The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-11
|NSEARCH on THE POLE
Another Expedition Soon to
Start For the North.
EXPLORER sANGUNE OF SUCCESS.
Walter weiiman Tells why He Braves
the Dangers OF the Arctic-He Is tn
Have u Royal Rival In the Frozen
Regions-Plan OF Campaign.

Have = Royal Rival In the Frozen
Regions-Plan OF Campaign.
WASHINGTON. May IL. Especial. i
About six weeks hence another expedition
In search of the north pole will set out
from the borders of civilization. Not ali
of the maritime and adventurous energies
of man are devoted to the making of war
and money. Science and exploration con-
tinue to claim their share of the worlds
attention. Long before this expedition re-
turns to the haunts Of men the war with
Spain will be over, and II perchance this
effort to reach the pole results i'm success
there can be no doubt that the achieve
ment will receive all proper recognition.
AT any rate, that is the calculation of the
organizer and leader of the expedition,
| who happens to be the writer of these dis
| patches.
| Inaslnuch as this dispatch Is the last
shall write for your readers for year and
a half at least and is in sense farewell
to those who have been patient enough to
follow the letters with my name signed
to them have accepted the invitation of
the editor TO write few lines about my
self.
leave home and family and most de-
| lightful profession to brave the dangers
and endure the discomforts of the far
north? These are questions often asked,
and they are natural and pertinent que
| ries. will answer with frankness.
First.-Upon the theory that this earth
| was given him for his home, that it is his
| duty TO know and master all of it, and
| that it is beneath his dignity to leave any
considerable part of its surface unexplored,
man set out long time ago to reach the
north pole, and nothing is more certain
than that he will persist in the effort till
he shall have succeeded.
Second the quest for the pole,
therefore, have grown up history, liter
allure, sentiment, a friendly rivalry be-
tween nations, and thus it is the world
stands ready to give distinction and re-
ward to him who achieves the feat, regard
less of its utilitarian value, which may be
trifling, or of its service to science, which
may be very great.
Two American Explorers.
Third.-It is my belief, based upon ex-
perience in the arctics and close study of
all the difficulties in the way and the
means which may be adopted for overcom-
ing them, that L know how the pole may
be reached. SO believing, it seems to me to
be my duty to make the effort even at con-
siderable sacrifice. In this way it happens
that this is the thing want to do, and to
those of us who are led by our natures to
try TO bend the fates to our will, instead of
drifting along in their current doing what
one wants to do is the best thing in life.
Whether or not the pole is to be reached
during the closing years of the present
| demands WI
Americans. Lieutenant Peary is to try
from the north of Greenland, / from Franz
Josef Land. He is gallant, fearless, ex-
perienced man, and the prize may fall to
him. He certainly has my good wishes
for his success If i do not get the pole,
there Is satisfaction In the thought that
another American may get it.
An italian to Follow weIlman.
The Prince Luigi, nephew of the king
of Italy. has announced his intention Of
going to Franz Joseph Land next year in
an effort to reach the pole. In other words,
he is going TO follow in my trail. Accord
ing TO the alleged code of ethics, the Prince
Luigi Is doing very naughty thing in
thus encroaching upon my ice preserves,
and j suppose i should get excited about it
and protest most yehemently. But do
neither. Somehow or other / am unable
to raise any serious objections TO the ap-
Srearance of a royal rival In the frozen
field. Coed taste might impel tho prince
to wait and learn whether / succeed or
fail before setting out in my tracks, but L
certainly shall not put up any sign, "No
Trespassing Allowed" or keep of the
Grass" The prince is welcome to all he
gets out of it, and shall be glad to have
him bring me the news of the peace with
Spain and the freedom of Cuba.
Whether or not my effort is to be a sue
cess or failure only time will tell. At
this time almost every one else in the
world than myself believes it will be
failure. If did not have faith, of course
l would not start. In this sort of work a
man is compelled to plan as carefully as
possible, provide against all difficulties ex-
perience points out receive every advan-
tage of equipment and organization an
alert mind can suggest, go into the field
determined to do the very best he can,
without recklessness or foolhardy hazard
of other mems lives and abide by the con-
sequences, whatever they may be.
The Wellman polar expedition will sail
from Tromso, Norway, In the ice steamer
Fritjof, June go. The expeditionary party
will be composed of four Americans and
four Norwegians, nearly all Of them ex
perienced in arctic work. Seventy-fve
Siberian draft dogs will be taken aboard at
Archangel, Russia. The Fritjof is expect
ed to arrive at Cape Flora, Franz-Josef
Land, eighticth degree of north latitude,
about Aug. /. Herr Andree, the polar
balloonist may be found there, arctic ex-
perts agreeing that If still alive the daring
aeronaut is probably in Franz-Josef Land.
When the Fritjof returns to Norway in
August or September, she may bring SEN
sational news.
During the late summer and early au-
tumn six Of us hope to reach at least as
far north as the eighty second parallel of
attitude, there to throw up rude hut In
which to pass the four months Of arctic
night, living in large part upon the polar
bear and other game shot on the spot.
Just as soon as the light Of the sun re-