New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-10-01
The Arctic Mystery.

The Arctic MJstery.
The ice zones have possessed q fas-i
cination for scientists and men Of dar-
ing for an immemorable time, though
it has been but comparatively few
years that large adventure has attract
ed general interest to those formidable
noted explorers was Sir John Frank
lin, who Ventured into the polar realm
in 1845, and since the July Of that
year nothing has been learned Of him
or his companions. He had then
reached Melville Bay, north latitude
~ deg. 48 min. The first expedition
for the relief Of this party was begun
in 1848, and for five years there was
an uninterrupted effort to find the
whereabouts of the missing men, there
being thirty eight different commands,
besides six land expeditions, during
that time, the United States Govern
ment literally aiding in the search. In
1860 DIR. Isaac I. Hayes undertook
new exploration. The highest point
reached by him was named Cape
Lieber, north latitude 81 deg. IS min.,
and he received several gold medals for
his reward. Captain C. F. Hall began
the first Of his three voyages in 1860,
when it was still believed some, Of the
Franklin parry might be alive. He
again made the voyage in 1864, q
tempt to solve the mystery Of the ice
realm was made in 1871, during which
he died. In 1879, Lieutenant Schwat-
ka, United States Army, made sledge
journey with good results, and in the
same year the disastrous De Long ex-
petition was begun. The sad story Of
this adventure. with DanenhOwer and
Melville's search, is too new in the
public mind, through the recent re-
turn Of the bodies Of the unfortunate
party, to form other than a quick pre.
lude to the Greedy disaster now SO live
an interest.
One of the most notable cruises was
that made under command of Sir George
Mares, in 1876, for the reason that, on
the day of May IL, he touched the
highest point OF north latitude that had
ever been reached. 50 deg "a min. The
results of this expedition were regarded
as being of great value and Importance,
and it is not uaconsoling now to think
that, in t,ite of the lamentab.e mis-
chances Of the Greedy expedition, Amer
lean enterprise carried exploration four
miles to the north of this point. and de-
termined the mootcd question of the
extent of Greenland. From this cursory
review of some of the more conspicuous
voyages, it will appear that the charm
and fascination Of discovery have led
many noble champions to dare dangers
that cannot be properly conceived by
those whose fortune is within the COM
pretended limits of ordinary expert
ence. The longing of science to look
into the mystic possession of the close
locked secrets Of the north has inspired
an enthusiastic disregard Of the perils
and intense sufferings entailed by these
apparently improyident missions; and
though there has been strong element
of conservative opposition to this haz-
ardous course, where the e has not been
a public spirit to sanct on this purpose
of legitimate inquiry private enterprise
has furnished the means Reviewing
these exploits of research, and perceiv-
ing how much larger is the proportion
OF disaster to the good obtained, it is
no wonder many are strenuously re-
solved against sympathy with move
ments that appear so foolhardy if not
criminal in their risks of life, and re-
fuse to consider the noblcr ends and
aims, the holier impulses and desires
that rise above the mere love of adven-
tire and take the force OF an heroic
devotion to the broad interests of man
kind.
These voyages are not romances with
the mon who undertake them, and be-.
yOnd the interest in the exciting contest
with the unknown and undetermined
there is practical value in these cou-
rageous attempts to demonstrate and
explain certain vital physical phenom-
ena. At such time as this there is the
inspiration of applause and commenda-
ton to shut out from thought tie in
clination to censure and condemn. In
the presence OF these five men who
have come back from the most fruitful
achievement of all the daring endeavors
to pierce to the polar sea, laden with
information that will greedily be re.
ceived by men who are more interested
in ascertaining the governing facts and
forces of our world than in the preser-
walton of a few lives, there should be
only reverent admiration. While there
us something to be learned, tho only
means by which that knowledge may
be acquired must be unsentimentally
seized upon, Science Is selfish, sacrii
fetal, ruinous in its methods, perhaps,
but it ic so necessarily. In the sub
jugation of nature the elements 81
nature must be understood, and the
great region Of seemingly useless waste
in ice and snow has relation to the
balance of the earth that science should
understand. and though scores of wears
are lost and hpnl3eds Of lives sacrificed
Lin the endeGx0r tOs this under
standing, the cdkst VIII not BE too great
if the domain. OF ciyilia sfion and COM
merce may by that means be Increased
or benefited. The ext pnsiOn and cor
rection Of geographical knowledge are
matters OF incalculable National impor-
lance, and through exploration alone
may be obtained the material and facts
for such changes as have revolutionized
in few centuries the practical world.
After two centuries of futile explora-
tons and appalling disasters the i'm
agined northeast passage was finally
discovered, and triumphant Scan
dinavian opened q wafer gate to
strengthen commerce 1t does not be-
come country of the magnitude and
unsurpassed grandeur Of the United
States to be behind the world in reach
ing out to aid and foster science, and
we can not afford to give advantages to
other countries in matters of such
gravity as exploration. Indeed, the
resolute energy, unwavering bravery
and shrewd, clear, judicial character Of