AN OPEN POLAR SEA.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 70, 4 October 1884, Page 5

AN OPEN POLAR SEA.

Philadelphia, August 24. — The New York Yacht Club, of which James Gordon Bennett,Jay Gould,and Cyrus W. Field, jun. are members, entertained the officers of the Greely relief expedition at a dinner a few days ago. Chief-Engineer Melville, of this city made a long speech, in which he set forth the feasibility of settling once for all the question of an open Arctic sea, and that, too, \i ithout loss of life. He stated his willingness to take command of such an expedition, and that a modest sum would be sufficient to cover all the expenses. Young Mr Field, in answer, said that ho was convinced of the truth of tho theory advanced by Chief-Engineer Melville, and that he was perfectly willing to advance, half the sum required to meet the expenses of the expedition, provided the other members of the Yacht Club present would put »liPir names down for the remainder. This they at once agreed to. The money was subscribed on the spot, and there is no doubt that an Arctic expedition under Melville's command will sail from an American port in the fall of ISSS. Lieutenant Melville will obtain leave of absence from tne navy, without pay, for two years for that purpose.