New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-03
HONORS TO LIEUT.. GREELX.
A WARM RECEPTION IN MONTREAL.
HE AND LIEUTENANT RAY BEFORE THE BRITISH
AssOCIAUON-THE OPEN POLAR SEA THEORY
FAYoRED-PRAIsEs FOR THE EXPLORERS.

sum- where the Geographical section has been meeting
was tlronged with a brilliant assemblage every seat
was occupied the corridors densely packed, and
the audience included the most distinguished members
of the Association and grent throng Of ladies' Among
those on the platform or in the audience were Lord
Raylegh the Earl of Rosse, Lady Clara Rayleigh,
Canon Carver DIR. John Ball. Sir J. II. LEROY, Lady
Lelroy Principal Grant and Dr. Cheadle Lieutenant
Greely entered the committee-roOm at o'clock look
ing fresh and apparently not laboring under great
excitement He was cordially greeted by Captain
PIN and the officers Of the section, and after few
minutes conversation with the officers went into the
hall. lie was dressed in complete suit of white
flannel, his figure erect, and he walked to tho
platform he showed no signs Of feebeness His ap-
pearance was the signal for tremendous outbnrst OF
applause Mrs Greedy quietly dressed. but with a
proud and happy face, accompanied him and occupied
a seat in the audience with Mrs LEROY.
After various notices had been read SIR j. IL
LEROY referred the presence of the two American
explorers and to the importance of their work closing
by introducing Lieutenant Ray. This called forth
another round of hearty applause, and then Lieutenant
Ray met the eyes o. the sympathetic spectators lie
spoke with strong voice, in graceful and effective
manner and frequently interrupted with applause.
He described briefly the system of circnmpoar sta
tions of which his at Point Barrow had been one.
and recounted his experience and conclusions, re-
Point Barrow had been frequently visited by English
crews He described his exploration Of the region
living between the Yukon and the Arctic sea, which
had never before been penetrated. lie compelled,
after advancing 22O miles inland, 10 aud beyond
Meade River to turn back, after discovering a low
range of mountains dividing the northeast watershed
from that Of Kozebue Sound This range, he Thought
was the northernmOst spur of the Rocky Mountains
lie described the conguratonof the land, the traces
of reindeer and ancient human habtation in what is
now an uninhabted desert, and the general character
of the northern watershed. The region destitute
of TIMBER save a few Arctic willows there coarse
salt grass with dense growth of moss. ahording
pasturage for a few herds of reindeer.
AGAINST THE OPEN POLAR SEA THEORY.
He declared that he did not believe in the existence
of an open Polar sea- since the temperature OF the water
was unvarving from October July. which would not
be the case if there was large body of open water
around the Pole The atmospheric conditions at Point
Barrow we're such could not have existed If warm
open Polar sea had surrounded the Pole Clouds were
rarely seen. In winter there was no precipitation exc
cent frozen mist drifting in the ocean from cracks
opened by gales and tides. Lieutenant Ray explained
the phenomenon OF the crovdng down of ancient ice
each year. and argued that it positive proof thao
there was no open Polar He spoke of the auroras,
observed as a constant glow from in the afternoon to
/ =
disturbance of the magnetic needle during those dis.
plavs and to the importance OF investigating magnetic
phenomena at the magnetic pole. He considered il a
grand omission in the international Polar scheme that
there was no station established at the magnetic pole,
He considered it of the utmost i'm )ortance that these
phenomena should be investigated during period Of
two or three years and volunteered to head colony
which should be organized for the purpose. This
final declaration heartily applauded.
THE PRESIDENT INTRODUCES GRIZZLY.
The president remark d that the section favored
with the presence of great traveller and sufferer,
Lieutenant Greciy. whose providcntial deliycranco
from tn, dreadful fate Of starvation had sent a thrill
of gratitude through IA, civilized world Those suffer
mgs he added, were sacred to the audiclc', and he
could only express its sympathy 1t exploit of
the utmost daring since to Greedy and Lockwood be-
long the crownng honor of planting the American flag
nearest the Pole He referred To the manner in which
Grecy and his had carried in their retreat theft
ponderous pendulum unparalleled instance OF
sublime devotion science. The American expedition
had done much TO promote the extension of human
KNOWLEDGE and was entitled to the gratitude of the
yorld With these generous phrase. the president
introduced Lieutenant Greedy, who received from the
audience a welcome that must have gone fer to com
pcnsite him for all the opprobrium wil'h hdeous
andamonger, IN bis own country have hcaped upon
him. His face flushed with pleasure. and when he .
smoke it was with mOdesty of dcmcaupr ana man.
/ Ot y
brict reference the international Polar. scheme, and
with an uuequyocM expression of dissent from hls
colleagues opinion respecting the open Polar sea lie
believed that there such sea, not uINlgtbc but
-I omen under favorable conditions. lie described tho
ncographcI wollt ot hi- colony as covering nearly
Tb,c t,,rce. of latin fc ,Ud over forty OF longitude
lie outlined Lieutenant Lockwoods route and d.cov
cries. which had resulted ia adding To the charts coast
line of nearly 100 miles beyond the furthct point seen
by beaumont. of the English Navy. Greenland had
been carried forty miles norhward and been given
greater exten ion in that direction than i has gencr.
ally been credited with He described the mIthest
point reached by Lockwood, the conhguraon of tho
coast the land prospects as seen from an elevation OK
600 feet the broad level eXpanses of and leo.
and the absence in the od of any ice hocbergs OF
any other indications tending 10 prove their dircct
connection with the Splzbergen sea. The coast was
high, rugged and PERCEPTIONS and the vegetation re-
sembled that of Grinnell Land
TRACES or ANIMAL LIFE HIGH UP.
He smoke of the abundant traces of animal life above
tho eighty third parallel. and Of the tidal crack
tending from Cape Bryant along the entire coast,
running from headland headland, and varying from
one yard to several hundred in width Inside the crack
hummoclky ice was rarely seen, and outside prevailed
Commander Markham's paleocrystc ice He referred
10 the great depth OF the Polar ocean sounded by
Lock wood il was over 500 feet and apparently
rent existed He explained the extreme with which
the latitude and longitude of the turthet point
ascerained he testified to the extraordinary accuracy
of Lieutenant Bcaumonts maps, and stated that the
only correction necessary was the location of Capa
Britannia a few miles farther south. This quiet
thrust at Commander Markhams recent structures and
sceptcal declarations, and was enjoyed even by the
Englishmen present.
JOURNEYS AND DISCOVERIES RECOUNrED.
Lieutenant Greey described his aud Lieutenant
Lockwoods journeys in the interior of Grnnell Land,
and the physical conditions which were revealed The
ice cap between Archer and Greedy ords pictured,
and detailed account given of the discoveries
made inland, and especially of the ascent OF Mount
Arthur from the of which, $500 feet above the
sea- grand prospect was obtained Vegetation in
Cape Sabine. There valleys afOrdhg excellent
pasturage for musk cattle which feed toward tho
sea during the summer and gradually withdraw inland
as winter advances. Raised beaches marine shells
and drftwood gave evidence in the interior of recent
elevation above the At one place the trunks OK
conferous trees found many small glacial lakes
wore snryeXed and the CONFIRMATION OF ice eaps and