The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-03-21

Views of the Antarctic Regions
from Overhead.
Important Results of Expedition TO
Southern Polar Seas unique
tn the Annals of Aero
aaUttca.

Balloon accents for military recon-
day they will be extensively employed
for geographical exploration, perhaps
There is talk Of using captive airships
for enabling tourists to view Alpine
scenery easily. But for polar research
they have thus far been practically
neglected Poor Andree hoped that in
| free balloon he might drift steadily
northward from SpitZbergen several
hundred miles, but he paid for that
error with his life. The trial which
was made In the Antarctic seas from
the British ship Discovery Is practi-
cally unique In the annals Of aero
nautics. Never before was a success
full ascent made under similar condi-
tions, says the New York Tribune.
Leaving Lyttleton, New Zealand,
just before the close OF 1901, the Brit
ish expedition pushed steadily south
ward, heading for Cape Adair, The ice
barrier which skirts the Antarctic con-
tinent extends almost continuously
along the sixty-fifth or sixty-sixth par
allel OF south latitude. BY far the
most remarkable break In the coast
line occurs to the southeastward of
Australia. There is an enormous re-
cess, 500 or 600 miles deep, and fully
as wide, called McMurdo bay. Along
its western shore lies Victoria Land.
re OF hi Iur 10 AaH
and Is represented only vaguely by ice
The southern side is almost straight
and extends eastward and westward
fairly close to the seventy eighth par
allel Of latitude
Touching first at Cape Adair, OF the
northwestern corner OF the bay, Capt
Scott skirted Victoria Land and
reached the southwestern corner, near
the volcanoes Erebus and Terror.
Turning eastward on January n, 1902,
he worked his way slowly along the
Ice barrier, which for more than 500
miles has height OF from so to $50
feet. Apparently the Ice had receded
somewhat from the limits noted by
Sir James Ross. who explored the
region In 184S. During the next few
days Capt. Scott saw land OF to the
eastward OF him which has never be-
fore been chartered. and also observed
that the Ice barrier itself practically
disappeared, and was replaced by slop-
ing Ice, which doubtless covered land
The barrier proper Is frozen pack, Is
generally level In spite Of Its rough
ness. and IL thought to overlie sea.
II was Just after turning back after
these observations toward Mount
Erebus that the balloon ascent was
made. The ship was still under con-
troll. the season corresponding to mid
summer. An inlet through the ice,
which reached further southwark than
any other TO which the Discovery could
penetrate, was now utilized to study
the land. Hydrogen, compressed In
cylinders and brought from home was
used to initiate the gas bag Owing to
the low temperature of this region, a
much greater quantity was required
perate climates. The cable which held
this floating observatory captive was
$50 feet long. No satisfactory landing
place was discovered, but an admirable
view of the region was had. This oc-
CURED February 4, 1902 Then the
Discovery pushed on westward. found
a satisfactory anchorage in McMurdo
strait close to Mount Erebus, and on
March "a Gust after the autumnal
equinox she was frozen in. Suisse
quently Capt. Scott organized sledge
parties which explored the vicinity.
The most important results of the
expedition up to the time the relief
ship, Morning. left j. last winter, were
as follows:
First-Discovery of new land east
Of McMurdo bay.
Second-Discovery that Mounts Ere
bus and Terror are on small island |
and not the mainland
Third-Finding good winter quar-
tiers for a ship In south latitude 77:R0, |
east longitude 166:42 with land close
by for magnetic observatory.
Fourth-A record of 80 degrees be-
ow zero Fahrenheit
F1fth-A sledge journey TO 82:17
south latitude. and observations of
and as far of as 1890 including
'eaks and mountain ranges 1900 feet
high.
Sixth-Evidence that the vast ice
overed plateau which reaches west
yard from McMurdo bay ID In some
laces 5000 feet high.
Seventh-A large amount Of mag
etic and biological and deep sea