The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
VISITING VICTORIA LAND.
Experience of the southern Cross on Her
Recent snccessfmi Journey.


The successful voyage Of the steamer Southern
Cross from Hobart Tasmania, TO Victoria Land
In the Antarctic regions and her return to Aus
tralia were announced several months ago. Its
the second time that steamship has visited that
land mass the nearest point TO the South Pole yet
attained since Ross discovered II in the sailing
vessels Ercbus and Terror. some nifty years ago
II is now conclusively proven that steam vessels
fitted for polar navigation can penetrate far south
in Antarctic waters, though the ice is very form-
da0lc and the storms are most terrific. So far as
we know. any adequate vessel may reach Victoria
Land in any year, for the only attempts that havo
been made in steamships have succeeded. Those
far southern waters are still so little known that
the experiences Of the Southern Cross as told in
the latest number Of i'ciermonns Mnieilun0en.
The Southern Cr" S is sir i g. Newness steamer
command of NJ. l'9rGhErcyink y Care Adore,
ing the south po ar work now in progress Tho
vessel LET, Hobart on Dec 10, last year and steamed
ice, about twelve hundred miles LITTLE east Of
south Of Hobart, IL had then been under way
eleyrn days. and had reached 90 go Latitude,
The pack ice was encountered little caller
than, was expected and most Of the expedition
who had never seen the polar pack were filed with
ice was from four To eight feet thick, and some Of
the foes were several miles in diameter. Into
this formidable obstruction, that would have
crushed an ordinary vessel, the Southern Cross
forced its way, and soon was fast in the ice Then
followed days OF great anxiety, for tho pressure
Me air by We strain, were piled up around tho
steamer as high az the bowsprit and the pressure
were days, however when ihy ice oosencd and tho
vessel was able TO make Roadway, and after TWEEN
ty-thrce days IN tho pack the Southern, Cross
explorer Of that name in 1889. II had been hard
tusslc, and Cape Adare was still 800 miles away,
more frghtfully desolatc coast than that
Of the Baileny Islands walled in by great blocks
OF ice could hardly bc conceived. But the re
Enrkahc, beauty Of The scene when the low hang.
the whole white surface the sparkling brilIiancy
Of diamonds COMPENSATED for MI the anxiety Of
for No scientific staff, and particularly for The
zooogists who PREPARED 10 ird skins, dis;
penguin and the beautiful white stormy petrol.
Several hundred varieties Of animal lie were
secured and other members OF the party wcrc
busy taking photographs, dccp,sea temperatures
yations.
were then made TO get north again into open water.
and in four dayn the vessel out Of the pack but
rough and alcd with n H focEs Of Ice ths,
Were hurled against the ships sides, and after
every impact the nanmaSt would trcmtc tor
pack was to follow the edge Of the Ice 10 The east
In the hope Of finding an opening that would
s a" aS5 TO Few sS d"xs
| the Southern Cross was stcaming through a
| compar lively open passage and on Feb. rs, this
| year, after a journey from Hobart Of ffty-cighI
| days the expedition SAW Cape Adarc before IL.
| A frghtfl storm was raging, rain and snow
| fell in binding quantity and the deck and riggiu
| were covered with ice. The vessel had 10 lie toe
far out from land, and another day .lsnsod before
| II WAS able TO enter Robertson hay wncrt II came
| TO anchor in sixty feet Of water There was
great crowd on the beach TO witness the arrival
| the spectators comprising thousands OF sea gulls
| pcnyuins, stormy pctrels and sea hons,
| Then came the hard work OF unloading tn,
vessel which lay sixty feet from the shore Il
| was necessary 10 discharge the cargo slowly into
| small boats which took their loads almost TO the
shore, but dared not venture up to fo thc waves
rolling Mrn soGa q p he e ICY
| with heavy loWls on their backs, II was trying
work hut all went well. The PROVISIONS, scientific
| Instruments slcdges and sovcnty-fve dogs were
safely landed, the winter HITS were erected anc
as the Southern Cross turned her brow towar
| civilization the explorers were preparing to spenC
the second winter that human beings have passet
In the Antarctic rcgtonA