The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-11-13
An Open Polar Sea.

Speaking of the return Of the English
Arctic expedition, DR.. Hayes, an old
explorer, says: l have no disposition to
blow my own trumpet, but if, with
their great advantages, this English ex.
petition could not have accomplished
something more than they did, it were
better had they not made so much fuss
about it. The Alert and Discovery are
two fine ships; both are screw steamers.
Never was there an expedition fitted out
by any government 30 bountiiully.
Nothing was wanting. They had every
scientific appliance, md the expedition
cost not less than S750,000 1t was to
go to the north polo an make discov.
cries there, and tho British flag was to
be planted on the northern axis Of the
earth, and OF course the world WAS to be
astonished at British energy and British
pluck. What il the RESULT One year
OF trial, leo eighty feet thick and no
chance Of getting to the north pole. In
plain terms, | lou't believe word Of
it, and don't believe TINT tho expedi.
ton had my right to return when it
did. Why, l did nearly all they did
with my little lit Of schoonor-United
States-which was not much more than
half the size Of tue Dauntless. I had
no steam, aud could not work to wind
ward among the ice fields OF Smiths
sound, and, becoming entanglcd, I was
forced to 60 into winter quarters, in a
crippled condition, in latitude seventy
eight deg seventeen min, ut the mouth
Of that sound. There I remained ten
months before the ice broke up and
liberated me. With steam I could have
gone further, but had no other altor.
nativc thun to await the spring, and
travel over the frozen sea with dog
sledges. I marked, as nearly rs could
DO determined, latitude eighty.two deg.
say 4S0 miles from the polo. \
l AM firm believer in an open Polar
sea. It it not sea available for the
purposes Of commerce, but it is certain
ly n sea or ocean, MS you may please to
call it. Whatever interest attaches to ii
is OF n purely scientific character. To
pursue science requires patience, and to
go with great government expedition,
especially to make scientific discoveries,
with the distinct understanding that
there is no other motive, seems to mo
! to require something more than sim.
pie at can't be DONE" So far ns get
ting to tho north pole is concerned, I am
sure it can be done, and in failing to do
it after only one years trial I think this
English expedition hus shown a lament.
able lack Of English pluck. They shy
they had a dreadful time Of it: some
people were frozen and three or four Of
them died. That was their own fault.
Travelling in tho Arctic regions is not
more terrible or moro dangerous than
travelling anywhere else. It is matter
OF care ind Judgment. Accidents may
happen, but it is the duty OF com
mander to sec that they don't happen.
believe I have made rs long q sledge
Journey as any one on record. Iexpe'
ricnced temperature during that Jour
ney Of seventy deg. below zero, and yet
there was never in all the sixty days &C.
cupied by tho journey so much as frost
bite to any OF the party, and yet this
was in the exact region where tho Eng
lish expedition has been, finding, at
they say, eighty feet Of ice. The Pc
laris was in the same quarter and gol
nearly rs far north.