G. FIRTH SCOTT.
London, 1906.
Publishers' Note
Our thanks are due to Lieut. Shackleton, R.N.R., of the Discovery, for the use of the original drawing facing page 344, and also for permission to use the Illustrations facing pages 310, 340, 348. To Messrs. Alston Rivers, Limited, for permission to use the Illustration facing page 320 from Dr. H. R. Mill's "Siege of the South Pole." To Messrs. Hutchinson and Co., for the use of Illustrations facing pages 28 and 272, and Frontispiece, from "The Voyage of the Polar Star," by the Duke of the Abruzzi. To Messrs. Geo. Newnes, Limited, for the Illustration facing page 305 from "First on the Antarctic Continent," by C. E. Borchgrevinck. To Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co., for permission to reproduce the Illustration facing page 256 from "New Land," by Otto Sverdrup.
Contents
| CHAPTER I | |
|---|---|
| THE ARCTIC REGION | |
| PAGE | |
| The Mystery of the North Pole—The First Explorer—"The Great Dark Wall at the End of the World"—"Frost-Smoke"—The Lights and Sounds of the North—The Aurora Borealis—Mock Moons—The Early Adventurers: Willoughby, Frobisher, Davis, Hudson, Baffin, Ross, and Parry—The North-West Passage | [17] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| SIR JOHN FRANKLIN | |
| Young Franklin—His Dreams of Adventure—He becomes a Sailor—HisFirst Arctic Expedition—Fails to get through Behring Straits—Explores Baffin's Bay—The 1845 Expedition—The Erebus and Terror—The "Good-bye" at Greenland—Wellington Channel—They select Winter Quarters—Discovery of the North-West Passage—Death of Franklin—Prisoned in the Ice—TheCrew Abandon the Ships—Defeat and Death | [25] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| THE SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN | |
| Captain Parker's Report—Government offers a Reward—Dr. Rae's Expedition—Captain McClure's Voyage in the Investigator—Hardships and Perils—The Meeting with the Herald—LadyFranklin still Hopeful—Sir F. L. McClintock's Expedition inthe Fox with Lieutenant Hobson—Their Sad and Fatal Discoveries—Lieutenant Schwatka recovers the Body of Lieutenant Irving | [42] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| THE VOYAGE OF THE POLARIS | |
| Death of Captain Hall—Crew determine to Return—Are Frozen in—A Party take to the Ice and are Cast Away—They build themselves Snow Huts—They find some Seals—An Adventure with Bears—The Perils of the Spring—They sight the Tigress and are Saved—The Ship-party's Story and Rescue | [69] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| THE ALERT AND DISCOVERY | |
| Sir George Nares appointed to the Alert and Discovery—Overtaking a Season—Red Snow—The Greenland Mosquito—Peculiarities of Eskimo Dogs—And Dog Whips—Dangers of Kayaks—Advantages of Steam for Polar Regions—An UnpleasantExperience—A Huge Walrus—Arctic Scenery—A Big "Bag"—TheShips part Company—The Alert reaches the Polar Sea—WinterQuarters—The North Pole attempted—Adventuresand Sufferings of the Party—Lieutenant Parr's Heroism—Deliverance—TheGreenland Attempt—Scurvy and Snow—RepulseBay—In Pitiable Plight—Lieutenant Rawson to the Rescue | [83] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| THE GREELY EXPEDITION | |
| The Scheme of the Expedition—Fort Conger—Arctic Wolves—Atmospheric Marvels—A Terrific Storm—Influence of the Sun—LieutenantLockwood's Expedition—The Second Winter—Preparationsfor Departure—They leave Fort Conger—ARemarkable Ice Passage—They fail to make Cape Sabine—ANew Camp—Rations running Short—Fruitless Efforts to reachFood Depôts—Starvation and Death—A Bitter Blow—The Arrival of the Thetis | [114] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| PEARY IN GREENLAND | |
| The Greenland Question—Departure of the Kite—Peary breaks his Leg—A Camp made—Habits of the Eskimo—A Brush with Walrus—"Caching" Food—An Arctic Christmas Feast—Peary starts for the Great Ice-Cap—A Snow Sahara—The Ice-Cap Crossed—A Marvellous Discovery—Sails on Sledges—A Safe Return | [146] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| NANSEN AND THE FRAM | |
| Nansen's Theories of Arctic Currents and Shipbuilding—His Theories adopted—The Fram Built—A Start made—The Kara Sea reached—Good Hunting—The Ice Current reached—Frozen in—A Raid by a Bear—Will the Fram stand the Pressure?—Preparing for Calamity—A Conclusive Test—Causes of IceMovements—Life on the Fram—Nansen and Johansen leavethe Fram—They reach their "Farthest North"—Incidents oftheir Return Journey—Some Narrow Escapes—The Meetingwith Jackson—Arrival of the Fram | [173] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| FRANZ JOSEF LAND AND SPITZBERGEN | |
| The Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition—Object of the Expedition—An Interesting Experiment—The Franz Josef Land Questionsettled—A Group of Islands, not a Continent—Conway at Spitzbergen—Ancient History—Bygone Splendours—Scenery in theMaking—The Romance of Andrée—Another Riddle | [220] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| THE POLAR METEORITES | |
| Eskimo Iron—A Mystery of 1818—Search and Failure—Peary and his Huskies—The Secret revealed—An Eskimo Legend—At the Iron Mountain—Removing the Trophies—A Massive Giant—Attack and Defence—The Giant Objects—A Narrow Escape—Conquered | [236] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| THE SECOND VOYAGE OF THE FRAM | |
| Norwegian Enterprise—Mapping the Islands—Nearly Frozen—A Novel Warming-Pan—Eskimo Melody—Arctic Bull Fights—Death of the Doctor—Fire on the Fram—New Lands—Prehistoric People | [249] |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| ITALY CLAIMS THE RECORD | |
| Norwegian Aid—A Northerly Station—Premature Enthusiasm—Cold Comfort—An Arctic Greeting—A Hasty Landing—Disorganised Plans—Homeless Dogs—Making Fresh Plans—TheLeader Frost-bitten—The Start for the Pole—Driven Back byCold—A Second Start—First Detachment Lost—Anxiety forthe Second—A Struggle for Life—Third Detachment Overdue—Fearsof Disaster—Safe at Last—Italy sets the Record | [265] |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| THE ANTARCTIC REGION | |
| The Mystery of the South Pole—Ignored by Early Navigators—An Accidental Dutch Discovery—Captain Cook Sets Sail—Discouraged by the Ice—Turns back in Despair—A SecondAccidental Discovery—Weddell breaks the Barrier—AntarcticLand revealed—British resume the Search | [283] |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| VOYAGES OF THE EREBUS AND TERROR | |
| A Fortunate Choice—Characteristic Southern Bergs—First Sight of the Continent—More British Territory—A Mighty Volcanic Display—Nearing the Magnetic Pole—The Antarctic Barrier—A Myth dispelled—A Second Attempt—Held by the Ice—Third and Last Voyage—A Double Discovery | [294] |
| CHAPTER XV | |
| THE SOUTHERN CROSS EXPEDITION | |
| British continue the Work—Carrier Pigeons in the Ice—Withstanding a Nip—A Sea-quake—Cape Adare Station—A Cosy Camp—Edible Fish—Death visits the Camp—Penguin Peculiarities—A Derelict Blue-bottle—The Welcome Postman—A Thrilling Episode | [305] |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
| THE REVIVAL OF ANTARCTIC INTEREST | |
| Modern Means and Methods—Private Enterprise leads—The Valdavia—The Belgica Expedition—International Actionadopted—The German Expedition—An Ice-bound Land—Fresh Trade-Winds | [318] |
| CHAPTER XVII | |
| THE SWEDISH EXPEDITION | |
| Sails in the Antarctica—Argentine Co-operation—First Antarctic Fossil—Building the Winter Station—A Breezy Corner—Electric Snow—A Spare Diet—New Year Festivities—TheMissing Ship—Relief that never Came—A Devastating Nip—Castaway—The Unexpected Happens—A Dramatic Meeting—Rescued | [323] |
| CHAPTER XVIII | |
| BRITAIN HOLDS HER OWN | |
| A Capable Crew—A Modern Franklin—Early Discoveries—Frozen in—An Historic Journey—The Record of "Farthest South"—How the Record was Won—Speedy Travelling—Receding Ice Limits—A Dying Glacier—The Secret of the Barrier—A Fatal Gale—Lost in the Snow—An Antarctic Chute—Prolonged Slumber—Antarctic Coal—Home with Honour | [339] |