Year: 1874

trian government intenls sending out an ex-
petition next year to continue their recent
brilliant exploration in the Arctic Seas The
new land which the Germans discovered and
named Francis Joseph Land, after their
Emperor, is to b. sought again with the view
OF ascertaining whether it Is an island or part
of the mainland. And not only has it been
determined to send an expedition direct to
this land north from Nova Zembla, but an
other is proposed by way of Greenland, with
the view of getting ON thu north side of that
land if possible. We learn also that the Eng
lish are moving in the same matter; and
strong effort is being made to have govern
ment expedition attempt to reach the North
Pole by way of Smith Sound. In
recent letter to the Tribune DR.. Hayes, our own
well known Arctic explorer, says -'After
having recently conversed with several Arctic
explorers in London, feel almost sure they
will succeed in carrying out their desire for an
expedition in that direction, and he further
assures US that there are plenty of Americans
willing and competent to iorestall the English
in this the American quarter, concluding with
this declaration, GAS for myself, my going
back to the scene of my old contests has been,
as those interested in Arctic explorations well
know, merely question of money. That
forthcoming, l shall lose no time in leading
an expedition into Smith Sound.


The connection of DR.. Hayes with the
progress of Arctic discovery is generally well
known. His first essay in that direction was
with Dr. Kane in 1858, when youth OF but
twenty-one, fresh from college. During that
memorable expedition he made several jour-
neys, principal among which was one across
the then ice-covered Smith Sound with dog
sleage, in the spring Of 1854. This journey
was both difficult and dangerous--d difficult
in consequence of the great roughness
Of the ice, and dangerous as shown by the fact
that two persons had lost their lives and two
parties had previously failed in a sim lar at
empt, as is shown by Dr.. Kane's narrative.
! This journey resulted in the discovery OF
Grinnell Land, which was reached near lati-
tuda eighty degrees, where the American flag
was planted on discarded whip stock. This
land was very mountainous, was covered with
snow aud ice and appeared to be of great ex-
tent. When approaching it the young ex-
plorer knew well that he was approaching land
nearer the North Pole than any land at that
time known, and we can, therefore, well
understand why he persevered in his deter
lnnation to reach it, despite every obstacle,
even to the remonsrances Of his companion,
WHO seemed to think that, from day to day,
l the chances of success were more and more
hopeless. Il am here to 60 ahead, not to 90
back was his resolute answer, and ahead be
/ went until the land was reached, and two days
were occupied with its exploration.


The work Which he did during this voyage
clearly indicated to the friends of Arctic ex-
ploration that DR.. Hayes was the man Tor
such adventurous undertakings, and accord
ingly, in 1860 be was intrustsd with the COM
mand Of an expedition tor scientific explora-
ton to the same quarter, the hope of success
being founded upon the discovery Of smooth
Lelt Of ice along Grinnell Land, from which
it was argued that the current, setting SOUTH


carried with 1t the ice and left an open bay to
the north and west at the close Of the season.
The causes Of DR.. Hayes failure in 1860 to
reach this bay are set forth in his "Open
Polar Sea-" His vessel was schooner Of
only hundred and thirty tons, and without
steam he could not make headway against the
heavy glles and loose ice which he
encountered. Being finally entangled among
the latter the schooner, now nearly wreck


was forced into winter quarters on the Green
land side OF Smith Sound, in latitude 78 deg


II min. From this point DR.. Fl yes made
another toilsome journey Of sixty days dura-
ton amid the rough ice during the folio wing
sprinG to Grinnsll Land and on that la al nc
reached latitude 81 deg. 81 min. Beyond this
he travelled over the ice a days journey,
when he met open water, which he looked
upon the open Polar Sel that one of Dr.
kane's parties had previously sighted from
the opposite side Of the Sound in laitud. 50
deg. 80 min. On this, as on tn former jour
ney, DR.. H-yes found smooth belt OF ice
near the land, and declared his opinion en-
returning home that q steamer could pene-
trate Smith Sound without serious difficulty.
And the correctness Of this conclusion was
fully shown by the subsequent experience
of Captain Hall in the Polaris, wach, as
is well known, steamed to latitude 81 deg. IL
min, nearer the Pole probably than any ship
had ever gone before without encounterng
any serious obstacle whatever. The highest
point of land sighted by DR.. Hayes was about
latitude so deg. As min, beyond which Cap
tain Hall traced the coast to somewhere be-
tween lAtitude SO deg. and 81 deg, considerl-
bly nearer the Pole than the northernmost
point seen by Payer and Weyprecht on their
newly discovered Francis Joseph Land. Thus,
America remains still ahead, so far IS regards
the northernmost land yet seen.


Or. Hayes now once more ann ruces his
readiness to extend thesa di.coyerca H