The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-25

allow tnat CAPITA ScOresDV accomplished ~ IN lolI
to the west Of spitzoergen Captain hall in 1872
or tnat as has been claimed, whale SHIPS have
casually done It, It is asserted by the Old Dutch
navlgators that whaling vessels have sailed TO
various degrees OF latitude beyond spitzbergen,
and there Is extant an old Dutch chart which
places ship at the North Pole, and one even be-
yond it.
THE OCEAN CURRENTS.
In this connection it Is not unimportant to take
passing glance at the ocean currents. Although
the Gull Stream is reality lost in the middle OF
the Atlantic ocean, there is a steady DRIFT OF
waters to the north and east IN consequence OF
the prevailing southwest winds in the North Allan
tic region. TIE effect OF this DRIFT is TO carry the
Ice to the northeast, and hence the sea is Tree at
all seasons far beyond the North Cape OF Norway.
and very little Ice IS al any time encountered
below the southern capes OF Spitzoergen. But
here the greatest obstacles 10 navigation have
always been met; and IL was q knowledge OF this
fact which, long ago, led me to the conclusion
that from SpitZoergen TO Nova Zembla there
was an almost continuous line OF land. This land
has at length been actually discovered and par
TALLY surveyed by those accomplished aud lnde-
faJigable explorers, Messrs. Payer and Weym-
precnt, both OF whom, as | understand pro-
nounced against the existence Of an open Polar
sea; but, unhappily they were unable either 10
cross over pass through any channel dividing
Could they have done so, they would, as | be-
ieve, have looked out upon open water,
as Kane did and 1 did, from the
shores OF Kennedy Channel. Now the
current IN this latter channel sets steadily
southward, and | have always asserted that the
true scheme OF Arctic navigation Is in the direc-
ton against the current, and not with IL. My
friend, Captain Sllas Brent, has advocated a
theory that by following the current, which sets
I'd frnm
Strait, and like manner from the Atlantic in
the direction OF Nova Zemba, we would find the
true gateways to the Pole. But this, can out
think. is reasoning from an imperfect considera-
hon OF the nature and conditions OF the Ice.
When toe ice drifts away the south 1t Is rid or
and Baflns Bay Is almost wholly free from Ice
during the latter part OF every summer. The
same, as i nave shown, Is also in great measure
true OF Smith SOUND except as the ice Is PACKED
detached from the extreme northern shores
Or Greenland and the Islands beyond
Grinnell Land and, by drifting with the
current south, may block up Kennedy Channel
and prevent passage; but this, as l shown,
did not take place in 1854 in 1860. unless
n Robson CnanneD in 1872. This is, as believe,
the true route to the Pole. Certain similar con-
aitions observed north OF Benrng Strait,
where we find large body OF land in a line oil q
which vessel might PROBABLY make its way into
the Polar water.
As TO THE GENERAL SERENE
" the Smith Sound route nv plan has never
changed The following Is very brief enumera-
dou OF Its advantage :-Flrsr, land is base Of
operations; second, the certainty OF open water
It least as lar up the entrSnce to Kennedy Chan
ael thlrd in any event the opportunity to COLOMBO
party Of hunters and natives on the Greenland
aid
Journeys beyond that In the spring.
The first OF these has already been touched
upon, and Its Importance vii be manifest to any
body. With respect TO the second have twice
shown by personal experience that open water
probably exists on the west side every season up
to the early part oil september, which Is the mos
open season. AS to the third, tho colony was the
key 70 the plan which formed while on the spot
IN lseo-el, ana which 1t was my intention carry
ont In 1852, and should have done had 1t not
been Tor the war. Had been able to return that
year I would nave started with two vessels-one q
small steamer the other a sailing vessel for
storeship. Pushing through Bafnn's Bay-a feat
which can be accomplished any year without DIM
Guilty In the month OF August-provided always
that the OLD exploded theory is avoided OF auggng
The land ice-I would then steer Tor my old harbor
1t Port Foulke, just inside Cape Alexander,
Lhe Greenland shore. Here / would secure
for the hunters, land the stores and set people
work collecting game and preparing tor pro.
longed stay. 1t would not be necessary to retain
the storeship. She might be sent home, ana In
this there would DE no more difficulty than In
sending her across the Atlantic. A sailing ship
can 60 and come from Smith Sounu with ease
and safety. The social ed middle ice" Of Batfns
Bay Is altogether a deluson. | have passed it
once under sail in ffty-ive hours. a distance OF
natl q
the rule have laid down OF avoiding land Ice Is
adopted in Line cases out or ten the ship might
come and 60 without meeting ice enough to en-
danger even the most unprotected vessel. For
the purposes OF storesnip sailing vessel Is In
deed better than steamer, inasmuc as she will
carry more freight and steam, up to the mouth OF
Smith Sound, ID not essential.
DETAILS.
Having secured the colony, as q base OF support
and supplies, and or security In the event OF dis
aster. would push with the steamer, and.
reaching the west coast, would enter Kennedy
channel and Robson Strait. And once In Robe
son strait / believe should 1nd a practically
navgable sea beyond. Failing, however get
through, as Captain Hall did, would have new
point OF departure; and, even In the event OF the
wreck OF the steamer believe the Pole could be
still reached with poats which, alter being
dragged on sleds over the ice belt, would be as
svalaDle as snip, whlle at the same time. In the
event OF great misfortune Detailing the expedl-
ton, the colony at Port Foulke would furnish az
new organization, and the whole expedition
would not have met with irreparabe disaster, as
was che case with the rolarls enterprise. AS
20 the time OF leavng the colony at Port
koulEe, should think about the 2otn OF August
the NJ 81 favorable, Tor only from that time
tue middle OF September are the waters OF
smith Sound and the channels and seas be ond
uavlgabIe. The early part OF September Is the
most favorable period OF the year, and here is
use In attempting the navigation OF Polar waters
In any quarter before the 1st OF August. ] can but
think the risks run oy previous expeditions In
pasnlng into Melville Bay 80 early as June. as they
have done, Is great mistake. Wait until the Ice
In completely broken up AMI rotten; strike out
into the middle OF tue bay and m Ike a snort run