The New York herald., 1877-10-28
AN ARCTIC EXPLORER.

CAPTAIN MARKHAM, OF THE Alert, IN ST.
LoUIs-THE NEAREST APPROACH TO THE POLE
EVER MADE.
From tho ST Louis Republican, Oct. 25]
Captain A. II. Markham, Of England, the second in
command under Sir George Mares in tho last Polar ex-
pedtion, arrived last night and Is stopping at the
Lndel The expedition, 1t will be remembered, re-
to England last November after absence of
eighteen months Captain Markham commanded the
advance ship, tho Alert and the other ship, the Dis
covery, was commanded by Captain Stephenson The
ships went up by the Smiths Sound route to 80
deg. IL min., north latitude, and there wintsred
From this point Captain Markham made an extended
expedition personally the frozen ocean to within
400 miles OF the pole. having approached nearer 10 the
object OF SO many previous Efforts than any other NOR
tal man.
Captain Markham started with officer and fifteen
men They did not use dogs, but drasged their
sledges containing tents, provisions and the neces-
sary OUTFIT Dogs were not employed, because they
eat as much provisions as man-consuming q
pound Of meat per day. In order to have the
transportation US light as possible II was thero-
tore necessary 70 iorsgS ,,. The Gas., use OF dCg
ham ham reached So deg, 20 min 20 sec,
ever attained before Captain Hall reached
enty miles iurther On the return journey OF Captain
Markhams sledge party to the ships they suffered IN
ton OF scurvey, and nadit been for relief sent
from the ship they would never nave got back As II
was Captain Markham ana tnro0 men were tno only
Of the party their legs dragging the remainder
Of the party, having buried one. They were absent
seventy.thre days from the shipa
Captain Markham, speaking In reference to tho
open Polar Sea by Morton, The companion VI Dr.
Kane, remarked that where Morton saw the open
Polar Sea they found channel thirty miles Wide, and
wont through II. Captain Markham knew Morton, he
having been out four years agoin lS73-on the ship
which picked up the Polaris men, among whom was
Norton.
Tho minimum temperature registered during The
winter by Sir George Mares expedition was "a degrees
below zero, 100 degrees below freezing point Of
Fahrenheit. Tho coolest day was about March 1,
1876 being tho coolest Of which have authentic
account Tho. sun absent l42 days during tho
winter. They had little twilight at both extremes OF
the season. lasting about week or So and only
noon In mid-winter II was scene Of total dark
Captain Mares was presented by tho Royal Geo.
graphical Society Of London with gold medal Tor the
ability he displayed In conducting the expediton and
Captain Markham was, at the same titne presented
with gold watch Tor, stated In the inscription,
having planted tho Union Jack in higher northern
latitude than ever beioreattancd.
Captain Markham ID still comparatively young
man, Of gallant bearing and the possession Of
true pluck, united with o most courteous bearing
He indisposed TO anything In the shnpe OF q
newspaper interview and particularly adverse TO ex-
prcsson Of opinions rotating to prior discoveries or
the eventual solution OF the great polar problem He
leaves this morning tor Fort SIN in the Indian Terri
tory being accredited with letters TO Colonel Macken-
and the officers OF that post Dy Lieutenant General
Sheridan.