The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
A NEW ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

NEW ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
An antarctic expedition will sail from
Antwerp, Belgium to-day, to prosecute ex-
plorations in the South Polar sea. 1t is
somewhat remarkable that while the civ
ilized world is waiting for tidings expect
ed to be brought by carrier pigeons OF
balloon expedition to the North polar re-
gion a well-equipped expedition should be
starting from European port on a voy-
age of discovery in the opposite direction.
1t is further remarkable that after thou
sands of years there should be so much of
the earths surface surrounding each of the
poles which men have never yet been able
to penetrate. The polar regions, includ-
ed within the arctic and antarctic circles,
respectively, are LAOS geographical miles
from the poles, making the diameter of
each polar circle twice that distance. Not
withstanding the numerous voyages and
expeditions of discovery that have been
made to the north polar region by far the
greatest part of the area within the polar
circle remains entirely unexplored, while
the south polar circle has never been en-
tered by man. Several expeditions have
entered the Antarctic ocean, and in 1S41
an English expedition got as far south as
70 degrees, skirting the shore of and 10
eating Victoria land But no expedition by
land or sea has eve. entered the south po-
lar region proper, bounded by a circle 10
degrees from the pole. 1t is not likely that
any land expedition will ever attempt it,
for so far as known there is not a foot
of land in the south polar region. In fact,
the only land discovered within the entire
Antarctic ocean is the lower end of Vic
toria land and a small point of another
island. In this respect the south polar re-
gion differs materially from the north po-
lar, the latter being chiefly land while the
former is almost wholly water. 1t is not
unlikely that other islands will yet be dis
covered within the antarctic circle. Explo-
ration towards the north generally ante
dated that towards the south and has been
much more vigorously prosecuted Even
the great island continent of Australia.
nearly as large as the whole United States
without Alaska, which lies only about a
thousand miles south of China with nu-
merous islands between, was not discovered
America, and no colonization of it was at
tempted until after our revolutionary war.
1t has been less than fifty years since' the
exact geographical position of the great
island accurately determined and its
coasts mapped, and even now a consider
able part of the interior is UNEMPLOYED. AS
late as 1860 the Legislature of South Au-
stralia offered reward of $4,000 to the
first man who should traverse the whole
island from south to north. and several
lives were lost in unsuccessful attempts to
win the reward. The feat was inally ac-
complished in 1862. OF course, Australia is
not within the south polar region, it's
southernmost point being 80 degrees, but the
fact Of its late discovery and explora-
ture is mentioned showing that southern
exploration was greatly behind that to-
wards the north. The last antarctic ex-
petition was that of the British ship Chal-
lenger in 1874. This expedition resulted In
definitely locating and surveying Kerguelen
island. first sighted by a French explorer
in 1772 and in discovering two small ISL
ands of no consequence. The expedition
only reached Go degrees south.
The expedition which sails from Antwerp
to-day is sent out by the Belgian govern
ment. 1t consists of one stout steamer.
specially fortified for battling with ice and
equipped with everything supposed to be
necessary for safety and comfort. The Bel
gian government appropriated $4,000 for
the expedition, and its equipment has ex-
cited much popular interest. If it succeeds
in getting nearer the south pole than any
previous expedition has done it will be at
tended with great danger.