The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-05
THE ANTARCTIC MYSTERY.
An Expedition from Australia Will T
to Solve 1t.

An Expedition from Australia Will Try
to Solve 1t.
The latest, and in many respects most
important, movement in geographic explo-
ration is directed towards the south pole.
In 1881 the Australian colonial govern
ments united upon a scheme by which they
hoped to accomplish something in the mat
ter of Antarctic exploration. The colonies
proposed to raise 5000 on condition that
the mother country contribute a like sum.
The proposal found favor in England. but
the announcement Was made by the treas
ury that it did not see its way to make an
imperial contribution for such a purpose.
Bnt the Australians have chung to their
purpose. The colonial 5000 is still avail
able. and it is nov understood that the
British government will add at least $4,000
more. What has lent interest to the Ie-
yised scheme and promises to give charac-
ter to the expedition is the fact that the
Australians have secured the cooperation
of Baron Nordenskjold, in many respects
the most experienced Polar authority. He
is an accomplished scientific observer, has
bad large experience in ice navigation, and
his training has been such that he is un.
surpassed III the matter Of economy. 1t ia
not certain whether the baron will person
ally accompany the expedition, but as he
has had several able colleagues in his
northern expeditions it will not be difficult
for him to select a suitable leader.
The expedition must have singular good
fortune to come up to requirements at a
cost of t1O,OO. A steam vessel must be
specially fitted for ice navigation: men and
officers and scientific observers must be Sc
cured; food and clothing for a year or more
must De stored; and among the other ne
c~essities will be scientific apparatus, sledges
and Norwegian snow-shoes.
In 1873, the Russian navigator. Beliing-
hauseD. penetrated rs far az 10 degrees, and
two years later he discovered and named
AIexandra's Land and Peters Land. Later
in 1898 came Weddall. who reached latitude
10 degrees Is minutes south and longitude
~ degrees l6 west. He saw, as he thought.
an open sea to the south, but made no other
discovery. After Weddall came Biscoe in
1881, who discovered Enderly Land. In 1885
Sabrina Land was discovered and named by
the officers and men of the Eliza Cook from
New Zealand. and in the following year the
United States expedition, under Capt.
Wilkes. came upon a great ice-line and con-
Guided that it marked a continuous line Of
coast. D'Gryiile, the French navigator,
foliOwed in $40 and discovered a line of
coast lying directly south of Victoria. Aus
tralIa. Sir James Clarke Ross, between tho
years 1S41 and 1913. made three voyages to
the Antarctic regions. and while confirming
D'Erviiie's discovery, made many other
geographical conquests. Ross discovered
Victoria land and traced its coast from lat
itnde II degrees TO latitude Is degrees 10
minutes, the highest southern latitude yet
attained. 10 the two lofty peaks on that
land he gave the names of his two ships.
Erebus and Terror. Sir Joseph Hooker.
the famous botanist, and other scientists
accompanied Ross. and some valuable and
fruitful scientific observations were made.
Since Koss' time the Pagoda and the Chal-
lenger have made explorations in the south
ern seas, but they failed % win any sue
cesses inside the Antarctic circle, Ross
record remaining at this top of the list.