The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-21
THE OPEN POLAR SEA.
REPORT OF LIEUTENANT PAYER OF
THE GERMAN EXPEDITION

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT PAYER OF
THE GERMAN EXPEDITION
The Best Route to the North Pole.
The Geographical and Statistical Society OF
Frankfort-on the Main has received report
from Lieutenant julius Payer, one Of the two
leaders of the German expedition to the North
Pole 1t is dated "October 3, from the Nor
wegian coast, on board the ship Harald Haar-
fage," and presents some new facts OF very
great interest After some Introductory re-
marks, the report goes on to say:
The preliminary expedition for the explora-
ton of the sea between Spitzbergen and Nova
Zembla, which is to be followed next year by
an expedition of greater magnitude, has
is opposed to all previous calculations. The
reason why the principal object of the expedi-
t.on-viz: The exploration of King Karrs
Land-has not aud could not be consistently
carried out will be explained to you by Naval
Lieutenant Weyprecht personally. AS an or
set against this failure there appears, now
ever, the discovery of an extensive open polar
sea in place of the unknown waters, which
were formerly considered unnavigable. The
Russians, the Swedes and even the German
expedition of 1868, vainly attempted to pene-
trate even as far as the southern part OF this
polar sea. But the result now obtained is cal
culated to give different turn 10 the whole
polar question, and to create new OASIS LOT
the exploration of the North Pole.
WHY THE FORMER GERMAN EXPEDITIONS FAILED.
tits very much to be regretted that the great
German North Polar expedition OF lS6s.'1G ana
not take this route, through the sea OF Nova
Zembla, as it was originally pointed out by DR..
Petermann. who declared 1t to be the best
route for penetrating into the heart OF the
Polar basin.
In spite of the fact that the highest authori-
ties have hitherto decidedly opposed every
route east of Spitzoergen, and that the numer-
GUS Russian expeditions during the present
century have not even been able to sail round
the northern part of Nova Zembla, aud although
the voyage of the Norwegian, Johannesen,
last wear, close TO the coast OF the double
island to the Sea of Kara, to the Sea of Ba-
rentz, was considered an extraordinary and
doubtful event, In spite OF these facts TO the
contrary, our experience has proved the ex-
istence OF an extensive open sea north OF Nova
Zemb.a.
The Sea of Kara has been explored by the
navigators Simonsen and Nattisen, and others,
and reported to be almost completely free
from Ice. Slmonsen has not found any Ice
even around the White Island. On the strength
open sea of Nova Zemba with the waters of
the north of Siberia may be considered an
established fact With this discovery vanshes
an immense territory of ice from our maps.
The year 1871 will undoubtedly be represented
as very favorable TO the Ice navigation, al
though "unfavorable" years nave olten oeen
spoken oil without cause or proof. But the
walrus hunters of Norngla are unanimous IN
regarding last summer as the worst season
ever experienced. Even the steamer Ger
mania. of the German expedition, has not
succeeded In penetrating Into the Sea OF Kara
In Norway the fact that sailing vessels have
achieved higher results than steamships is at
trlbuted to the faulty construction OF the Ger
mania as sailing vessel as we'll as steamer,
and 1t is, therefore, a matter Of great impor-
tance to subject this vessel to an Impartial ex-
animation.
TIE RESULT OF TIE POLAR EXPEDITION.
The question now arises, how came the re-.
suit of the present polar voyage to be go es-
sentially different from all that had hitherto
been experienced? We are as far from the
presumption to believe that We nave acted
with more energy and resolution than our
predecessors, "a from nlacing our nttla astac:
prise on degree with the large expeditions
that went before US. The key to the riddle Is
simply this: that nearly all expeditions have
entered and lett these waters too early IN the
season. The best and only period for naViga-
tfOQ iS the autumn. AQOCQ0E reaSOu lOr lue
mi. success of all these expeditions was that
they kept too near the coast of Nova zembla
or Spitzbergen. as 1t now appears that to pene-
trate north forty to fOrty-two degrees longl-
tude Is the most suitable part OF the sea OF
Nova Zembla. We reached seventy nine
northern latitude almost without any dificul-
ty, and 1t was only the want OF provisions that
prevented us from going further north.
The probable cause OF this favorable state Oh
the Ice In the sea of Nova Zembla IN the au-
tumn appears 70 be the Gulf Stream. From
the collection and comparison Of all previous
observations this cannot, however, be said as
certain, but only as probable. In favor OF our
opinion we may mention the fact that IN this
hight latitude the temperature Of the water IN
September is three to five degrees higher than
that of the air; also the frequency OF fog, the
stream to the northeast, on the coast OF Nova
Zembla, the characteristic blue color OF the
Cult Stream, and the extraordinary number
OF small animals. In the beginning OF Sep
tember the Gulf Stream seems to leave the
coast OF Nova Zsmbla, and to appear further
west, or perhaps extend itself over much
larger space. This stream of warm water Is
not equally deep, and loses power as 1t e1-
tends further north. One OF the most note
| worthy facts is the large number OF whales IN
| the Sea OF Nova Zembla. The scientific exper-
| iments made during our voyages consisted IN
observations OF the temperature OF the sur.
| face OF the water. In regular meteorological
| researches at different depths, In geological
examinations OF collections of stones and
nlants &c