, 1872-12-12
SAN FRANCISCO,
Octave Payy, the WoEll.De Arctic Ex.
plorer:.. .Pailuro Of Ills Schero.

Subsistence Of the Gem. Excitement---7he Family
OF the Late Colonel Eyans-.-joaquin
EliIIer's Wife.
Correspondence Of The Chtcago Tribune.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2, 1872.
People who have invested cash and belief in
II. OCTAVE PAyY
will regret to hear that he is stranded in thi3
metropolis, and is unlikely to carry out his cher
ished project Of visiting the North Pole ria
Behring's Straits. Tho young scientist wes
born at New Orleans in 1874. His mother, who
died eighteen months since, Was an American
lady Of culture and refinement and his father
was French gentleman Of liberal education and
high social standing. -Four years after the birth
of Octave, the family removed to Paris, and
there resided until the death Of the mother,
when father and son returned to New Orleans,
and made it their homo. Octave was close
student IN youth, became an enthusiast III the
natural sciences as he advanced in years. passed
several rigid examinations in the College
Of Napoleon, peered into the mysteries
Of medicine for siI years, and,
during brief respitea from the technicalitics Of
student-life, Investigated tho noted glacial
formations Of the Alps, and made astronomical
and meteorological observations. Several years
ago, he became interested in the Polar Sea queR-
ton, and Ut onco applied himself to the study Of
Arctic discoveries IN all their bearings. Having
arrived at the conclusion that an open Polar Sea
existed, and that it could only be approached oia
Behring's Straits, he came to the United States
two years since for the purpose Of interviewing
the veteran explorers Of the North. and obta in
fitting out al expedition from this side OF Ameri-
CT. He returned to France during the Franco
German war, and, in the Breton department.
raised and organized La Guc,'ine No5re, OF the
n -n&tr rf1N&jv-
independent Of any corps Ga,mee, and fol-
lowing the system Of guerrilla warfare which WAS
40 prevalent among tho Texans in the late
American civil war. At the close Of the conflict
II. Payy again applied himself to the study Of
Arctic discoveries, also contributing editorials
to the Reuue des Deuz Afondes, and, after lapse
Of several months, returned to New Orleans
with his father, and then started on his voyage
Of discovery. He obtained the protection OF
tho American Government from the authorities
at Washington; in New York City, was the re-
cpient Of an American flag and q set Of compli-
mentary resolutions at the hands Of the Amerl-
can Geographical Society; and, from numerous
scientific societies of tho world, received fiat
Geved there was on open Polar Sea inclosed in
a belt OF ice, and that the belt in question was
mpregnable, save in one place, and that the
place Lad not been found BY explorers.
Pa7y proposed to organize an expedition con
sisting Of five men exclusive OF himself, and pro-
ceed on chartered vessel to Petropanlooslei,
collect the reindeer, dogs, and sledges neces-
scry for g. land journey, and then pass through
eastern coast of Siberia, where the party would
leave the ship and proceed On its owp recount.
After leaving Behring's StraitB, and prior toland-
ing on the coast Of Siberia, NJ. PaVy intended
to take observations OF the direction, sw1ttness,
and temperature Of the currents, and to spe-
ciauy note the characteristics OF the Japanese
Current, which, he contonded, flowed through
the Straits and along the east coast Of Wrangens
Land, and 80 On to the open Polar sea.
He proposed to sail from Siberia to Wrangells
Land On . rubber raft Of tho Konparen
pattern, to CROSS the land to the open sen by
means Of sledges, and to take to raft again and
eail around to Greenland and Spltzbergen. Ats
meeting Of the Academy Of Sciences, in this city,
Ii. Pary detailed his project at great length, and
vain1y endeayored to convince the members Of
the feasibility Of his project. Professor David
son, of tho Pacific Coast Survey completely van
quished the enthusiastic Partisan by solid argu-
ments, and demonstrated, in the course of his
remarks, that Pavy's ideas were entirely WIS.,
ionary, and his statements often had no founda-
| ton in fact. Nevertheless, Pagy became Lon,
and his fno presence and supposed s,,a
leading social circles Of the community:
! He said tho expedition would be fitted
out at his own expense. n. Payy became 3
social lion, was bnnquotted at an expense Of $400
into insigniticance .sWhat has become Of
Payy?" asked Of q prominent detective yester-
day. The officer told me that Pavy had exhaust
ed his means, contracted debte, and Was
bis caae. The journals Of the East, who no
ticed his departure and commented upon his al
legged observations about Behring's Straits, will
take notice that the poor fellow is dead-broke in
San Francisco. He is still in communication
with tho leading scientific societies Of the
world Gas was ascertained by the
officer who overhauled his effects at the eoicita-
ton Of certain creditors), and sayB that his IN
| tentions are honorable.
THE dEaI-ExCITE11ENT OVER.
The excitement occaAioned BY the expose OF
| the diamond swind1e has subsidized, and the gem
| prospecting companies not already incorporated
are following the example Of the h9nbug, and
! dissolTing like the baseless fabric Of dream.
| The last hope Of the gem-speculators was .
| curious and beautiful b1ood-colored stone which
| Charles P. Stanton claimed to have found upon
an elevated plateau, 150 miles west OF Fort Deli
| ance. Interested experts said it Was q genuine
Oriental ruby. Henry G. Hawks, an intelligent
and reliable mineralogist, tested tho stone, and
assured the writer that it was not ruby. Par
ties interested objected to Hawks making q full
report. Enough was ssid, however, to convince
| me that the gem is simply 6plnel garnet, and
has no great value.
| THE LATE COLONEL EVANS
| I regret to state that the family Of the late
Colonel Albert s. consisting Of wife !;
/ two daughters, Of 16 and 1s years respectively /;
| q lad OF 10 years, and q cby-boy-was left IN
| poor circumstances, and needs pecuniary as
sistance. Tho members Of the San Francisco
press, by whom deceased was highly respected,
we're not content with simply pass
ing resolutions Of condolences, bnt ap-
| pointed q Committee to raise the Bum Of 81 600
| to relieve the Evans homestead of q mortgage,
and the matter will be taken in hand most
promptly. Arrangements are being made for
benefit performance at one Of the theatres, that
will net the desired amount. The eldest daugh-
ter has assumed position as teacher in one of
the public schools, and as she has much of her s
succeed in materially aiding those who now
wholly dependent upon her salary. Numerous
| inquiries are made about the book, entitled
"California Sketches" that Colonel Evans
| had in course OF publication. I
am convinced that it would com
mand large sale here, If Issued within Il reg
Lie comment upon the affairs Of the family Of
poor Evans; and yet it is for the best, for it
may awake the sympathies Of some Of his
numerous friends in the East, md lead to the
relief Of those who are needy and deserve suc-
cor. -..--.-- -..-.....
/ NyYrr