The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-11-24
THE POLAR SEA DISCOVERY.

The information lately received by
the Navy Department from DIR. Peter
man, of Gotha, the great geographical
authority of the age-in regard to the
discovery of an open Polar Sea, is mea-
gre, but apparently decisive. The Sea
itself, which is supposed to surround
the North pole, does not appear to have
been visited, but rather the route and
inlet to it. DIR. Peterman's statement,
as now quoted, is-referring to the
northernmost point reached by the Ger
man explorers "There was found the
most favorable state OF ice toward the
North pole, with a probable connection
with the open sea, north of Siberia
toward the east" In q former telegram,
received from the same source, the sea
discovered by these explorers is refer
red to as one (which, according to their
opinion, extends probably to the great
Polar Sea-" The German officers have
returned and another expedition will
be necessary to verify their alleged dis
coveries. 1t does not appear, therefore,
that anything has yet been achieved to
take the laurels from the American dis
coveries of the open sea which, for any
thing that is yet known, is identical
with the iceless Polar Sea, so long
assumed by the best scientific authori-
ties.
The open water was seen by two of
DIR. Kane's men, June q, 1854, in lati-
tude S2-or three degrees higher than
that attained by the last German ex-
plorers. They found the region abound
ing with animal life, such as bears, birds
and seals, although they had reached 1t
by traversing a solid belt of ice to the
south, of 125 miles in width. That
| what they saw was no mere rift or chan
II s.,N 10 Too, c.NW
raj reasons, which DIR. Kane concisely
stated, and of which the following will
suffice, viz: The coast line reached bad
been completely exposed to thaw and
water action, as if owing to an extend
ed body of water; gale of fifty-TouI
hours duration from the northeast
brought heavy sea from that quarter
without any drift ice; what is known
| among navigators as "water sky" inYes.
| ted the northern horizon crowds Of
migratory birds were observed throng'
ing the water. These reasons certainly
seem to be conclusive-so far as any
reasoning can be-towsrd determining
the genuineness of the American dis
covery then and there made of the oper
Polar Sea.
1t appears also that there is species
of American paternity of these last dis
coveries by the Germans. During
Commodore Perry's Japan Expedition
one of his officers, charged with sur
vey of the waters and currents of tn
West Pacific Ocean, discovered tn
Japanese Gulf Stream-a current of a
great warmth and greater volume thar
that which pours along orr coast. HI
came at once to the conclusion tina
both these immense bearing
streams in the ocean were dischargiDi
themselves into the Polar Sea, and h
even suggested the feasibility of reach
ing that water by following the cours
of the Gulf Stream with the waite
thermometer. The German explorer
seem TO have taken the hint. DIR. Peter
mans interchangeable Investigations hs
already made il known that on the yves
coast of Nova Zembla the Gulf streaT
maintains a breadth of at least on
hundred and twenty miles, and a ten
4. perature of fifty-four degrees Fahrer
heit, cooling down, At a depth of thirt
or forty fathons, only from four to ST
degrees. The German officers, accord
= ingly, in their little vessel, passed u
between Nova Zembla and SpitzenbeI
gen, and there they made their discoN
erv. 1t Is \ matter of regret that al
other expedition will be needed to 70
low up the clue, for when scientif
!. curiosity has once been satisfied by II
demonstration ofAan actual open Pol,
Sea, the long history OF dauntless, sci
sacrificing, but nearly useless Arct
explorations may we'll come to an en-
Neither commerce nor humanity r
quires'any more voyaging in those di
NAL regions.