New-York tribune., 1907-01-05
BAFFLED BY POLAR ICE.
anthony Fiala's account of HIS
Work in the North.

THE ot IcE Aatnong sng fls Rs
and Oliver S. Fassig With four maps and l54
Rgsss % ores s anS fS PRhoMes ars Royal
Svo, pp. xii aO2. Doubleday. Page & Co,
The account written by Mr.. Fiala of the sec
ond Ziegler expedition for the discovery Of the
North Pole lacks nothing Of interest to stu
dents of Arctic research or to those who like, in
the warm comforts of the library. to follow the
frigid hardships Of the polar pioneer. however
much the expedition itself may have lacked of
accomplishment The outward presentation of
the volume with its handsome typography Its
elaborate get-up and its wealth of illustration,
conveys no hint Of the failure Of the author to
make any appreciabe progress in the direction
OF his endeavors. Whether the unsuccessful
outcome Of the expedition was due to the un
favorable climatic conditions or to more per-
sonal causes is difficult to determine from the
internal evidence of the record. Probably both
were factors. Mr.. Fiala appears to have dis
tingushed himself more as organizer than
a leader. His ship, the America, seems to
have been particularly we'll equipped with all
the necessaries and many Of the luxuries Of life
within the Arctic Circle. The vessel was crowd
ed with cargo, and carried on its decks more
than two hundred dogs and thirty hardy Sibe-
rian ponies Sedges, clothing. food, tents and
cooking apparatus of approved varieties were
taken North in abundant store. Mr. F1ala had
obviously made wise use OF his own experience
a member OF the Wellman-Ziegier party. and
had discriminatory awaited himself Of the
perience OF others. His associates were numer-
GUS and enthusiastic. at all events at the start.
Yet both OF his poleward "dashes." undertaken
in successive years. despite the elaboration OF
preparation. were quickly abandoned.
Physical conditions were unquestionably de-
terrent but equally hindering seems to have
been the explorers feeling OF responsibility for
the welfare Of his subordnates. However COM
mendable this feeling may have been and how
ever greatly 1t may have conduced to the health
and safety of the expedition as a whole. II con-
notes a quality OF mind inconsistent with the
maximum of achievement. and one that prompt
ly reacted upon the spirits of his associates.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Fialas evident solicitude
for their well being, disaffection spread rapidly
through the personnel Immediately after his
speedy return from his first abortive venture
toward tho pole; and the majority of the party
expressed their desire TO return homo by the
relief ship at the close OF the first While
the author was wise In not desiring TO retain as
helpers any OF those who had lost heart IN the
enterprise. his inability to inspire confidence and
to keep up the esprit de corps is significant 1t
is possible 10 gather from the report of Mr..
Porter, who writes cheerfully and entertainngly
OF his own experiences. that the winter spent by
the homeseekers at Camp Flora. after the failure
OF the relief ship to reach them, of dis
content and misery-a starvation camp" he
calls IL, and Mr.. Fiala lets the statement stand
without comment
Although the author failed 70 attain the Iati-
tude reached by preceding polar searchers the
expedition not altogether without results
A certain amount of exploration carried
md he
ton of a number OF polar islands and sounds.
On the whole, however, the scientific accom-
plishments seem to have been disproportion-
ately small TO the number OF scientists. The
commander appears TO have felt himself ham
pered by the size Of his STAFF, an impression that
is strengthened by his recommendation that
future exploration be undertaken by smaller
parties with one responsible executive besides
the leader the remainder of the personnel TO be
made up of hardy men accustomed to obey
orders without question. Meteorological obser-
vations. soundings and cartography can be de-
veloped most satisfactorily, he believes. by en-
listed detailed from the army, and acting
under the direction Of the leader
The most important results Of the expedition
to be found in these and the other sug-
gestions made by the author. He strongly ad-
vocates the employment of the Siberian ponies
for drawing sedges. He found them stronger,
more willing ana more intelligent than the
dogs. and requiring fewer to manage them.
By the of sledges with runners on the sides
and tops as well on the bottom, and attached
to the trace with a swivel. that in case OF
overturning they would not require to be righted.
the problem of provisioning a small party for q
poeward dash would, in Mr.. Fiala's opinion. be
solved. He also believes in the use of a small.
strongly built drift ship base for the sledge
party. The ship should carry captive balloon
for sending wireless messages to the sledge
party, which could receive them by means of
kite, though unable to send any replies. 1t may
be noted however that the balloon carried
the Antarctica by Captain Scott only used
once for purposes OF observation and was con-
sidered by him as taking up space than
any advantage gained from il could possibly
warrant.
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