The Portland daily press., 1893-11-22
AN OPEN POLAR SEA.
Capt. McGregor CouldIHave Crossed 1t, but
He Was Not Exploring.

That steamers can pass through the
Arctic ocean in certain years is the
opinion of CAPITA. H. McGregor, based
upon his experience in the polar region.
Capt .McGregor has seen twenty-three
years service in the Arctic, and COM
mands the steamer Orca, owned by
Paciica Whaling Company of San Fran
cisco. He was at the Hotel Perkins few
days last week and talked of his expert
ence.
"Last year," he said, mine of the Pa
cifc Whaling Company's steamers and
ships reached Cape Bathurst, the far
thest point north and east ever reached
by yes sci of any kind. We had been
whaling IN Behring sea, and, having fin
ished what is termed the outside catch
in July, we started along the east shore,
rounded Point Barrow and then made
the journey to the cape, which is near
the Mackenzie river. We cast anchor
and whaled there the restrof the season.
The natives were somewhat surprised
at our appearance, but as they had seen
white men before they soon overcame
whatever fear they might have felt and
become very friendly. They did not
differ in the least from other Esaui-
maux. We sounded the ocean near the
Mackenzie and found that boat draw
ing more than four feet of water could
not approach within thirty miles of the
river. The land on both sides was
mountainous and covered with snow.
The Oldest native told us that it was
many winters since white men came by
boat, which led me to believe that no
11n Io nha1 fI,n
Collinson was there in 1855. Capt. Col
linson and his party visited the place in
small boats when they were making a
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
Return Reef. There he evidently be-
came disheartened and discouraged and
started 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 gen
erations of the hardships connected with
Arctic explorations. He could have
| made what is called the northeast pas
sage and come out on the Pacific ocean
and forever settled the question whether
a vessel could reach Alaska from Green
land through the Arctic. But he saw
nothing but monotonous stretch of land
and what appeared to be closed sea
ahead of him. He had kept in sight of
shore during his entire expedition, and
seeing nothing ahead but land probably
thought it was endless When Heturn
Reef was reached he turned back, and
that is the last known of him.
"We could have made the trip from the
Pacific to the Atlantic last year if we
had SO desired but our business was
whaling, not exploring. Natives at the
cape whom I questioned told me that
the ocean was fairly open three years out
of four, and that there was a 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 fairly open sea, SO the chanc-
| es Of reaching Greenland through the
Arctic sea are one in five. From this
am inclined to the belief that both
Franklin and Collinson entered the
ocean when it was open. Portland
Oregonian.