The times., 1899-07-02
ANTARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.
DIR. F. A. Cook Give. Further Details
of the Belgian Expedition.


Cook, who on June 20 arrived home from
the Antarctic, gave today details of some
further scientific results of the Belgian
expedition to the far south. The meteor
ology of the Antarctic region was studied
under the direction of Henryk Octowosky,
meteorologist of the expedition. ob-erya-
tions we're made hourly for over year.
and embrace full record of the weather
during that period, the cloud formations,
the temperature with its maximum. mini
mum, and average, the force and direction
of the wind, etc. On almost every clear
night throughout the winter the party saw
the Aurora Australis, which was general
ly of the arc variety and stretched across
the southwestern horizon. 1t was never OF
sufficient briilianey to throw reflection
upon the snow and never affected the COM
pass.
AS compared with the Aurora Boreal!s,
il was tame affair, being almost uniform
ly of a cream color. and devoid Of the pris-
matte hues and fantastic confgurations
which distinguish the northern aurora.
The cause of the difference was subject
of much scientific speculation among the
members of the party, and almost as many
theories were formed as there wee in
dividuals.
The lowest temperature experienced was
43 degrees below zero, and the highest
1-2 degrees below zero. temperature as
high as 10 degrees below zero brought
cloudy sky, but 80 degrees below resulted
in clear. bright weather The favorite
temperature of the party was 2S to 80 de-
grees below zero, for higher temperatures
were accompanied by great humidity and
d softening of the snow, through which
one sank to his neck, even with snowshoes
on. Snow fell every day in the year, and
more in summer than in winter. Yet there
was never such heavy single fall as the
people of northern New York are accus-
toned to. There was a constant down.
fall, but in very small quantities. On
perfectly clear days it still fell, although
so fine that it was invisible except upon
black cloth.
Under Emile 'Racovitza, the expedition
made complete collection OF everything,
living and dead in the Antarctic. In the
newly discovered land named Danco Land
in honor of Lieutenant Dance. of the expe-
dition, who died during the sojourn, it was
found that land life in the animal kingdom
was limited to two varieties OF spider and
four varieties of insect-the first land life
ever discovered In the Antarctic. Whether
among these Is any new species will not be
known until they have been more thor
oughly studied. The only vegetable life was
moses and lichens, which were usually
found on every rock with northeastern
exposure. but usually in no greater guam
tity on single rock than would fill an
average pocket.
1t was found that the Antarctic sea
swarmed with microscopic animal and
vegetable life, constituting the basis for
larger forms in great abundance. The
Eost numerous and characteristic of the
sea animals was the penguin, which dense
ly populated the region. There were also
gulls and cormorants, but no form of sea
life not already known in the region of
Cape Horn. -Four varieties of seals were
discovered. The animals themselves were
plentiful. Down TO seventy years ago seal
ing fourished in the Antarctic but was
discontinued with the extinction of the fur
seal.
The varieties which exist there now in
such large numbers are however, in the
| opinion of DR.. Cook, as valuable as the
Newfoundland seals, and If sealing expe-
ditions were fitted out and despatched
! from the nearest South American ports
they would. he believes, prove profitable.
Experimental expeditions have been sent
| from Europe and the. North American con-
| tinent, but the expense rendered them
| commercial failures. DR.. Cook regarded
II as equally feasible to revive the whaling
industry in the Antarctic if the same plan
of operation was adopted. The finback and
bottlenose whales were seen in great num-
| bers.
The magnetic observations were begun
| by Lieutenant Danco. and upon his death
in June, 1897. they were continued by Capt.
! George Lecointe, of the French navy, who
was Obliged, however, to adopt new sys-
tenn. His observations extended over near
ly year The result of rough calcula-
ton, based upon them, placed the mag
netic pole something like 200 miles east OF
the point at which it has heretofore been
supposed to be. finer calculation will be
a matter OF labor and time, and its result
will not, in the opinion os DIR. Cook, yield
the precise location of the pole. num-
Der OF additional expeditions he deems es-
sential to secure the data necessary for an
accurate determination. The present obser-
vations, however. are valuable contribu-
tion to the solution of the problem.
The anthropological researches were the
special charge of DR.. Cook. and on the
voyage TO the Antartic in 1897, he spent a
month and half among the various In
dian tribes OF Terra del Fuego Upon his
return this year, he devoted another month
to the Indians on the main island of Terra
del Fuego. The two southern and western
tribes of the island which are fairly well
known, are now nearly extinct. From
Thomas Bridges, an Engiishman who went
to the island as a missionary. but after
wards became prosperous farmer, DR.
Cook derived a vocabulary OF 10000 words
embracing the entire language OF the Yah
gan Indians. Bridges had spent thirt.
years making 1t, and DR.. Cook regards II
as the most remarkable collection of alb
original words which has come TO his at
tention. In order TO reduce some of tn,
sounds to expression, 1t was necessary tC
invent special characters.
1t was among the Onas. on the rnaiI
island that DR.. Cook made his most ex,
haustive and valuable researches. There
tofore these Indians had successfully re-
sisted all attempts to civilize. Christiauize
or study them. killing on sight any stran
ger. The only white men toward whom
they were known to have relented wer,
Bridges and his sons. and, through them
Dr. Cook himself. The Bridges had treated
them with such absolute justice and sucl
great and unvarying kindness Throughout
their long period of residence, that the.
had completely won the confidence of thes
fatal Indians. Although having thousand
of sheep and cattle. they had never los
one by theft, while on the opposite side o
the island, the very same Indians seize
; thousands upon thousands every year
Bloodthirsty and predatory on that side
on the Bridges side they were amiabl
! and honest.
Hence, DIR. COOK had an uneNampieu op
portunity to make thorough study o
2 them. He found them to be among tn
, finest specimens of physical humanity IL
. the world. He declares that he has neve
seen such a large proportion Of super'
, physiuues among any race. The height o
! the men is usually about six feet one inch
their average weight being about IL
hounds. and their build almost perfect
The women are but little shorter tha
the men. and in proportion TO height ar
| aS ar