Friday, January 8, 2016

USS Arctic-- Part 1: Looking for Kane

From Wikipedia.

Not much in Wiki about the CSS Arctic, but a lot about the USS Arctic.

Steamer 125 tons, 172 feet long, 24 foot beam and mounted one 12-pdr. cannon.In the U.S. Navy 1855-1856 and 1858-1859.  Also a U.S. Coast Survey ship and lightship for the U.S. Lighthouse Board from 1859-1879.

Constructed by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1855 and commissioned for the purpose of rescuing the Arctic Expedition of Elisha K. Kane.  It put to sea with the USS Release on 4 June 1855 and found Kane and his men at Diska Island in Baffin Bay on the west coast of Greenland.  They had survived and 84-day journey across pack ice and open water in open boats.

The two ships returned to the U.S. in Autumn 1855.

--Old B-Runner

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