The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-12-13

scientific men or washington to the en- eel
that the solution of what Is known ~ tn,
polar problem Is now near at hand. It may
not be done by DR.. Manson, nor by Lieuten'
ant Peary, who arc the only men 80 far In
the field, but there appears to he the greatest
confidence that we are approaching the
conquest Of the frozen north and that re
vealing of its mysteries which mankind
has been SO long struggling for.
In Washington naturally the greatest in
terest Is taken in the efforts Of Lieutenant
Peary, who is nov in camp on the west
coast of Greenland, about the seventy
seventh parallel of latitude, awaiting the
advent of spring for another journey over
the glacial ice cap Of that remarkable con-
| tinent. Lieutenant Peary did o reach as
| fore this as other explorers had reached be-
fore him. lie did not go as near to the pole
as Lockwood and Brainard of tho Greedy
party went 10 or 10 years ago. He did not
| 20 as far as Markham and Parr of the royal
navy (Msrkham, then lieutenant, now ad-
miral, of late conspicuous through his con-
nection with the Victoria disaster in the
Mediterranean, nor yet as far as Sir Ed
ward Parry went away back in 1897 from
the northern shores of S~pitzbergen. But in
exploring the ice cap of Greenland II in
part fixing the northeastern coast of that
continent no rendered splendid service to
geography and science.
New Field.
Next year Peary may go much farther
north than any one has yet been. 1t is his
purpose to explore the islands which lie to
the north of the mainland of Greenland as
far rs they extend. If they go to the pole,
he may follow them that far. The proba-
bilities are, however, that these islands do
not run much farther north than the lati-
tude Of SO degrees "a minutes, made by
Lockwood and Brainard. That point Is
S95 miles from the north pole, reckoning
geographical or nautical miles. 20 OF which
equal Il little more thar 60 statute miles.
Lieutenant Peary's brave wife is u Wash
ington woman. Her mother and sisters
still live here and are well known and
much liked. Mrs. Peary will come back
from the arctic next summer or autumn, it
is expected, with a baby born on the shores
Of icy Greenland.
The arctic and scientific men of Washing
ton give Peary credit for having marked
out a new and distinct field in arctic en-
deavor. His methods are original, and his
field Of operations, on a large scale, wholly
new. He has demonstrated that the very
highest results in the way OF travel and eX-
ploration may be accomplished by small
parties. He and Astrup, the faithful Nor
wegian, werethe only members Of the party
which Travelled across the continent to
Greenland to the eastern shore two years
ago. Whereas the English government and
other nations have sent out expeditions
which cost a half million or more dollars
the English expedition of 1875 is believed
to have cost 81 ,0O0, 00O-not one Of these
cumbersome parties has accomplished one
half as much in the way of actual explora-
ton as was achieved by Peary and Astrup
with a few dogs.
The Geographical Society.
Another arctic project is being considered
in this city. A young mar of the name of
Stein, attached to the geological survey,
has laid plans for an exploration of Files
mere Land, which lies to the west Of Green
land, and whose western and northern
shores have not been explored. Inasmuch
as this land is a part of the American con-
tinent, Mr.. Stein says Americans should fol-
low it's coast line and see whittier it ex-
tends. He will not expect to reach a high
latitude if ne does explore this region, but
hopes to ~colonize Il party of men, and by
making advance stations ultimately to
reach the pole ltselI on thls or some OCher
route. Mr.. Stein is very enthusiastic and
has applied to the Geographical society Of
this city, of which Gardner Hubbard Of
Bell telephone fame is president, for assist
ance. a committee composed of General
Greedy, Commander Melville and DR.. Men
denhall of the coast and geodetic survey
ere now considering his plans.
Much anxiety is felt here for the fate of
DR.. Nansen, the Norwegian who has dclib-
erately sailed into the ice pack off the coast