Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10

authorizing the expedition was pass
ed in 1896, but because of unfortunate
dissensions among the officers of the
expedition and the improper fitting
Of the vessel, the party did not sail
from home shores until 1898. After
a lengthy cruise, during which his
six vessels were beset with nearly all
the misfortunes that could befall sail
ing vessels in ice-bound waters,
Wilkes sighted the shore of what he
declared was the Antarctic continent.
January 16, 1910. The land is just
south of the Antarctic circle and
perhaps 700 miles west Of Byrd's
likely entry into the zone.
Discovery Was Doubted.
Wilkes discovery was doubted for
several years and it was only after
subsequent discoveries were made by
other explorers, notably Skackleton's
that his claims were accepted. 1t is
now conceded that within the coast
discovered by the American pioneer,
lies the continent. Wilkes work in
the South Polar regions was finally
recognized by the Government and
he was promoted to the rank Of rear
admiral II years before his death in
Washington, February. 8. 1877. A
monument. erected in his honor in
Arlington National Cemetery, was I'M
yelled in 1920 by the National Geo
graphic Society, the Military Order OF
the Loyal Legion, the Naval Institute
and the Navy League.
A French explorer, Capt. Dumont
d'Urville, was sailing in the polar re-
eions at the same time Lieut.. Wilkes
was making his discoveries and he
sighted many Of the same lands seen
by the American.
In 1885 the mode Of travelling In the
Antarctic was advanced with the ex-
petition Of Capt. George Mares. the
Englishman, who commanded the
Challenger, the first steamer to
cross the circle. He made no new
discoveries, but he contributed much
to science.
Comdr. Byrd's nearest competitor
in the matter Of transportation was
the heroic Capt. Robert F.. Scott, who
in January, 1902, halted his vessel,
the Discovery, in an ice pack near
the SEVENTEEN parallel to send up
captive balloon from which he sought
| to make more extended observations
| The balloon was a small one, its alti.
| tude was limited and the results which
were obtained from it were negligible,
| but the fact remains that Capt. Scott.
| by his ascent with the gas bag, was
| the first Antarctic aeronaut. All that
was obtained was better view Of the
vast icefield extending out of sight.
Nearly Reached Pole.
Capt. Scott Wintered in the ice 400
miles south of any previous humans
position in the Antarctic and by send
ing out parties with dog sledges. he
and his men reached the eighty-sec'
ond degree of latitude. Lieut.. Ernest
Shackleton was member of Scott
party on that expedition and later he
commanded his own expedition. which
came within II miles of the South
Pole on January 9. 1909. Shackleton
took a motor car into the south With
him, but found it of no use, so that
he relied upon the Manchurian ponies
| which he also carried.
On a subsequent expedition. Capt
Scott actually reached the Pole
After terrible hardships. which he
recorded with marvellous detail IN
his diary, he attained the South Pope
January 16. 1912, only to find thai
Roald Amundsen had been there
before him. On the long trek north
SCOTS party was overcome with
hunger and cold and finally all died
Scott himself was the last To sur
vive the hardshipS and he kept hi:
records faithfully almost until the
moment of his death. His body AM
his records intact were found later
and thus was given to the Worlt
one of the most thrilling stories eve
written. Amundsen reached the Poll
December IA. 1911. using steam YES
sells as far as navigation permitted
then continuing by sledge
1t is against this background tina
Comdr Byrd will sail in his airplancs
Ne says. this year
While he has North Pole victor.
to his credit, there exists in the an
nals Of polar expeditions one un
; solved aeronautic myStery-that o
: the Swedish balloon with three me-
. aboard. which set out from Virgo
I SpitZenberCen on the afternoon q
9 July 13, 1897 never to return. Tw
/ days after the free balloons Gepar
] ture, Garner pigeon brought I
e SpitZenberscn message from An
\ lress. the commander, reporting tina
e al was we'll That was the last hear
e. from the three men-Andree. Strind
4 berg and F'raenkel.
!.
!. Ordered to Towson, Md, for Duty
- f,ou,,.., tso,,..,, -