The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-07-31
AN OPEN POLAR SEA.
A STEAMSHIP CAPTAIN WHO SAID HE
COULD HAVE CROSSED 1T.


John Franklin Neutrality-suspicious. of
whaiers--An Opinion ms to the Results of
Efforts to Ciyilize the Eskimos.
That steamers can pass through the Arctic
ocean in certain years is the opinion of
Captain A. II. McGregor based upon his
experience in the polar region. Captain
McGregor has seen % years service in the
Arctic, and commands the steamer Orca,
owned by the Pacific Whaling company of
San Francisco He was at the Hotel Per
kins and talked of his experience.
Last year" he said mine of the Pacific
Whaling company's steamers and ships
reached Cape Bathurst, the furthest point
north and east ever reached by vessel of
any kind. We had been whaling in Behr-
ing sea, and having finished what is termed
the outside catch in July we started for
the Arctic to finish the season.
I'VE passed along the east shore, round
ed Point Barrow, and then made the jour
ney to the cape, which is near the Mcken-
zie river. We cast anchor and whaled there
the rest Of 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 became very friendly. They
did not differ in the least from other Eski-
mos. We sounded the ocean near the Nc
Kenzie and found that a boat drawing
more than four feet of water could not APP
proach within 30 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 boat had reached the cape since
81 In
tain Collinson and his party visited the
place IN small boats when they We're max
ing 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 a. far west as Franklin, or Return
reef There he evidently became discour-
aged and disheartened and started on his
return rip. Had he known that he had a
clear sea before him he doubtless would
have continued on his way and lived to tell
future generations Of the hardships CON
nected with arctic explorations He could
have made what is called the northeast
passage and come out on the Pacific ocean
and for yer settled the question whether
vessel could reach Alaska from Greenland
through the Arctic. But he saw nothing
but a monotonous stretch of land and what
appeared to be a 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 Return reef was reached, he turned
back, and that is the last known of him.
I'VE could have made the trip from the
Pacific to the Atlantic last year if we had
so desired, but our business was whal-
ing not exploring, Natives at the cape,
whom 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 1859. \ large YES
sci could not pass through fairly open
sea, so the chances 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
When Captain McGregor was asked about
his experience as whaler, he said: "OncC
in awhile we encounter some dangers, such
a. being caught in the ice, but such acci
dents are not frequent. a vessel will some
times be stuck for three or four weeks be
fore ii can be freed from the ice, and Occa
sionally it is damaged by collision with gi
gantic foes or by being caught between
them. Planks are sometimes stove in, bu
as there is no danger of sinking on accoun
of the vessels being thoroughly saturated
with oil very little attention is paid to such
accidents.
After working through the ice, which is
generally about June |, the vessels try to
getlnto Behrlng strait ahead OF the whales.
The strait Is the narrowest point, and the
object of the whalers is to get there first
and take the whales as they come through
on theirway to the Arctic. The vessels cruise
there until July l, when the tender arrives
from san Francisco with coal, potatoes and
other supplies and takes the oil and whale
bone. This is termed the outside catch
Then the whalers strike for the Arctic anc
finish the season there. They have com
munication with the natives all the TIM
and exchange some of their supplies TO
reindeer meat, fish, ducks and ptarmlgan
When the season is ended, some of the yes
sells put in at Port Clarence, the rendezvou
for the fleet"
Captain McGregor said the Eskimos hay
made no advances to CIVILIZATION. An age
native told me that there is a traditio
handed down from father to son that tn
boats ana weapons OF the hunt ana chase al
the same today as they We're 900 years age
The firearms and traps, tobacco and Gallo
were all introduced by white men. The Fl
kimo Is satisfied with everything as he tind
provenents The native population is raj
idly diminishing. They cannot withstan
the n arch of civilization, unused as the
are to its luxuries and vices.
"ECur schools have bppn esta hi shed Il