The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-06


eminent naval and scientific men. 1t Is Of
some importance that the scheme be thor
oughly examined, and the chances Of success
carefully weighed, before tho credit of the
country is committed to an enterprise OF
great risk to those concerned in 1t, and
which may involve very considerable OK
pense
We have no wish unduly TO dscour-
ago an undertaking of this description;
indeed, we believe that most important
field Of Arctic exploration Is still open TO
American gcographers, and one upon which
we would gladly see them enter; but we have
no hesitation in adhering to the opinion we
have always entertained, that an approach
to the pole by way OF an open sca-in the
existence of which we do not bclievc-or by
slcdge journeys across the polar pack, u
description Of lee of which our American
explorers have no experience. for they have
never yet encountered it on their slcdge ex-
petitions, Is impracticablc. As Capt. How
GATE has addressed a pamphlet to Congress
containing an opposite vicw which has been
recently supported by a letter from Admiral
PORTER, we will venture TO give our
reasons for differing from these gentlemen.
"Whcn Capt. HALL reached the upper
extremity Of Robesons Channel" says Capt.
| HOwGArE, the lookout of the Poaris report
ed open water in sight, and just beyond the
pack which surrounded the vessel and
afterward prevented further progress. This
open water was aftcrward seen from the cape
at the northern opening of Newman's Bay,
and it was the opinion Of the crew Of that ILL
fatcd vessel that If she had been but the
1t.
channel, they could have steamed unob-
structed over vcrtable open sea to the
pole itself. Where this open water was
| found, Capt. MARES In 1875 and 1876 found
solid, impenctrable ice through which
no vessel could force its way, and over
which it was equally impossible for sledge
parties to work" But Mr.. CHESTER who ac-
compancd Capt HALL to the cape ut New
mans Bay, says in letter TO Capt. How
GATE, that lit was moving ice and water"
and il must be remembered this was over
twenty miles to the southwark of Capt
! NAREss ice barrier. In the same way the
lookout man saw lee and water, and not
ian open sea" The Polaris was in
pack at the time with pool be-
yond, and the pack beyond that again,
behind which Capt. MARES anchored his
ship in latitude s2', 81 In 1875, and which may
have been IA few miles further north in II,
| aud so beyond the vision OF tho Poaris
! lookout who was in So, lG. Moreover,
difference of opinion existed among the
/ Polaris crew in regard To the opcnncss of
this water, which some maintained To be
moving Ice and water, an opinion, II We
remember right, shared in 10y Capt. BUD
DINGTON himself.
However this may ho, a stronger and
more curious confirmation of the exist
cnce of the polar pack in the close vicin-
ity Of the POlaris is furnished by the
explanation given by Capt. MARES Of the
singular optical delusion which caused the
Polaris explorers TO Indicate continent
stretching to the northward with its capcs
and headands named and delIncated all of
which turned out To be n pure Pigment of
their Imagination. Capt MARES, who found
nothing but polar pack whore this land
was marked, accounts for this mistall,
"by the light reflected from the close Ice
which, in a great measure similar TO I'll,
bright glare reflected from "A largo sand fiat
creates very decided appearance of lane
when there IS mirage; indeed, sufficient
ly 80 70 deceive many Of Us. when Sc
anxiously expecting and hoping to see it
We therefore ceased TO wonder at the casua
lookout men Of the Polaris being mistaken
but the more experienced on board SHOULD
not have allowed themselves 10 be SO easily
misled." That they were mislcd evidently
arose from the fact Of their having assume,
that there was an open sea instead of an ic,
pack. Nothing is more deceptive than these
open sea appearances. Capt. MARES de
scribes a clear evening from an altitude o
100 feet, with the land aud horizon distinctly
visible, and no ice in sight; and yet, he says
/, the ships were twcnty-four hours aftcrwar'
locked up 10y ice in Il harbor near Cape Sabine
"From Littlcton Island the incXperencc,
observer would conclude there was an opcl
polar sea from our present position twenty
five miles Distant he would rs certainly con
cllde that his further progress was ioreye
, stayed"
II has in fact become evident from Capt
NARrss investigation of tho polar BASH
after residence Of eleven months on il
Shores, that for nine or ten months, accord
/ ing to the season. the Ice remains packed
, while for the remaining short period the mas
siyc iloc-bcrgs Of old Ice grind aud chur
over its surface moved by winds, currents
| and possibly other undiscovered cause,
sometimes opening into lanes, or leaving
pools or open seas several miles across
, which may be completely free from Ice as ia
, as eye can reach one day, and filled with soli
- pack the next, making Il combination impa-
2 sable either by boat or slcdge &c From the cS
5 perences we have gained, says Capt. MARIE
e 81 most confidently report that no shi
+ will eyer round the promontory of CAY
r. Joseph Henry or pass beyond Cape Br'
4 WORT in navigaho water" 1t must be r.
/ mcnlbcrcd that in arriving at this cOnclI
t sion, Capt. MARES was in possession of a
= the records and data furnished by the P'
# loris expedition upon which Capt HoWGAI
5 so confidently relies
, In an open season Capt. IIowGATE pre-
4 poses 10 60 partly 10y boats and partly l.
C slcdgcs; but the experience of the late eNls
dition has shown the highest rate
d speed possible per day with slcdgcs load'
J.. with boats to be- a milo and quarter.
!. course in this case he must abandon h
y, scheme of taking n telegraph wire with hin
81,