The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1918-05-08
FOUNDACONTINENT
Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer in
Front Rank Of Explorers.
stonineton, Conn.,, Was Birthplace of
Brave Sailor Who Was the First
to Discover Land In Great
Antarctic Ocean.

one instance proven, while following
their pursuits, to be explorers of the
hrst magnitude.
This fuct Is recalled in the case of
EgY,. Nathaniel Il. Palmer, n native of
StOnington, Conn.,, a port that once
Supported a prosperous fleet of nier-
chant vessels.
Captain Palmer, when twenty years
oil. discovered the Antarctic continent.
Today Captain Palmer's old home in
tfe quiet seashOre town Of his birth Is
a p,ace honored by resident and visi-
Tor alike, while few miles from 1t, at
Noank, a famous old shipyard, bearing
gt.!. the name Of Palmer, is perpetual
ing the traditions of the locality by
turning out ships for the new merchant
marine, under the construction pro-
gram of the United States shipping
board.
CAPTAIN Palmer wns an "c'ivp.
str"ug, aggressive character. When as
n Ind Of eighteen no wade voyage on
ihc brig Hersilia ~ seconG nate, II
Glanced that he WIS landed ~ che
Falkland islands 70 Ill wild bn'''"''S
for meat, while his ship sail d awar IN
searcb of an 's'""d - h'"h the N0u.
Zee captains had heard vague stories,
but had never seen.
In the absence of the HerSiia an Ar
gentine vessel, the ESpiritO |"''"
touched at the Falklands for water
Her captain told young Palmer that he
was bound for place whore there
were thousands of seals.
The Argentine sailed away before
Che Hersilia came back: but on his
vessels return. young Palmer insisted
that she nut after the Espirito Santo.
I'm hope of finding the strange island.
This was done, and after many days
sailing the Yankee brig found not only
fhe vessel she had followed, but is
lands to that time unknown In North
America. the South Shetlands.
In 1921, Nathaniel Palmer, as COM
mqndcr Of StoninCton sloop, the
Zero. sailed again to the South Shet-
lands for seals. Finding the seals near
~ exterminated there, he sailed far
fher and farther in search of new seal
iEg grounds, stopping only when lie
Eghted land not laid down on any
chart. There were numerous islands,
and beyond them a wild coastline and
dim mountains.
One night the Hero lay becalmed in
O thick fog that developed her like n
bhnket. After taking the deck at mid
night Tor the middle watch, Captain
Palmer was astoniShed when his man
at the helm struck one bell, to hear the
sound repeated twice. The same thing
happened at two bells and SO on
through the watch. Superstition had
not left the seas in those days, and the
men of the watch deck were alarmed.
At seven bells the fog lifted little,
and two men-of-war were seen not
more than mile away. After the
United States ensign was run up at
the main peak of the Hero, one of the
yarshlps sent boat alongside with an
Invitation from Commander Belllng-
hausen Of the Russian navy for the
captain Of the American sloOp to come
81 board his ship.
Cartain Palmer went Just as he was
dreSSed-in sea boots and sOu'wester.
The scene was one of impressive con-
trusts when Captain Palmer stepped
into the commanders luxurious cabin.
The polished, accomplished Russian
commander insisted on sitting down to
luncheon with the rugged young Yam
kee in sea boots, meal that Captain
Palmer found elaborate, after the fare
on the Hero.
The Russian officer had been two
years on voyage of discovery. He
examined keenly the chart and log
hook of the Hero, and questioned Cap
tain Palmer at length concerning the
land he had found.
FINALLY the commander arose, placed
his hand upon the young captains
head, and said: 81 name the land you
have discovered Palmer Land In your
honor; but what will my august mas
ter say, and what will he think of my
muising for two years in search of the
and that has been discovered by boy,
a n sloop only little larger than the
.hUnch of my frigate?"
Islands named for Peter and Alexan-
der are stili so designated on charts
o. that part of the Antarctic; but the
hand found by the boy captain of Ston-
ngton appears on every chart OF that
pnrt of the world rs palmer Archi-
peIago."
1t was nearly 20 years after Captain
Paimer's discovery that the rim Of the
Antarctic continent was explored, by
m Englishman, Sir James Ross, of the
famous Erebus and Terror expedition.
Women Gain on Men.
A.