Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-03-02
An Enthusiastic Explorer.

Arctic fever again. and Is anxious TO try
for the north pole once more. this time
BY way of Franz Josef Land. In let
ter to the New York Herald he says:
The opportunity remains to us to try
to reach the pole from Franz Josef
Land, which commences in latitude
eighty dogs. north, and probably ex-
tends. as group of islands, to latitude
eighty-three dogs, and possibly further.
The longitude of the islands is cut by
the sixtieth meridian east. a small
vessel of seyenty-five tons-in fact, one
of the 'down-east' fishing schooners
well fortified for the ice, manned by
twelve men. but those men all Amerl-
cans and Injured TO a life of danger, toll
and privation in the whaling or fishing
service. would be sufficient for such an
expedition. and believe. with a com
peient leader, would carry the Ameri-
can flag, if not TO the pole (Which l
think possible under my plan), further
north than any flag has been carried be-
fore | propose 10 make from those
islands a winter journey to the pole,
starting in February when the days are
of moderate length, but light increasing
daily. with five men. exclusive OF the
leader. Propose TO make the journey
TO the pole and return by July or Au-
gust of the same year. In travelling
toward the pole from Franz Josef Land
YOU travel across the current instead
of directly against it, one advantage
over the route taken by Parry
north of Spitzbergen. To commence
a Journey at that time of the year We
will find il very cold. but as the season
advances the weather becomes warm
! and pleasant. so that in April it would
be as warm and genial as we could de-
sire In starting at this time of the year
the travellers would have at least three
months of dry weather. and consequent
| " escape the most fruitful cause of
scurvv and rheumatism. Starting in
February, the travellers would find the
| ice-tioes of the Arctic basin well cement
! ed together, which would enable them
| 10 use dogs TO draw their sledSes or light
boats, containing their provisions and
/ ammunition. and to cross streams or
| lanes of water. should any be met with.
| When the dogs could be used no longer.
| they could be eaten-so much meat on
| the hoof. Another thing in favor of an
early start would be that they would not
have the spring and summer freshet TO
contend with on this journey north, but
it would materially assist them on their
| return south. In regard to subsistence
for six men for so long a time, | will
say that in March the seals begin to have
| their young, and from that time for.
ward, or at least during the months of
March, April. May and June. should
expect to find seals in abundance.
varied occasionally by the capture OF
polar bear. In those very high lati-
tudes the birds do not make their
appearance until May. and not then.
unless we were near land. Therefore
! we could not hope to see much else but
| gulls; but it is my firm belief that a party
of six men, containing two good marks
men. could find plenty of subsistence on
seals and polar bears. No doubt many
will say that party starting at this
time of the year must inevitably perish
with cold. |. who have spent quarter
OF century battling with the polar ice,
who have laid me down many a night on
the sea ice, when travelling in the dead
of winter. and slept soundly. and done
| this, too, merely 10 escape the monoto-
nous life on board of ship. am living
contradiction of any such assertion. An
expedition of this class would cost but !,
triiie in comparison with those recently
sent, and if put in good hands l have no
doubt of its success to a high degree, if
not to the very apex of the earth. A
schooner of this class l am speaking of
could possibly be bought for $500 or
$4,000, and have no doubt the bust
ness men and merchants of New York
and Boston would contribute all that
was necessary in stores, clothing, etc.
Now. where Is there a man or partv of