New-York tribune., 1900-11-11
NEWS FROM THE ARCTIC REGIONS.

NEWS FROM THE ARCTIC REGIONS.
BY the arrival of one of DIR. Robert STEMS
companions in Scotland the safety of the Files
mere Land expedition Of 1899 is assured. Mis-
givings regarding the fate of the three brave
men who were set ashore near Cape Sabine by
the Diana year ago last August had been ex-
cited by officers of that vessel after her return.
The suggestion that Stein, kann and Warmbath
were inadequately provided with food could not
fail to arouse anxiety, which intensified
by the fact that no formal arrangement had
been made in advance for transportation home
ward. The Diana went to the Arctic regions
last year primarily to carry stores and mail to
Peary. Similar voyages had been made
nually for several years. and had afforded
facilities for incidental exploration by other
persons than Pole seekers. In the other in
stances, however, the explorers returned with
the ship Or. STEMS party was the first of
these secondary expeditions to stay through the
winter. But Or. Kann reports the survival Of
his companions; and from his failure to men
tion any particular distress from lack of food
1t is to be presumed that the fears which had
been entertained that point were exagger-
ated if not altogether groundess. Still, de-
tails of that feature of the partys experience
will be awaited eagerly. The world will also
want to know why Mr. Warmbath preferred to
SJdy al tdpA NdbIli" lew HioHlhs lohSci' anu
to learn what it can about the journey of DIR.
Stein and DR.. Kann from that point to Cape
York Cape Sabine is the west side Of
Smith Sound. the channel which separates
Ellesmere Land from Greenland and about two
hundred miles north of Cape York. Was the
sound frozen over. or did Stein and kann cross 1t
in boats: And did they walk or sedge II after
reaching Greenland: In the mean time. how
near did they come to starvation? In any case,
1t appears that the head of the expedition was
a more resourceful man than he had been
credited with being.
The question OF chief interest however re-
lates 10 the extent 10 which the main object Of
the expedition was realized. This was to OBJ
tain fresh Information regarding tho boundaries.
size. topography and natural history Of Files
mere Land. The region lies to the south OF
that made famous by the Greely expedition Of
1SS1-'S3. Smith Sound bounds II on the east,
and Jones Sound on the south. But the lack of
n western outline has until recently constituted
ono of the widest gaps left in coast lines
Arctic charts. II therefore afforded n peculiar
temptation 10 explorers animated by purely
scientific zeal. and in view of the apparent ease
with which the research might have been CON
Quoted il is remarkable that II has been
neglected so long Sverlrup, focd in his effort
to push further north in 1S9S, wintered In close
proximity to Cape Sabine two years ago. and.
according to Or. kann. anticipated Dir. Stein
in some measure in the study Of Ellesmcre
Land. But Or. Kann is silent concerning the
success of the American explorers. perhaps be-
cause he does not feel authorized to speak DR.
Stein. as the head of the expedition is of
course. its proper mouthpiecp. And inasmuch
as he decided to remain at Cape York In the
hope of securing direct transportation to this
|
to Dundee. it is uncertain how long the scen-
tifc world will remain ignorant on this subject
When the Diana came back last year she re-
ported that Peary had not been able in 1S9S 10
reach Sherard Osborn Fiord. on the north coast
| of Greenland, where he had hoped to winter
| The difficulties of navigation in Smith Sound
| and the channels to the northward apppar TO
| have been equally great in 1890 and 1900 Last
| winter Peary stayed at Etah not far from Cane
| York. But DR.. Kann expresses the belief that
| Peary has now gone to Fort Conger This is
| Greely's old headquarters and is only little
| south Of the eighty-second parallel 1t is not
| quite so advantageous base of opera tlons for
| the final push sor the Pole as Sherard Osborn
Fjord would have been. But Peary's experi-
ence, sagacity and indomitable spirit promise
well for next season