The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-13
TO EXPLORE THE ANTARCTIC.

a newspaper paragraph states that an
experienced Scotch whaler, Captain GRAZ,
Of Peterhead, has obtained funds, chiefly
supplied in Scotland, to equip two vessels
for Antarctic explorations. DR.. NoRDES-
SKIOLD, son of the wsll-known explorer,
will be the scientist of the expedition.
What are called polar explorations have
been limited almost exclusively to one pole
OF the earth. The Arctic region has had a
peculiar charm for navigators ever since
the discovery of the New World. The ex-
petitions sent thithsr within the last fifty
years contribute to human history many of
the most thrilling examples Of human cour-
age, enterprise and suffering. Probably
the explanation Of the favor which the
Arctic region has met with is that
the greater part Of the dry land of
the earth is hung round the North Polo,
and it is in countries north of the equator,
and north, too, of the Tropic of Cancer,
that all which is interesting in the drama
Of human existence has been enacted. Be-
sides, explorations at the South Pole have,
SO far, revealed nothing but monster
glacial bergs so precipitous in construction
as not to admit even of their being scaled,
and so extensive as to give no indication of
an open, navigable sea.
The region round the South Pole is vast
waste, with the Antarctic Continent set in
the midst, and even the Antarctic CONT
nent, so tar as we know it, is a continent
OF ice, without an inhabitant and without
anything of interest to the geologist or
botanist. We say so far as we know it
and the qualification is important, for we
know almost nothing Of the vast
circular area, 1850 miles in diameter,
bounded on the outside by forbidding
ice barrier This circle holds r mystery
which man has never made serious at
tempt to solve, as he has made of the North
Pole-and whether there is an open sea in
side the ice barrier, with shores warmed
by equatorial currents; whether these
Shores covered with forests and verdure,
are the homes of people the like of whom
we have never seen; whether there are
whaling and sealing grounds, like those in
the Arctic waters; whether the Antarctic
continent has rivers, mountains, animals
aud birds, are questions that we can only
ask, without receiving an answer, for no
endeavor has been made to penetrate The
stern rampant of ice since Captain Ross
sailed along it in the '40s and gave to part
of it the name of Victoria Land.
1t is stated in the paragraph which is the
text of our speculations, that it will cost
$4,000 TO equip Captain GRAY's exploring
vessels, but it is hoped that nearly twice as
much money will be realized from oil and
whalebone, independent of the scientific
results. The name of NoRDRNsKJoLD at
tached to the expedition will alone give i,
fame. His father, Baron NoRDENsKJoLp,
is tho distinguished Danish explorer who
made the northeast passage a dozen years
ago by sailing along the upper coast OF
Europe and Asia and coming out at Beh-
ring straits. The son is said to possess
likewise the qualities Of first-rate sea
man ana commander, combined with those
of an intelligent observer and student. II
the ice wall can be penetrated through
openings that have heretofore escaped OBJ
servation, and any part OF the secrets
within brought to the worlds knowledge
be will accomplish the task. If not, the
world will be content when he says it car
not be done.