story of our voyage. “I fully accomplished the object for which the expedition was sent out by Dr. Dickson, namely, a practical proof of the existence of a Northeast passage. Then the Asiatic coast was followed, and St. Lawrence Bay was crossed to Port Clarence, Alaska. Thence we crossed to Koniyan, dredging carefully in ordei’ to determine the formation of the bottom of the sea, many specimens of the fauna and flora being obtained. The location, breadth, velocity and approximate volume of the currents of the Arctic and Pacific polar currents were charted and calculated. Having touched at St. Lawrence Island, we next proceeded to Behring Island, where we received the first news from Europe through the Resident Agent of the Alaska Trading Company. “ The fossil remains on Behring Island are of immense variety. A new marine animal waff here discovered, which we named Rhytina Stellari. The Vega left the island on August 19, and had a pleasant voyage until August 31, when a severe gale was encountered, accompanied with lightning. During the storm, the lightning struck and shivered the main-topmast, slightly injuring several tryan. We arrived on Yokohama at half-past eight on. the evening of September 2. Ail are well, and no deaths have occurred during the voyage. “ The Vega is the first vessel to make the passage, and I think the voyage from Europe to Asia by Behring Straits is certain and safe, with very little more experience of navigation in the Northern Seas. From Japan to the mouth of .the Lena River there are no difficulties in the proper season for experienced sailors. The Jxma River taps Central Siberia, and a large prospective trade can be readily developed. The Vega will remain at Yokohama about fourteen davs.”

—“ Old Harry,” an odd character in Cincinnati, died there a few days ago. He was an aged negro, and he was noted for his reverence for the policemen. The officers in one of the stationhouses humored him by giving him a sort of authority over the tramplodgers, and he was supplied with a rawhide with which to keep them in order. This he used very vigorously. Every little while some stranger; tramp would come in early and ensconce himself in Old Harry’s bed. Be never did it again, however. The old negro would slip slily in, and, pulling the quilt suddenly off of the tramp, would . raise a dozen"welts on his body before the frightened man could awake and collect his senses enough: ,tp run for safety into his own place. —Mr. W. fl. Thompson, 'Who Won . easily the .big prize at a recent arcneiy tournament in Chicago, and is supposed to be one of the wpry best archers in the world, handleshis bow and arrow thus: He takes a firm, square position, at a full right angle to the target, gets a good hold of his bow, stops and looks for a second or two at the target, raises his bow, and drawing as he raises, looses the string immediately with a motion as quick as the arms can be separated, and the twang of bis bowstring is as sharp and clear as the snapping of a percussion cap. , J x