The state herald., 1901-07-26
SEARCH FOR A POLE.
MUCH INTEREST TAKEN IN
SOUTHERN EXPLORATION.
Tho Exploring Ship Discovery I. Very
Strong. and Will be Provisioned for
Three Yssrs--Gsrmau and Swedish
Expedition, to Antarctic Regions.

Not since Captain Cook discovered
the Antarctic Continent in 1772 has SO
much interest been taken in southern
exploration as at present This large
ly Is because Of the successful results
Of the recent expedition conducted by
G. E. Borchgrevink. under the patron
age of Sir George Newnes Mr.. Borch-
union jack on the Antarctic Contin-
ent. Three expeditions. representing
Great Britain, Germany and Sweden,
are now fitting out and will start
south as soon as possible. The British
party will be the first to get away. in
ship called the Discovery, which has
the distinction of being the first ves-
sci to be built In England especially
for an Antarctic voyage. This expedi-
tion is being equipped partly by the
Geographical society and partly by the
government The ship was launched
at Dundee recently and was christened
by Lady Markham. She Is the sixth
vessel to bear the name OF Discovery,
but she Is better adapted to the un-
dertaking than have been any OF her
predecessors. She is very strong, be-
ing built OF well-seasoned oak, 172
feet long, 33 feet broad and has n
mean draught of 16 feet and d,splace-
ment Of 1850 tons. She will be provis-
Toned for three years. The expedition
will cost $500, 900. to which the govern
ment has contributed $22500O. The
explorers who are going out with her
are as follows: Captain, Commander
Robert Falcon Scott. who entered the
navy in 1881 and served recently on
the Majestic. Officers, Lieutenant, A.
A. Armitage. explored Franz Josef
Land with the JacksonH Harmsworth
expedition; Lieutenant c. W. Rawson
Royds, r. N. who Is nephew Of Ad-
miral Sir Harry Rawson; engineer,
Mr.. Shelton. late OF the Majestic. The
petty officers and crew number about
twenty-five. There will be three scien-
tific specialists, including John Walter
Gregory. who has Travelled In the
Rocky Mountains and In East Africa.
crossed Spitzbergen with Sir Martin
Conway in 1896. and is now professor
OF geology in Melbourne University.
There will be two doctors, including
DR.. Koellitz, who was on the stan OF
the Jackson -Harmsworth expedition.
The Discovery will work to some ex-
tent in conjunction with the German
expedition. which is being equipped
at the expense Of the state the sug-
gestion having come from Count Posa-
dowsky Wehner. minister Of the in
terror. The vessel is now being COM
pleted at Kiel. a name for her has
not yet been chosen. but II is known
that in general construction she will
be like the Fran. with the important
difference that she will be faster and
generally more seaworthy. This expe-
dition will be led by Professor Erik
Won Drygnlski and the vessel will be
commanded by Captain Hans Ruser.
an experienced officer of the Ham
brrger-American line. Though nom
inaliy equipped for two years, she will
be provisioned for longer period.
The German vessel will proceed by
Cape Town. After wintering. the
main expedition will continue to jour
ney westward and attempt to get
south of Kemp and Enderby Islands.
then sail across Weddel Sea to South
Georgia. and eventually to Tristan de
Cunha. where the voyage practically
terminates The plan may be carried
out In two years. permitting the re-
turn of the expedition in the summer
of 1903. The Swedish expedition will
II will be no less determined and en-
ergctic, so far as Its personnel is con-
cerned. II is to be led by DR.. Otto
Nordenskjold OF upsala University.
DIR. Nordenskjold proposes to sail to
the Antarctic region via Terra del
Fuego some time In November. and he
will start southwark from there next
January. At the beginning OF March.
when the days begin to shorten. he
will gradually retreat northward.-
philadeinbia Times