Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-19
IN SEARCH OF THE POLE
Engineer Melville Anxious 70 Start on
Another Arctic Expedition.

Engineer Melville Anxious 70 start ON
Another Arctic Expeditfon.
A telegram 10 the Philadelphia Times from
New York, October II, says: Lieut. schwatka
denies that he and Engineer Melville are going
in search Of the north pole. When asked II
Melville had any such idea he replied:
81 believe he has. He has lately been trying
to get up an expedition, I understand, with the
object Of discovering the north pole. But
doubt about his starting, for he asks for from
$4,000 to $3.50, 600 from patrons, and think
that is too large q sum to be raised for such
purpose, and an appropriation for seeking the
pole Is good deal like making appropriations
for fireworks. Besides, there can be no material
gain in discovering the north pole unless you
can find the south pole as well, and our SHIPS
have been nowhere as near the latter as the
what are Engineer Melville's plans?"
HIS object Is purely pole-seeking ana 10 get
'ne than any one else mas
ordinate officer In one expedition that tailed, ne
should want TO be commander of one expected
Josefs Land by vessel and beyond that point by
means of sledges. I also think that this is the
6ene and indeed whatever IN tu1are ,
1 believe; be done BY sledges."
would not such an expedition as Engineer
eyes, even to reach Franz JOSEF Land. Only
two vessels ever got there and got away from 1T
safely ana I've reached it only to be stuck fast
"Do you disapprove entirely OF further polar
"By NJ means It is an unfortunate idea that
There are q number Of expeditions now pro
ethnoiogical Rno%ledse ana the sstabiishment
OF meteorological stations, which believe are
worthy Of full support and whose results would
lishment of a magnetic north pole. 1t would
De splendid achievement, an important data
to which to refer and Of great value to nayiga-
ton. This point should be between King Will
ltam's Land and Victoria Land, at q place
about fifty to one hundred miles north of Cape
LAND + has bsen reaeSe
ship, all such attempts having failed. 1t would
have to be reached by sledge party. have
compass failed to work, the needle remaining
wherever placed"
Would not such an expedition be danger
Certainly. The mortality about the mag:
netic pole has been eighty-six per cent. of all
reached the spot. lost 1875 men there. But it
would be with definite, practical object in
view. The cost Of such an expedition would be
1 went there in 1S1S-SO 1t was to the same
point and at cost OF only $4,000. But for the
purpose fine dip-needle would have to be
taken, and that would cost as much as my
whole expedition. To accomplish this object
those who went would not have TO remain at
Tic pOlHt WueTe the STATION WAS 10 D6eSttDIISLcu
more than two weeks or month-only long
enough to settle upon the exact spot. Then the
gain in determining from this magnetic curves
elsewhere, and the establishment Of o deter
mined magnetic pOle would be of great value.
Magnetism is coming in as Il force and power
everywhere, and to determine any point of ter
restrial magnetism would be great event.
-" An interesting fact that New Workers may
not generally be aware of is that the site of
their city was discovered during polar expe-
ditiOn, this having been the object OF Hendrick
Hudson's expedition"
What about the other proposed expedi-
tions?''
Zone of much importance is for several eth
biologists to take a party the whole length OF
the land occupied by the Esquimaux and live
with them several years, studying their way OF
life, etc. They are one of the most interesting
OF races. understand that Germany is about
this and thTee But nons Of she%
have either of the objects In view that i have
spoken of, being rather to obtain general geo.
graphical and scientific knowledge
Bismarck's Cruel Ellict.
GERMANY BECOMING INDIGNANT AT THE
SUFFERING AMONG POLISH ExILES.
The progressists in the German Reichstag
have resolved to make the governments action
in expelling Russian Poles from Prussia a lead
ing parliamentary question as soon as the
sions of the Reichstag are resumed. The
deputy, Professor Mueller, proposes to appeal to
the German government to withdraw the edict
OF expulsion on the ground that the operations
under IL lnJure German as mucn as foreign IN
terests. The municipal authorities OF kOnigs-
berg also have resolved to send a strong protest
against the explosions to Prince Bismarck, who
is the author of the edct. This protest will
describe the terrible sutferings to which the
Poles, thus uniustly eXied, are subjected, and
declare them a stain and dishOnOr upon the
German names. Many of the expelled Poles
have to pass through konigsberg on their way
to the frontier. and the great majority Q. them
reach that city in such abject distress that the
town has been compelled, from motives of
charity, to maintain a public relief committee
for their assistance. AS many eight hundred
penniless and starving Polish eXiles have been
in the custody of the committee at one time.
The German newspapers are becoming thor
Oughly aroused on the subject OF the explosions.
Most of them, without regard to party affilia-
and inhumanity of them, and describe them as
an outrage that must evoke the Indignation of
the entire world.