Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-02-21
Washingtoa STANDARD
OLYMPIA. WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRT All q. 1896.
Polar Discoveries.

As completely as distance is annihi-
lated by the magnetic current, and OF
a method OF dispersion OF the solar
beam SO as to reproduce the colors OF
nature on the Photographic plate, has
been supplemented by the turning OF
still another page OF the secret volume
OF Nature and the revelation OF cOndi-
tons that have so persistently puz'
zled the savants OF the past century.
The assertion in the preface Of one OF
our old school books that eve live IN
on age oil progress, when the arts AMI
sciences are making gigantic strides
towards perfection" finds ample verb
tication in the events that have trans
pired since passing the last annual
milestone in the cycle Of time. If 1t
was true third OF century ago, how
much more SO in the closing years OF
the nineteenth century, when the
wheels of the car of progress have ac-
quired a rapidity and CELEBRITY OF mo-
ton that would make the head Of the
most enthusiastic old-time theorist
swim in delirium OF exultation!
While the late achievements in polar
discovery may have occurred during
the fateful year just closed, the an
nouncement to the civilized world
coming in the youthful days of the
New Year, adorn his coronet with an.
other gem OF transcendent lustre.
During the past century. no less than
fourteen attempts have been made to
pierce the mystery surrounding the
polar regions. The first of these was
the expedition of Capt. Parry in 1927.
He succeeded in reaching 81 degrees
45 minutes north latitude. This was
followed by Capt. Ross the same year,
who was lost in the ice in latitude 81
degrees q minutes. In 1845. the ex.
petition Of Sir John franklin likewise
terminated in disaster. In 1855, DR..
Kane reached latitude 80 degrees 35
minutes; in 1871, Capt. Peterman,
and the same year Capt. Hall, reached
about the same degree Of latitude; in
1876, Capt. Mares succeeded in getting
little nearer to the pole than any
former voyages, reaching SO degrees
10 minutes. In 1878, Nordenskiold,
and in 1879, Lieutenant belong.
reached the 77th degree of north lati-
tude, and in 1883 Lieutenant Greeley
and in 1891 Lieutenant Peary, sur
passed by few seconds the record OF
Captain Mares. In 1882, Bjorling and
Kalshimus headed an expedition
which was lost in latitude rs, and in
1893, Lieutenant Peary got as far
north as 50 degrees 81 minutes. A
large number of other expeditions
were sent to the relief of the arctic ex-
plorers. Notable among these was
that of Sir John Ross in search of
Franklin, in 1S4S. This expedition
was fitted out by the British govern
ment and in 1850 another vain effort
was made through the opportunities
of Lady Franklin.
Now it ia reported and believed in
Europe. that Narsen, Norwegian ex-
plorer, has actually reached the North
Pole! DR.. Fridijof Nansen, the Co.
lumbus of Arctic discovery, is Nor
wegian scientist, in the prime of life,
being in his 34th year. In 1882, be
undertook the leadership of q small
party, consisting Of six men, to explore
Greenland. They winteled in God.
haah and returned to Norway in 1889.
This probably led to a conception OF
the idea OF an expedition to the North
Pole, by . new route and in vessel
specially constructed for the purpose.
The expedition which resulted sailed
from Christiania, June "a, 1894. in the
three masted schooner Fran, built
especially for the service. The hull
was shaped like the letter U. the bot.
tom being almost semi-circle, go that
the vessel might lift by pressure on
her sides, and the bearings being fiat,
the vessel would rest on the ice with.
out tipping over. The Fran is l25
feet in length, 36 feet beam and IL
feet from deck to keel. At the points
exposed to pressure the sides are from
80 to 80 inches thick. The crew num-
bered IL men and enough provisions
were taken to last five years. The
vessel used petroleum for fuel, and
was we'll stored with appliances for
comfort as we'll as the physical we'll
being of the explorers. A library
OF 1000 volumes was one of the intel.
lectual provisions. The vessel was
supplied with an engine OF 100 horse.
power to aid in propulsion or any
emergency requiring power.
The Norwegian parliament appro.
priated So, 900 for fitting out the Nan.
sen expedition, and its protector re.
ceived various large sums by private
subscription, among which was the
equivalent of 5000 from King Oscar
DR.. Nansen's plan was to sail for Novs
Zembla, and soon as the condition o.
the ice permitted to enter the Kars
Sea. Passing along the western coas1
OF the New Siberian group he was t
have continued on until the ice rem
dered further progress impossible
then it was his plan to run the shiy
iuto tho ice and float with it. He ex
pected to be taken with the drifting
ice foes across the polar region, int