The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-12-13

ed it was not land until we had actually
passed over the place of their baseless
mountains"
Steering boldly but cautiously through
huge masses of ice, and experiencing alter
nate fog and sunshine, they at length es-
pied real land in the shape of two magnif-
cent ice-capped mountains, each exceeding
1000 feet in height, with glaciers filling
the intervening valleys. On dry land near
these mountains, after many struggles, Ross
had the pleasure of hoisting the British flag
at distance of about 300 miles from the
South Pole and 800 miles due south of
New Zealand. Victoria Land was the name
given to the newl y-discovered regions.
Further inland other magnificent ice-cover-
ed mountains could be seen, soaring to a
height of twelve thousand to fourteen thou
sand feet, far exceeding anything known to
exist in the Arctic regions. When, some
days after this, the ships reached nearly the
10th degree of south latitude, Ross felt
pretty certain that no human being had
ever before been so near the South Pole
then just about one thousand miles distant
and there were great rejoicing on board
both ships One incident of this expedi-
ton may be noticed as showing the singular
turmoils to which an ice-laden ocean is ex-
posed. Ross suddenly noticed an island
where none had been visible two or three
hours before; it was about hundred feet
high, and for the most part free from snow.
1t was at the same time remarked that a
large iceberg which had been distinctly seen
had apparently disappeared. The one phe-
nomenOn helped to explain the other. The
iceberg had turned completely over, and
presented new surface covered with earth
and stones. Soexactly was it like an island
that it was only on landing on it that the
truth was ascertained, corroborated by
rolling motion which the iceberg underwent
for some time. How easily may small is
lands appear and disappear on Arctic and
Antarctic maps if differences are too hastily
drawn.
Wonderful it was to see a raging volca-
no in such region. A long stretch of land
was seen to be marked by two magnificent
mountains, one of which, an active volcano,
$4,000 feet high, received the name of
Mount Erebus; while the other, an ex-
tinct volcano of somewhat smaller stature,
was named after the companion ship, Ter
ror.
But how about the approach to the
South Pole? When the two mighty noun
tains had been discovered, all on board the
two ships hoped that the icy obstacles to
further progress were such as they could
surmOunt by skill, labor, and perseverance.
This hope was not destined to be realized.
In front of the mainland to which the
mountains belonged could be seen, as the
ships approached, a white fine line marking
perpendicular cliff of ice, averaging 200
feet above the sea, perfectly fiat and level
at the top, and presenting no assures what
ever This was great disappointment,
for the icy barrier faced them directly on
the south, and there was no possibility
either Of penetrating through it OF of climb
ing up upon it. Distant mountains could
bs seen over and beyond the barrier, appar-
emily as far south as the seventy-ninth de-
gree of south latitude, less than seven hun
dred nautical miles from the pole it was
tantalizing, but had to be borne, for moth
ing but balloon could have surmounted
the barrier. The ships turned their prows
eastward, following the line of this gigantic
wall, and watching for an opening in it.
Fully hundred miles were thus travers-
ed, but without finding gap or chasm. As
there was depth of nearly two thousand
feet of water where the ships coasted along
Ross inferred that the great icy barrier
was formed on a ledge of rock, and that
its outward edge was not resting on the
ground.
Ross did not winter in that remote and
inhospitable region. Indeed, so far as is
known, no human being ever passed win
ter among the Antarctic ice. Ross spent
three summers in his exploration, while he
housed his ships for the intervening win
ter either at Tasmania or Falkland island
A curious matter mentioned by him illus
trates the meaning of what's o'clock, or
rather what determines the longitude,
which itself determines what's o'clock.
When starting from Tasmania for his sec
ond summers exploration, in 1871, he
steered east, touched at New Zealand,
and crossed at the hundred and eightieth
degree of longitude-that is, the longitude
farthest removed from the meridian of
Greenwich. 1t became necessary to lose
day in reckoning, so as to make the date
correspond with that in England, on mov-
ing from east longitude to west. ave
therefore had two Thursdays and two 25th
days of November in succession, so that
after crossing the meridian, and having
made the alteration of day, instead of
being twelve hours in advance, we became
so much in arrear of the time i'll England,
which would gradually diminish as we
pursued our easterly course, until on our
return we should find them in exact ac-
cordance."
THE GREATEST POINT OF DIFFERENCE
between the Arctic and Antarctic regions
lies in the fact that the former is dotted
over with numerous islands, peninsulas,
and isthmuses, whereas the latter is exposed
to the dash of vast and deep ocean. Ross
experienced from sweeping currents and
winds more than has ever to be borne by a
northern explorer. On one occasion, when
he was becalmed for few hours, the dead
set of the ocean waves drifted the ship to-
ward range of huge icebergs, against
which the sea broke with appalling violence.
"Every eye was transfxed with the tre-
mendous spectacle, and destruction appeared
inevitable" The ships were thus driven
on for eight hours, until within half mile
of gigantic iceberg, when a gentle air
began to stir, which gradually freshened
into a gale, and before dark the ships
emerged from their peril and got out into
the wide ocean.
A few words may be quoted to show
what kind of weather had to be borne in
the very middle of the Antarctic summer,
and in no higher latitude than sixty-six
degrees. For nine days the crews were
alternately drifting, hauling, making fast,
mending snapped hausers and making eff
forts to stem opposing currents. On the
tenth day, during thick fog, gale came
on from the north. 'The sea quickly rose
to fearful height, breaking over the lofti-
est iceberps. We were unable anv longer