New-York tribune., 1890-07-16

TLl TILE NORIN POIE


all hope of approaching the North Pole from
Hchrne Straits. De Longs expedition was
conducted en- the theory that vessel beSet
with ice in that quarter would be carried by
4 nnrthwald drift into the highest latitude
The theory was partially established by the
expedition, since the duit Of the ship toward
the Pole while AT first slow was rapid at the
beginning of the third summer; bat the
pressure of the Icc-ilpcS proved irresistible, and
seemed to demonstrate the lmplacucabllity OF
reaching the goal without the loss OF the eX-
plorcr', vessel. Three years after tho ship went
down a most remarkable confirmation ot the
theory OF the polar current Wa offered by dis
c1vcry near JulI1nShaab at the southern cN-
trcmity of Greenland Several articles belong
ing 10 the JcanncttGs crew and abandoned at
the time of the wreck were found there on an
icc-noc From the opposite side of the Polar Sea
this wrcrkagc had reached it, destination near
Cape Farewell by some unknown route. The
current which De Long had expected to carry
his ship - the Pole and ont again on the east
coast Of Greenland had apparently operated
10 convey these abandoned articles to the
designated quarter. 1t Wa, complete demon
>rration of comparatively short and direct
route across the Arctic Ocean hy way OF the
North Pole
Disastrous ~ the Joanncftc expedition was
it cpirp6or1tod in the end The scientific theory
uruH (which 10 W., org1L'I"d. and instead ~
dctorIug explorers from following in ~ wake
il ha, indicated the route OF III" next campaign
of Arctic adventure. pr NaEscn. who haN
secured an appropriation from the Norwegian
Government for a Polar expedition, ha> de-
lIhcIatcly selected De Long line "i advance.
With q now ship huilt - a. 10 hn easily forced
out of the ice IN " nip of tho i!o">. hc is EoW
making preparations - >ot ont cMly ~ lN?2
for Bchi1ng straits The shin i> t. bc pro-
vI,loncd for five years. the period covered hy
the Jcannctto and the vrcckag" in reaching
.Iuan~ha1b from Wlangcl Island. II will be
manned by twelve sailors, and Will cary
scientific ,tai1 IN addition 10 DL Nan>cn and
Captain lycrdrup. The voyage viii be con
Quoted on the identical line, followed by De
Long. hu, aN the ship vil, be- one expressly
built for drifting in the ice. II Is believed by
the explorers that they viii escape the fate Of
th" Jeanette Expedition and emerge after
three. four or five years IN the North Atlantic
Or. Nan~cn> wonderful work in Greenland i,
an earnest of success. II II be possible for
human endurance 70 0ycrcom" the difficulties
and peril, Of a drit-yoyage across the apex Of
the Arctic Ocean
The recovery Of the Jeanette relic, is not
the only recent proof Of tine course of this
Arclc current. In 1856 bows and arrows
wolc found on the coast Of Greenland identical
with those used 10y the Eskimo in the vicinity
Of Bchrlng sea. These must have been car
rcd by the Ice in the general direction Of the
JcanncttcS hnc Of drift t. the opposite quarter
Of the Arctic Ocean. The scientific evidence
points 10 natural means Oi communication
between the North Pacific and the North At
lantic across the Aictc ocean by way of the
Pole. \, the only known current which could
have carried the Jcann"tt" relic, - Cape Fare
well follows the trend Of the east coast of
Grccnland II seems unreasonable 10 suppose
that a ship entering the ice of WIangcl
Island could even cnt"r smith Sound from the
north. II DR.. NanNcus vessel escapes dcSlruc-
ton it will reach the North Atlantic in all
human probability somewhere between East
Greenland aud Franz-Jo,cf land and re-
treat similar to that conducted by Payer and
WcypIccht is within the range of possibility.
# the Ic"->hip zoe, to the bottom prcmaturcIy
on the track of the Jcannc'tc retreat to the
Lena can bc conducted with all the advantages
10 be derived from De Longs melancholy ex-
ucrlcuco>