The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-07-22
A S:cdSe Journey to the Pole.

A novel attempt to reach the pole is
about TO be undertaken bv Colonel Gil
der, who was the companion of Schwat-
Sa IN their remarkable sledge journey
from Depot Island, north of Hudson's
Bay, to King Williams Land, at which
time river running northwest about
hundred miles was discovered by Col
Glider. The experience gained on that
occasion has led him to believe that the
pole may be reached, not by means
heretofore adopted by artic navigators,
whereby so many vessels have been
wrecked and so many lives lost, but by
dog sledges and company of Esqui-
maux, with only a few white men to
form the scientific part of the expedi-
ton. Colonel Glider has laid his plans
before Lieutenant Schwatka and Judge
Charles 2. DAILY, President of the Amer
lean Geographical Society, who are said
to thoroughly and cordially approve of
them. tie has also been furnished with
valuable data from the personal expe-
riences of Lieutenant Greely, who, while
he thinks that Glider may find the
route from Cape Sabine to Fort Conger
-Greely's station on Lady Franklin
scientific work by crossing Schley Land
and going on voyage of discovery IN
the archipelago believed to exist there.
As to the funds required for the expedi-
ton, 1t is stated that there is sufficient
already subscribed in money and ma
terial to insure Colonel Glider in going,
but he expects to have much more TO
make his undertaking complete sue
cess. His plan is not unlike at of
Captain Hall, but more adventurous
and on much more extended scale.
Starting on the theory that civilized
methods have failed, and that it is on
ly by adopting the Esquimaux 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 it ever can be reached at all,
he proposes, therefore. to embark on a
whaler from New Bedford or New Lon
don, bound for Hudson's Bay or Cum
berland inlet, where he will pass the
Winter gathering a party of natives
and as many dogs as he can procure.
He will then. reembark his whole equip
age on board of Scotch steam whal-
er and proceed to the most northern
attalnable point where he will make
station and pass the second Winter.
From this station when Spring opens he
will begin his sledge journey with his
Esquimaux and their dogs, and move
northward to Fort Conger, where Gree
ly spent two Winters comfortably, and
where he will find ample food for his
small party, which has been left behind
by Greely when he left Fort Conger on
his disastrous return voyage. 1t will be
remembered that when Greelv left Fort
Conger the whole of his party was in
good health. For the remainder of the
food required by the Esquimaux, who
will, as usual, take with them their en-
tire families, he will depend on the re-
sources OF the country. If he should
succeed IN reaching Fort Conger, he
proposes "to make dash for the pole
over the route taken by Beaumont, of
the Mares expedition, and by Lockwood,
of the Greely expedition" In any event
he hopes to reach a more northern
point than any previous explorer. The
merit of this plan is its simplicity. The
expense of it would be comparatively
small; the principal cost outside of the
voyage from the United States to the
point OF departure and back again
would be covered by gifts of arms, am
munition, knives, tobacco, needles,
beads and the usual articles of trade,
and occasionally a distribution of pro-
visions to the natives whose service are
10 be called into requisition, and the use
OF whose dogs and skilled drivers and
hunters is of prime Importance in insur-
ing the safety of all engaged in the ex-
petition, and altogether essential to its
success. .-BdttimOre SIn.