The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-05-14
ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.


The disastrous fate Of Captain Hairs
FArctic exploration, the almost tragic
death Of the latest explorer among the ice
fields Of the North and the probable loss
Of the Polaris and untimely end Of the
expedition as related by the survivors
who have narrowly escaped the fate OF
their unfortunate companions, recalls the
efforts which have been made from tlme
to time to explore the mysteries Of the
Arctic regions. The first Northern ex-
plorers of whom We have any authentic
connected accounts we're John and Sebas-
,ian Cabot. who, animated by the dream OF
finding a Northwest passage to the In
dies, projected voyage toward the North
pole in 1893, and penetrated as far
north as GO 90. The brothers
Cabot we're preceded by other explorers,
whose researches contributed nothing
TO knowledge of the northern regions.
In 1885, Sir Hugh Willoughby, hunting
for northeast passage, persisted with his
crew in the frozen regions Of Lapland.
Frobisher, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Davis
Barentz and others, made voyages to-
ward the north in the latter part of the
sixteenth century and Barentz persisted
from cold near the Icy cape in the Arctic
ocean. Sir Henry Hudson made four
voyages, in the last one Of which, after
sailing up the bay named for him and
which he discovered, and penetrating
several hundred miles further west thar
any former explorer, persisted from hard
ship on the return passage to England
Bsflins explorations in 16l6, and Beh-
rings in l7il, were tho most. important,
until those of the Russians
Van Wrangell and Anjou in
ls20-23. Afterward various expeditions
went out toward the North pole, their OBJ
ject being no longer that of benefitting
commerce, but having a scientific purpose.
The explorations Of Capt. Cook we're the
the last of any importance in the seven
tenth century. In l776 no sailed on his
last fatal expedition, penetrating to lati-
tude 70o Az. In 1918 the explorations o.
Parry and Sir John Franklin were begun
resulting in more satisfactory discoveries
than any of the former ones. On th,
4th of September, 1872 Parry's expedition
reached the 10th parallel Of longitude
which entitled them to a reward of fv,
Thousand pounds offered by the English
parliament for that achievement
Parry made several expedition
in which his crews suf
fered many hardships and made slow
progress, effecting little of importance
except the discovery of continuance by
which the compass was made to work per
fectly under all circumstances and in a.
places, no matter how near the msgneti
pole, thus obviating a serious Difficult
in Arctic navigation. Frsnklins arst eA
petition penetrated farther north than an
preceding one, and on an eminence over
looking the Arctic oceaa Franklin plante
n banner presented him by his wife TO
that purpose. The last voyage Of Frank
lin was undertaken in May, lS45. On
hundred and thirty-eight men went ou
with him. His ships were N".> 1890 -. =.
centre OF bamn's bay, moored to an ic
berg and waiting q passag into Lanca
ter sound. Of subsequent Arctic explor
tions, most were conducted with vie
mainly of discovering the fate Of Franl
lin and his men. Until the Polsris, undo
Capt. Hall started 10 make new res earchC
into Arctic regions the most noted
| expedition was that of DR.
Kane, who went out under the auspices OF
the United States government in 1858
and whose efforts, in a scientific point o
view, were crowned with great success
Kane effected a survey OF the north coas
Of Greenland to its termination by grea
glacier; the survey of this glacial mass
the discovery of a channel to the North
west, leading into an open iceless area, {
an extent of 4, 200 miles, and o,her survey
equally important.