New-York tribune., 1901-05-25

y,
ner's Sons.
Mr. Borchgrevink's antarctic expedition has
been somewhat criticised the ground or its
scientific equipment but this narrative touches
only incidentally on the scientific side. IT is an
account of the adventures and hardships OF
South Polar exploration for the unscientlhc
reader and as such is full of the interest that
pertains to experiences in surroundings rareiS
visited by man. There are many Things tha'
make the South Polar lands much harder 10
study than the North; the formation OF the
coast the entire lack Of inhabitants ana the
absence of the Arctic fauna, such as bears
foxes musk oxen and reindeer. Says MT
Borchgrevnk:
Within the Antarctic Circle life depends en-
tirely upon a careful selection of the necessary
provisions and, without hampering ones self
with too heavy loads, nearly double the guam
tity of provisions necessary for certain dis
tance to be travelled must be taken.
These facts, besides the great heights OF VIC
toria Land, with its difficult glaciers, give the
travelling within the Antarctic Circle quite an
other aspect TO that of the Arctic.
Mr.. BorchgreVinks party reached the furthest
point south trodden by man-latitude rs
degrees 30 minutes. He spent the winter at
Camp Ridley, Cape Adare. South Victoria
Land, while his ship, the Southern Cross. sailed
away to Australia, returning in February, 1900.
1t is a most difficult coast; the numerous pict-
ures convey a vivid idea of its inhospitality and
Mr. Borchgrevink's story is full of the hard
ships experienced in keeping a foothold upon
IL. They put up huts on low beach at the
foot of the stern, towering cliffs of the coast
which pelted by storms of pebbles in the
frequent gales and buried in snow in the winter
often only the metal stays by which the huts
were fastened to the ground kept them from
Seip hey he
expeditions on sledges for observation and ex-
ploration as long as it was possible, often in
great difficulties and dangers; but when the
antarctic night came there were long periods of
enforced inactivity difficult to bear.
The strongest man must needs feel the effect
Of il more or less. The sameness of those cold
dark nights attacks the minds of men like
sneaking evil spirit We found that reading
playing chess and cards were very valuable
pastimes during this period, when work did not
require the full concentration Of our minds: and
occasionally started, purposely. minor
quarrels when found a change necessary.
1t was easier to bring a weighed down
mind to a beneficial laugh after such a little
quarrel than before
The health of all but one man. who succumbed
and died during the winter, kept good: fact
due. Mr.. Borchgrevink thinks, to the great
taken in the selection of the timed food,
which allowed a considerable variety in the
daily bills of fare arranged by the doctor. Yet
seal beef and roast penguin flesh became tow
ard the end welcome delicacies When the men
were able to gather penguin eggs they de-
voured them with eagerness. somewhat to the
disgust of the DOCTOR who was animated by the
true scientific spirit:
He implored me in his calm way not TO let
the members eat fresh eggs just then because
he liked to study the progress of our health at
the time and seeing that we all very much re-
quired fresh albuminoids although suffering
severely himself from the want, he knew that
the supply Of eggs would detract from the vau-
able studies he was making. Of u.s.
Mr.. Borchgrevink found proof in the marine
fauna, in the alga and in the flora of the ex-
istence Of "bipolarity," while in the land fauna
there were no evidences of it-that is of a CORE
spondence between living organisms at the ant
arctic and arctic regions AS to the land fauna
though climatic and meteorological conditions
are often the same, there must be lacking he
thinks, some as yet unidentified vital conditions
which, if discovered, would give a valuable link
in determining the mystery of the distribution
of organisms. There is little of technical sci
entifc observation in the book what there is
being contained chiefly in the appendix devoted
to sketches Of the meteorological and magnetic
observations not yet reduced and studied the
aurora and a few notes on geological and geo
logical matters
Ihe point furthest south was reached after
The return Of the Southern Cross. when the ex
pedi'ion steamed away. passing eastward of
Mount Erebus and Mount Terror, breaking
through the ice barrier and entering a harbor,
where they landed again. Thence they made a
snort sledge journey. curtailed by the neces
sity OF escaping northward before the closing
III OF the ice, but sufficient. as Mr. Borchgre
WINK relates il, TO establish his claim to reach
Ing the 'furthest south"