The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-08-02
A Land Untrodden By Man.

In one OF his yoyages, while Capt. Tripp
was master Of the bark Arctic, he reached
as high as latitude 70 degrees. In 1870
Wrangeps Land was clear Of ice, and 10
1871 his ship was within a mile of the
shore Of that land, which no human being
has ever stepped upon, so far as history
tells. This dcsolate island lies to the north
west Of Behring's Straights, and nearly in
latitude "a degs. and west longitude $50
deg's. 1t may be as large as Cuba, or far
larger; but, unlike that tropic island, it is
given over to icy esolation-and, possibly,
to seals and polar bears. Parry, in 1927,
working northward away TO the east Of
this unknown land, made his way about 8
degrees farther north; aud Kane went up,
on the Greenland side, to about 80 degs.;
but, though the Pacific side is evidently
the right way for voyage to the Pole,
this latitude Of so degrees has never been
achieved in the neighborhood of Wrangers
Land, unless by whalers, who could not
land. Of this unknown land Capt. Tripp
saw something in that favorable ice season
Of 1871. With the aid Of a splendid glass,
he got good view Of the land, but was
unable to see any human habitations, or
evidence thereof. No animal life was Wis.
ible, save sea-birds, that fitted in mid d-air
along the shore. The earth was green, nc
snow being visible anywhere A coast
range is visible from the ocean, which re.
sembles the coast regions along our Pacific
shore. Shrubs were plainly visible, but
Capt. Trip was unable to discover any
large trees or forests. Wrangel's Land
runs northwest, and, so far as known, ex.
tends indefinitely into regions never pen.
etrated by man, unless it be the Esqui
maux. The Indians inhabiting that por
tiOn Of Alaska, bordering on the North
Pole, have no traditions that any people
have ever been seen on Wrangels Land
though they state that deer Of variety
unknown TO Alaska have been found on
Herald Island, in the very heart of the
Arctic, and from which the land named
eau be distinctly seen. 1t is supposed the
animals made their way across the ice from
the mainland Of Wrangel to the island
No canoes, clothing or relics of any kind
have drifted from Wrnngel's Land to Alas
ka, as an indication that another race Of
human beings existed in the unexplnre,
regions Of the Arctic. Still, il is believe
by those sea captains who have taken clos,
observations that the mysterious countr,
alluded to is habitable. The fact that nc
snow was to be seen, that vegetation look.
ed green and vigorous, and that mountain
loomed up in the distance, as shelterine
fortresses for the valleys, are so many proof
that humanity could find foothold there
1t seems that no whaling captains have
ever attempted to land on Wrangels Land
but it must be remembered that they visit
the arctic regions as business men, and no
as explorers. Captain Trip says that i
the North Pole is ever to be discovered
the discovery will be made from the Paci
6c side, as navigators can reach many dc
grees farther north on the Pacific without
suffering the Inconvenience from climatic
rigors that beset explorers on the Atlantic
At Kozebuc Sound, at the mouth Of Buck
land River, Captain Trip saw land 70t
feet high, beneath which a stratum Of ie,
is distinctly visible. At Point Barron III
land is only six feet above the ice, al
beneath beinga stratum Of congealed water
How deep this stratum is, remains uu
known, but it is certain that the earth ha
gradually formed itself on the ice. Their
!, reason to believe that Wrangels Ian
is of like formation, ut least along th
shore. There is no telling how far the ic
body extends inland as a substratum.