The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-12-24
SOUTH POLE.
THE BLEAK REGION WITHIN
THE ANTARTIC CIRCLE.
Intense Cold and Great Icebcrgs-
What Is Known of This Little
Explored Section-A New
Expedition.


. will take the trouble 10 read some
accounts OF the storms and difficulties
which beset the nayigators in that
great southern ocean, he may change
his plans, or at least modify them SUI
ficiently to substitute steamer, OF
one which can use steam when nesces-
sary, says the Washington Star.
Curiously, while this generation has
heard so much about arctic explora-
tioa that the north polar country is
quite familiar one to them, the ant
arctic regions are still as much an I'M
known part of the world as when re-
ferred to by the writer's of the last
century as Terra Australia Incon-
nlta. The reports of terrific storms,
enormous and dangerous icebergs,
and impenetrable ice walls. given nv
the few who have veutured into the
| almost unknown regions of the far
south, are appalling.
An attempt TO invade the South Sea
! and the mysterious island at it's cen
ter Is now to be undertaken from the
same point of land from which the
very first exploring expedition moved
southwark, and by a man with the
same name as that OF the one who
first demonstrated that the Southern
Ocean extended completely around the
pole The first expedition TO the
south polar regions was fitted out bv
the Governor of Peru in 1867, who
sent his nephew on voyage of dis
covery from Cape Horn. The first
! man to discover that the Southern
Ocean was IN fact the great BODY of
water of the world, extending entirely
around the South Pole and having the
Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans as
Its arms, was Captain Cook, whe sailed
from the Cape Of Cool Hope in 1773.
The most successful explorer of this
difficult region was Captain Ross, who
sailed from the southernmost point OF
Australia in 1910.
So it will be seen that this mystcri-
Gus and dangerous waste of waters
has been invaded from the three
points OF land most nearly approach
ing 1t, the southern tips OF Africa, Aus
tralla and South America. Tho south
ern point OF South America extends
nearest to the mysterious island,
or continent, which is sup.
posed to occupy the center
of this Southern Oceau. From Cane
Horn, South Americl, to Graham's
Land, which is supposed TO be on the
mainland OF the Antarctic continent.
the distance IS but little over 6Oj
miles due south. From the Cape OF
/ Good Hope, Southern Africa, due
south to Enderby's Ltni, supposed to
be on the Antarctic continent, the
distance is about 1900 miles. From
Australia Tor Tasmania) due south to
Adele Land, also supposed to be
| part OF this ice-bouud continent. is
about 1900 miles.
The limits OF the Antarctic CONT
nent, as this terra inco ynita IS called.
are supposed to be nearly coincident
with the Antarctic circle. At Ora
hams Land, inst souoh of South Amer
lea, 1T extends about two and one. half
degrees outside OF the Antarctic circle.
At Enderby's Land, south of Southern
Africa, 1T Is nearly on the circle. At
Adele Land, south of Australia, it ex-
tends outside of the circle short dis
lance. From what is known of its
shores, however, they are extremely
irregular. They are surrounded by
lines OF iceberSs, which IRE very
dangerous to vessels, though those
who have invaded them successfully
have found peaceful waters not
burdened with ice within the circle
which they draw around this land.
Passing through these waters great
bays or CULTS have been found whose
| shores are Incl with n perpendicular
wall of ice hundreds OF feet hizb and
hundreds OF miles long, absolutely
! preventing access to the interior,
which appears from the masthead to
| he "A field OF ice without vegetable or
animal life save what may visit it by
way of the sea or air.
As already indicated, the first at
tempt to explore this region was bv
/ Governor de Castro Of Peru, in 1861.
by sending his nephew, Alyuro Mo-
| dana, to search for the Terra Aus.
! trails lucoguita,' which was supposed
to surround the South Pole. Another
expedition was sent from PERI in 1G)G.
The first discovery Of the continent.
however, was by Captain Dirk Ger
ritz, who sailed from Rotterdam i'm q
merchant vessel in 1922, AMI passing
through the Straits OF Magellan was
carried by storm to about the point
now known rs Gruhlm's Land. which
Is tine nearest point to any OF tue other
I continents
This discovery, however, was by &c.
cident, and it was not until 1773 that
nu organized expedition set out under
that intrepid English explorer, Cap
tain Cook, passing from the Cape OF
Good Hop. s3utnwar1, crOssiug the
| Antarctic circle, aud meeting with n
fleet OK iceOergs, which sent him quick
| ly iu tine direction OF New Zealand.
After resting there a time. he again
turuc I southwark, meeting another
line of icebcrgs, which he described ms
looking like q rance OF high mount
aius. They so closely guarded the
| shore that hc did not land.
Captain Wilkes, Of the United States
Navy, who ma lie au exploring cxpedi.
ton through many parts OF the world
from 1888 TO 1872, also visitod this
same section aul found this same i'm
penetrabie wall OF ice. Since that