Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-12-14
A PAIR OF TROUSERS.
A GARMENT THAT DRIfTED AROUND
THE NORTH POLE.

A Lost Pair of Neither Coverings Belong
ing to. Sailor Has Mapped Out for
Daring Explorers n Route Through the
Most Northern Seas.
a The history of pair of trousers that
have been around the north pole, accord
ing to scientists theories, enlivened the
subject of the arctic problem, as handled
by Professor Angelo Heilprin before a
large gathering of Geographical club
members at the Century clubs hall. The
garments, it seems, were the property OF
sailor who accompanied an expedition
to the north by way of Behring sea. How
the apparel got into the current PRE-
sumed to set in some distance above the
frigid line did not appear, but Professor
Heilprin described the way in which it
travelled day after day, as geographeTs
believe, far to the impenetrable north,
swept around the pole, crossed it per-
haps, until it entered the northern ocean
boundary of Greenland and came down
its snow lined coast into the compara-
lively beaten track that made its discov-
cry easy.
The professor illustrated his remarks
with map of Greenland thrown on
canvas from stereopticon, one of the
first correct geographical representa-
tions of that icy land perhaps ever made.
With long cane he traced the progress
of the sailors trousers from point to
point, triumphantly establishing In the
opinion of many learned men the theory
of current sweeping in a circular path
through the arctic regions.
Professor Heilprin went cn to tell of
an expedition that will start from Nor
way, and followed as far as possible in
the wake of the sailors neither garments,
the idea being that the waters will carry
the ship almost without guidance clear
to and around the north pole. The ves-
sci is to be built with view to an effec-
tual resistance of the crushing effects of
great ice masses. Another expedition
will set out with the same objective
point in view, but by a different route.
The way pointed out by Parry in 1899,
by way of the northeastern coast of
Spitzbergen, will be traversed, and Pro-
fessor Heilprin was inclined to think
that Parry's views of the proper way to
get to the north pole were sound.
The chief result of Peary's work
from a geographical standpoint leo
turer declared, was the final settlement
of Greenland's northern boundary. The
territory has at last been proven to be
an island. Its most northern expanse,
moreover, is not covered with ice and
snow. Politically it is no mans land
from O short distance above the seventy
third parallel clear to its topmost line.
A race of arctic highlanders inhabits
this independent region, and these peo-
pie are believed to be the most northern
tribe in point of location on the earth's
surface and also the least numerous
23S souls in all. They are most honest
and attractive people.
Professor Heilprin defended the north
pole expeditions from the attack made
upon them by those who declare they
are of no practical utility. Not only
had they the romantic interest attaching
to attempts to attain the mysteriously
evanescent, but their benefits to science
and general knowledge have been con-
siderable. The Peary expedition had
not for its object the reaching of the
north pole, but the establishment of
Greenland's northern boundary. Its re-
suits, in the language of an eminent
man of science, dwarfed all other expe-
ditions of the kind. -
With reference to Greenland's interior
the theory has existed, based upon the
deductions of Swedish explorer, that
an oasis existed there. This oasis was
declared to be entirely free from snow
and ice, and to form what might be
habitable spot, with perhaps the charac-
teristics of advanced human life. This
theory, however, was but Alexander Won
Humboldt's theory restated, based upon
observations of the attitudes of noun
tains. This theory, so far as the island
of Greenland is concerned, is now found
to be fallacious upon demonstration that
cannot be questioned.
The experiences of whaling vessels,
which during the last century pene-
trated far to the north beyond the known
limits of the Arctic regions and found
an open sea with very little trace of ice,
were considered by Professor Heilprin.
He considered the accounts quite accu-
rate, contrary to the belief of many 9TH
ers, and thought that climate conditions
may have changed in the frozen regions
during the last 100 years.
The professor was inclined to think
the discovery Of the north pole but
comparatively few years of.-Philadel-
phia Press.