Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-08-16
New Arctic Expeditions PrOIected-A
Fleet of Ships In Sen rch OF the Polo.


The latest accounts from Germany,
through the medium of DIR. Augustus
Petermann's Mittheilungen, convey the in
telligence of the further multiplication of
North Polar expeditions in various parts of
Europe, destined to move to the high north
without delay. Among the first of these
to sail will be the expedition which is gen
erously designed to cooperate this summer
with that of Lieutenants Payer and Wy
precht, and is equipped and managed by
Count Wiltzchek. This distinguished pat
ron of science will sail first to TromsOe
and thence direct to Hornsund, in Spitz-
bergen, after which he will go to Nor1!ku-
she in Nova Zembia, and transfer his sup
plies for the Austrian party.
The expedition under Payer and Wy
prect left Bremerhaven on the 18th of
June, and are now doubtless we'll on their
way into the seas east Of SpitZbergen,
where it is their purpose to ascertain the
surface currents, the thermal curves and
the general meteorolOgy and biology of
these waters, and ultimately to endeavor
to follow the supposed path Of the Gulf
Stream towards the Pole, and thus to test
the ''ThemOmetric Gateway" theory of
Captain Silas Bent, of st. Louis.
Captain Svend Foyn, Norwegian sea
captain of note and a renowned whaler, is
fitting out private undertaking, cOmbin-
ing research with sport, and us will go out
in a steamer specially prepared to rough it
in the Siberian seas. A similar sportsman
lik and semi-sGentific enterprise is also
preparing by Captain Jensen, of Drammen,
in the steamer Cape Nor, destined also for
the Siberian seas.
The most important, however, of all
these projected expeditions, next to that of
Payer and Wyprecht in the steamer Admit
raj Tegethotf, is the latest great Swedish
North Pole Expedition, under the COM
mand of Professor NOrdenskivid. This
Swedish exploration will be under the pro-
lection and at the expense of the govern
ment and in a vessel of the Swedish navy,
verifying, as DR.. Petermann says, the re-
mark of Maury, that "navies are not alone
for war; but have q mission as high and
grave in times OF peace.
Professor Nordenskivid will winter
| in 1S72-1S73, if possible, ut Parry Island,
hnOrth Of Spitzbergen, latitude 50 deg 20
vminutes, and will endeavor from that point,
| in February, 1873, to push on to the Pole.
! The French expedition, under Ambert
| and Mack, will change their original plan
Of going via Behring Strait, and have de-
| tCrInined to make a movement between
| Spitzberg1n and Nova Zcmbia, in the sup
posed track of the Gulf Stream, and thus
they will make another test of Captain
Bents ''thormometric" paths to the Pole.
Three other distinct efforts ut Polar dis
cOvery Will alse be soon made by gentle
men already well known to the geographic
cal world-Messrs. Ikhuniopp, Meinert and
Pavy. The first will sail with a Russian
crew, and winter i'll latitude 72a North, on
Kalmakuly Bay. Mcinert goes very near
ly i'll the route Of Captain Scvend FOyn, of
Norway, and PaVy, an American by birth,
modest but dauntlcss, will make the novel
experiment by way of Behring Strait on
! his celebrated raft.
These various enterprises, with those
already in Polar waters, will constitute a
! powerful fleet of Polar discovery, and we
may hope will prove successful i'll their
combined attempt to capture the objective
] point of Arctic geographical research.