The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
WINTER IN THE ANTARCTIC.
DESCRIBED BIZ THE ONLY EXPLORED
WHO HAS HAD A TASTE OF IT.

The BelEica's Year in the Pack Ics-Drift-
Ing 500 Miles to tho west-Cold Blasts
from the South and Warmer North
Winds-Penguins and Seals in the Water.
The Royal Belgian Geographical Society re.
ceived on April ~ q report from Lieut.. dc
Gerlache. commander Of the BelGica expedi.
tion. on the year and two months spent in
Antarctic waters. THE sun has already printed
many facts about the experiences OF tho expe-
ditoh but no sufficient data concerning the
scientific work Of the BelRica have been at hand
hitherto to make 1t possible to prepare sum-
mary Of the results OF this journey. which ex-
tended some distance into the unknown
Antarctic area. The following faots deduced
and some Of them computed from the Lieuten-
ants report relate entirely to the exploratory
work and the hitherto untried Antarctic winter.
Starting on Jan. IA. $685. from Staten ISL
and. at the southeast end OF Terra del Fuego,
seven soundinRs were made as the Belgica
crossed the 500 miles Of waters to the South
Shetland Islands and the greatest depth at
tanned was 13.251 feet. The comparative shall
lowness OF these waters had previously been
ascertsined. wide submarine plateau con-
meets the southern end OF the American main.
land with the islands visited by the Belgica.
On Jan. 81. week after leaving South Amer.
ica the Belgica entered Branfleld Strait which
separates the South Shetland Islands from the
larger land masses known as Trinity Palmer
and Graham Lands to tho south. and steamed
west through the Strait to Low Island. It was
while crossing southeast from Low Island to
Hughes Cult Palmer Land. that De aerlache
cav what he reports as q possible discovery Of
land. He says he found a narrow strait sepa-
rating the 'terres de FIST" Trinity Land)
from an important archipelago. which he pro-
visionally named the Palmer Archipelago. In
view OF the visits to these regions OF Belling-
schausen. Biscoe d'Urvillo. Dalman and
number Of British and American whalers. It IL
arrange II the BelRica has brought to light new
land north OF and near to tho large land mass.
In the three following weeks. JAN % to Feb.
IL. about twenty landings were made on the
islands OF Palmer Archipelago and the coast
on the south side Of the narrow strait. and
these weeks were very fruitful in collections.
The goologist. Mr.. Racovitza, discovered speci-
mems Of a new kind Of podurelle and species
OF dipterous or two-winged insect. besides
many specimens OF minute organisms. all rep
rssentatives OF terrestrial Antarctic fauna
hitherto unknown. He also collected MOSES.
Kinds Of birds that were seen in large num-
position Of mum Der Of points. Lieut.. Danco de.
termi ne the magnetic elements whersver he
turesque coasts and Ledt. de- u G Teri ache
%Seh in f s snd s ct 9s sVs ses
est yst known IN II. South Polar regions
speeim ems illustrating the geology. ''''''''u
On, Feb. II tho Belglca made her way west-
log uS aed aS
servations that might otherwise have been
The Bscoe Islands. Spending for n some 1 sixty
miles southwesterly. were not visible. and Of
Graham not yet out neS st tho so msp g.
a Lana va: 1.bs d ds!sns ma
os s SS d rd9
q she west coast f,Po o. GRAHAM Land and tRe
problem whether Alexander l. Land is isolated
to the south, and 90 the BelEica turned to the
On Fsb Vest eFs IL G uGi 1es eRa
20 south latitude. She had passed into the
iGoth neridians vest is bounded on ont the hem north.
i9r the most part. By the 69th to the 10th par:
Vide breaches nth The foe ee and ths Beses
onth and esS stho1t n
seven 70 eight miles day to the north in Very
q or 0p March 10 she was frozen in solid. the ice
for the first winter spent by human beings in
the Antarctic regions. Snow was heaped up
fsp 'aS March JcHs% s'i poasGs
Frozen in on March i6 isas. the party y' sp p
year in the ice. as it took all the summer fol-
leo prison. from which they hnay escaped ON on
March a. 1899 During this long. helpless
ioo 1ns oGa the the Human
beings. on the south shores Of Terra del Fuego.
It was found that the severity Of the weather
the second half OF March. 1893. for instance.
there were strong south winds and low tenn
weather. North winds, coming from the open
sea only few score miles away. bring cloudy
The drift OF the vast ice field was also found to
out the year the ice. with the imprisoned ves-
sci. was In allow motion. For wide belt south Of
to the south Of w0 o
parallel. where the Begica was in the ice. the
saT6e sSs the m1esS. and
". or about $50 mics west Of the point s where
been drifting north or south all these months
p pdht rescSed 5elnr n' most southern
the south. under the propulsion OF the north
when, southern winds were blowing This fact.
together with the abysmal soundings attained.
Antarctic continent he was very far from It's
northern edge on the South American side OF
the polar area. He does not think that he was
near any large land mass to the south.
again sixty-flvo days later. on July n. or
course. the winter night in q latitude average
Ing only about 4. with the Antarctic circle
would, not be, Of long duration. The Toe was
and heavy snow falls. that rendered WORK out
pack Ice was constantly changing 1t felt the
influence OF the ocean swell as well as OF the
sometimes wide gaps In the ice or long channels
or narrow veins OF water. Then the openings
would close by freezing or pressure. and in the
the line OF contact In the openings OF the ice
some seals and penRuins appeared particu-
larly during the last months OF the winter and
they proved desirable addition to the bill OF
fare. The polar night was marked by more
or less impairment OF heart action among the
men. aud Lieut.. Dance succumbed to the
malady.
During the winter a series OF important
meteorological observations were obtained,
but thu, details are not given In this report.
Fine collections were also made Of specimens
Of pelagic and deep sea fauna and sediments,
The party had very hard work getting out OF
the ice last summer. and everything looked
like a second winter In the pack when. under
h. Ina lar0 Of MD