The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-11

the surface Of the ice. He aays that it il Q
matter OF indifference TO h,m. and Is Just
Is Veil pleased TO let the ship vait in one
position - in another.
The vessel is eaiit Of Douglas spruce
nom Puget sound. which il - strong as
oak hus nos 30 heavy.
What do You think OF Nansen's plan -
ton City.
II regard it - an illogical .ehem. Of
seii-dessruesion," vas the emphatic an
And what abou. Pea-y's exreait,cn :"
"Oh. Peary may make the farthest north
TINS tune; possibly be NAV reach S5sh par.
aiiei. For tac present the record of nv
omcers. lockwood and Brainard, must
II IS interesting to note that a British
expedition viii soon sail AMI endeavor to
reach the pole by way Of Franz Josef land.
The leader holds views similar TO those of
Lieut., Melville. This expedition Is not .
national effort. II is private. planned and
equipped by private enterprise and private
money. IN order to follow up the line in
which private exertious have already done
more for polar exploration shan many gov
eminent expeditions have achieved. Its
leader. Frederick q. Jackson, Is .
business man, possessed Of leisure
and su6icient means. and expe-
rienced in travel in all parts
of the world. OF the same age as Dr.. Nan
cen and. like him, married. he il rs typical
an kngiishman - the latter - Morse
man. Pluck and go" are his in very
large measure; experience in serious ice
work be cannot Law claim TO, but he knows
more about the Arctic regions than many
famous explorers did on their hrss setting
out Mr.. Jackson has made a summer
cruise to the far north, and under the tut
ton OF . canny Peterhead whaier he has
picked up many wrinkles which will help
him in time Of need. He il Keen sports
man rather than man Of science. but his
ten companions Will b chosen for their
ability 10 make ali necessary scientific OBJ
servations and collections. II his plans
come out as he hopes Jackson will he the
most eager in the race to the pole, and lt
will not b his fault II the Union Jack is
not the first nag planted on that much
coveted site. He intends to leave England
about the middle Of July or perhaps as late
q the beginning OF August
his plan Of attack - approved BY the
Arctic admirals of the British navy. Il il
To approach ey Franz Josef land. which
may In favorable years be comparatively
easily reached. On landing depos would
be formed and stores laid up as . base for
retreat. and then by siedging corthward
along the land ice the coast would be de-
iineased and mapped - far a. il extends,
other deposs established, and, IL the sur
face proves suitable, and If Franz Josef
land proves, - il probable, not 10 have
great northerly extent. IN advance may
be made on the sea ice. carrying boats for
crossing open water.
II seems very probable that in this way
the highest iasitudes Of earlier explorers
may be passed; and in Franx-Josef land
life is more tolerable than in perhaps any
other place at the same latitude. Leigh
Smith. the most successful Arctic yachts
man. spent the winter Of lSSl-S2 in hut
built on an island in the south of Franz
Josef land after his ship was wrecked. and
without winter clothing, and he found
bears and walrus plentiful enough to
keep himself and his party supplied
with fresh meat all the time. Two
Characteristic views of the country show
how desolate it Is, in spite Of it,
comparatively advantageous conditions.
Mr.. jackson intends to hire or purchase Q
steam whaler to convey him to Franz Josef
services Of Mr.. Crowther. Leigh Smiths
ice master. After establishing winter
quarters he will make some preliminary
trips 70 test his slsdges and complete the
survey OF the southern part Of the land,
reserving the great northward march for
the spring Of 1904 He 10 pushing forward
his preparations quietly and quickly, and.
- he 6Oee not ask for puolts meney, he
does not fool it necessary - puhaieh any
OF the details Of his intended mode of life.
1t 10 difncult 70 forecast the result Of kis
expedition. From the little we know
about Franz Josef land IL appears that
with . favorable season much good work