Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-05-20
AUSTRALIA AND THE POLE.

The London Globe, has Just left the
hsrbor ofPela. Their destination is far
of, in the hazy north of the Greenland
sea, the lonely island of Jan Maven.
Six officers and eight men have voluu.
teeTed to pass twenty months Of their
lives on this patch OF Arctic land, u,
present tenanted only by bears, foxes,
bares and gulis. For more than a wear
and halt will this hardy band be Gu,
of from the rest of the world. and the
potent magnet which has drawn them
away to the land of ice and long dark
ness Is science. Up to tho last days OF
his life did Wcyprect, the great arctic
explorer, warmly maintain that but
scant assistance could be rendered to the
cause OF knowledge by isolated excur.
slens toward the north pole. "L'uatom
fast Ia force" holds good in science as
in war, and if observations in tide cur
rents, temperatures, electrical waves,
etc., are to be OF any use in helping US
to unravel the secrets OF the pole such
observations must he made simultaue
ously at several points TOR the purpose
OF comparison. 1t Is Austria's share of
joint undertaking.. The international
polar conference, held at St. Petersburg
last August. decided to send out eleven
expeditions to the Arctic and two to the
Antart,c regions. The work is propor-
toned out as follows: '.For the United
States OF America, Point Barrow and
Lady Frauklln bay for Denmark, West
Greenland; Tor Sweden, Spitzbergen !;
for Norway, Bossekop, Tor Russia.
Nowcie Semlja and the mouth of III.
Lena river; tor Holland, Port Dickson:
Tor England Port Simpson Tor Germany
Greenland station; for Austria. the
Island Of Jan Mayen. France and italy
send expeditions to the Antarctic re.
glons. The Austrians are timed to reach
their destination in about three months.
Tor halt will be made at one or two
ports on the way. Their course is
Pola. Gibraltar. l 500 sea miles G,bralta-
Gravesend. 1,640; Gravesend. Bergen,
500; Bergen Jan Mayen. $50; together.
1910 sea miles. The whole costs OF tbs
expedition. amounting to LOG, 900 florins.
will be betrayed by Count Wilczek. the
munlhcent patron OF all undertakings
which have Tor their object the solution
OF Arctic problems.
Tee island OF Jan Mayen was discov-
cred in 1911 by Dutch whale fishers who
christened it alter one OF their sturdy
skippers. Another name for it was
(and perhaps still is) Mauritius island
while the English knew it as Trinity
island. 1t lies between 9 degrees i
minutes and 7 degrees 81 minutes west
longitude from Greenwich, its latitude
being between 10 degrees 40 minutes
aud II degrees 8 minutes north. Bleak
and rugged and somber, with its lotty
rocks and snowy mantles, its lonely
strand and dark icy waters, is Jan
Mayen' and u grim mountain, 1913
metres nigh. rises in the center, while
near tho southern cape are three volca.
noes. Indeed, the whole island is of
Plutonic origin. The place is of i'll fame,
Ior on Its barren shores there died in
slow succession a crew OF seven Dutch
explorers. This was in 1888, when
lime Juice Was not appreciated and
scurvy not understood. The st,ffrned
corPses OF the little band were found
next yesr. as also the diary kept by the
longest lived of them-the last PAGES
|aintly scraw led by the weak hand at
sickness. the very last word was
die" Since that time the island has
been seldom trOdden by human foot,
save now and again when the friyid
blasts OF Arctic storms have hard
pressed the struggling mariner. But
me navigators oil 1882 may hope tor a
Inherent late to that of their fellow.
craftsmen of $50 years back, tor the
present expedition will be furnished
with every conceivable necessary, and
uxurlcs to boot. Their complete stock
't scientific instruments will be supple
nented by all sorts of games, music,
pictures. ETC., TO enliven the long hours
II darkness. The chase will also afford
ample amusement and a heavy bag.
"hile the soothing effects OF temaI.
society are, 1t is whispered. to be pro. |
7lded Tor by small batch OF Esquimsux
aides, TO be shipped at Bergen. None |
he less will 1t be critical moment
when, all their chattels disembarked on
he shore and their excellent house Sc,
lp, the little band will have to wave
'dleu to their friends on board, as these |
'team away back to the world and their
antilles. The hardy volunteers are al
most sure not to see another ship until
hey are fetched away from their island
PRISON in August, 1888. May good luck
'ttend them!