574 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



Advance, May 30, 1853. The expedition which he commanded 

 was sent out with the double purpose of finding the Sir John 

 Franklin party, and to test a theory which Dr. Kane had long 

 entertained, viz: that there was somewhere between the North 

 Pole and 80 N., a vast open sea and a milder climate than was 

 to be found some degrees further south. He hoped to reach this 

 clear water and continue north on it until the goal was reached. 

 He established his winter camp at Kensselar harbor, and during 

 the continuance of day light excursions were made into the 

 interior of Greenland in which 800 miles were traversed. Kane's 

 winter harbor was further north than that of any previous expe- 

 dition. 



The crew was much enfeebled by the long winter, and it was 

 not until April that Dr. Kane started on a sledging tour to the 

 north. The extreme severity of the weather defeated his prime 

 purpose, but he was rewarded by the discovery of some remarkable 

 natural wonders, which he named the Three Brothers Turrets, 

 Tennyson's Monument, and the great Humbolt Glacier. He 

 returned to his vessel May 14th, and six days later started upon 

 another journey, in which they attained thelat. 79 45' and long. 

 69 12', and discovered two prominent capes which were named 

 Joseph Leidy and John Frazier. On June 30th two of Kane's 

 officers, accompanied by an escort, left on another excursion, 

 but upon reaching Humboldt Glazier four of the party were 

 stricken blind and had to be sent back. The others pushed on 

 until July 31st, when they sighted open water, which they called 

 Kennedy Channel. 



Dr. Kane was ill much of the time, and the cold was so severe 

 that there was no prospect of releasing his vessel ; so in August 

 he abandoned her and pushed on overland to Upernavik, where 

 he arrived without losing any of his party, but not without endur- 

 ing indescribable sufferings. Fears for Kane's safety had induced 

 the United States government to send out two vessels for his 

 relief, the Release and Arctic, commanded by Capt. Hartstene. 

 He reached lat. 78 32' when his further progress was barred by 

 impassable barriers of ice. Returning he found Kane and hi-" 



