The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-11-02
Artic Exploration.

/ Artic Exploration.
sergeant Brainard, of the Greeley ex-
I petition, has not abandoned his plan for
searching the mysteries of the north pole
He Is arranging for another expedition
next year. He said recently: : have
no particular desire to explore the arctic
regions with the object Of reaching ex-
treme northern latitudes Having reach
ed higher point than any other living
man. am content 10 lei matters rest on
that score until perhaps some one has
passed the record There Is. however, a
field for exploration in the more souther-
" attitudes of Grinnellland which would
well repay all efforts in that direction.
am satisfied. 1t has been fond dream
for year and a half past to command an
expedition of this kind myself in a few
years, and now see my way clear 10 its
realization. expect that my expedition
will start in thespring Of 1890 70 be gone.
If necessary, two years, with the main
object Of exploring in the vicinity of
Hayes Sound, which includes regions
never tread by the the foot of man. Nv
plans are somewhat crude as vet. No
governmnt assistance will be required. a.
IT will be wholly private enterprise.
have some wealthy friends in New York
who are interested in the subject. and
they have repeatedly assured me that
when am ready they will not be lark
ing in furnishing the necessary aid. I
intend risking whatever means of nv
own | have, and | viii be the only per-
son of the expedition who will not be on
salary People don't 90 to the arctic
regions for money, know, but there il
satisfaction In knowing that there will be
funds on the return My party viii con-
slst of twelve persons besides myself
one naturalist, one astronomer. who will
assist IN meteorological and magnetic OBJ
servatlons, one meteOrologist, one car
penter, one tinman. one blacksmith one
cook and steward, and three Esquimo
dog drivers and hunters. These are. Of
course, exclusive of the captain of the
vessel and his crew. A small steamer
will be used and the objective point
Alexandria Bay the arctic paradise, which
Is only about fifteen miles west of Cape
Sabine, where the Greely survivors were
rescued At Alexandria Bav will be the
base Of our operations, but have sec
ondary object in recovering the papers
and the collection of scientific snecirnens
that we left at Cape Conger. That is
about three hundred miles from Cape
Sabine, although the route BY which the
Greedy party retreated is nearly FIVE
hundred miles. If find upon reaching
Cape Sabine that the conditions are un-
favorable shall abandon that portion of
the expedition for | don't intend to run
any risks. My intention Is, however, to
land most of our stores about five miles
west of Cape Sabine and then proceed
northward, making caches of provisions
on the way, 50 that in case of accident to
the vessel we can easily return TO our
base Of supplies and begin our expiora-
tions, which will be right in the neigh
borhood- You see this is not ike an
expedition in search of the north pole
| know just where am going and Just
what TO expect We will have TO endure
cold. darkness, and IA great many hard
ships of one kind another. but there will
not he a particle of danger, and look
upon the trip as if it were only an ex-
pedition TO the Virginia mountains Ex-
ploratiou will be the chief object of the
expedition and although it is intended
that physical and scientific observations
shall be carefully conducted at the sta
ton they will not be allowed 20 interfere
with the proposed exploration am
almost sure that We can accomplish our
work Of defining the outline of Grinnel
land inside of year. But We have sup
plies t0 last Us two years. | estimate that
the expenses viii be S60.000, and but
$4,000 if We are able Ia return the first
year. | am just a. vel as / ever was,
although my eyes are still somewhat af-
feeted by snow-blindness. They are i'm
proving gradually, and viii soon be all
right again By the way, | think that
some public aid should be extended to
Colonel Gilmer, who is now on his way
to the arctic regions. He expects to
reach Cape sabine overland, and, if he
does, he will starve 20 death unless some
provisions are sent through to him