The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-01
TALES OF THE TIMES.
South Polar Exploration Stimulated BY
DR.. Nsnsen's Resolve.

DR.. Nansen's reported intention TO un-
dertake an antarctic expedition before re-
turning to his north polar quest is bound
to awaken the greatest interest among
scientific men. Eansen has long had the
confidence Of arctic experts on both sides
of the Atlantic as thoroughly well
grounded scientist, and his prodigious sue
cess In penetrating 70 the farthest north
has given him prestige among practical
explorers quite equal TO that which lac en-
joyed for several years among students.
His pluck, intelligence and pati,nce are
now beyond dispute, and as these are the
supreme qualities OF the successful ex-
plorer, whether his feet are bent toward
the north pole or whether they seek the
still more fearful myster- that lies behind
the reek of Erebus, he seems to be superb
ly fitted for the task he is reported to have
laid out for himself and his brave Fran.
For various reasons the south pole has
not attracted explorers with the same force
as the other end of the terrestrial axis. In
the first place. the traditional theory OF a
northwest passage sent many expeditions
into the borean seas, and by the time 1t
was exploded and discarded the track made
by the futile seekers had penetrated far
across the arctic circle and become at once
a challenge TO the courageous adventurer
and guide to his progress As early as
the tenth century the Scandinayians were
I'm Greenland, but it was not till l774 that
a systematic attempt was made to pierce the
antarctic seas. Then the famous Captain
Cook-most intrepid of mariners-forced
Mis way as far as III degrees south, where
he was Obliged to abandon all hope Of pro-
ceeding farther.
His observations and those of his suo-
cessors In south polar exploration are
enough to daunt the most courageous of
souls. 1t Is an error to imagine that the
two regions resemble each other closely,
for within the arctic circle mon live and
thrive, marry and are given in marriage.
But SO far as any man Of our race knows
no human being makes his abode within
the antarctic circle. The musk OK thrives
In the northern lands, but not single land
quadruped has been found bcyond 90 de-
grees of southern latitude. Not plant of
any description has been seen south of
Cockburn's island-in Ga degrees 12 min
utes south latitude. The snow line In the
antarctic regions and the regions near by
extends to the water edge. The temper
ature of the arctic regions has been known
to rise as high as 90 degrees 4. The high
est temperature recorded by Sir James
Ross was Al degrees.
Ross experiences discouraged explora-
ton In the south polar seas, and except by
occasional whalers the region remained
practically unvisited by man until 1894,
when, partly for exploration and partly to
determine whether the fright whale" ex-
lists in the antarctic sea, Commander Svend
Foyn, an old whale hunter OF Norway,
sent the Antarctic from Melbourne. Sir
James Ross and other explorers had spo-
ken Of the BLACK whale" They probably
meant the "blue whale" which is far
more difficult to catch and far less valuable
than the fright whale" The Antarctic
lost s25, 900 In the expedition because it
found no fright whales, but 1t pierced
the ice pack on Jan. 13, 1895, and attained
latitude Of "A degrees 10 minutes south.
The captain noticed strong tidal cur
rent flowing south Along the coast of Vic-
toria Land, at the same time the large jelly
fish, which he had never seen In very cold
water, inclined him TO the conclusion that
there were warm currents from the north"
The expedition, moreover, greatly stimu-
lated antarctic study. Mr.. Borchgrevink, n
wellknown observer Of antarctic phenom-
ena, is said to be preparing TO force his
way by boat to Victoria Land and thence To
cross the ice to the south magnetic pole,
which is In the unexplored region, IL de-
grees 20 minutes from the geographic pole.
Meanwhile the Royal Geographical society
has been striving to induce the British
government to send naval expedition
acrQSs the dreaded circle
It will be asked by those for whom hu-
man endeavor Is worthless unless IL yields
returns measurable by commercial stand
ards, What is the use of gambling human
lives upon an expedition into this fearful
regiony The answer is afforded by Ia letter
from Captain CreaS, which was made pub
lie last year by Clements X. Markham,
president of the Geographical society. Cap
tain Creak remarked that If we had not
fair knowledge of the earths magnetism
we should be unable TO send our thousands
OF iron and steel ships over the world with
the remarkable precision which due care
can attain" He went on: Each OF those
ships is n magnet, and If we would kr1w
the nature OF their magnetism we Iaust
first know the nature OF their parent mag
net, the earth. Now, the distribution of
the earth magnetism is well known TO be
constantly changing. But if we can once
acquire a correct knowledge of the earth's
magnetism for dilerent opochs scientific
men can obtain n series OF constants, by
means of which they will be able to con-
struct in advance those charts Of the yari
alton of the compass and Of the magnetic
dip and force which are so important TO
navigation. " This" says Mr.. Markham,
"cannot be done without n magnetic sur
vey of the antarctic area"
Nanscn's north polar expedition was
child's play TO what he Is now said TO pro-
pose. But IL Ross clumsy, blunt bowed
boats could tear through the pack TO Ere
bus, and IL a mere whulor of the first class
could penetrate TO "a degrees, there Is no
reason 90 suppose thata scientifically built
steamship, with crew equipped also for
overland voyages, could not go much far
ther.
Nansen has gone the farthest north.
May he attain the farthest southl-Chica-