Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-28
ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS
Captain Howgate Was the Pioneer in Polar
Colonization.
Brief Stories of the Expedition Of the
Florence and the Gulnare
Parties.

| The younger generation has only heard of
] Capt. Howgate as a criminal of more than
| ordinary characteristics and the hero of
| thrilling drama replete with stirring scenes
| In scholarly circles, however, and among
| the older people he is remembered with
| pleasure AMI gratitude for his substantial
| endeavors to increase the store of the
worlds knowledge and further the progress
| of science. He was always ready to inter-
est himself in measures that promised to
accomplish anything in the directions indi-
| Gated, and was especially partial to propo-
| sitions that would assist toward making
| less mysterious the secrets of the polar
regions Of the north. He was. indeed, the
| pioneer in the idea of polar colonization.
| and was never weary of giving time and
money to prove that 1t was the best means
| to be adopted by which the ultima thule
| Of explorers aspirations might be attained.
His Plan of Polar Colonization.
In the Forty-fourth Congress, in Febru-
uary. 1877. bill was introduced providing
for the equipment of an arctic expedition,
which was favorably reported afterward by
| Congressman Willis. The bill authorized
| the President to fit out an expedition to
the north pole ard to establish a temporary
| colony for the purpose of exploration. The
| plan required that the colonizatio party
| should number at least fifty hardy. resolute
| men, enlisted in the United States for such
| service, PROVIDED Win supplies ana pro-
| visions for at least three years; that a
| strong, substantial building should be car
| ried on shipboard, ard that the principal
| station should be in Lady Franklin bay,
| between 81 and 81 degrees, or If possible,
| as high Cape Union, which Is between
| 81 and S3 degrees. 1t was also provided
| that a United States vessel should be used
| only for transporting the men and supplies
| to the location of the colony. and that the
| vessel should then return to the United
! States. and afterward to make annual Wis
| ties, with fresh supplies and to keep the
| colony in communication with the outer
! world.
Military discipline was required to be en-
| forced, and the bill provided that three
| commissioned officers and two surgeons be
selected with view to their peculiar fit
ness; that an astroi Cmer and two assist
| ants be selected by the National Academy
of Sciences to accompany the expedition,
and that one or more members of the reg
uiar force be competent to make meteor
illogical observations and to communicate by
| telegraph and signals when necessary.
The committee strongly urged the pas
| sage of the measure, on the ground of the
| excellent results that would acrue to geog-
| rapEy geology, natural history and botany
| Capt Howgate was the author of 1t, and
| his plan received the hearty Endorsement
| of such savants Joseph Henry, Prof.
| Loomis, President Potter OF Union College,
! Admiral Porter. Rear Admiral Davis, DR..
| Hayes the arctic explorer; President DAILY
| of the American Geographical Society and
| others.
| Fitted Out the Florence.
| So great was Capt. Howgates belief in
the excellence of his ideas, and SO confident
was he that the Forty fourth Congress
| would pass he bill that, while it was pend
ing, he went to work and fitted out pri-
| vate expedition for the purpose of collect
| ing such supplies during the ensuing win
| ter might be useful for the main exped-
] ton in 1878 In case Ii was authorized.
| The Florence. schooner of fifty-six tons
rrr-fl.4 hi N.aVr- L ON.
! and on August 3, 1877, il set sail for the
| north under command of Capt. George r.
| Thyscn, who served on the Polaris with
Capt. Hall There were twelve other men,
all told, aboard and the papers at the time
| spoke of the Florence and her unlucky
| thirteen. Capt. Howe gates instructions to
Capt. ThysOn were interesting in their con-
| else and simple character.
Capt Howgntc's Instructions.
The primary object Of the expedition
he wrote. "is the collection of material
| for the use of the future colony on the
shores Of Lady Franklin bay. This mate
rial will consist of Fsquimaux to the num-
bcr of ten famIlies-if that number can be
| obtained of young, strong, healthy persons.
| willing to be transferred to the location of
| the future col0ny-cf dogs, not less thfn
| twenty-five In number, mostly females, and
| selected for their docility, training, strength
| and endurance, of sledges two in number,
| and completely and carefully fitted up for
| travel, and of clothing in ample quantities
| TO supply fifty persons for three years. The
| clothing VIII be carefully selected, of
| choice furs and skins, and all made up by
| native women The secondary object of
| the expedition is the collection of scientific
| data and specimens as the field is a new
| one, and possessing unusual interest
| He instructed ThysOn to endeavor to
! bring back Whalebone and oil enough to
| make the return cargo profitable but not
| in any manner to allc. such substantial
| endelv0rs to affect the real object of the
| expedition. Bear constantly in mind" he
| said. that this is not whaling voyage.
but the first step in work that will, 1
| trust when completed, be a noteworthy
| one in the annals of geographical and
| scientific discovery
| The meteorolopist of the expedition was
| Mr.. o. T. Sherman of New London. Conn.
| who received his instructions from Prof.
| Cleveland Able AMI the naturalist was
| Mr.. j. kumlein of Madison, Wis, who took
| his course of duty from Prof Spencer +.
| Baird.
] The Florence wintered in Cumberland
| Gulf reaching Annaualook harbOr October
| :. 1871. and remained there until July fol-
| lowing.
| Failure of the Expedition.
| The Florence had taken aboard the Es-
| quimaux families and the dogs at the winter
quarters on Cumberland gulf. in accordance
| with Capt. Howgate's instructions. and
| started for Disco bay. but terrible weather
was encountered; the provisions ran out,
| and no supply ship arriving, Capt. Thyson
| returned 10 st. Johns. The failure of this
| expedition settled the fate of the bill In
| troduCed and favorably reported on i'll the
| House Of Representatives,. and polar re-
| search seemed to suffe. a setback.
| Capt. Huwgate was undIUnted however.
! and not only continued to urge his belief
| in the prOpriety of polar coloni zation upon
| Congress, but proceeded 70 equip another
! expedition.
| The Guinare Sent Out.
| In lNNb he sent the Guluare On quest to
| the north, cguipIel as it was provided in
| the bill introduced in the Furty-foIrth Con-
| .sresS that the United States vessel should
| lie fittel out The Culnare WAS able to
! steam as well as sail. but before her de
| partura EaVl! experts ccnd mi Cd her M
| Chinrry. civilians, however. said the t5il-
| crs and engines were equal to the voyage
| and the expedition started. Gen. GreeIv 1t
| first intended TO accompany the GUluarc.
| but declined when the government refused
| To sanction the Gulnare, and thus mad. il
| a private enterprise.
The boat reached St. Johns, where Il was
l found the boilers had burned out and the
voyage came to final termination.
rha winter however