Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-10-16
The Arctic Regions.


The last of the survivors of the fated
Polaris, have arrived in Washington
under the command of Captain Bud
dington, and have given in their report
and testimony as to the causes and rea-
sons for the failure of the expedition,
and for the sad death of Hall. Yet,
Notwithstanding the fate of the Polaris,
and the consequent failure of the mis-
sion, it was fOndly hoped she would full
! fill, there has been no falling off in the
enthusiasm among explorers and scien-
! tiic men upon the subject Of orvtic r.
search, and no lessening of the belief
that the ultimate discovery of the great
polar sea is not only possible but near at
! hand. Time was when the whole arctic
region was incognita, and the first adj
venturous navigator who dared its icy
seas stood as little chance of accomplish
ing the discovery of the unknown path
to the pole as would blind man in a
drifting boat without oar or rudder.
Since then the outskirts of that mysteri-
Gus country have been navigated by
scores of explorers, some of whom have
come near to raising the veil which from
the beginning of time has shut out all
sight and knowledge of what lies be-
yond to human kind. The Cabots, Da-
Wis, Baffin, Frobishier and Gilbert, Ross
| and Parry, Franklin and Crozier, Cal
linson, Mcclure and Kellett, McClin-
took, Young, Cane, Hayes and Hall-all
brave men and true, who gave up home,
health and friends, taking upon them
selves the risk of almost certain failure
and death-all tried and failed and yet
notwithstanding the failure of these da-
ring adventures and explorers, there
are others preparing to follow in their
tracks. There are in fact at present three
expeditions among the northern regions
searching for this undiscovered Polar
sea. The first of these was sent out by
the Swedish government in July of last
year, and consists of three vessels. This
expedition has reported important dis
coveries, but was obliged to relinquish
| the search from the unfavorable condi-
| ton OF the ice. The fleet when last
heard from was off North Spitzbergen.
There are now two other expeditions to
| be heard from-the Austrian, under Lieu
tenant Weyprecht, and the French, I'M
der M. Pavy. The former is endeavor-
ing to reach the pole from the east side
of Spitzbergen, the route favored by DR.
Petermann, the great German geogra-
pher; Payy hopes to solve the great
problem by the way of Behring's Straits,
and had, when last heard from arrived
at Wrangelrs Land. ..'....t.
The English government viii proba-
bly, send out an expedition this year.
The Royal Geographical Society have
presented a memorial to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer and the first Lord of the
Admirably, urging the adYisability of
Immediately sending out another expe-
ditiop. The memorialists assert that ex-
perience has proved the. route in the di-
rection of Spitzbergen to be impractir
cable, and that Attic authorities are hair
monious in the opinion that E.the route
by Bafiin's Bay and Smiths Sound
promises the largest amount of valuable
scientific results, combined with the best
assurance of safety" The memorial
further adds that "eyery frs. class pow
er of Europe and America, except Eng
land, has sent forth expeditions for Arc
tic discovery during the last twelve
, years, that these attempts have been
watched with the deepest interest ane
not without some feelings Of shame by
the press and people of Great Britain,
t and there is now very general feeling
in this country that the time has come
for us to again assert our old pre-ennin
ence in the field of Arctic discovery
We earnestly hope that the British gov
eminent will send out an expedition
E this year for the purpose of exploring
the hidden regions of the north. o.
4 course we would much prefer that thu
f honor of finding Polar sea, and of I'M
t yelling the hidden mysteries of the Arc
0 tic regions should belong to American