The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-24
A Land UntrOddsu by Man.


In one Of his voyages, while Capt. Trip |
was master Of the bark Arctic, he reached
as high as latitude 73 degrees. In 1870
Wrangels Land was clear of ice, aud in
1871 bis ship was within mile af the
shore OF that land, which no human being
has ever stepped upon, 50 far as history |
tells. This desolate island lies TO the north |
west Of Behring's Straits, and nearly ia |
latitude "a degs., and west longitude 1870 |
degs, Il may be as large as Cuba, or far
larger; but, unlike the tropic island, it is
given over 10 icy desolation-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; and Kane went
up, on the Greenland side, to about so
degs.; but, though the Pacific side is ev
identity the right way for voyage to the
Pole, this latitude Of so degrees has never
been achieved 10 the neighborhood Of
WrangePs Land, unless by whalers, who
could not land. OF this unknown land
Capt. Trip saw something in that favor.
able ice season Of 1871. With the aid Of
a splendid glass, he got good view Of
tho land, but was unable to see any human
habitations, or evidence thereof. No ami
NAL life was visible, save sea-birds, that
fitted in mid-air along the shore. The
earth was green, no snow being visible
anywhere. A coast range is visible from
the ocean, which resembles the coast re.
gions along our Pacific shore. Shrubs
were plainly visible, but Capt, Trip was
unable to discover any large trees or for
ests. Wrangel's Lend runs northwest,
and, so far as known, extends indefinitely
into regions never penetrated by man, I'M
less It be the Esquimaux The Indians
inhabiting that portion of Alaska, border
ing on the North Pole, have no traditions
that any people have ever been seen on
Wrangels Land, though they state that
deer Of a variety unknown to Alaska have
been found on Herald Island, in the very
heart of the Arctic, and from which the
land named can be distinctly seen. It is
supposed the animals made their way
across the ice from the mainland q
Wrangel to the island. No canoes, cloth.
ing or relics of any kind have drifted from
Wrangels Land to Alaska, as an indica
tion that another race of human being,
existed IN the unexplored regions of tht
Arctic. Still, it is believed BY those Sc.
captains who have taken close obscrya
tions that the mysterious country alluded
TO is habitable. The fact that no snoy
: was to be seen, that vegetation lookel
green and vigorous, and that mountain
loomed up in the distance, as shelterin
iortresses for the valleys, are SO man
proofs that humanity could find foothol
there. II seems that no whaling captain
have ever attempted to land on Wraugel
J Land, but It must be remembered that the
visit the arctic regions as business mer
and not as explorers. Captain Tripp say
}, that il the North Pole is ever TO be al
Q covered the discovery will be made frol
q tho Pacific side, as navigntors can reac
J. many degrees farther north on the Pacif
Q without suffering the inconvenience fro
climatic rigors that bcset explorers on IL
Atlantic. At Kozebue Sound. Mt Il
mouth Of Buckland River, Captain Tri,
saw land 700 feet high, beneath which
stratum Of ice is distinctly visible.
Point Barren the land is only six fe
above the ice, all beneath being a stratu
Of CONCEALED water. How deep this str
= tum is, remains unknown, but it is certa
! ! that the earth has gradually formed itsC
= on the ice. There is reason to believe tn
y Wrangeps Land is of like formation,
= least along the shore. There is no tellil
: how far the icy body extends inland as
y substratum.