THE JEAN NETTE AND HE-R SURVIVORS, ' 39 



In 1806 one Sanikof, besides exploring the islands of Liakoff, also discover- 

 ed Sanikoff Island, and what is now known as New Siberia. The Russian gov- 

 ernment, interested in these discoveries, deputed a savant named Hederistrpm, a 

 Siberian, to make a report and more detailed examinations. In 1810 Henden- 

 strom went out north from the mouth of the River Jana and explored the coast 

 > 250 miles until he arrived at its eastern extremity. Hedenstrom thought that 

 this was a prolongation of the American continent. 



Omitting mention of numerous explorations in other portions of the arctic 

 regions, we will take up only those of the more immediate predecessors of De- 

 Long in the United States. The disaster which overtook the expedition of Sir 

 John Franklin in 1847-8 gave a new impetus to Arctic adventure, and some of 

 the most chivalric deeds which the historian of modern times has been called 

 upon to chronicle are connected with the Polar voyages of the navigators dis- 

 patched to ascertain the fate of that gallant commander. The story of the perils 

 through which these brave men pass, the sufferings they endured and obstacles 

 they overcame, reads like a romance. 



In 1850 no less than eleven separate expeditions were engaged in the search 

 for the missing explorer, and in this year Henry Grinnell, of New York City, in 

 conjunction with the Government, fitted out the first American expedition sent 

 to the Arctic region, and under the command of Lieutenants Griffith and De- 

 Harten the United States brigs " Advance " and " Rescue " carried the stars and 

 stripes well into the regions of perpetual snow. The results attained by these 

 various expeditions, however, were meager in the extreme, and science profited 

 little from the vast expenditure of money and occasional loss of life. In 1855 

 the " Advance," under the command of Dr. Kane, made a second voyage to the 

 Arctic Seas, but beyond a delightful narrative, as fascinating in style as it was 

 graphic in description, which the accomplished explorer left behind him, the 

 voyage was productive of little real benefit to the scanty fund of knowledge re- 

 garding the mysteries which surround the earth's apex. 



In 1 850-1 Captain McClure, sailing eastward through Behrings Straits, de- 

 monstrated the fact of a northwest passage, and although compelled to abandon 

 his vessel, succeeded in passing through to Baffin's Bay with his crew — they be- 

 ing the first explorers that ever passed from ocean to ocean. In 1871, Capt. 

 Hall, who had previously made several Arctic voyages, and had lived amongst 

 the Esquimaux for several years, and become thoroughly acquainted with their 

 language and customs, sailed in the steamer "Polaris," determined to unravel 

 the mystery of the open Polar Sea, in the existence of which he was a firm be- 

 liever. So sanguine was he of success that a short time before his departure he 

 stated in a public address, delivered before the Chamber of Commerce in his 

 native city, Cincinnati, that, acclimated as he was to the Arctic winter, he felt no 

 hesitation about going back again, and that he proposed to plant his foot upon 

 the North Pole before he died. Capt. Hall succeeded in reaching the highest 

 latitude ever attained with his vessel — viz: 82° 16', while with a sledge party he 

 went as far north as 84°, or within 360 miles of the goal of his heart's desire. 



