New-York tribune., 1902-07-09
which he announces the fact and purpose
Of Mr.. Vanderbilts munfcence.
POLAR RESEARCH.

POLAR RESEARCH.
By an unusual combination of circumstances
no less than four polar expeditions are enjoying
prominence this week One of them is An
dree's unfortunate venture of five years ago, a
rumor concerning which is discredited by the
King of Sweden and the manager of the Hud-
son Bay Company at Winnipeg in special dis
patches TO The Tribune With three other
parties. which entered upon their work more
recently than the daring aeronaut, the attempt
will be made to open communication by vessels
which either have Just started or are about to
start. Baldwin's tender, the Frithiof. left
NardO, on the arctic coast of Norway, last Sun
day night TO take food coal and mail to him,
and to afford assistance in any other way which
may be found desirable after his base, Franz
Josef Land, is reached Tomorrow the Wind
ward, with new engines and boilers, begins
her third voyage to the west coast of Greenland
since Mr.. Harmsworth presented her to Peary.
Finally, if there be no change of programme
for reasons unforeseen, 40Oton ship, named
Morning, will sail from Hull to join the British
antarctic expedition which is now supposed to
be hemmed in by ice on the coast of Victoria
Land, far to the south of NewZealand
Peculiar interest attaches to the departure OF
the Windward She takes Mrs. Peary once
more to the arctic regions. where the explorers
in the past. The physical courage thus dis
played and the sacrifices which are involved
in long separations from her husband give this
woman a strong claim on popular admiration.
Many a man will rejoice in any triumph which
the American naval officer may achieve, almost
as much for her sake as for Peary himself.
With the latter the public feels the greater
sympathy from the fact that he has been en-
gagged almost continuously for dozen years in
seeking the pole, extending geographical knowl-
edge or else preparing for fresh campaigns IN
the north. Whether or not he has fully real
ized his ambition within the last three months,
it is possible that he may now abandon the
quest forever. The Windward will not only
bring back news of Peary, and perhaps Peary
himself, but 1t may also furnish the world with
tidings Of his Norwegian rival Sverdrup, and
also concerning the eccentric DR.. Dedrick,
neither of whom enjoys an enviable position in
popular esteem
Baldwin, toO is a citizen of the United States,
and he showed his love of country by bestOwing
the name America upon the principal ship of
his expedition. Although he went north in full
command of a party for the first time only last
year, he had served previously with both Peary
and Welman. With the latter, of course, he
had an exceptional chance to study the advan-
tages of Franz Josef Land as a base of opera
tions. though it is not incredible that consider
atiOns of courtesy also impelled him to avoid
the route chosen by Peary. Baldwin has aimed
TO surpass the achievements of Nansen and the
Duke of the Abruzzi He has been literally
backed by Mr.. Ziegler In the matter of dogs,
and perhaps in other respects his equipment
has never before been matched. Moreover, il
he has not already made record IN the arctic
seas of which his countrymen may be proud,
he intends to stay north for one or two more
years and renew the attempt each spring. With
Americans attacking the pole by the two most
available routes, conquest now seems TO be only
a question of time. Never was there such a
combination of pluck, brains and money behind
the undertaking.
The three antarctic expeditions which went
out last summer, under English, German and
Swedish auspices. respectively, may also have
occasion for just pride over their achievements;
but in the nature OF things the Windward and
the FrithjOf will come back TO civilization sew
eral months before any tidings can be received
from the Southern Hemisphere. Since Vardo
is in telegraphic communication with the world
and is above the SEVENTEEN parallel of latitude,
while the Windward must come much further
south to report, Baldwin will probably be heard
from first But there ought to be news from
Peary early in September.