The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-10
MELvILLE'S SCHEME.

Chief-Engineer Melville, who is an
xious to again brave the terrors of the
unacceptable Arctic, has outlined the
plan which he proposes to follow, pro-
vided some rich scientist or other person
with money and who wants fame, will
contribute the $4,000 for the necessary
expenses of the expedition. Melvllle's
route would be by Franz Josef Land
the scheme embracing a series of supply
depots. about fifty miles apart. He
would establish the first depot at Cape
Nassau, the northernmost point of Nova
Zembla, whereJhe would leave an officer
and four men, he and the remaining
twenty-five men going forward by ship
as far as possible northward along the
west side of Franz Joseph Land, and
there land With an equipment for four
years. Here the second supply depot
would be established, four men being
left to guard it. The main body would
then proceed northward, establishing
depots of supply every fifty miles till
the extreme northern point of land had
been reached. Thence the party would
start out boldly for the pole. over what
Melville assumes is a smooth body of
ice. He thinks the ice must be smooth
because of its fixity, and says that if the
land extends to the 85th degree of north
latitude, an officer with ten men could
reach the pole from the last supply
depot in sixty or seventy days, the
others of the party proceeding more
slowly and leaving supplies for the re-
turn trip. The pole being reached, the !
can return from depot to
depot. and having plenty of good food
will be able to keep themselves in good |
condition. The men who have been
left behind, will, as they are reached on
the return, perform the hard work for
others who have suffered from the
longer journey. All reaching the first
supply depot at Cape Nassau, they can
eisurely await the coming of spring
and the breaking up of the ice, when
hey can push off in the ship for the
south. The plan as devised. seems
easible, indeed, it appears so
plain and practicable that one natur- !.
lily wonders why it hasn't been adopted
before, and all these hundreds of lives
ost in foolish efforts to reach the pole
,een saved. But,
rhe best laid schemes o. mice and men
Gang aft a-gley;
md leave US naught but grief and pain
For promised joy.
The pole has been approached near
nough. Men have got near enough to
to know that neither the pole nor the {
egion surrounding it for hundreds of
niles, can be of any possible value to !
nan, either in a scientific or any other J
ense. There can be no good In stand
ng upon the imaginary line that con-
titutes the axis of the earth, and crow
ng, and this is all that Melville expects (
0 do. The personal satisfaction In this
natter is not werth the money that it /
ill cost, and is certainly not worth the
yes that will be lost in the effort.
But this should be firmly and unmis- =
akably fixed upon the mind of Melville
nd associates. should he succeed in in
ucing others to accompany him, and
Q able to get the money required,
nat the risk is all his own,
nd the government will assume
o responsibility in the matter, either
ow or hereafter. he should be told that
he goes, Nc relief expedition will be :
mt out year or two hence to hunt
II him or his bones; that when he sails
. bids the world adieu, and the world v
D longer has interest in him. If he is
Id these things, perhaps he will be de-
rred from the reckless, senseiess
adertakiug.
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