The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-07-25
OUT OF THE ARCTIC.

The rescue Of eight Of the twenty men
composing the Greeley expedition-rescued
within three days of the time when the last
man of them must inevitably have died Of
starvation-closes another chapter in the
Hateful history of Arctic research. When
exploration first began there was hope that a
Northeast passage" short commercial
route across the top of the world, might be
discovered and civilization be advantaged
by commercial intercourse and geographical
knowledge of importance. The Northeast
passage as practical water way, If any such
exists, is demonstrated to be q chimera.
Then, as an excuse for the continuance Of
these so frequently fatal expeditions, the
value of their scientific investigations was
set up and still more men and ships sacri-
feed In the Arctic seas, to subsist on seal oil
and study out the mystery Of the aurora
borealis. Coupled with this has been love
Of adventure by volunteers; devotion to
dsty by those assigned to the cause and
desire by both, and the governments equip
ping them, TO link their individual and ma
tional names with explorations and discov-
cries In one Of the few geographical realms
still incognita. The explorers of late years
have added but little, save suffering and dis
aster, to the story of the Arctic. Some years
since the most practicable scheme yet sug-
gested for thorough and successful explo-
ration resulted In an international underta-
king, In which the United States, Russia,
Germany, Austria, Holland and Canada
Joined TO establish stations In the Arctic and
make concurrent observations, advancing as
far northward as possible during the Arctic
day by sledge parties from the home stations.
The expedition from the United States was
placed under command of Lieutenant Gree
ly, with an assignment of p.ck.d men from
the army and signal service. They were
landed, with their outfit, 1t Lady Franklin
Bay, In the summer Of 1881, and brief
record of their services is contained In Lieut..
Greely's report. In 1882 vessel was sent
10 communicate with them, and In 1888 the
party homo. The Proteus was sunk In July
In Smiths Sound and the Yantic returned
without the party and without leaving
cache Of provisions where they could reach
IL. II was not until eleven months after, in
June, 1884, that the expedition under Schley
reached the survivors, Congress having trifsd
away weeks and months In ordering the ex-
petition, while the abandoned party were
dying one by one Of starvation In the frozen
North.
While the expedition achieved, without
the loss Of life, the proud distinction of
going further northward than ever man had
reached before and planted the Gag within
thousand miles Of the pole; while Its fatali-
ties were due TO the failure Of those who
were to furnish supplies and transportation
home II stated time to perform their part
Of the adventure while the method adopted
Is doubtless the correct one for reaching high
Northern latitudes, and while their report Of
"cpen water TO the North" will revive the
ambition TO sail In the open sea believed 10
embrace the 1attened pole Of the earth, the
aggregate history Of all expeditions and the
aggregate results thereof compel the conclu-
sion that this destructive and bootless ouest
should cease. There IL charm and CLAM
our about It that lures men 70 the deadly
North, and doubtless while ships sail on the |
seas the search will not be discontinued /
but II concerted international attempt ike |