Year: 1878




Smiths SOUND as said before, and there build up the
colony. would then establish a certain communica-
ton with home Thence ! would penetrate into the
uncertain and mysterious beyond to Lady Frank
lin Bay, l might be able to 40 with steam vessel,
and over the frozen establish comnu nication with
the original colony at SmDs Sound. From that point
would send back the inthearted, sick and weary,
and receive annually new recruits With that a
principle OF operation l would have conf.
dence col success. l DO not believe in any
such thing as . paeocrystio sea- The leo
encountered there by Captain Mares, OF the British
expedition, believe to have been the nero acc-
dental circumstance Of the Winds ana believe also
that had his party not become demoralized by tho
uncertainties of their situation and been
main there another year, thoy would have found the
ce drifting away before them and sea, navigable,
would IN all human probability have been opened be-
fore them to the Polo think have answered your
question Once fixed at Lady FRANKLIN Bay, with
certain base OF support and certainty of escape in
the event Of disaster open behind them, party at
that point would have the courage and TO
attempt the heroic effort to launch q boat upon the
Polar waters and strike out upon the unknown sea in
any craft. were 1t out common whaleboat that they
might have at handn


OPEN


''You believe, then in an open sea 2r


"Most assure0Iy l DO And have doubt that IL
any could succeed in establishing station At Lady
Franklin Bay, with base of operations behind him
and with support guaranteed, he could launch his
boat-doubtless with much ice to embarrass him near
the shore--but with the certainty of reaching tho
open water and sailing away to the North Pole with
as much and safety though ne were navigating
the waters OF the Atlantic Ocean"


A LINE.


'You leave out of tho consideration the Esquimaux
,dot,
would these be needful for hunting?"


"They would be absolutely essential, not only for
hunting, but Tor keeping up communication between
the colony at Port Foulke ana the colony at Lady
Franklin Bay. You will recollect that your colony at
Port Foulke is to be your colony In communication
annually, with the civilized world where lies your
base of supplies, while your colony at Lady Franklin
Bay is in IN unknown uncertain region


now THE PRIZE IS TO DE WON.


sIn any case, wherever the colony may be estab-
lshod, it reach the Pole across open sea ?"


eyes"


"Aud at a propitious time. by a brave and oppsr-
tune dash P'


"Certainly."


"Why, then, would not q stout steamer, well coaled
and manned and commanded, which should be so Tor
tunato TO reach Lady Franklin Bay, some point
favoraby situated at the right season, or within
few months OF the right season. have equally good
prospect Of sailing to the Pole P


81 will answer you very frankly, though without
Intending It. the answer may to reflect upon
others. believe that Captain Hall might have
reached the North Polo, since ho was at Lady Frank
lin Bay believe that Captain Mares might have
done 1t had he remained another year and allowed
time and TO DRIFT his so-oaed paloocrystic
away before him. l believe Dr. Kane would have
done II had his little brig Advance had steam to force
her against the drifting and the north winds; and
l am confident that could have accomplished that
foat In my little schooner yacht had not been
barrassed by tho obstacles same require
ments."


.'rhe question the ole, Doctor. then resolves
itself into lhls:-You believe that It DO reached
What Is the right way to roach itP"


s'l'll answer you, Yankee fashion. Two pans are
proposed. one the colonization pan which resembles
al approach and siege. The other plan which may
be hkened to u bold assault. How does troop take
a battery2"


''THE POLE PERDITIoN.


'By q charge-a dash, OF course"


swell, then believe in tho DASH am In favor OF
an assault upon the Pole by steam, and such an
assault can well be made In a single season from
Liverpool or New York from a point on the verge
OF the ,ce-pack The tactics of Todloben may servo
In this matter, as l have ofaen said; but toll you
frankly prefer those OF Ghourko. Excessive pru-



In great explorations and voyages OF discovery.
The captain who reaches the Pole will prob
ably do so by supreme effort OF courage,
ambition, tact and will. He will at the critical mo-
mont decide 10 brave not only the uncertainties in
his front, but an awful uncertainty behind him He
Will be brave enough to loose from all communca-
tions risk closure Of the Ice pack before his
return from the goal In fact. when he reaches tho
open his way northward he will shrug his
shoulders ana say to himself, The Pole or psrditioni
pl try for the Poo''


AFTER all, Doctor. what practical good come
from the discovery Of the North PoeY"


"From purely practical point Of view, perhaps
none"


'Then why SO much energy devoted to the achieve.
ment?"


"Simply because OF that divine curiosity which
lifts out Of the practical business OF life and
leads thom into the regions of the unknown whero
they may wander at will and pick up, perhaps, some
treasure yet unound to satisfy their iancics and
appeaso their appetite for knowledge"