Page:Polar Exploration - Bruce - 1911.djvu/168

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164
POLAR EXPLORATION

tion of Antarctic lands, the exploration of Antarctic seas is not less so.

Neither is the exploration of these seas accompanied by fewer privations, difficulties, and dangers. In recent years no one has had a more exciting or adventuresome experience than Captain Adrien de Gerlache, during that remarkable drift in the South Polar pack for nearly a whole year, when human beings for the first time spent a winter in the Antarctic Regions. The adventures of the relief party of the Swedish Expedition are unsurpassed in the history of Polar exploration. Caught in the pack, their ship, the Antarctic, was crushed like a match-box, and left them stranded on the pack many miles from land. With almost superhuman effort they reached the land, but cut off from two men they had landed at another place with a tent and a few days' provisions, and without having been in sight of the main encampment that they were to relieve. It was about twelve months before these three parties were to meet together, and, wonderful to relate, they and the Argentine relief ship Uruguay all met within a few hours of each other. Lastly, the world has learnt of the difficulties and dangers that the gallant French explorers had under the able leadership of Dr. Jean Charcot, who hammered out the Western record to 124° W. along the 70th degree of south