The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-05
THE REGIONS OF ICE.
Four Expeditions Mt Work in the FrigId Zone
The Route TO the North POle-Resuits Ot the
Recent EXPLORATIONS.

Four % %Expedi,ions l nt Work In, In the Erigid Zone.
Recent Explorations.
The Weser-Z -ZeitunJ has obtained information con-
corning the late voyage of the Albert in the Polar
seas from Dr. besse him self. The Albert is the first
oeg.-7G deg. As north latitude from the south
coast OF SpitZbergen to the northern coast of Nova
Of her voyage $50 deg IA min. north latitude 90 deg
so min. east latitude), on the 20sh of June The ice
which extended as far as Ltefdebay, formed solid
and impossible barrier that the pro opposed visit
ellis Land had to be abandoned. On the 28d June
she arrived at Kings Bay on the western coast OF
Spltzbergen landing was effected and eXcur-
sion made but the attempt proved both difficult and
dangerous account OF the torrents of snow-water
which streamed from the glaciers on every side,
The next point on the proposed route the
Besund, but the way was choked with pack-ice. The
ship lay OFF the South cape on the 26th of June, and
as south wind had sprung up another attempt was
made to reach Gilhs' Land, but without success,
the ice still firm, and lay further to the south
than before. The anchor cast aud several hunt
ing expeditions undertaken to Amsterdam Island,
Danes Island, and Clover Gill; large number OF
birds, particularly ducks, shot, and many re-
mains of the Dutch settlement OF tine seventeenth
The ruins of eleven boiling houses, and great
heaps of old barrels and the beache1 bones Of
whales strewed the shore There, too, stood numer-
GUS gravestones with their pious Dutch and Ger
man inscriptions the only remaining records of
long-forgotten toll; DR.. Bessel took some photo
graphic views of the most striking features Of the
landscape and number OF sketches in water
coOrs.
vessel turned her head southwards and on the 3Oth
June she was sixteen sea miles south OF the Cape
]
bic to make even the Thousand Islands, but their
position, which Is placed so FAR to the north in the
Swedish maps, was rectited, and the southern point
of Hope Island was determined with eXactltude
/ The ice extended almost to Cape Nassau, and the
captain resolved to sail along its borders in the direc
tiOn OF Nova Zembla. Though DR.. Bessel and the
second mate wished to land at the latter point, the
| captain thought the sea was running too high to
permit of the attempt being made without danger.
/ on the 2lst Of August the Albert began her home
ward voyage. a large number OF meteorological OBJ
servations were made and some interesting zoolo-
/
J Three other vessels, belonging respectively to
England Norway, aud Russia, have also been en-
gagged this summer in exploring the Arctic regions
The rst OF these the Diana, Is the property of Mr..
lamont, a member of the Royal Geographical
! Society. She sailed from Glasgow on the 25ta of
April, having that gentleman Mr. w. Leysey, Mr..
! Smith. and crew OF twenty-one men, under the
! command OF Captain lverSOn, "a Norwegian, on
/ board. The purpose OF these gentlemen was partly
scientific discovery and partly sport They too, felt
they reached Nova Zembla in May and Sptzoergen
in June, they were unable to pass the eighteth
degree Ten years ago Mr. Lamont succeeded in
pushing further to the north in sailing vessel In
| other respects they We're more successful as on
| their voyage, and during few weeks stay in Nor
way, on THEN way home, they succeeded in killing
80 walruses 80 large seals, bears, and 1902 stays
They also brought home with them about 10 tons
of oil.
The Norwegian expedition, If we can call n single
small sl0op by so high sounding a name was under
the command OF Captain Carlsen. the celebrated
walrus-hunter. Undaunted by the evil name it
| bears, he pushed boldly into the Caran Sea and
found it free from ice. lie sailed along the Siberian
coast which is hat and covered with bushes While
the bottom is oozy, until he reached the White
Islands, q few miles nom the mouth of the Obi His
adventurous voyage was well repaid in pecunlary
point Of view, as he secured 28S walIuses, 80 great
seals, ana polar bears the value OF which he est-
mates at about 1900 thalers.
The Russian expedition was fitted out by Mr.
Sideron for the purpose of establishing Il direct
communication by sea between Norway aud Siberia
| The George left Hammerfest on the 81 of August
| under the command of Captain Rieck. Her plan
was to reach and sail up the OBI, and CAPTAIN Carl
sen believes she will accomplish her purpose unless
the sandbanks at the mouth of the river present an
unexpected and insulmountabe obstacle. IL seems
that these seas are free from ice at least four months
| In the year, and as the distance between Varda in
Norway and the mouths of the Obi may be traversed
by steam in from three to four days, eight voyages
| might easily be made i'll a season. Should Mr. Side
| roff succeed in his plan, the commercial importance
| OF the route will be very great.