The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-27
az cHARoor EXHIBITION.


The French Antarctic expedition under
Dr. Charoot had heen lost 70 sight just
year when tho Argentine gunboat Uruguay
IN January last, went southwark 10 Graham
Land. the coast Of the Antarctic continent
nearest TO South America, 10 learn how the
party was faring Il was the uruguay that
helped 10 rescue the Nordensk'o.d eXpedi-
ton In 1907, year after liz exploring vessel,
the Antarctic, had CONC to the bottom. Last
iall the gunboat carried new lot Of OBJ
servers TO the meteorological station In
the South Orkneys and then went 10 search
Of DR. Chariot.
10 about a month the vessel returned 10
Argentina with the disquletinE news~that
she could not find the expedition, The
oharoot party had taken for their field
limited area on the west coast Of Graham
Land There were two things they wished
TO do In 1877 a German whaler had dis
covered a deep, broad inlet on the west
coast and named II Bis marok Strait. He
did not see the end Of II, and the question
arose whether II was merely gulf OF q
long wide channel cutting through Graham
Land and making a large island OF what
was supposed 10 be the northern part OF
great peninsula. The best maps give the
name Bismarck Strait with an inteTroga-
ton point after II. Charcot was instructed
to endeavor 10 solve this problem. he
was also expected to outline the unexplored
part Of the west coast Of Graham Land as
far south pos ible.
As his field Of operations was small, the
Uruguay expected easily to find the party,
or at least some trace Of Il; but much 10
the surprise Of her captain, the gunboat
went from island 10 island as far south a.
Antwerp Island almost 70 the unexplored
coast Of Graham Land, without finding the
slightest trace Of the expedition. II the
Uruguay had gone only twenty miles fur
Their south 10 Wandel Island she would have
discovered the winter quarters Of the French
party; but she came home, reporting that
she could find nothing.
This report naturally created great un-
easiness in France. Could II he possible
that Charcot's steam equipped schooner
lie Francais, had been crushed in the ice
and lost with all on board? There were
the gloomiest forebodings, and arrange
ments for sending n search expedition were
already in progress when, few weeks ago
Charcot and his party arrived in Argentina
with the news that all were well and had
spent a successful summer in exploration.
They solved the problem Of the Bismarck
Strait by an expedition through il, thus prov
ing il to be really a strait. In spite Of for
midable obstacles, they pushed their way
through the ice along the unexp!ored coast
nearly to 6s degrees south latitude, mapping
about I5D miles OF the unknown shore hne
At times they had TO use explosives 70 blow
up the heavy pack that prevented their
advance; but they succeeded in their mission
and have come home with record Of good
work done during their thirteen months in
the Antarctic.
The one thing they failed to do, which Is
rather surprising was to leave records on
their way south Of their welfare, progress
and intentions. II they had done this
their friends in France would have eer
spared weeks Of the &c lest anxiety.