The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-01
A AUSTRO--HUNGARLAN P0LARDLS-
COVERIES. VI,

NOI INAhAANo' Nm
To Austrian enterprise belongs the
honos of having discovered the most
northern land yet reached by polar ex-
pedit'ons. The narrative of the adven-
tures on the Tegetthof, as related in a
telegram from Capt Payer to the Nelie
Free ReSSe, is full of interest to all who
have followed the history of Arctic ex-
plorations. Capt. Payer and Lieut..
Weybrecht have secured for themselves
and for Austria a permanent lease OF
fame, In leaving Bremen June l3, 1877,
their expectations appear to have been
limited to the hope Of exploring the coast
of Northern Siberia, and did not include
the intention of reaching much higher
latitudes. Count Wilezec conveyed 70
them some stores and provisions in his
Yacht while they were off the coast OF
Nova Zembla, and left them there in the
following August provisioned for three
years. From that time till their return
nothing was heard from them, except IN
the negative evidence of Capt Isaksen, a
Norwegian fisherman, who satisfied HIM
self by circumnavigating the Northern
extremity of Nova Zembla without ind
ing traces of them, thatthe explorers had
departed thence.
During two years they continued to
make the Tegettof their home-two
winters in which the night was seven
months long. In the summer Of 1873
thew made desperate endeayors to free
their ice-bound vessel, but their work OF
saving and blasting met no success. Car
ried onward by the ice-pack, in the fall
they were Unexpectedly conveyed to the
shores of a mountainous country 200 nau-
teal miles north of Nova Zembla. They
spent the Winter of 1874 at a distance
of three miles from this land, without
any harbor, in lat. 79' 5I\N., long 590 E.
Between March 8 and May of the pres
ent year, they made the series Of excur-
siOns on sledges over this mountainous
country which have so redounded TO
their credit; these extended from ~ 54
to above S30. The new-found coun-
country was named in honor Of the En-
peror, Francis-J Joseph Land. Its lOngi-
tudinal development is at least l50, and
from the highest, mountain tops they
were unable to perceive any, boundary.
1t is principally plateau, the height be-
ing about 5000 feet the most elevated
portion visited was in lat. 820 81. The
difficulties encountered in crossing the
glaciers and broken ice are represented
as extreme. The most northerly point
in latitude SS' was named Cape wi
emma. ......
Life in those dreary solitudes was not
attractive, they failed 10 find any consid'
cradle amount of game, and vegetation
was exceedingly scanty. Even in the
South adjoining, driftwood was scarce
and only icebergs were abundant. The
mountains consist Of notwithstanding
not cheerful mineral. The temperature
during the sledge excursions fell 70 58'
Fab. below zero, and on the vessel to
5lO. The ice lifted their vessel and she
became unseaworthy. On May 2Othey
at length, resolved to abandon her, ant
4 Abegan a Journey of SO days in boats anC
hsledges that was full of danger. At a
miles from the North Cape Fassau, in Lat
77o 40'; they left the pack ice forever be
hind them, and on Aug. 10 were skirtinl
along the coast ofNova Zembla IN thu
open sea. But the day Of their deliver
ance was at hand. On, Aug. "a the,
hailed theli Russian schooner Nikolaj
Capt. FeOdor Boronia, which safely Ian
edthem at Vardoe, on the Norwegian
coast. Norway gave the adventurers
hearty reception: the towns they passe'
through were bright with flags and re
ioicing, and at Bammerfest they met tn
returning English expedition ,whicl
had been despatched to ascertain thei
fate.
These discoveries lend anew signif
oance to the value of the pathway towar
, the Pole selected by American discover
ers, showing that ifit is to be reached b
water, Smiths Sound is the most if nc
the only available route. A strong pres
sure will now be- broughtupOn the En-
glish Government to equip new expe
dition for Arctic discovery, and the en-
deavor to plant their country's flag @
earths northermosts surface will probabl
be shared by other nations. AS yet n
American has stepped forward TO seiz
the opportunity left vacant by the deaf
of Capt. Hall, but in the enthusiasm fo
Arctic explorations the, narratives of tn
Polaris and the Tegettof are sure TO IN
spire, some new competitor for the frC
zen laurels of the Pole will not long b
wanting in this country, ..,..