Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-29
HIS POLAR PROPHECY.
Gen. Greeley Had Predicted Lieut..
ShackIeton's Discoveries.

Washington, March 2S.-The wonder
full achievements Of Lieut.. ShackletOn
in the antarctic We're forecast in a re-
view Of the years work in polar eX-
DloratiOn Which was written during the
latter part Of January by Gen. Adolf
phus Washington Greedy, former chief
signal officer of the United States
army, who. in 1881, led an expedition
that reached point OF the well-known
magazines, and is to be published, Gen.
Greedy says, within few weeks.
When seen at the Cosmos Club Cen
| Greedy said that he predicted that word
from Lieut. Shackleton would be re-
, ceived about this time. He also pre-
dicted that Lieut. Shackleton would re-
port that he had reached a point near
| er to the south pole than ever before
reached by man.
Il have kept in touch with the move
ments made by Lieut.. Shackleton's
party since they first started said
Gen. Greedy. land was able to make a
fairly close prediction. ! made note of
the dale when the Nimrod started back
to meet thC expedition, and, after al
, lowing several weeks for delays, pre-
dicted that at about this time the first
| ncWs OF. Lieut.. Shackleton's trip would
reach this country
"PredictiCn as to the achievements of
Lieut. Shaciilcton was a matter Of far
greater speculation. Polar exploration
is purely n matter of luck. OF course,
science and experience play a very i'm
portrait part. but the success of an ex-
petition depends on luck entirely.
''No matter how skilled a polar ex-
rlorcr may be, the success of his eX-
petitions depends on conditions against
Which he cannot combat. This was
clearly shown in PearyS explorations
After passing over ice fields with COM
p&ratiVe case, he felt confident that he
could do so again. He started out, but
on the second trip met entirely OPP
posite conditions. and was unsuccessful
II took into consideration, however
that Lieut.. Sheckleton's trip to reach
the south pole was a question of Shak-
Teton vs.. Shaklcton. 1t was trip to
establish IL new record over q course
whore he was already the record hold
or, He had the great advantage of
having travnrsed the course several
years before. and knew of the hard
ships which he was to meet and the
undertaking.
"Rcalizing that Lieut. ShackIeton was
an experienced antarctic explorer, I
felt safe in predicting that he would
accomplish greater achievements than
those of any other explorer He car
i'ied with him an outfit that was SUI
pcrior 10 any ever carried by an eX-
piorer.
He was the first man to carry ponies
with him instead of dogs, and although
at the time OF his departure there was
some speculation as to the advisability
VI this move. time has demonstrated
that the ponies were far superior to the
smaller aninals Lieut. Shakleton al
so took motor sleds and other modern
equipment with him. The former did
not meet expectations, but I dare say
very important part in polar ex-
ploration.
when Lieut. Shakleton made the
same trip in 1862 with Capt SCOTS
party he carried along a balloon, which
was used on several occasions to make
observations. On the recent trip how
ever. balloon was not included in the
outfit"
FhHheu IL Hc lIOuSnI DdHOOnS or
aeroplanes would ever be of any great
service to polar explorers, Gen. Greedy
said that be believed they would not if
built along the lines used in the pres
ent day.
Tho most important achievement of
Lieut.. ShaciIloton in his recent trip"
continued Gen. Greedy, was to defin-
itoly locate the magnetic south pole.
Other explorers had done so by and 4
point triangulatior. but Lieut., Shake
ton actually located the pole"