The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-06-05
Arctic Exploration.

The sudden returq of the Ar ctic exTsdi-
tion, under Capt. Mares, in the fall OF 1873,
was a sore disappointment nj 10 the scientific
world. Ii was IN all RESPECTS The best ex-
pedition ever sent TO The polar regions,
and those interested in Arctic exploration
expected great rcsui : from it. Hence,
when its return was announced, after only
a single winter spent in the Northern Ses,
there Was a feeling thst Capt. Mares had
been waiting in the proverbial pluck and
Ierss versnce of Arctic Nayigat0rs. But
sirce the publication Of his official report
in the softer second thought of his sCisn-
titic critics he was correct In deciding that
nothing further could he accomplished by
rem aiming another winter IN the frozen
ocean north OF Smith Sound or Kennedy
Channel. Capt. Mares winiered on what
should have been the "shoTes Of the open
pClsr sea-" but slas this lingering dream OF
ihe old sunny Eden OF the Hyperboresns
was dispelled forever. Instead Of an open
sea, be found an ocean covered with ancient
ice-as ancient apparently SIS the rocks
which form It's shores. \ siedge party
travelled towards the pole adistsnce OF sew
enty-iive miles on the frozen surface OF this
ocean without discovering any signs Of
idHu Htbitt sDdSt vi
Grants Land 160 miles 10 the westward,
and that Of Greenland 100 miles TO the
eastward of his ship, there remained moth
ing more TO accomplish, and he wisely
decided to return. He had achieved the
very important result of sscertainirg be-
yond doubt that there is no open wafer in
the vicinity OF the pole.
Since the hypoth, sis of an open polar ses
L ~ Il
of European experts in Arctic matters that
further adyance.towarasi The pole is only
possible along a cost line tIending to the
North. Experience has shown that the ice
piles up against the eastern shores OF Arctic
lands, while along their western shores 1t
becomes wesk ard rotten during the sum
| mer Hence there are now two accepted
| canons of Arctic navigation-'Stick TO the
lands foe," ard Stick to the western
| shores"
During the winter of 1872 8, an Austrian
| expedition, under the command OF Wey-
precht and Payer, became beset IN the ice
on the eastern shore OF Nova Zembla, and
drifted in northwesterly direction to the
| S0ih parallel, when the fee in which their
ship was imprisoned halted on The shore Of
an unknown land. Ii is the most splendid
instance OF good luck recorded in the whole
| history OF discovery. This expedition was
| designed to explore the sea TO the eastward
| Of Nova Zsmbls, but before rounding Its
northern promontory the ship was
seized SO if by an unseen intelli-
gence, and gently borne TO a new
land, which, but for this mysterious agen-
cy, might have remained unknown for
| ages. Franz Joseph Lard, a. The explorers
| pstriotically christened il, is a cluster oi
| islands lying to the norihesstward of Spi'z-
bergen. Payer made a sledse journey OF
| l6O miles northward from the ships posi-
| ton, reaching the latitude of So degrees
minutes, snd beholding ''the aspect OF the
blue mouutsin ranges lying in the distant
| North" Here is the mort Northern Arctic
| coast with Northern trend now known
and il is believed BY European experts thai
| il offers the best route for future Arctic ex'
peditiop. A Dutch vessel left Amsterdam
last year on what was understood to be .
reconnaissance preparatory to second
effort. and returned after reaching the S0tt
parallel aud asceri aiming that 8 powerful
steamer would fad little difficulty il
reaching Franz Joseph Land The Roya
Geographical Society Of England ia agita
ting the sending out of an expedition to thu
same region and it Is probable that tol
some year, TO come European efforts vii
be directed solely to this quarter.
But while Capt Mares expedition seem
to have frightened European explorers away
from Smiths Sound, our own countrymer
are by no means dis osed to abandon II
Capt Howgste proposes 10 continue explor
ations in this direction by establishing col
ouies or posts, thus affording oppor;unit,
for prolonged and sustained effort, iusteat
of being confined TO the limited means Of ,
single voyage. Whether this method lead
to new successes or not, il is undoubtedl,
the only one by which further advance Cal
be made by this route. The pole must b
approached from the head Of Smiths Soune
by sledgiug across the oceap, which will re
quire a permanent base near the scene o
operations. But the plan Is not withou
serious difficulties. Men do not becom
acclimated to a temperature OF 90 o.
60 degrees below zero. Experience
} hss shown that the excessive cold i
. constant drain on both their mental ant
J physical energy, and that after two winter.
spent in the extreme North, they are prac
ucally incapable of performing the worl
required of them, and must seek q warmel
region TO recruit their exhausted powers
But perhaps this difficulty is rot insupera
, bic. Meantime Arctic exploration vii
J possess greater popular interest than ha
, ever before attached to it The tolar prob
} lem is being attacked BY Europeans from
: new standpoint, and BY our fellow country
!: m b . new method; and il is not at Il