The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-08-23
THE UNEMPLOYED SOUTH POLE.
Better Chance of Discoveries There Than
at the North Pole.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Even those who find geography
a dry and dull subject would have
been aroused to enthusiasm by
some of the dramatic tales OF ex-
ploration recounted at the sessions
of the International Congress held
this week. Slatin's Pasta's story
of his long slavery in the Mahdi's
palace and his escape, and his pic
ture of the scene when his captors
paraded before him as he lay in
chains, bearing aloft the head of
Gen. Gordon, held the great audi.
ence spellbound. The thrilling
narrative vas told in simple, mod
est language, and the unassuming
man, who quietly recounted his al
most unmatched suffering and adj
ventures, was probably more dis
composed by the lionizing process
to which he was subjected than by
the fearful difficulties which over
took him in the S'oudan.
The discussion by the congress
of antarctic exploration was even
more interesting than the latest
news about the search for the north
pole. The most positive informa-
ton yet made public about the
discovery Of a great South polar
continent was presented by the
Norwegian Borchgrevinck, who is
SAID to be the only man who has
set foot on this new land. He sail
ed South Of Possession Island in a
small steamer, and in "A degrees
latitude sighted new promontory
which he named Cape Oscar. He
then reu Gated little way North
to Cape Adair. where he made a
landing. He was probably the
first human being 10 90 ashore in
this region. The landing place
was sort ofpeninsula which form.
a complete breakwater for the in
ner bay. Immense swarms ofpen-
gums were on the promontory.
The party, after landing, collected
specimens Of the rock, and also
found some signs Of vegetation
Throughout the whole voyage the
party lad a comparatively high
temperature, the minimum within
the Antarctic Circle being % de-
grees, and the maximum l6 degrees,
while all through the ice pack it
remained at % degrees, The OBJ
servations Of the Sir James Ross
expedition showed a lower temper
allure in the vicinity Of Victoria
Land, and the question arose
whether or not during the last fifty.
four years the temperature Of the
South polar continert had risen
and vegetation had been develop.
ed. 1t was evident that an eXten.
sise north going warm current ex,
listed and broke up the ice field:
within the Antarctic Circle. The
bar0mster when at 80 degrees, ant
even when as low as % degrees
indicated calm weather.
The specimens of rock which The
explorer had brought from cape
AGair held out the expectation thai
minerals of economic value might
he found on the new continent, al,
though perhaps it would be rather
4 premature TO float a mining crew
for there regions. The importan,
point, according to his judgement,
was that n snip could winter safely
at Cape Adair. He is ready to be.
come tae leader Of party to re-
main thCough the winter at Cape
Adair. With the aid Of dogs and
sledges, he belie,es it possible to
work to the south magnetic pole.
His view was that the continent
extended over an area Of 100000
square miles, or was twice the size
of Europe, and he would expect to
find Macy specimens Of animal life
hitherto unknown in the southern
hemisphere.
4 1t is reported that as the result
| of the discussions Of the congress a
| plan already is Is preparing for
sending q three.fold expedition to
the Antarctic regions, which would
to reach the pole from three direc.
| TONS