New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-19
Nrw.yoRK DAILY TRIBUNE TUESDAY AUGUST 49, 1884

tides at Discovery Bay came from the north in
stead of the south, and the temperature OF these
northern tides was two degrees higher than
that of the southern tides ut Cape Sabine. This
demonstrates not only that the tides from
north and south meet at some intermediate
point in Smith Sound but also that the north
crn body of water is the warmer, and positively
comes from the open polar sea or else is fed by
currents branching from the Gulf Stream
Lieutenant Greedy believes that there is IN
open polar sea. He thinks its existence is
proved by the northern drift of ice from Spitz-
bergen and Novaia Zemblia in midwinter and
the similarmovemcntOf the pack the PolarSea
witnessed by Dr. Pavy and Lieutenant Lock-
wood. To these proofs may be added the DRIFT
of the Jeanette TO the northwest the northern
currents observed during the voyage OF the
Vega, and the flight of birds northward from
Point Barrow and other localities in high lati-
tudes. The evidence however, is not cOnclu-
sivc. and the weight of scientific conviction will
probably be on the side of Sir George Mares
and Lieutenant Weyprecht against the exist
ence of an open polar sea. But be this as 1t
may, the polar sea is not, as the English ex-
petition supposed, solid mass of an
ie palgocrystc ice, immutablc as the
PERCEPTIONS cliffs overlooking it and unchanged
by the movement of tide and current Both
Dr.. Pavy and Lieutenant Lockwood were
stopped in their advance by wide lanes Of open
water and the Climatic conditions and the
abundance Of animal life on the northern coast
ofGrcenlnnd Indicated the presence Of warm
or BODY Of water than was found ut Cape SABINE,
ut the entrance 10 smiths Sound. Lieutenant
Lock IN making his famous sedgng Jour
ncy frequently met with oJcp watct and broken
packs. md M bc won't north continued
Ia observe the snmo peculintilios 0l
vegetation and animal life, Apparently
be- WIS jonfpcying IN the imrh 0l
n wnfinor Arctic cuftent lhnD the southern
tide which rises and tails IN the lower wnir" 81
Smith Sound. The experience Of the explorers
in tins way points 10 the existence Of n current
branching from the Gulf Stream, between ~plz-
bergen and Franz Josef Land, and circlng
around the northern shore of Greenland.
Lieutenant Greedy believes that the North
Pole will be reached if at all, by way of Franz
Josef Land. The facility with which Leigh
Smith has twice made the voyage to
the Austrian Archipelago has di,pelicd
Lieutenant Woyprcchts theory that this
route was only open to ice-bound ships
drifting at the mercy of the polar currents. The
passage seems to be practicable every summer
provided westerly course be taken, the ex-
PLANTATION being that the Gulf Stream breaks up
the ice east of Splizberscn, whereas 1t Is
maSsed by nOrthwcstcrly currents from the
direction of Cape Chcyuskin. The extent OF
land in the Austrian group Is, however
matter of vague conjecture. In Baron Nor
dcnskioll's judgment ii stretches in the direc-
ton of Pctcrmann's ellis Land. if not toward
the Pole itself. The choice of routes for the
next expedition apparently lies between Franz
Josef Land and Smith Sound, with chance
of effective work on the east coast of Green
land.