The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-06-03
THE POLAR EXPEDITION.

However opinion may differ as to the prac
tical utility of the Arctic expedition, there
can be but one sentiment when an expedi.
ton sent there has been absent and unheard
of for length Of time, suggesting that the
vessel has been broken up and the crew is
scattered on the bleak ice fields Of the north
TO die unless rescued. The Jeanette and
her crew have now been absent over two
years and were last spoken in the Arctic ocean
Sept. 4, 1879. Since then no tidings have
been received from her and apprehension for
her is kcenly excited. At length, however,
1t seems that immediate and energetic steps
are TO be taken 10 communicate with her or
the survivors of her crew. The expedition
was fitted out by the New York HerIld and
! sailed from San Francisco. 1t Is essentially
pathy is warmly enlisted in her success and
| fate. The Jeanette was under command of
Captain belong, who had seen much Arctic
| service in the POlaris expedition and was es-
teemed well qualified for the undertaking.
She was staunch and stIong, had splendid
crew equipped in the best manner suggested
by previous expeditions, and every facility
that art and science could suggest as advan-
tageous. even TO telephone instruments and
wire with which advance parties on the ice
fields were to keep in communication with
supporting parties or their base of supplies.
The hopeful antcipations of the Jeannette
have hot yet given way TO despair. While
there Is great solicitude, it is remembered
That her long absence is a token of success.
Nothing detinite could be achieved in 1879.
The summer Of 1880 would be occupied in
the great objects of the expedition, and the
ice packed early in Behring's Straits last fall.
which would lock the ship in until July of
this year. So, If she went north, accom-
plshed her object and started TO return. she
would he caught as Nordensk jold's Neva was
in an early ice pack north of the Straits.
AS precautionary measure, however. the
Government recently dispatched the COrwin
from San Francisco to search for the jean
nette, has placed the United States steamer
Rodgers at San Francisco in complete con-
dition 10 follow up the same course as the
Corwin and she will sail in few DAYS un-
der command Of Lieutenant Berry. The re-
mainder of the crew not made up at San
Francisco left New York May 10Th to join
their ship, and it is thought she will be pre-
pared to sail early in June.
But this not ALL Nearly all Arctic explo- |
rations aud attempts TO navigate around the |
continents have sailed from east to west, the |
favorite course being through Baffin's BAY.
Nordenskj jold achieved the first success in
sailing around the north of Asia by reversing
The direction and going from west to east.
Iidings of Nordenskjold' achievement
reached Commander belong on his VOYAGE.
lie had also been told by whalers that "the
plan of going to the North Pole by Baffin's
Bay is IKE going up hill the plan of going
oy Behring's Strait and out through Bafn's
Bay Is like going down HILL" so that these
considerations or some incident of Arctic
'oyaging may have sent the Jeanette east
ward. The Herald is of the opinion, how
'ver, after consideration Of all probable con-
ingencies, that the Jeanette is now near
siberia or Franz Josef Land, and in the issue
Il May - suggested the propriety of sending
till another vessel from the Atlantic along
he supposed Gulf Stream extension on the
sual route of exploring vessels from Europe
D the Kara Sea and thence northw ard. At
dded If the government did not see proper
send one of the vessels now lying idle in
ne southern seas, the Herald would proceed
outfit such an expedition ITSELF As the {
'quel to this Secretary Hunt last Friday G
'rwarded instructions to Commander Coop |
:, Of the United States steamer Alliance, {
DIV at Norfolk, to prepare his vessel and \
roceed in search of the Jeanette between q
reenland, Iceland and the Coast of Norway. {
nd as far northward as Spltzbergen, if pos Il
BILE to get there without endangering the il
'ssel. So, "hide and go seek" will be play d
on large scale this summer, with fair v
that the Jeanette will be found /,
it'll good tidings of adventure in the NORTH c.
and. -