The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-20
The Polar Expedition.

| By thu complete report OF Oapt.
Mares, the reason for tbe failure OF the
English Arctic expedition and its re-.
turn, is at last made apparent. Hitherto
it has not been clearly shown that there
was good reason for abandoning the
undertaking while the Alert and Discov-
cry we're in good positions for further
work from the head Of Smiths sennd.
Good success had attended the sledge
parties sent to eastward and westward
along the shore line OF the newly dis
covered Arctic ocean. The northern
sledge party had not been 80 fortunate,
having penetrated only ty-three
miles from the position Of the ship, and
perhaps not more than fifty miles from
Cape Joseph Henry. Great difficulties
were encountered in progress toward the
north, and further effort in that direc-
ton Last year would have evidently been
unwise. But the conditions of that 10y
sea might wholly change next sumne.:.
The expedition was abundantly fitted
for another years stay. Why was re-
turn resolved upon .....
The answer is that nearly all the men
and officers of the expedition had suf-
fered severely with scurvy, and were so
weakened by that disease that sledge
travel could not have been successfully
resumed if they had stayed at the north
another year. The details given of the
attacks OF the disease are surprising.
The entire crews of both vessels suf-
fered severely; the officers were attacked
later. It came as q direct consequence
of the hardship and exposure of sledge
travel. Capt. Mares is convinced that
if there had been no sledging work there
would have been no appearance OF sour
Wy. he thinks, however, that it was Ia
tent in both crews, and that the sledge
work merely developed it. The officers
we're the. last to be attacked, only be.
cause they were the last to labor at the
sledges, after tho rest were disabled.
Two things are needed to prevent at
tacks of scurvy !: fresh meat and lime
juice. The expedition was not very suc-
oessful in shooting game. Hans, the
Esquimau1, was their great reliance in
hunting seals, and his skill served al
most as efectually as it did on the Po-
laris- expedition to provide food that
saved human life. There is hint that
the British ships were not provided with
lime Juice; if such was the fact, =" some.
body blundered frightfully when the
expedition was preparing for sea. 80. :,
Under the circumstances, Capt. Mares
was perfectly justified in returning; he
would have done wrong to remain. But
the route by Smiths sound need lot be
given up, nor is the "pole impracica-
ble." The report does not make it Ger
tain that the ice of the Palnocrystic
sea is permanent; on the contrary Capt.
Mares was evidently anxious lest the ice
should move while the northern sledge
party was upon it. Great risks will
have to be taken if that sea isto be navi-
gated by steamship. It can only be
done when the wind there is blowing
from the southwark, carrying che ice Of
Smiths sound to the north; and the
chances are that the, channel through
which vessel may find passage will be
closed to return. The report as q
whole is not nearly so discouraging to
those who are interested in polar nayi-
cation as were the cable dispatches =
Trih,kne