The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-11-07
An Old Wha1er ON Polar Possibilities.

servant and intelligent mariner. who
has made several voyages to the Arctic
Ocean, is disbeliever in an open Polar
Sea, and thinks the North Pole myth.
His trip to the world of ice the present
wear has but confirmed experiences in
the past. In conversation with him
Chronicle reporter procured some inter
esting facts on the somewhat mystlhed
subject. No vessels have been able TO
get farther than sixty-eight degrees
north this year, and all captains report
very heavy ice in the Arctic. In one of
his voyages, while Captain Tripp was
master of the bark Arctic, he reached as
high as latitude seventy-three degrees.
In 1870 Wrangle's Land was clear of
ice, and in 1871 his ship was within one
| mile of the shore of that land, which
no human being has ever stepped upon
so far as history tells us. With the aid
of splendid glass he got good view
of the entire lay of the Land, but was
unable to see any human habitations or
evidences thereof. No animal life was
visible, save sea-birds that fitted in
mid-air along the shore. The earth was
green, no SHOW being visible anywhere.
A coast range is visible from the ocean,
"
south, extending as far as California.
Shrubs were plainly visible, but Cap
tain Tripp was unable to discover any
large trees or forests. Wrangle's Land
runs northwest, and so far as known ex-
tends indefinitely into regions never
penetrated by the white man. The In
dians inhabiting that portion of Alaska
bordering on the North Pole have no
tradition that any people have ever been
seen on Wrapgle's Land, though they
state that deer of variety unknown to
| Alaska have been found on Herald
Island, in the heart Of the Arctic, and
from which the land named can be dis
tinctly seen. 1t is supposed that the
animals made their way across the ice
from the mainland of Wrangle to the
island. No canoes, clothing or relicts of
any kind have drifted from Wrangle's
Land to Alaska as an indication that a
new race of human beings existed in
the unetplored regions of the Arctic.
Still, it is believed by those sea captains
who have taken close observation that
the mysterious country alluded to is
habitable. The fact that no snow was
to be seen, that vegetation looked green
and vigorous, and that mountains
loomed up in the distance, as sheltering
| fortresses for the valleys, are so many
proofs that humanity could find foot
hold there. It seems that no whaling
captains have ever attempted to land on
Wraugle's Land, but it must be remem-
bered that they visit the Arctic regions
as business men and not as explorers.
To attempt explorations might cost
the loss of their ships and crews, and
end by themselves perishing while on
shore in search of the unknown. An
iceberg that draws over forty. five faith
oms can not get down into the Arctic
Ocean The reader can imagine mass
i've body of ice two hundred and seventy
feet deep in the ocean, and draw his
own conclusions as to what mtist be the
depth of the great deep in those unseen
regions where such icebergs float, and
what must be the congealing power of
nature that produces them. Such mount
aims of ice seen in the distance resemble
monstrous bank clouds, and are SO de-
ceptive in appearance as to be danger
Gus. A ship could run toward an ice
mountain, and her captain, however
alert, could scarcely be deceived in the
belief that there was any thing ahead
but clouds. The currents run very
strong to the eastward in the Arctic
regions, in the direction of Greenland
Vessels that have gone that way have
never been heard of afterwards. In
1876 fourteen whalers were caught in
this maelstrom of the north, and that
was the last ever heard of them. The
, velocity of the currents was not meas
ured, but it was variously estimated al
from five to ten knots an hour. A sail
ing vessel moving at the latter rate ol
speed leaves a good square wake behind
her. Captain Trip says that if the
North Pole exists, and it is ever discov
cred, the discovery will be made from
, the Pacific side, as navigators can reach
many degrees farther north on the Pa
cifc, without suffering the least incon
} venience from climatic rigors than OF
, the Atlantic, as far as it has been ex
: plored, and impossible barriers avail
the most intrepid soul. Nature turn
into monster and defes the exertion
of man to penetrate her secrets. Wha
powerful steam crafts, rugged like sail
J. ing vessels could do, remains to be seen
), in penetrating the mythical region
|, spoken of. No sailing vessels can eve
|, accomplish any thing. Our informan
K thinks that stations could be erected o.
Wrangle's Land, where an abundanc
of food and clothing could be stored
With a general depot at some convenien
point other stations could be extended
/, and thus at least the coast country coul
is be explored. This scheme seems feas
It BILE. Captains Little, Long, Trip an
IL many others have had enough of exp'
e rience to know that Wrangle's Ian
2. would make sure footing. 1t is not in
d probable that the expedition set on foe
s. by James Gordon Bennett may test th
d theory mentioned, and give us the rea
ID ity so much desired. The formation {
ID the land along the Arctic coast is pecl
It liar, and the facts in connection ther
te with are unknown outside a few sc
s. enti6c books, and but meager inform
es ton is cleaned from them. Practic,
a. knowledge gained by mariners is bett,
!" than any scientific speculations.
10 Kotzebue Sound, at the mouth of Buc
land River, Captain Tripp saw lar
seven hundred feet high, beneath whit
a stratum of ice was distinctly visibl
At Point Barron the land is only s
n feet above the ice, all beneath being
sy stratum of CONCEALED water. How. de,
e. this stratum is remains unknown, but
H. is certain that the earth has gradual
'ir framed itself on the ice. There is re
"a son to believe that Wrangle's Land is
r. like formation, at least along t
of shore. There is no telling how far t
te ice body extends inland as substratul
h If body of earth seven hundred fe
he high can rest on a mass of ice along {
'st shore, there is no reason why mounta
'e- seven thousand feet high may not ha
ice as basis in the interior. Public
tentiou in America and Europe has fl
m. gently been aroused by the various I
re lar expeditions. All of these have
IN far gone from the Atlantic side, and
is now about time fer one to start frC
the Pacific. Some of California's |
us nanza kings could spend their mon
~, more foolishly than in fitting out
he expedition to explore the mysteries of I