The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-19
that cause. The entire animus Of the
Arctic regions is against large parties.
A SMALL PARTY BEST.

A SMALL PARTY BEST.
Where three men will get along In safety
and comfort six would merely exist on half
rations and twelve die of starvation.
The two-men party is the ideal one. Both
hansen and myself nave proved this.
Tho leader of the expedition must be at
the head of the advance party no success
full Arctic party can be led from the rear.
The latitude of Lockwood and Brainard s
farthest north is So degrees and "A minutes.
The distance from this point up to which
we know there is land. to the Pole and re-
turn. is less than the distance from Whale
Sound to Independence Bay and return.
which l have twice covered once with a
single companion, and again under the
heaviest handicap.
CAUSE OF PREVIOUS FAILURES.
Quite likely the question comes up; "If
this method is so practicable why has not
the establishment OF base in this locality
been attempted before? and why have |
not attempted it MYSELF" 1t has been at
tempted before. but there being no means
for a continued effort, failure in the first
attempt has resulted in its abandonment,
AS for myself, it has been entirely ques-
tion of money.
The funds at my disposal have not per
mitted the charter OF a ship beyond Whale
Sound
POINTS IN FAVOR OF THE PLAN.
The points in favor of this project are:
First. The utilization OF tho Eskimo, the
people best fitted in the world for that par
ticular Kind of work. Men who. under the
leadership of one whom they know to be
their friend, and in whom they have the
utmost confidence. would follow to the end.
faithful and loyal as their own magnid-
cent dogs.
What could be more effective. more prac-
teal than party. It's rank and file made
up OF the children Of the North Pole itself,
a surgeon for emergencies, ana a leader
10 furnish will, intelligence and direction?
According to the theory OF Clements
Markham, president of the Royal Geo.
graphical society, tho forefathern of these
people, centuries ago during the miera-
tion Of the tribe from Siberia to it's present
home, may have crossed uuknowingly the
apex of the earth. What a striking CO.
Incidence If their children should be the
instruments OF wrestling the secret OF the
Pole.
Second. Land for base. The party
launched into the icy waste from tho
Northern Archipelago would have SOME
definite, fixed point to which to return
rather IMAM sup uIHtulH WIN tue uIltN-
cd ice. TO vanish like a wlil-o'-the wisp, as
did the Fran from hansen. Then. should
the party be swept westerly in its retreat,
IL would still strike land, aud finding lie
lots at each prominent headland, couli
easily reach headquarters.
Third. A practicable aud already util-
tied route for retreat independent of the
shin or outside assistance.
MONEY AND EFFORT NECESSARY.
In a nutshell my project means: First.
tho raising of sum sufficient to insure
persistent. continued effort so that IL the
attempt fails the first year It can be re-
peated the next, and the next, and the next
until it is done.
second the establishment Of a party OF
picked Eskimo families, a surgeon, aud an
experienced leader, at tho highest practi-
cable point on tho northwest cGast OF
Greenland. with ample supplies. means OF
communication, which would enablo the
colony to sustain itself until its work *
accomplished. and with practicable line
Of retreat entirely independent Of tho shin.
This project. in more detail and aeon
panied by maps, will he placed before your
council. in the belief that il will meet Tho
approval and Endorsement of the socieiy
With that Endorsement. | believe the time
is cpportune for raising the money for the
work
There is not man or woman here tn
night whose heart would not thrill with
patriotism 10 sec tho realization Of this
project and know that IL was American
money. intelligence. energy aud endur
ance that had scaled the spex OF the earth
and lighted il with "Oid Glor.'."
And no man could tsimply by the ex-
penditure OF few thousands. Il la Moses
Grlnnell or Baron Dickson aud Mr.. Harms
worth, without eyertion or personal dis
comforn obtain more royal and Inner
ishnhle monument than to have his nam,
written forever across the mysterious rocks