Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-16


in August, 1892, and that the party. having
failed to reach Greenland, were preparing
on October IL to start Immediately for
Eliesmere Land, with provisions to last till
January 1. 1873, hoping to reach the Eski-
mos at Cape Faraday or Clarence Head
They had two rifles. one shotgun and con-
siderable ammunition. They intended to
return to the Cary Islands by July, 1888
TO meet any whaler or to push on to the
Danish settlements. Capt. Mckay at once
headed for Ellesmere Land, but the ice pre-
vented his landing in the limited time at
his disposal No further news having been
received the party, If alive, is almost GER
tainly on Ellesmere Land Thus the pro-
posed expedition, landing there at the earl
possible chance of relief. 1t will make the
search for the lost party its first duty. to
which everything else will be subordinated.
In order to be fully equal to the require
meEtS OF the case, the party ought to re-
ceive reinforcement of at least six men,
to follow the east shore to Cape Faraday
and beyond while the south shore is ex-
amined by the party previously described.
Had there been station on Ellesmere
Land when the two young Swedes were
cast away in sight of its shore their ship
wreck would have been merely an unpleas-
ant accident. AS 1t is one cannot think of
their situation without dismay. Yet 1t Is
by no means certain that they are lost, for
the food supply of that land is ample for
SO small party. provided they were able
to obtain 1t. II their rescue involved great
risk and expenditure. it's omission might
seem excusable; but when 1t can be accom-
piished with almost TO risk, by what is
probably the cheapest arctic expedition
ever planned. and which. moreover prom
ises to yield a rich harvest OF scientific
facts and no inconsiderable economic ad-
vantages. and to establish a safeguard
against all future disasters to whalers and
to explorers-it would be disgrace to hui
manity II the rescue were not attempted.
Base of Operations.
I'm it's article. the circular states, on
Polar Regions VOL NIX. p. 800. the En-
cyclopedia Britannica says: In planning
new polar expedition 1t will be necessary
to profit by the lessons of experience This
experience may be summed up in a few
words. Any advanced ship or party must
have a depot ship to fall back upon which
Is within reach. and also in Communication
with the outer world. This makes disaster
on a large scale. humanity speaking. impos-
sible.'
These words describe the essential prin-
ciple of the present project: a secure base
Of operations. For greater security 1t will
be placed not on a frail ship. but on firm
land, at the entrance of Jones sound. where
1t will depend for communication not on
the uncertain fortunes of a single ship. but
on a whole fieet-the whaling steamers
which annually sight that point.
The two main objects of polar explora-
ton In the past have been the discovery Of
the northwest passage and the attainment
OF the pole. In the search for the north
west passage the Parry archipelago was
traced $50 miles to the west of Baffin bay.
In the race for the pole the shores of Smith
sound were traced 600 miles north from the
same point.
Between these two lines of search lies a
triangular area Of about 100000 square
miles Tor twice the size of the state of New
York;. which, lying neither in the direc-
ton Of the northwest passage nor in the d.
rection of the pole, has been almost en-
tirely neglected. Jones sound and Smith
sound were both discovered by Baffin in
1916, but while Smith sound, opening north
Jones sound. opening westward, has been
visited only three times, each time only for
two days. and explored only 100 miles west
ward.
only to prove impracticable for vessels:
and as for the attainment of the pole.
scientific men are unanimous in regard
ing it as of no practical value except for
geodesy. All authorities are agreed that
researches in physics and natural his
| tory as Influenced by arctic conditions are
of the highest value: but for this purpose
any point within. say. the 10Th parallel
is practically as good as any other AS
a necessary prerequisite to such researches.
the distribution of land and water must
be known. Thus the legitimate objects
of arctic research the filling OF the
as possible, with contours of height and
depth; and. on the basis OF this pioneer
work. observations of natural phenomena
of all kinds. The easy and definite prob
lens ought to be solved before the difficult
and indefinite. No one ought to plunge
without definite prospect into unknown
wastes of ice until every easily accessible
shoreline has been traced to its end.
Problems to He Solved.
"Now there is not in all the arctic an
unknown area offering so definite pros
pect as the triangular area between Files
mere-Grinnell Land and the Parry archi-
pelago On one side of that triangle, Files
mere-Grlnnell Land, having an eastern
| shore 495 miles long in straight line Q4U
miles longer than England), must have a
| western shore at least as long; while on the
| other side, North Kent. North Cornwall
Seymour. Paterson. Finlay. Vesey HamiI-
| ton, Markham, Emerald and Fitzwilliam
| Owen Islands. forming line 800 miles
| long, peep with their southern brows out
| Of the unknown. inviting exploration OF
| their northward 'trending TANKS. Along
both these lines (Which are almost exactly
perpendicular to each other), a number OF
| perfectly definite questions await solution
Does the coast from Aldrich's farthesi
trend in the direction of Prince Patrick
| Island, supposed by Mares, or does ii
run almost straight southwark, as assumed
| by Greedy? Is Hayes sound a bay, as init
| mated by Mares, or a strait, believed
1
| Is North Kent an island, as charted by
| Belcher. or a peninsula connected with
Ellesmere Land. outlined by DIR. Boas
| from the statements of the Cumberland
Eskimos? Is Cardigan strait really the
| westward continuation of Jones sound, oil
! separated from ii by barrier OF land.
| Was the open water. found there by Bel
cher as early as May ~, the exception oil
| the rule? What truth is there in the report
| of an abundance of musk oxen and rein
deer in the western part of ElleSmere Lane
! and of walrus, seal and polar bears in the
! adjoining sea? Where is that tribe of is
kimos, said to be living on Elesmere Land
but never yet seen by white men? In short
no other arctic area of equal extent con-
| tains many interesting and perfectly
| definite problems.
AT the same time there is probably nc
arctic area whose problems are easier OF
solution. The gateway to this area, the
| northern entrance of Jones sound, seems
to present the most perfect base of opera
| lions in all the arctic. AS pointed out by
the Encyclopedias Britannica, the base OF
operations must possess two qualities 1,
must be close to the area to be explored
| and 1t must be in assured communica tior
| with the outer world. 1t will readily be
! admitted that, as regards communication
those points which lie in the path of the
| that the others need not be considered. Ol
| follows the northern shore of Alaska and
British North America. which faces ar
| open ocean, and is therefore unsuitable fol
| q northward advance. The whaling grounds
| Of the Norwegians. indeed, have masse.