The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-04
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
From the Saturday Reviewl


their voyage the meeting OF the Geographical Society
in st. James Hall on Tuesday night were undoubtedly
very interesting and brought out distinctly the peculiar
conditions Of Arctic exploration and the courage and
endurance which essential IN this kind OF work
Everybody will admit that the officers and their crews
displayed these qualities In admirable way, and so
as to any doubts which might exist as TO how
far the Of to-day possess the gallant spirit and
energy OF their forerunners the great days Of the
English navy. Is has never however, been
alleged that this is the weak point Of
our navy What would to be wanting there Is
not bravery forttude but rather cool discretion,
vigilance and, above all, that foresight which makes
men alert in an emergency; and we cannot say that
the experiences Of the expedition are very comfort
ing ON this point. The Lord Mayor expressed In
very decided manner the popular Wow Of the subject
which has been cultivated by the Admiralty whose re-
putation at stake. He said that the composing
the expedition had undertaken IA work demanding
supcrhuman energy both of mind and body, Deev
Ing at the time that success was impossible, and
yet for moment ninching from the
task" This is. believe, not an mac
curae description OF the loregone conclusion with
which the expedition started and the remarkable CON-
placency with which the failure OF the expedition to
accomplish the main objects for which twas intended
has been regarded, both by the explorers themselves
and by the department which sent them out, appears
which they know to BIO imposslbilitios, requiring
supcrhuman energy, which Is, Of course, not given
to human beings TO possess may be said to have
heroic imp but much practical is hardly
be expected fron them. In point Of fact, however,
no supcrhuman effort was required from Captain
Mares his men. All they were asked to
do was 10 discharge very simple
though difficult and painful service, which had repeat
edly 0ecn performed by other expeditions about which
no particular fuss was made The lines OF Arctic ex-
ploration Ind been pretty well laid down. and great
deal experience has boon collected. The explorers
OF 1870 went OUT us II were, Oh the backs Of their pre-
winch The later had to discover Tor themselves The
expedition was Of superior character both IN num-
beers ana capacity, anu no expense was spared in NJ
thug II out Everything In TACT, was done IN the most
extravagant way AS happened, the general course
OF the expedition also unusually favorable in its
circumstances. Yet 1t has como back hurrcdy and
unexpectedly, having done very little.
The first ana vital fault In the plan was that the
starting OF the ships Was delayed to too late Pc
Rod OF the season. There was very urgent rea-
SON why the question of the North Pole should be
decided ON the Instant II had been Il mystery for
"A long time, and the world could very well have
waited Tor solution "A little longer. Mr. Ward
| Huut how ever, had pressing reasons for exciting
| popular enthusiasm about The navy and would not
wait No time was lost IN deliberate consideration
aud discussion 70 tho best course to DO taken by the
expedition; but The ships could be got ready
they were despatched. II was a pity that the idea
did not occur to the Admiralty lew months before,
because II was then too late Tor the expedition to
get 10 Its ground at the proper time. THIS was the
initial mistake and IL proved disastrous one. The
| OF intense winter before they could the OPP
/ portuntlcs of research which they might
otherwise have had, aud also before they were prop
cry acclinatized and accustomed to Arctic habits.
Notnng more foolish than the notion that, by
hasiy dash al the North Pole everything can be found
out about that region. II Is obviously matter for
| patent, continuous and prolonged investigation.
| Every thing depends ON tho practscd skill and
strength oil the explorers ON The state Of tho weather
and ON exceptional chances OF pushing on. But 1t Is
easy 10 now hurry IN this instance ran through
the whole business. 1t must DC admitted that,
state INTO who tue finally brought Cap.
tain Mares decided rightly that 1t was necessary 10
quit an advanced, aud, with the men they were,
dangerous position. But he might have retraced
has steps 10 more bearable WINTER climate without
coming straight home, and might nave made an
other effort ut a more seasonaDe period IN the en-
suing year. Ii Is here That the ioregone conclusion
with winch tho Expedition apparently started came
into play. They were probably ready to believe
at any moment that The North Pole
practicable. Tner conception OF their mission
seems lo have been that all they had to do
was show US that The British navy had all its old
pluck spirits; but as to tho actual discovery Of
| what Is called the North Poe, that was
ehmera Aud, IN short, they put the North Pole
very much cut OF view. They worked desperately
hard: there sort OF ton aud privation wnich
they shrank irOm but IL was In vague, amless way
and evidently without any adequate concentration of
puri on the main object oil tue Journey The sail
ing orders lard down that thc scope and primary OBJ
Jec OF the expedition should be 10 attain the high
est northern latitude and. II possible. TO reach the
North Pole, and from winter quarters 10 explore the
adjacent coasts within the reach OF travelling parties -
tut the first OF these orders was comparatively neg
| lected, while the time and energy OF the eXpeui-
ton were reserved for the second and subordinate
task. winch was intended TO be only an occula-
exears,ons up HAYES sound, Petermann Floyd,
Lady Franklin sound and other niets, may
useful ia their way but these were not the
Things which the crews wero sent out TO do. They
were merely exercises for their leisure. Indeed II
was expressly stated In the sailing orders that ''al.
though the expedition Is one OF exploration anu DIS
coyery NUT be kept In view that detailed surveys
are unnecessary The requirements OF photography
ana geography will be provided Tor II the prominent
features general outline OF the shores sketched
faithfully as circumstances will ADMIT SO AS IL
2 insure their recognition by future explorers "
The next polut = 10 the management OF the
by Captain Mares. IL may be assumed that, II ever
the North Pole Is reached, 1t VIII he, not by nu
mcrous crew, well equipped perhaps but weak III
bodily condition, such rs the sedge parties III this
instance were reduced 10, hut by IA small party OF
men iull Of health aud vigor, and IN the very top vi
their condition. to be capable OF SPECIAL Efforts.
IN order this 10 obvious that the should
: nave had the opportunity OF becoming wel seasoned
and learning AL the oats and ms of Arctic ell
mate, and that the medical precautions necessary
or te,r preservation In health should DO rsidy 90.
!, served la both these respects there was lament
abie failure. year would have been very well spent
~ preparing for the nna assault but the men were
not ripe VI when they made the attempt II seems
r to be clear from the evidence already Produced
though FIRST Lord with his one idea that success
fl administration consists IN hushing up and dis
ing disasters, siiIl wthhods complete iniormatiou-
that tho scurvy was produced by overwork IRON the
heavy weights IN the sicages aud the want OF lime
luce During the first part OF the voyage lime Juice
appears TO have been taken ia regular rations
though ~ may not then have been 80 Indispensable
when fresh meat could u certain extent be oh
tainct az the sledgc journeys when tins was out
r ol the question, aud the e,i consequences which
/, Immediately followed the withdrawal of the specific
. sufficiently explain the cause oi the sickness which
disabled the men. Lieutenant Adred says;-"Ths'-
: that ". the scurvy, though he was AFRAID to call
itso-.vcry seriously affected our outward journey III
u time when. had my crew ooen capable OF stretching
their legs the travelling all W favor. The
: | men we're short Of wind, aud ''thc gums pre-
= vented % good deal Of biscuit beng eaten. and tie
: nemmlean Was decidedly MOI cared about Com
r mander Markham also admits the fatal consequence.
OF this ssdre disease ''ln the nrst place" he says
I've mero compelled during the enllrc period OF oul
llfqa aleau a