The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-22
0 SEARCH FOR The POLE
William elders Expedition TO
the Frigid Regions Of
the North.
hIrteen Years Have Elapsed Since
He Looked IN Its Lo-
cation.
Now He Proposes to Find Ont Whether
II IL = Moving or : Fixed
Point.

~
II 10 = Moving or : Fixed
Point.
On the 4th Of July. 1879. Col. VIM. H.
Glider and Lieut.. Frederick Schwatka, who
Wcrs sssrchinR the frozen wilds OF King
Williams land and the adjacent promon-
horiss md islands for relics Of the i'll fatsd
Expedition Of Sir John franklin, stood
apon the shore Of bleak Cape Felix and
ooksd across the frozen straits " the clifs
BIZ Cape Adelaide, whore nearly half a con-
bury before Sir James Ross had located the
north magnetic pole. Lack Of time and In
btrumsnts prevented these two hardy
travellers from making observations while
near tho pols that might have proved OF
great value 10 the world.
D6incs that time ne scientist has visited
The region, and IL is Z peculiar fact that not
Bincs the days when Ross first made his
Important discovery has any effort been
made to determine the nature Of the pole
Of vsftieity " magnetic pole. For sixty
two years, says the New York Press.
it has been . holly disputed quss-
tion among The most eminent authorities
on terrestrial magnetism whether the pole
10 . moving or q fxed point.
When Col. Glider looked upon the spot
d designated BY Ross 90 the locality OF the
pole, he determined that sometime he would
return with : properly equipped party to
make . series Of magnetic observations in
ths neighborhood and TO settle that psrplsx-
Ing doubt. In the thirteen years that have
elapsed since that time he has never lost
sight Of his purpose. In his opinion the
time 10 now ripe for action. and the past
week has seen the first stop taken toward
tho ~frsition Of his plans.
Col. Glider has enlisted The interest Of
the National Academy of Sciences. through
its president. Prof. Marsh, Of Yale college;
Of Chief Engineer Melville, Of the navy;
Prot. q. A. Sohott, OF the coast and geo.
detio survey; Gen. Greeley. ehisf signal
officer; Prof. Nswcombe, in charge Of the
Nautical Almanac, and Z number Of other
eminent scientists and g~eoRrsphsrs.
On last Monday evening . special meet
was held In ChickertnR hall for the purpose
Of discussing Col. Gilder's plans for the
proposed expedition. Prof. w. 4. Trow-
bridge, Of Columbia college; Prof. Meyer,
of Stevens Institute, and Gen. Greeley
spoke IN favor Of The project. and papers
J.. O. Mendsnhal of the coast survey express
ing their approval. Finally the society
promised to give Col. Glider it, hearty sup
port.
Col. Glider has also eonsulted with the
superintendent OF the United States coast
and gsodetio survey concerning the pro-
posed expedition, and found that there also
his plans were approved. The department
will detail . trained observer to accompany
his expedition, will provide two complete
sets of magnetic instruments and give de-
tailed Instructions for the method Of eon-
ducting observations. II will also train one
or more observers outside the government
service that they may be thoroughly fitted
for the work. This settles at once the most
important features of the expedition. - it
10 an assurance that il will be properly
equipped for making the magnetic observa-
tions thorough and exact.
While the expedition will thus he under
the direct patronage Of the government the
expense will not fall upon the public treas
ury. II 10 Col. Gilder's plan to equip the
party from funds acquired by private sub
ton will not be more than $25, 600. The
party will consist Of seven persons. inelud-
ing Col. Glider. Two observers will be
taken to represent the coast survey, and
one colleRian will 90 40 representative of
the American Geographical ~socisty. Three
have been on Arctic trips before. A steam
vessel will be hired of the same type ~ the
Kite.
The party will leave New York in Juns OF
next year and will proceed to Repulse bay
through Hudson Strait n Fox channel.
whale boats and stores enough TO last three
years, and will return to New York. The
party will winter at Rspulss bay, and in
April, 1894, will start on q slsdge journey
across Boothia. ~promontory for Cape AIDE
laide. There q permanent house will be
built.
The observations that will be made will
doubtless extend over = period of two
years. and cannot but prove Of great value
to the world of science. II ii 10 found that
the pole has moved since ths Tins Of Ross
8iscovery-and many SCIENTISTS. including
Lieut.. sohwatks. believe that it hss-Col'
Glider and his party will be prepared to de-
termine its exact location, and, AZ Col.
Glider said at tho meeting Of the Geograph-
ical society, they will ''hoist the stars and
stripes upon the POLE" =.
II the party meets with NO mishap II will
be ready to return to Repulss bay In the
fall of 1895. and in the spring OF 1886 will
be brought home in the same steamer thai
is to take them up. II it is found that the
contemplated observations can be com.
plstsd inside of the period Designated the
party will be able to return to Repulse BAY
and coast down Hudson bay to York Fac
tory. whore the boats can be left and tn.
comparatively short journey Of 700 miles
made overland to Manitoba.
Under command of q man OF such ript
experience as Col. VIM. H. Glider this ex-
petition cannot fail of rich results. Col
Glider 10 perfectly familiar with the coun-
try, to be- visited. He has lived and jour
neyed with the natives there until he un
derstands them thoroughly and speak
their language with ease. He Is . persever-
ing and indefatigable traveller, and undel
his guidance q homsward trip through tn,
British possessions, II made necessary
would be safe and comparatively easy.
Col. Glider frst visited the Arctic region
In 1878, as second III command TO Lieut.
Frederick Schwatka on the expedition t
King William Land, which has been al
ready mentioned.
Tho party left New York in the whaling
schooner Eothen. They landed ut Chester
field inlet, Hudson bay, and organized
searching party to travel on sledges. Thei
trip 10 on record "a the longest sledgs jour
ney ever made-3, $50 statute miles. III
party found valuable relics of franklin
expedition. and explored the coast Of Kin
William Land, making many importan
changes in the maps.
In June, 1881, Col. Glider accompanied
the Rodgers expedition in search Of the sur
vivors Of the Jeannette. When the Rodger
was burned he made = winter journey fror
Boring strait across Siberia to TELEGRAPH
news Of the disaster to the secretary of tn
Lazy. Later he again Joined in the scare
on the Lena delta,
Col. Glider served with honor in the civi
"a. ns,1io%tnr 40 N rrivatn ~ thn Fifth MAJ