Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-10-13
THE NORTH POLE EXPEDITION.

dertaken 20 lQrnlSn information as TO Its
progress and success. We take the follow
ing from his first letter, which has lately
appeared in the German journals:
ssFor the first two weeks we were detain-
ed by contrary winds in the middle of the
North Sea: indeed. we were driven so far
from our course that, at the commence
ment of July, the Norwegian coast to the
north of the Mars Mountains became vsi-
ble. At length the barometer fell from
no IN. m.. its highest point; the wind,
which had for six weeks past been blowing
without intermission from the north, veer-
ed roundt 20 the southeast, anG we passed
the Polar Circle at II O'clock on the night
of the 9th of July We received
the customary baptism in the water
at 3 degrees r and crossed into
the misty regions Of the Arctic Zone
This was the first night on which the sun
did not set. The temperature of the aic
varied from to 4 deg. r., and the sea-
baths, which we had till now taken on all
calm days, were stopped. On the 9th of
July we came in sight of the lonely and
uninhabited island, or rather rock, of Jan
Mayen. 1t is the centre of the seal fishery,
and in spring the boundary of the shoal-
ice. Its dark and rugged cliffs, broken by
snow-filled ravines, and surnounted by
mist-covered heights, did little to satisfy
our longing for the marvels of the Arctic
world. Its highest point, stated to be g. 700
feet, was to have been measured. but the
fog rendered that course impossible. On
the 18th we reached IA degrees north lati-
tude. and at about 10 degrees west longi-
tude from Greenwich, and in the night, met
with the first ice. 1t was only whitish
blue mass, some three cubic fathoms in
size, but this herald of the pack-ice was
sufficient TO rouse us all from our sleep, and
bring us on deck. To-day. the 14th of
July, we reached 74a deg. north latitude,-
calm, perfectly quiet sea. It seemed as if
the fogs would never leave us, and they
have separated us from the Hansa since the
| 10th. Our signals remain unanswered at
any rate, Pendulum Island, 20 deg. 80 min.
north latitude, 193 deg. west long, is fixed
for our place of meeting. Gulls, auks, and
stormy petrels fly continually around us,
and generally fall q sacrifice to their curl
osity if they come too near. On an excur-
sion in one of the boats which [ made to-
day, several were killed. Indeed, the nu-
merOus Nimrods made the decks somewhat
! dangerous. The sight of whales is a COM
mon occurrence. On the 18th three came
within eight yards Of the ship. For a time
we watched them with silent wonder, and
then opened quick fire with Wenzel ri
fies, as it was impossible TO harpoon them
from the vessel. The wounded animals
plunged enraged to the depths Of the sea-
Since we have entered the Arctic regions
seals are still more common. The dark
heads and distorted faces which peep for
moment out of the lead -colored surface of
the water, full of curiosity and suspicion,
and then vanish again, are comical sight,
and it is easy to understand how It was
that the sailors formerly nistoolz them for
mermaids.
''During the first three weeks ships were
almost constantly seen on the horizon,
whose radius from the deck is about three
quarters of q German mile; now we look ia
vain for a sail. When we get favorable,
that is, west wind. to divide the ice, we
shall steer through the pack-ice westward
for Pendulum Island. which is about TWEEN
ty-fve German miles distant Jaly 15). The
ascent of mountain 1000 feet high will
then show us the state of the ice to the
no1th of the neighboring island, Shannon,
Us deg. n. lat, 19 deg. w. lOng) This
will determine the length of our stay, dur
ing which we shall occupy ourselves with
measuring the degrees OF latitudes, de-
termining the magnetic conditions, correct
ing former statements as to the position Of
y
island, which is about ten German square
miles in extent. To the north of Shannon
Island the coast of Greenland is almost
unknown, so that il will be the first ex-
plored. We cannot yet make further
plans, but geographical discovery is
the principal purpose Of our expedi-
ton. The Hansa is to transport part
of our Goals to depot on Pendulum Island;
she will then follow the Germania as far as
possible, and afterwards determine t e
coasts2 and floods. According to our in
structions we are to winter between 50 and
S5 degrees north latitude, and make sledge
expeditions into the interior of Greenland
From the middle of May to the end of June
an expedition of the kind viii be made to
the w. N. W, for the purpose of reaching
the west coast of Greenland, at the north
ern extremity of Kennedy Channel The
distance is about 100 miles, and it is almost
certain that we shall march without dogs,
as the interior is likely to be wild and rug
ged, and there would be but little probabil-
ity of our being able to keep the animals
alive Every scientific observation which
circumstances permit will be made, and
high mountains will be climbed in order to
gain as clear an idea of the conformation of
the country as possible. If our plan sue
ceeds, we shall approach the coasts of what
Kane believed to be an open Polar Sea. I
have been entrusted by DR.. Petermann
with the command Of this expedition. Late
soundings give 1000 to 1900 fathomS at II
deg W. long and from "A deg. to Is deg
N. lat Not far to the west the bottom
must rise suddenly, for near the pack-ice
the depth varies from 100 to 800 fathoms.
On the 14th, during partial dispersion of
the fog, light strip was clearly observable
to the N. w, about deg in height, firing
ing the dreary gray of the sky This light
played very family into the blue, and
slightly resembled a weak aurora boreais--
it was the ice-blink."
Postscript on the 18th of ,Hly -"Yester-
day the calm sea and quiet air formed a
picture of the most perfect peace. The
ship lay almost motionIess on the deep,
blue transparent water. At noon to-day,
when the fog cleared off the white borders
of the e-pack, with its blue shadows and
riffs, lay before us, at about 300 PAGES dis
tance, broken, and in rugged and cold
sublimity. 1t reminded me at once of the
picturesque end of an immense glacier, and
the wind that blew in our faces was truly
glacial The ice, which at first appeared
to form one great close wall, proved, when
we approached it, to be split into wild
masses and fields; the latter are often miles
in length. Still no passage which the Cap
tain thought navigable showed itself.
He was surprised to find the ice
so far to the east, as last year it was
not met with till Is deg. W. long. The
continually shifting mist brought US III the
afternoon within Is PAGES of the ice. BY
far the greater part of it seemed to have
been formed in the sea; the dirty cliffs
which come from the glaciers were rare
The pieces brought on board had rough
and porous surface, and We're in q state of
transition from crystalline to a fbrous
condition, being also full of cavities filed
with air and water. This proved they were
melting. But solid and crystalline pieces
are to be found. 1t is well known that the
polar ice is free from SALT as the water in
the process of crystallization throws out all
foreign substances. Our first task is now
to find the Hansa, to take the rest of our
coal and provisions on board, and then to
steam through the ice to Pendulum Island.
If we do not find her soon, we must be
content with what we houa uc n IL don bt