The New York herald., 1879-01-07
THE NORTH POLE.

THE NORTH POLE.
BELIEVER IN WILDERNESS OR NEW
Worldwide THE JEANNETrE SUCCEED P
CONTRASTS IN THE ARCTIC REGIoNs-HERALD
ISLAND IN WARM ATMOSPHERE PROJECTS
OF DISCOVERY.
From the San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 29.l
All information concerning the mystery surround
ing the North Pole is eagerly read by the Intelligent
public. This interesting subject has got beyond the
confines of scientific societies and the studies Of
learned men. The average newspaper reader is now
discussing the question with Jealous attention and
unusual intelligence The Chronicle has had recently
number Of articles the Polar mystery. the facts
therein having been cleaned from trading and
whaling captains who have made voyages beyond
Behring Strait into the Arctic. OF the many cap
tains interviewed but one is a believer in an open
Polar Sea. This is Captain Barker, of the whaling
feet. Another captain may now be added to the list
of believers. but he differs in opinion with Captain
Barker. The latter gentleman thinks that the
steam yacht Jeannette, at Mare Island route to
the Arctic. will solve the mystery by sea-. The other
gentleman who believes IN solution OF the problem
is Captain Jacobson master the schooner William
H. Stevens, who has recently returned from trad
ing voyage Of seven months in the Arctic. Captain
jacobson is of the opinion that it is utterly npossi
bic for the most powerful steam yacht to penetrate
the massive ice barriers which to be found in the
Arctic in the most open season. There are
years when sailing vessel get from 70 deg.
to IS deg north aud occasionally II the season is
very open, sailing crafts can get high rs rs deg
to 70 deg north. Should hard season follow, when
the iceuergs drift down toward Bchring Sea, the
stanches steamer could not get as far north as the
latitudes indicated.
HOW TO DISCOVER THE POLE.
The only way according to Captain Jacobson, that
any information can be procured about the Polar
Land of Herald island. Place Of courage and
ndomitable perseverance there specially lifted for
the work before them; let them have plenty OF pro-
visions, tobacco and clothing, and then say to
| the leader, whoever he may be- "rhere's
everything yon want so and discover the
| North Pole, and. il You can't find it, hnd
something that will make sensation The
| Captain is certain that il the right man
| in the right place eau be found Wrangels Land on
which mortal has set foot SO fur as history
goes, will no longer be terra incogtd The stations
he thinks, should he from fifteen to twenty miles apart
few reliable should be kept at each Continue
them northward, something after the fashion of over
land stations III olden times, until the wilderness or
| new world is reached. Captain Jacobson believes
that wrangels Land contains plenty OF wild animals
and that herds OF reindeer will dc encountered
Numerous focks OF wild birds can be seen towering
about the Shore and the Arctic duck, as the bird Is
commonly called by sailors, il very Plentiful There
need be- no fear OF scuryy with land exploring
| party. No opinion could be procured from the isa
liant skipper named to the possibility of striking
luscious bed of strawberries, an orange grove or
batch OF bananas even more luscious than the Sand
wich Island article. He also equally reticent rs
to the probable style Of summer goods in that region
but believed that ii anything Of the kind existed 1t
| would not be Hawaiian nalo or Mexican reboza.
| LOOKING FOR sIGS.
Captain Jacobson has made many voyages to the
Arctic but has been able to pick up from the
natives bordering Pole. from the Alaska side,
any traditions concerning Wranscis Land. He has
looked for strange varieties OF woodenware peculiar
Implements carved pieces of wood, anything that
might hoat with the currents or be carried on tho
iceDergs which would indicate thatthere was another
of people beyond the invisible as he gazed north
ward, but successful i'll procuring the
least evidence. HIS opportunities were much better
than those captains the latter seldom touch
shore while trading captains make 1t their business
TO do so. At Herald Island, which Is about II
deg. north and i'5 deg; west there Is IN
This island tho firtlicst point Of land ~ Yet ds-
covered in the Arctic. 1t was first discovered in
15i9 by Captain Kectt, and is supposed 10 have been
nan,ea utter the ship he commanded. 1t is about
nine hundred feet above the level oi the soa. There
is no vegetation. beyond some chens ana II Is not
known whether it Inhabited or not Sea
captains occasionally visit 1T as matter OF curiosity
IL rs tree from and ice. which Indicates that the
atmosphere about and ON the island ~ more GENIAL
than at sea. THIS yeir there no ice in the
vicinity OF Herald Island, nor could any be seen
northward while last year IL was impossible to reach
| the island on account OF the ice.
INTERESTING roLAn REyISIscrSCE.
Some seven or cign: years ago young frenchinan.
VI. Pavy, arrived in San Francisco with the object OF
starting an expedition TO discover tho North Pole
lie was in the primo of lifc and was undoubtedly
of great intellectual ability. HIS articles on the
North Poie winch were published in the famous
ecue des Dcvr hondss of iaris, showed that he had
i
arrived lie received hearty welcome from the press
OF thus city, and counn tier column appeared about
! him ana his scheme. The Academy OF sciences gave
him dinner, AT Martins, we believe. All went
swmmingly with the explorer for while. He par.
tally chartered vessel aud Captain Jacobson, now
of the William IL. Stevens, selected as the man
| 20 command his long experience In the Arctic
peculiarly lifting him for tho position. portion
of the crew was engaged, as was surgeon.
who s now a practicing physician of this
city. At about the time that prospects seemed fair
for successful launch OF the enterprise NJ Isvy dis
appeared mystcrousy in the night time. aud has not
been heard from from that day to this, so far Is
known. Many rumors rs to the cause OF his sudden
departure were flying about at the time. Somo be-
licvcl that women wine had ruined him. as thcy
have ruined thousands of brilliant inteects. but a.
pavy by addicted to the use OF liquor
there can be no truth in this supposition. Others
think that he exhausted all his money in some way
and that. ndng he could not carry out his pet pro
ject, in which he hud tue most tinboundcd confidence
he sought relief In suicide. He was man as proud
he was cultured 80 that this theory found many
believers. Captain jacobson says that NJ Pavy was
one OF the most perfect gentlemen he ever me and
In his conversation about Arctic affairs he talked as
he had been over every foot or the regions explored
there up 10 that time
rHE COMING COLUMBUS.
A great deal of interest is felt about the coming
voyage OF the Jcannctto. The majority OF the sea cap
tans who have been to the Artic season alter season
assert that her success Will entirely depend upoi
whether the season Is an open or not. III IL II
open her steam will Do hcp ess to push her as fn
north as many whaling and trading vessels have been
II she meets with open season she may be able t'
get degree two farther toward the Pole than an.
vessel has ever yet reached. Should the Jennnett
steam along Wrangcls Land che might make impor
tant discoveries. Going to the westward the tide
very strong, and whalers that have been caught
them were never heard of afterward. The commando
of the steam yacht named will hnd In San Francisco
sea captains who can give him valuable information
of q more scientific character than finds its way int
print The vessel is sure TO attract great attention
upon her arrival and her commander VIII be iookc
upon as second Columbus Ia search OF q new wcrid