The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-08
AN OPEN POLAR SEA.
Captain MoGrOgor Could Have Crossed 1
but Ho Was Not Exploring.

but Ho Was Not Exploring.
Portland 0rcgoaidn.
That steamers can pass through the
Arctic ocean in certain years is the
opinion of Capt A. Il. McGregor, based
upon his experience in the polar region.
Captain McGregor has seen twenty
three years service in the Arctic, and
commands tho steamer Orea, owned BY
the Pacific Whaling Company. OF San
francisco. He was at the Hotel Per-
kns lew days last week, and talked OF
his experience.
Last year." he said, mine OF tie Pa
ciiic Whaling Company's steamers ana
ships reached Cape Bathurst, the iur.
thest point north and east ever reached
By a vessel OF any kind. We had been
whaling in Bering sea, and, having nm
ished what is termed the outside catch
| in July, we started for the Arctic to tln-
ish the season. We passed along the
east shore, rounded Point Barrow, and
then made tho journey TO the cape,
which is near the Mackenzie river. We
cast anchor and whaled there the rest
of the season. The natives were some'
what surprised At our appearance, but
rs they had seen white men before, they
soon overcome whatever fear they
might have ielt and became friendly.
They did not differ in the least from
other Esquimaux. We sounded tho
ocean near the Mackenzie and found
that boat drawing more than four teet
OF water could not approach WITHIN
thirty miles OF the river. The land on
both sides was mountainous and cover
ed with snow. The Oldest native told
us that it was many winters since white
men came by boat, which led him to
believe that no boat had reached the
cape since Captain Collinson was
there in 1906. Captain Collinson
and his party visited the place
in small boats when they were making
survey of the British possessions, but
they were compelled to remain there
three years before they could return.
Sir John Franklin passed the cape in
small boats on his famous expedition,
and came as far west as Franklin, or Re.
turn Reef. There he evidently became
discouraged aud disheartened, and start
ed on his return trip. Had he known
that he had clear sea before him, he
doubtless would have continued on his
way and lived to tell future generations
OF the hardships connected with Arctic
explorations He could have made
what is called the northeast passage and
come out on the Pacific ocean and for
ever settled the question whether a
vessel could reach Alaska from Green
land through the Arctic. But he saw
nothing but monotonous stretch oil
land and what appeared to be closed
sea aheadIof him. He had kept in sight
but land probably thought it was end
less. When Return Reef was reached
he turned back and that is the last
know OF him.
1--WE could have made the trip from
the Pacific to the Atlantic last year ii
We had so desired, but our business was
whaling, not exploring. We found
what is called the breeding ground OF
the whales, which lies between Cape
Bathurst and the Mackenzie river
We left four vessels, the Norwalk,
Balaeva, Grampus and Newport, to win
ter there while the others finished the
season on the Siberian coast Those
that wintered in the Arctic have been
whaling all summer, but We have had
no report from them and do not know
ii the ocean is open again this year.
Natives at the cape, whom l questioned,
told me that the ocean was fairly open
three years out OF four, and that there
was great big sea- one year in five.
Last year was what they termed great
big sea-, and they said that the same
conditions prevailed in 1889. A large
vessel could not pass through n fairly
open sea, so the chances Of reaching
Greenland through the Arctic sea are
one in FIVE. From this am inclined TO
the belief that both Franklin and Col
linson entered the ocean when it was
OPEN"
Captain McGregor says the Esqui-
maux have made no advances in civil
ization. IAN aged native told me that
there is tradition handed down from
father to son that the boats and weap-
ons OF the hunt and chase are the same
to-day as they were 500 years ago. The
firearms and traps, tobacco and calico
were all introduced by white men. The
Esquimaux is satisfied with everything
as lie finds it and makes no effort to
effect any improvements. The native
| pOpulhLlOll IL TdplulN ulllllleuluss 4u6y
cannot withstand the march OF civiliza-
ton, unused as they are to its luxuries
and vices.
-Four schools have been established
for them in Alaska and they are being
taught to write and read, but it would
be better for them if they were left
alone. In their original state they get
along well, but education is their moral
ruin. When he learns to read and
and write the native thinks he is the
superior of his fellows and the equal of
the white man, and he affects the white
mans habits, whether moral or immor-
al. He goes to school simply for amuse-
ment. He wants to learn to read, write,
and talk that he may trade with the
whites and be regarded as one OF them.
1t cannot be said that the money ex-
pended on the schools has been ill
spent or appropriated, only that the
Esauimau is unlike the Indian, and the
same method OF training cannot be
applied to both.
THE Arctic is a cold region, but the
Rightly OF the atmosphere cannot be
felt through the furs that serve US
clothes. The mean temperature is Az
below zero, but during the fifty-seven
days that the sun is in sight the mer-
curry rises to So or 800.
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