Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-02
SEARCH FOR THE SOUTH POLE.



Direction In Half Century.
From the San Francisco Chronicle
The first navigator who passed Cape Horn.
led BY spirit Of discovery and investigation,
was the French Captain FREEZER, who was sent
by the king into these frozen regions in I7l6.
He was the first to put on record a description
OF the phenomenon called aurora borealis north
OF the equator, and by a name TO indicate its
locality when seen in the direction Of the south
pole. IL appears that between the northern
light and the southern light there are some
striking points that tend to prove some differ
ence fl magnetic conditions. The electrical
display at both poles occurs simultaneously, n d
seems to correspond on an immense scale with
the discharges from the positive and negative
poles OF a battery.
The French king, Louis XIV, never appears
to have had many impulses toward usefulness,
but there was one notable exception. Inspired
by n curious work from the pen Of the presi-
dent Of the parliament of Dion, which called
attention to the unequal distribution Of land
and water on the surface of the globe, he re-
solved 10 seek in the southern seas a new India,
the exploration of which would enrich impov-
erished France. So Bougainville was sent to
establish a colony in the Maloceines Islands,
Just south Of the Straits of Magellan, with in
structions to explore the unknown regions iur-
Their to the south. While Bougainville was thus
engaged to the southwest of Cape Horn, Ker-
guelen was sent IN l772 to perform a similar
tack to the southeast of the Cape of Good Hope
or TO the south of what we call the Indian
ocean II was during this voyage that he dis
covered the land that now bears his name. Ii
IL a barren island. utterly useless FROM the
standpoint of human occupation, haunted by
strange birds and curious amphibians, with its
mountain tops SO covered with snow that it
makes the summers cold even for the latitude;
Yet he represented it when he returned as a
paradise. second expedition was sent with
q view to discover the truth, the command of
which, strangely enough, was given to Kergue-
len himself. That the truth might not be
known. he allowed no one to land. He circum-
navigated the island and returned to France.
But the truth could not be concealed. He was
tried by court-martial, deprived of his rank,
and sentenced to prison. He was pardoned
shortly after by Louis XVI, and died. sword in
hand. during the revolution in a naval battle
with the English. In 1902, under the directory,
an expedition was sent to the Antarctic ocean.
1t landed on Kings island. between Tasmania
and New Holland. bet. being warned of by the
English. who we're Just beginning to send their
criminals into the region, left without accom-
plishing anything.
In l712 Captain Cook left Plymouth with the
Resolution and Adventure with the intention of
passing the Cape of Good Hope and exploring
the high southern latitudes south of the Indian
ocean. In December of that year he met the
first floating ice and later was in danger from
immense fiat blocks. a considerable portion of
which was above water but bore little resem-
blauce to the icebergs of the northern seas. He
skirted the polar sea, holding his course east
ward and passed the winter in the islands near
New Zealand. The following season he went
further south. nearly to the polar circle. still
holding his general course toward the east dis
covering several islands. and having numerous
adventures. IL Is not necessary to follow him in
his wanderings. nor repeat the tale of his death.
Curiously enough. he expressed the opinion
4
than his ultima thule, the dangers were so ter
rible. He could not forsee what would happen
III this age of steam.
The Russians appeared on the scene in 1903
Two vessels. the Nadedga and Neva in that
year doubled Cape Horn but returned without
making any new discoveries. In 1919 Bellng-
hansen with two ships went south by way of
the islands of South Georgia, meeting the wall
of ice at 90 degrees. Going further west he
succeeded in pushing on to nearly 81 degrees.
when he was again stopped by the wall of ice,
with no land in sight. Ii was nearly the ex-
IRENE point To which Cook had attained
Moving still further west. he succeeded in
penetrating considerably within the Arctic
circle OF. Was claimed in 1852 by Prince
GalitZCn. TO the SD degree. This is not con-
sidered exact. though the expedition was sue
cessful- II discovered several islands. some of
them with high mountains, and finally returned
safely to CrOnstadt.
To the Russians succeeded the English
Captains Smith and WeddeIl. the last of whom
made an adventurous voyage with two small
vessels. one of sixty the other of sixty-ive tons
burden, setting out i'll 1s22. He discovered
islands which he named the Shetlanes, Orcades
and Farve. the last being OH the sixty-fifth
parallel. He reached latitude "A degrees. 1t
WIS an adventurous and remarkable voyage for
vessels of the class. In 1880 Capt. Biscoe, ill
two vessels better suited to the purpose. pene-
trated TO 50 de grees and discovered Enderby's
land Soon afterward there appears on the
records OF southern discovery the name of an
American whEler. Captain MOrrell. who does
hot appear to have added ANYTHING substantial
to the stock Of antarctic information.
The French resumed the work of discovery
officially in 1917. when an expedition WAS sent
cut under command of Monsieur De Freycinet
IL collected considerable valuable information
but was wrecked returning home. The next
was OF great Importance. commanded by the
celebrated DumOnt Uryille. the same who on
previous expedition in 1920 in the archipel-
ago of MOrea had happened to land on the
Island of Milo Just a Greek peasant spading
III his field had unearthed the stone of Venus,
now known by that name. He bought it and
brought II to France. and II Is now one of the
most remarkable works to be seen at the
Louvre. Besides the expedition commanded
by dUrviile. there were two others in prepare
ton at the same moment. one from America,
commanded by Capt Wilkes: the other Eng
hsh commanded by Capt. Ross The French
explorer was the first in the field. The record
% his voyage Is like that OF several predeces-
sort. only more adventurous. He met the
floating ice at about the same point. and adj
NAnCed into 10 boldly. changing his point of
attack when he found too great a resistance.
What he accomplished then with sailing yes
sci shows what results can now be accomplished
By vessels moved by steam. strengthened and
equipped with all the modern appliances of
polar exploration. The Wilkes expedition had
similar experiences but showed less energy
and spent o short time comparatively in dam
gerous proximity TO the ice
The results of the Ross expedition are more
interesting. All three penetrated to about the
same degree of south latitude-that is between
~ and IS degrees. where. il anywhere, appears
TO exlst something that suggests an Antarctic
continent Yet Wilkes and Dumont only
sighted IL. and Ross only sklrted its borders for
n distance OF about 100 miles, il may after all,
be large island. This mysterious land is
called Victoria Land, is surrounded by a per-
pendlcular wall OF ice, or of rock coated with
Ice. 200 feet in height, over which all that yes-
sells could see, when at some distance, was only
two lofty volcanoes, in active oper-
alton. No bay or inlet appeared anywhere
to break this monotonous WALL and the
vessels, only having sails, dared not ap-
proach for fear Of being dashed TO pieces A
modern Arctic steamer might be holder
might. in fact, in short time skirt it if it is an
island. move far enough along its shores to
discover some harbor where il might safely lie
up for the winter. This place, thus marked BY
two volcanoes, is the point where future ex-
ploring expeditions must commence. IL is a