Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-12-15

so many men have sought in vain to reach,
but which is as sure to be surmounted as
the world stands and the human race CON
tinues to exist.
Though we'll along in years-somewhat
past 51-and with IA head of white hair,
Commander Melville probably would not
hesitate an instant to lead a polar party
were the opportunity to be offered him.
Nor is there another man in America bet
ter qualified than he to lead party to
glorious success. Notwithstanding his age
he is a stalwart man, still athletic and as
hardy and rugged as when he assisted
De Long in that remarkable escape from
the ice pack to the north of Siberia and
afterward prosecuted the search for the re-
mains of his i'll fated commander and COM
panions in the tundra of the Lena delta
Pathetic Picture.
Probably the saddest picture to be seen
on the walls of the government depart
ments in this city is the one which hangs
in the room of the navy department cccu-
pied by Commander Melville, who is chief
Of the steam engineering bureau of the
navy. 1t shows in graphic fashion the scene
in the Lena delta when Melville, clad in
heavy suit of fur to enable him to resist
the frighttul cold of that, the coolest part
Of the earth colder by far than the north
pole itsef-appeared at spot where, pro-
truding through the snow like mute and
unavailing call for help, was the frozen hand
of poor De Long. There this brave man
and six or seven of his companions had per
ished miserably of starvation and cold in
one of the bleakest spots which the mind
OF man is capable of imagining. Here Mel
Vile found their bodies aftera search which
of itself was heroic and memorable in all
arctic work, full of heroism as are those
chapters of mans struggles with nature in
her angriest moods.
1t is IL grewsome picture and attracts the
attention of every visitor to the office One
can scarcely realize that the bluff, hearty
commander, soft of heart and hand is the
very man who braved the rigors of Sibe-
rian winter to search through week after
week for this sad scene.
The Way to the Pole.
Commander Melville believes he knows
the way to the pole and has not changed the
opinion which he expressed in his book
few years ago, that with a properly equipped
party and Francis Joseph land as Il point of
departure the right sort of men with the
right sort of leader will be able to march to
the pole itself and back again with little
risk of life and without being called upon
to suffer extraordinary hardships.
Mr.. Melville holds different theory con-
corning the conditions which exist at the
pole than that held by most arctic stu
dents. lie believes the north pole of our
earth is surmounted by an enormous ice
cap, perlNps 2,G00 feet in thickness, dwin-
ding down to n thin edge POO or 300 miles
from tie pole. The surface of this great
ice cap, in his opinion, is almost as level as
floor. Over it, he believes, II party of men
with sledgeS could travel at rapid rate
The difficulty which they would encounter
would be in approaching and getting upon
j.. This mass of paleocrystic ice, this sea born
glacier which innumerable ages have
builded
Whether this theory is correct or not it
certainly is exceedingly interesting, and
we shall never know what the conditions
of ice, of water or of land are at the geo
graphical pole till some daring explorer
contrives to reach that region, and, what is
quite as important, to say the least, to get
home again. 1t is pity that Commander
Melville cannot be placed at the head of a
party setting out to test by actual investi-
cation the correctness of his theories If
the government were to engage again in
the field of arctic work, it is more than prob
able Melville would be chosen for leader OF
the expedition, but there is no chance that
the government will do anything of the
bort
Lieutenant Peary's Efforts.
While interest in arctic work is very keen
among the people of the country and among
the scientific men of Washington, congres,
could never be induced TO make another ap
preparation for that purpose. So tragic anc
bumiliating were the experiences of Lieu
tenant Greedy and his men, and the vaiI
efforts made 10 relieve them, that at least an
other generation will have to pass away he
fore our government can be induced to be
come sponsor for new expedition. This II
to be regretted because Americans hav,
shown themselves to be the most daring
and successful of all arctic explorers. III
to date it is the American flag which ha
been planted farther north than any other
Americans have approached nearer the poll
than the parties of any other nation.