The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-22
Benefits Of Arctic Colonies.

The experience of Lieutenant Greelv
in hi n attitudes will undoubtedly eN-
ert an important influence upon future
exploration. Ii demonstrates the SUI
pc iority of permanent land station as
a base of operations. The garrison of
Fort ConSer were exposed to all the
hardships and perils of the Arctic eli
mate. vet remained for TWO wears in
perfect health and undated vigor.
Their physical condition on the day
when the post was abandoned afforded
q remarkable contrast to that of the
English crews which passed a single
winter in the same quarter. There
was neither scurvy. debility, nor any
form OF disease The sledee work was
performed without the eNhausting
strain which crippled all the parties
sent out from the Alert and the Discov-
ery in the winter of 1S15-'76, and the
distances traversed were much greater
and the processes of exploration more
thorough. What renders this result
more remarkable is the fact that the
Greedy party had not been Injured to the
Arctic climate by previous experience.
They We're, however, comic tally es-
tabiished on shore In a house that could
be readily heated. and their diet and
regimen were directed with painst Ak
inS care Their health and mental
tone were excellent throughout, and
they were allie not only to conduct the
Scientific observations in orderly roa
tine, but also to take long jou~neys over
the ice, to make remarkable discover es,
and finally to retreat to Capt Sabin :,
where they had right TO expect sue
cor. If there was lamentable loss OF
life during the third year, it was due to
the neglect of rose sent out to COOP
crate with them Ii there had been =
second colony on the ground to convey
them 20 winter quarters on Littleton
Island. or if adequate supplies of pro-
visions and tire-wCod had teeu landed
in advance at Cape Sabine the whole
party would have survived the third
wIntering-
The sscrince of lie involved in the
final catastrophe IS not, therefore, to be
charged II the system OF land stations
a I'D permanent colonies That system
worked admirably at Discovery Harbor.
as i did also III Point Barrow axd the
other stations in the international Sc
ries. The Little band OF soldiers en-
camped ut For Conger were in greater
security than the Inflated Jeanette
crew and were able 10 accomplish work
vastly NOR important in the Interest of
science Their experience proves dhat
IS the labors of Arctic exploration are
e1er to be renewed bap-hazard voyages
Il the mercy of Polar currents and he
4reacherous Ice packs must be ahan-
.dsned. and the system of land stations
witt an accessible base of supplies and
fixed lines of retreat must be adopted
During the last fifteen years man s
powers OF physical endurance have been
frequently pitted against the terrors cd
the Arctic climate. and in only two ia
stances have there been fatal disasters
The Austr1ans returned in safety over
the lee from Franz Josef Land: the two
Polaris parties were rescued. one OF
them after . pro.raeted drift with the
foe; the N.ses Expedition debilitated
by scurvy due to an unscientllc regl-
men, entered Plymouth harbor in tri-
umph; the Rodgers crew in St Law
renee Bay, the Dutch colonists in the
Kara Sea. -nd LeLyE Smith and the
crew of TIE Ezra at Cape Flora lost
their ships but survived the privstiOns
al the Arctic winter; AMI the scientific
observers who returned from twelve
lions last year were in excellent
hcslth snd spirits. The two instances