Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-26

the surface of these countries. it is
right 70 conclude that its beds must all
60 through the crust OF the globe he
was right Major Donellan knew the
geological formation around the North
Pole well. AID he was not safe person
70 dispute this question with. And he
might have talked about il at length If
other people in Il inn had not listened.
But be thought IL better TO keep quiet
after asking: Are you not surprised az
one thing? One would expect TO see
engineers or at least navigators figure
in this matter. while there are only gun
nerS who are az the head of itP"
1t is not surprising that the news
papers Of the civilized world soon be-
gan e discuss the question of coal dis
oovefies at the North Pole.
And why not" asked the editor Of
an American paper who took the part
OF President Barbicane, when IL is re-
membered that Captain Mares, in 1878
end 1876. at the sgd degree of latitude,
discovered large flower beds, hazel
trees, poplars, beech trees. etc. p
And in 1881 and 1884" added a scien-
tifc publication of New York, during
the expedition of Lieutenant Greedy at
Lady Franklin Bay, was not g layer of
coal discovered By our explorers little
way from Fort Cougar, near Warehouse?
And did not Or. Pavy say that these
countries are certainly full Of coal, per
haps placed there to combat at some
day the terrible masses Of ice which are
found there2n
Against such well-established facts
brought out by American discoverers
the enemies of President Barbicane did
not know what 70 answer. And the peo-
pie who asked why should there be coal
mines began TO surrender TO the people
who asked why should there be none
Certainly there we're some, and very
considerable ones too. The circum-
polar ice-cap conceals precious masses
of coal contained in those regions
where vegetation was formerly luxuri-
ant But if they could no longer dis
pute that there were really coal mines
u this Arctic region the enemies of the
association tried to get revenge in
another way. Well said Major
Donellan one day after hard discus
sion which had arisen in the meeting
room OF the gun club and during which
he met President BaTbicane face TO
face, all right ] admit that there are
coal mines; / even affirm it, there are
mines in the region purchased by your
society, but go and explore them-ha!
hal hav
That is what we are going to do"
ssi1 lrnpey Barhicane.
Go over the saith degree. beyond
which no explorer as yet has been able
TO put his foot"
1--WE will pass it reach even the
North Pole, said he. 1--WE will reach
it" And after hearing the president Of
the gun club answer with so much cool
ness, with so much assurance to see his
opinion so strongly, SO perfectly af-
frmed, even the strongest opponent be-
gan to hesitate. They seemed TO be in
the presence of a man who had lost none
of his old-time qualities. quiet, cold and
of an eminently serious mind, exact as
a clock, adventurous. but carrying his
practical ideas into the rashest enter
prises.
Major Donellan had an ardent wish TO
strangle his adversary. But President
Barbicane was stout and well able to
stand against wind and tide, and there
fore not afraid of the Major. His enc
mics, his friends and people who envied
him knew il only too well, But there
were many jealous people, and many
| jokes and funny stories went round in
regard TO the members of the gun club.
/ Pictures and caricatures were made in
Europe, and particularly in England,
where people could not get over the loss
which they suffered il the matter Of
pounds sterling AIR said they.
this Yankee has got it in his head TO
reach the North Pole. tie wants TO put
his foot where, up to the present time.
no living soul has yet been. He wants
TO build palaces and houses. and, per
hips. the White House Of the United
States, in part of the world which has
never yet been reached, while every
other part of the world is 80
we'll known to US" And then
wild caricatures appeared in the
different newspapers In the large
Elow-windows and news-depots, as well
II small cities of Europe as in the large
cities of America there appeared draw
hgs and cartoons showing President
Earbicane in the funniest Of positions
trying TO reach the North Pole, One
| sudacious American cut had all the
neubers of the gun club trying 10 make
an underground tunnel beneath the
terrible mass of immovahle icebergs &c
The saith degree Of northern latitude
each with an axe in his hand. In an
Other Iupey Barbicane, accompanied by
Mr.. J. T Maston and Captain Niehol
had descended from balloon on the
much-desired point. and after many IN
successful attempts and at the peril Of
their lives had captured piece OF coal
Neighing about half a pound. This
fragment was all they discovered Of the
anticipated coal-felds. There were al
SO pictures made Of J. T. Maston. who
was as much used for such purposes as
ms chief. After having tried to find the
electric attraction Of the North Pole,