, 1860-08-31
Is there an open Polar Sea at the North
Pole

! For the last TWO nunured ana seventy
years it has been the opinion Of oil those
navigators, geographerS aud philosophers
who have given the closest attention TO the
subject, or who have adventurcd farthest
into the Polar seas, that north of Spitzber-
gen, and within the Polar circle, the ocean
was open, and, at certain and particular
circle, the ocean was open, and, at certain
and particular seasons, unincunlbered By
the ice Such was the conclusion arrived
at by that most perscvering SEAMAN" the
Arctic Columbus. William Barentz of Am
sterdam, who first discovered Spitzbergen
in 1906, and explored the northern and
eastern coast Of Nova Zembla, and died
after he had solved the problem Of the pos
Sibility of Europeans wintering at the ex-
treme north, but before he had enjoyed
either the fame or the fruits Of bis intrep-
idity and conduct
That exploring expeditions sent out by
different governments have never sailed up
on this open Polar seGSlut bave invariably
encountered q barrier of ice in the latitude
Of the northermost Spitzbergen Archipea-
goes, is proof of nothing more than that
they did not happen to be north when a
propitious season or concurring circums'an-
ces threw open the icy portals of that Arc
tic ocean, and extended silent but certain
welcome to enterprise and daring.
But although national expeditions have
failed, more than one ship has ploughed its
waters free of ice, in the pursuit for gain or
in the qualification of curiosity. Moreover
the sea, which has upborne several Datch
whalers to within one or two degrees Of the
Pole, and even, it is probable, to the Pole
itself, presented visible demonstrations Of
its existence to the eyes of Morton, (Kane's
subordinate,) even rs its roar, through
many weary winter hour, announced its
gale wrought fury, free Of icy fetters, to the
ear of Barentz, as if to cheer him with a
proof Of that great truth, which his master
mind had worked out, although dccuar
demonstration was denied TO his fearless
search.
The idea of free Polar ocean is moth
ing new. Col, Beaufoy, in the FIRST years
Of this century, published q work "On the
North Pole" which, to an unprejudiced
mind, is as conclusive in its proofs as any
thing can bG which depends upon circum-
stantial evidence, corroboratiug testimony
which has never been, as 1t were, legally
perpetuated. o Oh
One hundred and sixty-fve years ago,
Peter Plancius, Dutch theologian, mnthe-
matician, aud even statesman Of no mean
repute, but better known as a geographer,
indicated the possibility Of that very Polar
circumnavigation which Mcclure achieved,
and Barentz bered into the icy northeast
Of Europe and pointed out with his finger
to tie Dutch mariners of his generation
that northeastern Arctic exploration, be-
yond which it is conceded no other nation
has since penetrated. -- t.. =,
Before mentioning in concise language
the different mariners who have claimed or
are conceded TO have uavigated an open
Polar sea within the Arctic circle, let US
consider the proofs which nature brings for
ward to establish the fact Of its existence
lst. Whalers who have made their way
through the supposed icy barrier along the
Arctic line $50 deg n. have found the
waters which unsuccessful explorers declar-
ed the region OF eternal ice, prolific in
whales, and pursued them over "hoIlow
grown" seas, urged southwardly by north
erly Winds, waves Of sufficient magnitude
to require o long and uninterrupted roll,
proving that the northerly wind had been
blowing over landlesS, iceless expanse OF
water
Cd. Those Holanders and Russians who
have wi1tered upon the northern coast of
Spitzbergen, likewise those seamen who
have made their way thther early in the
fishing seasons, declare that in the spring
great numbers Of wild geese, ducks and
marine birds take their fight further north.
Parry, July IL, 1926, saw, when all was
ice around and before him, two seals, fish
and bird, near $50 north, and still furth-
er on rOlgs, marine bird, when he at
tempted to reach the Pole over the ice.-
Is it reasonable to suppose that whales,
amphlbii and birds would, with each re-
turning year, resort to a region of eternal
ice aud desolation, which, were such the
fact could afford no certain means OF sub
sistenee to either? Ill
Sd. Quito q number of mariners, who
have sailed to the north of Spitzbergen, re-
late that they experienced more suffering
and cold from southerly than from norther-
ly winds; showing that the former, rather
than the latter, blew from the ice to the
south, and that to tho northward the sea
was open and free of ice.
4th. Morton, sent forward by Kane,
looked northward from Cape Constitution,
in $40 90 north, Gan elevation of $50 feet,
commanding an horizon Of 40 mles) upon
great waste Of waters, without speck
of ice, and alive with marine birds, while
below him, surf (thc sure indication OF an
open sea- broke upon the rocks.
5th. Barentz, in mid-winter, imprisoned
by the ice on the northeast shore OF Nova
Zembla, heard and recorded that outside
the coast ice be distinctly heard the ice.
bcrgs and fields continually heaved, dashed
and ground together aud broken up with q
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