Arco Polar Expeditions: Difference between revisions

Howland accepted the terms and in the summer of 1897 began a two-year plan to prepare his teams for what they would experience. He recruited his land contingent from not only the mountaineers and alpine experts of Moorden, but he specifically targeted his maritime and naval contingent from a mixture of 1891/93 veteran sailors, augmenting them with whalers from [[Burgundie]] as best he could. Howland felt they brought rough sea experience that was lacking in 1893, that would make the difference for the longer, more difficult expedition of 1899. The maritime contingent specifically focused on sailing in rough seas, going through drills, procedures, and contingencies that would help them excel. In this instance, a twin Arco-Burgundian pair would set the conditions for a successful maritime navigation to the Arctic. Douglas Shaw, and Ensign of 28 and descendant of a blockade runner from the [[Cronan Beaver War|Cronan Beaver Wars]], he had made a name for himself in the Navy for his emphasis on what would eventually become known as "blue-water" (open sea) operations. He had taken a small sloop from Chester-on-Moore, and in 1894 sailed to the [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] capital of Albalitor in record time, and the first time an Arcer sailor had done this with only a two-masted sloop made for Songun Sea travels exclusively. Shaw would be complemented by Lucien Boissieu, a whaler from Burgundie who had recently travelled to the [[New Archduchy]] to begin whaling in the [[Odoneru Ocean]]. His experience with the type of long-distance, expeditionary sailing, combined with Shaw's emphasis on preparation and robust training combined to create a solid naval complement for the journey.  

Howland tasked both Shaw and Boissieu together to find a ship suitable for the journey. In this instance, they found in the port of Kinnaird the ''Defiance'', a three-masted schooner, that was being refit as a whaler. Upon a petition by the Arcer government, it was purchased for £19,000 Arcer Pounds and sailed to Chester-on-Moore to undergo retrofitting for Polar exploration in 1888. The land contingent procured sleds, cold-weather clothing, and the requisite equipment they would need for an extended stay on the Arctic shores.

In January of 1899, the ''Defiance'' left the port of Chester-on-Moore. With a complement of fifty six, it had nearly half a complement more than it had been designed for, and living conditions were increasingly cramped. However, between Howland, Shaw, and Boissieu, the voyage North was made in record time, and they arrived in the Albion Sea after roughly two and a half months travel, skipping the Cape's port and transiting the [[Songun Straits]] without the need for a resupply stop.  

The search began for an initial place from where to encamp and begin their surveys, studies, and observations in the Arctic. Secondary to this, Howland had begun to prepare for a petition to the Arcer Parliament for a longer expedition that would permit a single team to make the trip to the North Pole. Howland at this time discovered a new island, previously unmapped and what many had thought to be part of the Arctic mainland. [[New Moorden Island]], the Westernmost of the three [[Arctic Albion Islands]], was also the largest, and there was a brief two day expedition led by Howland inland while Shaw and Boissieu undertook necessary repairs and maintenance on the ''Defiance''. On New Moorden, the highest point allowed Howland to gain a good vantage point, and from there using his telescope and survey equipment he was able to identify suitable future spots for expeditions on the island, as well as a small deep-water inlet he believed could serve as the basis for a future Carnish or Arco colony. Returning to the ship's company, they departed late April and arrived at the mainland shore, from where Howland set up their permanent encampment for the next months. The weather by now, in the summer, was far more permissible, but they knew they were in for a long tenure. By day, temperatures remained around 10°C, but at night they dropped just below zero. The warmest day recorded was in the last week of June with a daily high of 19°C. During the day, small expeditions and forays inland were made to try and discover new sights and conduct additional land and coastal surveys. A pair of biologists from the Carnish Anglican University also catalogued at least three species of bird, and several small land mammals, such as hares and marmots. The sailors themselves assisted with the aquatic portion of this, working with the scientists to fish and trap sea life on the shore, which also provided them with activities outside of the maintenance and repair of the ''Defiance'' and their camp routines.  Inland, a pair of infantrymen from the Easthampton Borderers sighted the first large land mammal in the Arctic that an Arcerion expedition had seen, the [[Albion Wolf]]. Credited with the first successful hunt of one, LCpl Hamish Bailey, with 'G' Company, 3rd Battalion, the Arcerion Easthampton Borderers was noted to have shot it with a trapdoor rifle at a distance of approximately 320 yards. Its pelt is still on display in the Sergeant's and Warrant Officer's Mess at the Easthampton Garrison. 

 

 

 

They arrived back in February of 1900, the expedition a resounding success. The scientific data gleaned, survey and navigational charts produced, as well as the prestige of the longest Arctic expedition to date a the cost of no lives lost heralded in a new era of government confidence in the journeys Northwards. Howland was lauded with scientific and exploratory awards, and his naval subordinates, Shaw and Boissieu each received service medals (Boissieu's an honorary one due to his civilian status). The Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission report commended the expedition as one of the finest moments of Arcerion national achievement, and recommended that Howland be allowed to conduct additional, more lengthy expeditions in the future. Howland, who now felt he had to momentum and popular backing, petitioned Parliament in April of 1900 for a North Pole Expedition, and Parliament approved, giving him a discretionary budget of £250,000 to finance and fund the effort.