Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-05-27
A Sledge Journey to the Pole.
Baltimore sun.

A novel attempt to reach the north pole
is about TO be undertaken by Colonel Gil
der, who was the companion of Schwatka
in their remarkable sledge journey from
Depot Island, north of HudsOn's Bay, to
King Williams Land, at which time a
river running northwest about hundred
miles was discovered by Colonel Glider.
The experience gained on that occasion
has led him to believe that the pole may
be reached, not by the means heretofore
adopted by arctic navigators, whereby so
many vessels have been wrecked, and SO
many lives lost but by dog sledges and
company of Esquimaux, with only a few
white men to form the scientific part of
the expedition Colonel Glider has laid
his plans before Lieutenant Schwatka and
Judge Charles z. Daley, president of the
American Geographical Society, who are
said to thoroughly and cordially approve
of them. He has also been furnished
with valuable data from the personal ex-
periences of Lieutenant Greedy, who,
while he thinks that Glider may find the
route from Cape Sabin to Fort Conger
Greely's station on Lady Franklin Bay
impracticable, may yet do good scientific
work by crossing Schley Land and going
on a voyage of discovery in the archipel-
ago believed to exist there. As to the
funds required for the expedition. it Is
stated that there is sufficient already sub
scribed in money and material TO insure
Colonel Glider in going, but he expects
to have much more to make his under
taking a complete success. His plan Is
not unlike that of Captain Hall, but more
adventurous and on a more extended
scale. Starting on the theory methods
nave failed, and it is only by adopting the
Esuuimaux method of travelling, living
with the Esquimaux and employing them
and their dogs and sledges, with the
smallest party of white men possible
that the pole can be reached, if ever at
all. he proposes therefore, to embark on
a whaler from New Bedford or New Lon
don, bound for Hudson's Bay or Cumber-
land inlet, where he will pass the winter
gathering a party of natives and as many
dogs as he can procure. He Will then re-
embark his whole equipage ON board oI
a Scotch steam whaler and proceed to the
most northern attainable point, where he
will make q station and pass the second
winter From this station when spring
opens. he viii begin his sledge journey
with his Esquimaux and their dogs, ana
move northward to Fort COnger, where
Greedy spent two winters comfortably
and where he viii find ample food for hls
small party, which had been left behind
by Greedy when he left Fort Conger on ms
disastrous return voyage II Will be re-
membered that when Greedy left Fort
Conger the whole OF his parts a. in good
health.
For the remainder of food required 10y
the Esquimaux. who VIII, take with them
their entire families, he will depend upon
the resources of the country. If ne
should succeed in reaching Fort CongeIr'
he proposes to make a dash for the pole
over the route taken BY Beaumont, of the
Mares expedition. and by Lockwood. 81
the Greedy expedition, In any event ne
hopes To- reach more northern point
than any previous explorer. The mef4l
of this plan is its simplicity The *
pense of it would be comparatively smal'
the principal cost outside OF the voyage
from the United States 90 the point 81
departure and back again would be Gov
cred ~ gifts Of arms. ammunition, knives
tobacco. needles. beads and the usual az
ticles Of trade, and occasionally dlstrlp-
ton of provisions to the natives whose
services are to be called into requlsliloh.
and the use of whose dogs and skilled
drivers ana hunters is Of prime import
apce in insuring the safety Of all en-
gagged in the expedition, ana altogeihei
essential 70 it, success.