Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-11-07
A GREETING AND A GOD-SPEED
GIVEN DR.. OCTAVE PAVY.
From the Golden Gate in 1872.
From the South of Greenland In
1880.

Citations from the former Polar eX-
pedition of DR.. Octave Pavy, which he
was to command and outfit at his own
personal expense might be of special
interest at this time. 1t was called the
"Pavy expedition to the
NORTH POLE"
The citation is made from the Over
land Monthly, of San Francisco, June
1872, and from the pen OF a Fellow of
the Academy of Science of that city.
monsieur Octave Pavy, for three
years the secretary and associate of the
lamented Gustave Lambert, has thrown
himself into the breach lett by the sad
death of the French explorer, land from
his own resources equipped an expedi-
ton which will start at an early day
from San Francisco. Accompanied by
five others, he will take passage in q
a ship chartered for the occasion, visit
ing Siberian settlements, where he will
take on board the requisite number of
dogs for sledge purposes, with the
necessary dried salmon for food, and
the reindeer skins for clothing. His
intention is to enter Behring Strait by
August 1st. Observations for depth,
temperature and currents will be con-
tinued through and across the strait
and the earliest opportunity taken of
having his party and stores deposited
ON Kellet Land or Wrangell Land. AS
there will be over ten thousand pounds
of material to carry, and as the entire
winter is to be spent in transportation,
an advance of but four miles per day is
calculated on; thus permitting of a
double journey each day, only half the
weight being forwarded at time.
This is wise precautiOn to save labor
and strength. Arrangements will be
made so that the adventurous explor-
ers can be brought home either from
Etah or Cape York.
The matiT1el of the expedition is as
novel as the route. NJ. Pavy, though
not himself an Arctic explorer, has for
years given the subject his deepest con-
sideration, and few of those who have
personally encountered the hardshlps
of Arctic work are more cOnversant
with the efforts already made, the
causes of partial success in some and
failures in others. -..-.
A student geographer and annotator
of Arctic facts, he brings to his present
enterprise a physique Injured to Alpine
work a personal magnetism which eyok-
ed the wondrous success of the Franc
tireurs in the late Franco Prussian
war; a knowledge of navigation obtain
ed personally on the high seas; a scien-
tific training acquired in the Universi-
ty of Paris-all cemented together by a
volonte which quails not before the
dangers of Polar winter, and an ar
dor not to be cooled by the rigors of an
Arctic climate. He is literally pervad.
ed with the one idea and willing to
hazard all in Arctic research.
While his enthusiasm is so great
and his hopes most sanguine, he has
still we'll calculated the cost, and, in SO
far as in him lies, will be prepared fOl
all emergencies. No ordinary Obsta
cles will move him from his purpose;
and with an honest endeavor to adj
vance the interests of science does he
turn his face Poleward.
THE PERSONNEL.
Captain Mikes of Nonpa,eH fame
accompanies M. Pavy, and in no other
hand could the navigation be SO safe
His voyage across the Atlantic is al
earnest of his undaunted pluck
Fertile OF genius, and of indomitablt
energy, he will be all invaluable aid il
this dangerous enterprise. DR.. CHS
more from California. also joins the
expedition, and his experience in Alas
ka, while in the United States army
and with the Western Union Extension
Telegraph, will be of very considerable
service. He has already been in thu
Arctic Ocean, so that he is not altogeth
er new to the ice, and his whole he ar
is i'm the work.
One of the remaining members o
the expedition is a noted hunter on ths
plains; the other two are goOt
whalers.
The character of the expedition will
MT permit of any elaborate expert
ments or series of observations; but al
| available opportunities will be seizct
for meteorological readings, and re
cording the magnetic constants, whil'
particular attention will be directed t.
geographical positions and currents
There doubtless will be many who will
sneer at the craziness, as they will tern
it, of such an expedition, or laugh a
the fool-hardiness of this enterprise
Practical men, 80 called, who deem
aught but money! making and self
aggrandizement as the acme O
fOolishment, who look upon th,
worship of the "almighty dollar" as tn,
main aim of life, to such the crusader
will seems lunatics, the martyrs
as demented, even Columbus
as a madman; but, thank heaven
the old race of heroes Is not dead
there are still to be found those wht
will battle in good cause-men who
live not for themselves, but for man
kind, willing to spend their talents an,
energies tor the public veal.
l have, in previous paper, had oc
casion to remark ON the great advan
tages to science which would resul
from successful exploration of the un
known regions lying near the Pole
There is work for many expeditions
and time, money, and men would wei
be sacrificed in subserving the public
good. Would that more men wer,
filled with the zeal and spirit whicl
actuate NJ. Pavy; that scientific explo
ration were more popular; that wOrl
for the commonwealth of mankint
we're more prosecuted. To that Provi
dence who scorns not the feebles
effort which is pure in His sight do W,
commit this undertaking. Our mos
heartfelt good wishes so with NJ
Pavy."
AS showing the medical experienc,
won by DR.. Pavy during his ON
years stay in South Greenland anon!
the Eskimos and the icebergs; and TIN
value of his gratuitOus service to tn
Danes and natives, the following lette
is subjoined:-
GODHAvN, Disco ISLAND
GREENLAND, July IL, 1881.
DIR. OCTAVE PAvY, SURGEON OF TIL
| Howe ATE EXPEDITION OF 1880.
My Dear Sir:-Before we part
wish by this to acknowledge the grea
and never relaxed attention which yo
have paid us here, in North Greenland
Always and everywhere you visited
both among the Danes and natives, il
your capacity as surgeon. Not fe,
of us feel ready to express our mos
grateful assurances for your kind, an
as results show, very successful treat
ment. AS your experience about tn
ailments common to this region ha