The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-31
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
AN ENGLISH OPINION OF CAPTAIN MARES LACK
OF BACKBONE.

AN ENGLISH OPINION OF CAPTAIN MARES LACK
OF BACKBONE.
From the Saturday Review. March II. 1871
Tho First Lord had yet another opportunity OF prov
ing, his way, the efficiency Of the navy and the
sagacity and good Judgment OF the Board Of Admiralty
II will be remembered that, the hasty and dogmatic
assertion OF Captain Mares that the North Polo was
impractcable the Admiralty resolved to pro-
claim that the expedition bad been glorious success,
and shower honors and promotion on those who had
taken part In Captain Mares and his friends have
had their reward, and now Tho truth Is coming
out Nothing Of course. disturb Mr.. Hunts
cheerfulnoss anu scIf-compacency he was gay
about the Vanguard, and he seems 70 think Captain
Mares asco another good joke lie Is Obliged however,
10 admit that "great advantages OF scientific nature
would doubt havo been obtained had the North
Pole been reached. and It would have been great
triumph for the country; but. unfortunately tho ex-
petition broke own''-atter the prevailing fashion In
the navy "by OF outbreak Of scurvy." But
Of he cannot allow that because the expedition
was thus hopslessiy crippled IN what was almost
mismanagemcnt OF tho commander, this prevented
II IRON reaching the Pole. Oh dear, mol The reason
why IL did not do so WAS simply because ~ was i'm
possible, from the obstacles which they HAD to en-
counter ana the -snortness OF tho time" This IS
certainly very pretty way oil admitting that the ex-
pccted triumph proved to be Illuminating defeat.
inc obstacles wcre with the exception OF
the scurvv which due TO The Captains ignorance
and perversty only just what were TO be expected,
and If tho time was snort It was because II was wasted
in dawdiing and Idle excursions The sailing orders
sot forth distinctly that IN sedgng attempt 10 reach
tho Polo" TO BIO 'the main feature OF the
voyage," and that "detailcd surveys we're unneces.
sary." Captain Mares, however, chose 10 disregard
his positive instructions IN this respect as also In re-
gard to lime juice; and having beon sent out to stop
three hurried home at The end Of the FIRST and
left his task unfinished Tho report OF the committee
appointed inquire into this affair has apparently
been Tor time In the hands of the Admiralty, but
it s still kept back by the authorities II known,
however that tho substance Of It Is that the scurvy
was due to the omission OF lime Juice from tho ratons
vidcd with suitable provisions OF good quality.
and that Sir G. Mares had not sufficient reason
for departing from tho instructions contained IN
tho memorandum OF tho Director OF tho Medical
Department Of tito Navy as to supplying the slcdge
parties with lime juice In fact Captain Mares not
only violated his specific instructions almost every
point OF importance, but also treated with contempt
the opinion 10 lime JUICE given to him at tho time
by DR.. Coan. Moreover, he Invented theory that
frozen lime juice was 'impracticabc, because y could
be melted but 1t appears that II can be melted by
the easy plan OF putting the bottle in the sleeping bng
between tho legs al night And this is why Captain
Mares is now Sir George, and has received from the
Admiralty formal expression OF It's ''warm approval
of tho conduct Of all engaged In this important
gerVICe.O