The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-09
THE NORTH POLE.

INTERVIEW WITH Mr.. CHARLES 4. HoDsoS, OF
TIE BRITISH ARCTIC ExpEpIrIoN-wHAr HE
THINKS OF HowGATE's PLAN.
A HERALD reporter yesterday had an interesting
conversation with Mr. Charles E. Hodson, who accom-
panied Captain Mares on the recent British expedition
quest OF the North Pole. That gentleman was
found in spacious parors Of the Geographical So
cicty, where he was busiiy engaged reading Esqai-
mau literature In the original vernacuar. Prior to
his visits the Arctic he had already travelled
almost every portion of the world and his do
lghtful sketches Of travel familiar to all English
reading peoples.
swell, sir, how did you find life In the Northern
ice9 asked the reporter as he was presented to Mr.
Hodson by Monsieur A. o. Lambert, the leading
French explorer of North America.
'rhe effect Of the intense cold not very incon-
venient We stood 100 degrees below frcczing point
without trouble. We reached highest latitude in
So deg. north. But should say tho sledge parties
were as high north as SO deg. 90 min"
''Ilow did you find the work Of the American OK
porcrs Hayes, Hall, Kane and othcrsf'
81 disagree with the unlavorable criticisms that have
boon made the line surveys OF DIR. Hayes as
others OF the expedition do likewise. consider that
with the ut his command Dr. Hayes did very
accurate and valuable work. You viii remember that
expedition large scale. costing the British
~ VI
tons, the Alert and Discovery, manned by 12o skilled
and selected Arctic seamen"
''And the results OF the expedtion?"
~ consider the results very valuable from a
scientific standpoint. Our work was done in great de-
tail We made extensive collections OF plants, many
OF them never before seen had the honor 10 dis
cover my sof tho thickes OF coal In the world in
Latitude 81 deg Al min We did not lnd the open Polar
Sea- but We did find palosochTystc ssatnat Ia, sea
OF ancient ice Our work Arctic regions covered
period OF fifteen months, and whom we found that the
land Terminated between tho and eighty
thir1p HAL EqoVV nG
impossible Tho furtnest reach OF our vision TO north
ward disclosed perfect sea OF noebergs-that was as
allow do you account for Hayes open Polar Sea?'
'sWc didn't find IT, Where Hayes saw 1t there was
nothing but ice. But then you know the may
have been different then."
''Do you think, Mr.. Hodson, that the Pole be
reached by wayoi Smiths S0undY"
II do not. decidedly, and because the nature Of tho
Ice Is so heavy that sledgng will never DO made
ticable for any long distance. Two miles day was
TO 400 miles ana back would take 400 days,
period for which 1t is impossible to carry supplies
And besides. you cannot travel In the winter at all
sWhat do you think then, OF Captain Howgate's
plan and the sailing OF Captain Tyson Tor the ArctcY'
IL should be sorry, indeed, to say anything. to
courage Captain Howgate the promoters Of his ex-
petition, for nc has been very civil to me- yet must
declare 1t as my candid opinion that the whole project
Is numerical. Surely, what Great Britain could not
accomplish with half a million OF money and TWO large
ships and old Arctic navigators can hardly be
achieved by the small fOrcc which Captain Howgate
to take to the North. But believe tina, the
Captain has theory that there are currents leading
doctors, differ; and only hope Captain Howgate may
be right and succeed in planting the American flag
the very axis OF the earth
'How wore tho English satisfied with your cxpedi
ton, tako II as Il wholeY'
al first they were in eostasies aud afterward in
high dudgeon. They were particularly savage about
the scurvy and the disuse Of limcuce on the scdee
journeys. think II will be many long year before
England will tit out aaothcr expedition. From sani-
tary view we were unusually successful We only lost
four men out OF 40. But good many were Oh the
sick list from the steam generated by cooking,
thea melting and dripping into the mems
hamnocks. The worst event that happened was
wholesale hydroplobia. which attacked our dogs
to lose thirty OF them-more than one half
OF entire stock. We had no serious quarrels dur
ing the expedition The men were all actively en-
poyed in various amusements We built mammoth
theatre sixty feet long and thirty feet broad, with
stage, greenrooms and auditorium--the largest
theatre ever built We published weekly newspaper
called the Discovery Netcs which printed by man
who couldn't spell; SO we gave him pronouncing
dictionary and his spelling grew Infinitely worse"
"Havo you any theory us to the best way to tho
Pole ?'
''None whatever l regard It as unattainable with
all the appliances now known When the era OF flying
machines comes perhaps some daring man may reach
the Ultima Thule"
The reporter horc thanked Mr.. Hodson for his frank
expressions and Withdrew.