HARTSTENE'S CAIRN.
I was not sorry when we got under way again next
morning, and we were soon warmed up with the exercise.
The same condition of ice continuing after
passing Cape Hatherton, we quickly reached the north
horn of Fog Inlet. Here, as we approached the point,
I discovered a cairn perched upon a conspicuous spot,
and, not having remembered it as the work of any
of Dr. Kane's parties, I halted the sledges and went
ashore to inspect it. It proved to have been built by
Captain Hartstene, while searching for Dr. Kane, as
shown by a record found in a glass vial at its base.
The record was as follows:—
"The U. S. Steamer Arctic touched here and examined thoroughly
for traces of Dr. Kane and his associates, without finding any tiling
more than a vial, with a small piece of cartridge-paper with the letters
'O. K. Aug. 1853,' some matches, and a ship's rifle-ball. We
go from this unknown point to Cape Hatherton for a search.
"H. J. Hartstene,
Lieut. Comdg. Arctic Expedition.
"8 P. M. August 16th, 1855.
"P. S. Should the U. S. bark Release find this, she will underderstand that we are bound for a search at Cape Hatherton.
"H. J. H."
I was much gratified with this discovery, for it
brought to my mind the recollection of the protecting
care of our government, and a gallant effort to
rescue from the jaws of the Arctic ice a very forlorn
party of men. 1 was only sorry that the author of
this hastily written evidence of his spirited search had
not reached Cape Hatherton some time earlier, for
then we should have been saved many a hard and
weary pull. The locality will hereafter be known as
Cairn Point.
Climbing to an elevation, I had a good view of the sea over a radius of several miles. The pros-