The times., 1898-09-19
OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE
An Expedition Will Leave
London at Noon Today.
HOPES OF THE EXPLORER
The Undertaking Is Under the Pa
Who Furnished the Necessary
Capitai-Hosy the Daring Party
VIII Operate-Any Find GerIache.

London. Sept 1s.-Crowds of persons
yesterday visited a small but stanca and
tidy-looking craft that lies a, a,onSsiGe a
sweltering wharf at st. Katharine's dock.
She is not a very pretty boat. but visitors
to the dock seemed to find infinite satis-
faction in observing her clean, strong
lines and the strange deck cargo of yelp-
ing dogs she carries.
The bark-rigged steamer of only about
500 tons is the Southern Cross. which. un-
der the patronage of Sir George Newnes,
will start at noon tomorrow or a search
for the South Pole.
The explorer. Mr. c. E Borch-
grevink. is of medium height AMI
sturdy and strong in frame. He looks like
man VINO could brave many hardships
and who has confidence enough to suffer
all trials in the performance of what he
considers his duty His talk is quick and
direct and his attitude is that of man
who is used TO command and not afraid
of responsibility.
II was in the United States two years
ago. said Mr. Borchgrevink Il shall visit
America again and tell the Americans ev-
erything that / can about the now un-
known country round the South Pole
The voyage out We expect viii take
about hundred days. We shall stop
first at Cape Verde and then at the Cape
of Good Hope. When? 1 cannot tell you
when. do not know. and 1 should not.
| therefore. like to make any statement. I
might name dates TO you, and then if the
ship failed TO arrive on time there would
be disappointment. No, it is better not
to make any predictions"
Thirty-two men will go out on the
Southern Cross. according to the captain.
and of these twenty-four will remain on
the ship, leaving Mr.. Borchgrevink and
seven companions TO scale the great lea
wall beyond Cape Adair.
Origin of the Expedition.
| Nearly three years have elapsed since
| the proposal now taking effect was made
| TO send this expedition into the Antarctic
regions in search of the South Pole.
| Then. at the geographical congress held
/ in London, a resolution was unanimously
passed that It would be a misfortune II
| the nineteenth century were allowed to
pass without an effort being made TO ex-
pIore the Antarctic regions. but the as
sistance wanted from the government
not being forthcoming, Sir George
Newnes has generously supplied the
means. He has. in fact fitted out the eX-
pedition.
Sir George. himself. is rather reticens
as TO the results they hope 10 achieve,
| but something neutrality-suspicious. i'm
| IL, zafanpa-iG merely HDrln
| for. but expected
! The Southern Cross Is a good and sea-
soned whaler, bark rugged. Of about fvs
| hundred or six hundred tons She has
| been fitted with new engines and has
every appliance for her task She is on
the model of the Fran and was built
by the constructor OF that famous ves-
sci. Her sides. which are Of oak, sheath
ed in greenheart. are thirty-six inches
thick. while at the bows she is cased with
as much as eleven feet of solid oak Sh5
is capable Of sailing at a rate of eleven
| knots. but her steaming capacity is only
nine knots. The steam, however. is only
to be used as an auxiliary.
Tomorrow at noon the little vessel will
| weigh anchor and start on her way to
Hobart Town, thence proceeding to Cape
Adair. At that point the land party will
be put ashore in 70 degrees south latitude
and will at once commence building
| huts. timber for which is being carried
aboard the Southern Cross. That done.
the ship will return to Hobart Town.
doing a little surveying work en- route
The land party will have the end OF
| Southern Summer and early Autumn to
commence work and will endeavor TO
climb the ice wall encountered by Sir
James Ross and take up their quarters as
| comfortably as they can for the Winter.
a Dash for the Pole
| In the Antarctic Spring of 1923 it is
/ expected the Southern Cross will rejoin
| the land party and the united forces will
make a dash for the South Pole. The
| scene of operations is that portion of the
Antarctic continent named Victoria Land
| by Sir James Ross, and is almost due
south of New Zealand.
| Besides the search for the South Pole
| and other scientific objects there has
! been some talk about searching for the
| whereabouts of the Belgian expedition
| under Capt. Gerlache, which il was
thought some time ago had got into
| trouble on the Falkland Islands IL is
not the object of the present expedition
| TO go to the Falkland Islands, but as il
| is known that Capt. Gerlache has knOwl-
/ edge of the route of the Southern Cross
! he might endeavor to put himself in its
way, ana II that happens Mr. BOrchSre-
/ wink will put everything else aside 10
render whatever aid may be necessary
| Provisions have been put aboard the
! Southern Cross TO last the ships COM
| pany for a three years cruise. The
| stores include half a ton of butter, sew
eral tons of flour. g ton of compressed
tea and an equal amount if compressed
| coffee. Large quantities Of timed meat.
/ fish, fruit liquid beef and other kinds OF
| food in a compact form are provided. and
| these. of course. are the things that Will
/ be mainly relied upon for sustenance by
/ the adventurers. Naturally they will be
/ supplemented by fresh meat. vegetables
/ and other luxuries when these are avail
| able.
| Then. again. for means Of transport
| away from the ship. in addition to 4
| plentiful supply of boats there has been
/ obtained a number OF kayaks. which
serve also the purpose of sleishs. each
| carrying one person and having accom-
| modation for a weeks provisions For
| purposes of transport there is a large
! pack OF dogs, already referred 10. They
| alone cost nearly e2.000-
| Excursfou Washington to CuIpeper,