The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-08
IN THE FROZEN NORTH.
Prof. james II. Gore Lectures ut the
Columbian University

Prof. James II. Gore, of the Columbian
| University, lectured yesterday afternoon
in the university hall before a large audi
! ence on the subject, Within the Arctic
| Circle" The lecture was illustrated with
colored lantern slides. the beauties OF
| which held the close attention of those
| present from the beginning to the end
| Prof. Gore said, in part:
There are no pages of Englands his
tory on which she prides herself more
\ than those which are inscribed the
| work and discoveries of her sons within
the realm of MONDAY and midnight suns,
| ana there is no American who Is not
| moved by the mention OF Kane. Hayes.
Hall, De Long. Grceiy, ard Lockwood
Around the two poles there is nearly
one-third OF the earths surface, of which
a large part is as yet unexplored. As
| long as there remains a single uncliribed
| mountain upon the globe there viii be
| daring spirits seeking to explore it;
every river must be traced to its source:
| the interior of Thibet must hold no
secrets' Africa can no longer be re-
buke to geographers: but what are we
| doing in the way of charting the 100000
| square miles of untrodden Arctic terri
| tory?
THE Arctic Circle. which forms the
southern boundary of the north frlgid
zone, we find crossing north Asia. ira
versing our own continent. cutting across
Greenland. touching Iceland, and com
pleting the circuit in Norway. Owing 10
the warm ocean currents that run into
the Arctic regions, and TO some Influences
that can be explained only by closer
acquaintance, the temperature within
this region is not the same for Identical
ATTITUDES. nor is II presumed that the
greatest cold is near the pole. At from
soc. under the 10th parallel, 1t is quite
warm during July, and flowers grow and
certain crops reach maturity. But east
ern Siberia, In the same latitude Is a
dreary frozen waste. There are three in
let's into the region under consideration
through the Behring Strait. by way of
Davis Strait, the west side of Green
land and the wider channel between Ice
land the west coast of Norway.
BY ..Ie two first named many obsta-
cles are encountered before the Arctic
Circle is reached. but one can sail up the
fjords that indent Norway's coast and
be cognizant of a nOrtherly voyage only
through the lengthening of the day. Few
Journeys are so interesting as this Nor
wegian cruise. nov made possible to meet
the demands of tourists. For nearly 200
miles one glides in and out between snow
covered hills and handicapped noun
tains through channels frequently so
narrow that stone can be easily thrown
from one shore to the other. As We sail
along there are times when 1t looks as
though the pilot were bent on destruction,
30 compact and unbroken Is the mountain
lying apparently across the course. but
as we swing around we Il welcome
opening which soon develops seemingly
into a blind channel to startle the timid
and reward the hopeful.
Quite within the Arctic Circle We find
an industry of great Importance, the
fisheries. where $500 or 5000 boats take
from 25 900 900 to 80. 010 90 of the roe and
liver flied cod The broad Vestfjord is
crowded with fishing boats. closely
packed that 1t looks as though one could
walk long distances from boat to boat
Sail boats and steamers are constantly
running to and fro. and nearly all ports
are filled with craft of different sizes
Speaking of Andree's effort to discover
the North Pole, Prof. Gore said: Many
have said that Andree was foolish. and
some have called him fool. ] may have
echoed one or both of these characterize
tons but now after having lived in the
atInospher,, in which he worked. and seen
the determined way in which he went
about to demonstrate a cherished convic-
tlon even to the extent Of stalking his
ife upon the verify of his hypothesis |
-epent the hastily expressed opinion, and
ask forgiveness for a thoughtless tudg-
nent II you insist that 1t was fool
hardness, pray qualify it by the word
sublime.