The Jackson-Harmsworth Polar Expedition, Notes of the Last Year's Work Author(s): Arthur Montefiore Brice and H. Fisher Source: The Geographical Journal, Vol. 8, No. 6 (Dec., 1896), pp. 543-564 Published by: geographicalj Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1774217 Accessed: 14-06-2016 10:35 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://about.jstor.org/terms JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Wiley, The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Geographical Journal This content downloaded from 128.111.121.42 on Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:35:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE JACKSON-HARMSWORTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 543 researches into the action of blown sand in the forlnation of sand-dunes, of Mr. Bedford's paper on the tapestry maps of English counties in the sixteenth century, and Mr. Andrews' viess on the teaching of geography in relation to history. The great event of the Session will be the arrival of Dr. Nansen. We shall receive hiln, and hear the remarks he has to offer to us, on the subject of his memorab]e expedition, on the Sth of ne2at February. Dr. Nansen has already received one of our royal awards. But my dis- tinguished friend has since achieved a success which has justly aroused the enthusiastic admiration of the whole civilized world. Ee is a great e2zplorer from every point of view in his conceptions, in his scientific attainments, in the completeness of his preparations, in his power over others, in the way he overcomes all obstacles, in his dauntless courage and marvellous endurance. We are resolved to do him honour when he comes amongst us; and I am quite sure that the resolution of the Council, that Dr. Nansen shall be presented with a special gold medal on his arrival, will meet with the hearty approval of the Fellows of this Society. Still Mr. Jackson and his gallant comrades reluain at their posts, exploring the islands of the Franz Josef group, and collecting valuable information in all branches of science with untiring zeal, and in the face of great difflculties and dangers. We do not forget our good friends in Franz Josef Land, but look forward ansiously for news of their welfare and of their achievements. Last year Mr. Montefiore Brice gave us a very short hour of great enjoyment in listening to the admirable waJ,- in which he described to us the proceedings of the Jackson Expedition. A year, exactly a year, has elapsed, and we have the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Montefiore Brice amongst us again. He will explain the more recent labours of our gallant Arctic explorers, and I can promise you a most delightful time this evening, in listening to what he is about to tell us. - THE JACKSON-HARMSWORTH POLAR EXPEDITION.* NOTES OF THE Last YEAR S WORK. By ARrl'sitJx MONTEFIORE BRICE, F.G.S. TO-)IORROW it will be exactly a year since I had the honour to submit to this Society a report of the work then accomplished by the Jackson- Harmsworth Expedition. This expedition, as you are aware, was despatched from England in 1894 by Mr. Alfred Harmssortb, a iEsellow of this Society, and he placed in command another Fellow of the * Paper rcad at the Royal Geographical Society, Novenll)er 10,1896. 2 o 2 Map,l-656. This content downloaded from 128.111.121.42 on Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:35:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 4 'rHE JACKSON-HARAISWORTH POLAR EXPRDITION. Geographical Society, AIr. Frederick Jackson, who is now wintering for the fourth successive year in the Arctic Regions. Well, I concluded my paper last year with the hope that this autnmn we luight again welcome the gallant little Windward bome, " and with her, too, another and even luore important budget of news news of discovery, news of success, and, best of all, news of well-being and good health." That hope, I have the highest satisfaction in telling you, has been more than aloundantly justified. For the WincZward herself made a most remarkable passage-sailing under the able and energetic command of Captain James Brown from Vard(5, on June 29, navigating some 600 miles of pack-ice, discharging a large and very valuable cargo at Franz Josef Land, and returnialg to Vard(\ six weeks to the day after she had left that northern port. She brought with her, too, the good news for which we had hoped news of systematic exploration and its fruit of valuable discovery; news of successful battling with the well-nigh overwhelming odds which Nature in her Arctic mood presents; and news of the continued and almost unprecedented well-being of our gallant explorers in the great White North. Moreover, the Windward brought the world a great surprise. P>ather o-er three years ago, an Arctic explorer perhaps the most audacious the world has yet seen had set sail on a voyage which expelience, knowledge, and science regarded with feelings not greatly different fiom dismay. I allude, of course, to Frithjof Nansen and his voyage in the Fram. On August 3, 1893, he passed through the strait of Yugorski Schar into the Kara Sea, and from that moment he was not merely lost to sight, but to all knowledge or opportunity of knowing. For three long years there was silence and, I think, steadily growing an2riety; and then, when the lnost sanguine of us were looking for him or news of him from the ice-laden waters of Greenland, and the most desponding were telling us it were vain to look at all, the Windward steamed into the fishing-port of Vard(i,having on board as passengers Dr. Nansen and his companion Johannesen. The delight and the wonder of it were ot confined to what we call " geographical circles," but commantled the attention of that world which honours the courage and applauds the prowess of the polar explorer a world which is as wide as our globe, and only limited by the distribution of the human race. Of the strange chance that brought it to pass that Nansen and Johannesen should be on the Windward, and of what had happened in Franz Josef Land before Mr. Harmsworth's polar yacht had reached Mr. Jackson's quarters, I shall endeavour to give sorne account a little later. But I have referred to these several points now to remind you how abundantly justified has been that hope that " another and even more important budget of news " would come to our hands this year. It is a year, in fact, which will relnain an annqbs qnirabtlis in the history of discovery. This content downloaded from 128.111.121.42 on Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:35:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE JACKSON-HAP MSWORTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 545 But I may also note, in passing, that a collsiderable amount of work of secondary importance has been attempted and, in one o-r two instances, completed in 1896. Peary has made an interesting voyage into Smith's sound, thollgh it in no way compares, of course, with his lnagnificent journeys across the great inland ice-cap of Greenland. Andree has accornplished all but the final flight on his great venture of sailing through the air to the Pole. And Sir George Baden Powell has been able, in his yacht, to afford in Novaia Zemlian waters an excep- tional opportunity and a new vantage ground for English astronomers. We must now return, however, to the summer of 189S, to July 8, when the Windqrard started hol:neward on that memorable voyage through CAPE GERTRUDE (taketz wtth a teleph.oto le?he). the ice, which for sixty-three days defied all the eS(rts of steam-power and the incessant labour of her crew. Exactly three days later-on July 11-Mr. Jacksoxl set sail on a westerly voyage of discovery in the little ship, the Mary Marmswoqth. This was a whale-boat, rigged with lug-sail and jib, 25 feet 6 inches long, 5 feet 7 inches in beam, and undecked. Accompanying him were Mr. A. Arrnitage, Lieut. R.N.R, second in command; Mr. H. Fisher, botanist; Mr. J. Child, photographer; Bslomvist, an A.B. taken from the Windward, and whose record of work in Franz Josef Land is very good; and Mr. S. Burgess, whose place was a day or two later taken by Mr. Reginald Rettlitz, the doctor and geologist of the expedition. The object of this boat journey was tv extend our knowledge of the coast-line, to survey and fis the positions of the main pointsn to enter and explore the intervening fiords and bays, and to This content downloaded from 128.111.121.42 on Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:35:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 546 TI-IE JACESON-HARAISWQRTH POLAR EXPEDITIONr. discover, if possible, new land to the westward. The party had a month's provisions with them, some stores for a depot to be made on Cape Grant, and a canvas boat was towed for additional service and safety.