The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-17
POLAR EXPLORATION.


The situation OF dTClc tApiOidNOH II lHe
present time may be summed up thus;
Peary is supposed to have reached a point
we'll up the west coast Of Greenland last
summer and found a winter camp. from
which ne should now be pushing toward the
pole If all has gone we'll with him. sver-
drup, who chased him UP the Smith sound.
expected TO attempt the c~ircumnavigation
OF Greenland on the north and TO come out
on the east coast this summer. Wellman.
an American, who wintered in Franz josef
Land, was 10 try for the pole this year as
soon as mild weather and abundant light
permitted. Several months will doubtless
elapse before anything is heard from these
three parties: but the Diana, commanded
by Capt. Samuel w. Bartlett, and carrying
a scientific expedition led by Professor LIB
hey, of Princeton, will start northward this
month to obtain information about Peary
If possible.
Meantime the Duke of Abruzzi. King
Humbert's nephew. is on his way TO Franz
Josef Land TO initiate Wellman. Captain
Jackson, of the Alaska Geographical So
ciety, has proposed a scheme for exploring
the region north of Boring strait, but has
not yet received any special encourage
ment. This is the state of the Erenchman,
has been sent from Denmark to Iceland 10
study the aurora, and those OF the nor
.wegians and Russians, having similar Pur-
poses in view, are not looking FOR the pole.
The same is true of the fisheries survey
organized by m and Russia Tor
operations in the vicinity OF Spitzeergen;
and of Nathost's hopeless hunt tor Anoree
on the east coast OF Greenland.
Attention is directed TO the antarctic
regions just now by the interview heia a
few days ago between a deputation or En-
glish scientists and Mr.. Balfour, VINO rep
resented on that occasion the prime min
lister and the chancellor OF the exchequer.
Sir Clements Markham, president of the
Royal Geographical Society, accompanied
by a number OF notable people, preferreo a
formal request to the government Ior
society proposes to send out in 1901: For
many years efforts have been mace 10 Sc.
cure such assistance, but the government
felt unable for one reason or another TO ex-
tend 1t. Hence an appeal was made py Sr
Clements last year to the PATRIOTISM OF ricn
private Individuals. Germany was taxing
steps to explore, the antarctic. It was
pointed out, and there was danger tnat tne
German flag would be carried to parts OF
the earth where the union jack would De
conspicuous for its absence.
Thereupon Llewellyn w. Longstah Of
fered to contribute 1890 toward Inc ex pc
ciety had already picked up $4,000 In small
subscriptions elsewhere, the realization OF
S 81 GIem tba sec dgeam ma Seeme So slI 0nl II npsossiD,
BILE; for IL wished to equip and send out W
ships. But 1t was thought that a minimum
OF ySCUuU might SuIlC6, duu lHdl ouc ciiP
would be enough. With the matter in this
shape the Royal Geographical Society APP
preached the government again, and this
time with better luck: Mr.: Balfour in
hope TO the scientists, but he could not spe-
city tho amount which the government
would be able to give. The amount asked
1t is now decided that the expedition will
not start before the summer OF 1901. The
| vessel in which the party will sail has not
hoop hni1f That iS to saw. IL Is now the
purpose of the managers of the English en-.
terprise TO construct a new ship, modeled
has done good service in the arctic. but is
now too old for further use. Here Is a
memorandum of the estimated expense:
Ship, s175,00O: fittings, 10000; salaries and
wages for three years. sl00, 900; provisions,
$4,000; outfits, $4,000; coal and stores. sSo.-
coo; landing party, $4,000; contingencies
command the expedition. but it seems to be
settled that Nansen will not. The ilustrious
Swede may try it on his own hook In 1902,
though.
In spite Of Sir Clements Markham's ap-
peal to British pride, II seems that the En-
glish and are going to work to-
two expeditions will be entirely distinct,
they will adjust their plans. one to the
other, in ways that have not yet been
formally agreed upon. For instance. 1t is
possible that the Germans will attack the
antarctic continent from one side and the
English from the other. Again, on their
way ~ lac EAot1o oIAS(N0o " VI 0A0
may proceed along a different portion OF
the ice pack which fringes the coast from
that under observation by the other. Al
ready the German government has pledged
the expedition which goes out under the
German flag the sum of $300,0 " and of that
amount one-sixth has now become avail
able. 1t is probable that at the international
geographical congress in Berlin, next Sep
TENDER. many of the details of both ven
lures will be announced.
1t now seems probable that Borchgre-
vink's party, which landed at Cape Adair,
Victoria Land. southeast Of Australia, las,
winter, will have finished up its work and
returned to England long before the two
have the benefit OF all discoveries made by
the Norwegian and his associates. Sir
Clements Markham has expressed the con.
did not represent the highest wisdom that
could be rallied in support Of an enterprise
OF this kind, and he evidently expects but
little from 1T. AS the same time, it must
be recognized that 1t has at least obtained q
footing on the antarctic continent, a very
difficult thing to do in view Of the immense
Ice fields that extend all along the coast
The Southern Cross experienced much
trouble in reaching her destination, and
when she goes back from New Zealand &c
pick up her company again she will doubt
with the ice.
At last accounts there was still a remote
prospect that Lieutenant De Gerlache, whC
took out the Belgian expedition OF 1897, anC
who was imprisoned in antarctic ice fol
several months during the ensuing wintel
of that hemisphere, would renew the work
OF emigration. But as Dr. Cook and Mr.
other expert, Dance, died on shipboard, III
Is greatly disabled and hardly in a condi
ton to pursue the task. A few unimpor-
knowledge of the islands south Of Cape
Horn. by the Belgic's investigation, but the
expedition did not land on the continent
which was its objective point.