Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-19
AN OPEN POLAR SEA.
\ STEAMSHIP CAPTAIN WHO SAID He
COULD HAVE CROSSED IT.

John franklin Observation-Disclosures of
Whalers-An Opinion as to the Results Of
Efforts to CfvfIize 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
McGreRor 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, nine Of the Pacific
Whaling company's steamers and ships
reached Cape Bathurst, the furthestpoi
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 Mex Zen
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 boat drawing
more than four feet of water could not ap-
proach within 80 miles Of the river. The
land on both sides was mountainous and
covered with snow. The oldest native told
- v.,sr Gin xvl,i ITO
men came by boat, which led me to believe
that no boat had reached the cape since
Captain Collinson was there in 1855. Cap
= tain Collinson and his party visited the
place IN small boats when they were max
ing 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 rs far west as Franklin, or Return
reef. There he evidently became discour-
aged and disheartened and started on his
return trip. Had he known that he had IL
c;ear 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 forever settled the question whether IA
vessel could reach Alaska from Greenland
through the Arctic. But he saw nothing
but monotonous stretch of land and what
appeared to be q 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
10 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 ont of four, and
that there was q great big sea- one year lii
five Last year was what they termed
great big sea- and they said that the same
conditions prevailed in 1889. A large YES
sci could not pass through n 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 whaer, he said: "Once
in awhile we encounter some dangers such
M being caught in the ice, but such acct
dents are not frequent. Avessel will some
times be stuck for three or four weeks be-
fore it can be freed from the ice, and occa-
sionally it is damaged by collision with gil
gantic foes or by being caught between
them. Planks are sometimes stove in, but
as there is no danger Of sinking on account
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
get into Behring 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 their way to the Arctic. The vessels cruise
there until July |, 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 and
finish the season there. They have com
munication with the natives all the time
and exchange some of their supplies for
reindeer meat, fish, ducks and ptarmigan.
When the season is ended, some of the yes
sells put in at Port Clarence, the rendezvous
for the feet"
Captain McGregor said the Eskimos have
made no advances to civilization. IAN aged
native told me that there is a tradition
handed down from father to son that the
boats and weapons of the hunt and chase are
the same today as they were 500 years ago.
The firearms and traps, tobacco and calico
were all introduced by white men. The Es-
kimo il satisfied with everything as he finds
it and makes no effort to effect any iEa-
provements. The native population is rap
u 4 al.