Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17
POLAR EXPLORATION.
Adventures of the Austrian Nayfra.
IQIa iIa

Adventures of the Austrian Nayfxa-
tors Ina the Arctic Region.
THE COMMANDER OF THE KxPEDTTIos RELATES
BIS EXPERIENCES II FRANZ JOSEPH LAND
DReCRIBED.
The London Times of September % publishes
the following account of the recent Meeting OF
the Geographical Society of Hamburg, at which
the commander OF the Austrian Arctic expedi-
ton and one Of his officers recounted their sd-
ventures In the Polar Sea:
Captain Weyprecht, who was received with a
perfect storm OF cheers, then addressed the
meeting. He said -"Much is told of the
fstigues undergone BY sailors, but they are gene
rally forgotten when once they arrive on shore.
How much more is this the case when they re-
ceiye such welcome as the one prepared for
US All dangers are easy TO overcome when
such recognition OF them is recorded. In the
name OF all those who have taken part In the ex-
petition thank you. As is already known the
year 1872, so far as regards the condition of the
Ice, was most unfavorable. Regions where moth
ing but open water was formerly found were
then full OF ice. Even 100 miles 70 the west OF
the Admiralty Islands, in places in previous
years perfectly leo free, we came upon a thin
but hrm ledge OF ice, SO that IL was only with
great difficulty we forced our way as far as Nova
Zembla. AFTER We had lain there some DAYS in
the ice we came through with a north wind.
On the 18th of August, 1872, we had the iOy of
greeting Wilczek and Sterneck on the yacht
TsbjorIen. Until the following day we sailed
on through ell-packed ice. The next morning
the ship was fast fixed in the ice under the les
of sn al cape near Bear island. Here we lay
for eight days; fresh breeze SO drove the ice
about that at one time We were embedi led in
the ice and at another time the ship was in open
water. On the 2lst the wind shifted, and we
said goodbye to the TsbiOrren, and continued
our Course on in an easterly direction. Ia the
after DON We came to a clear tract of water but
at midnight, an east wind having sprung up,
the ice closed. The wind fell, and again the
ship was henmed In. intentionally, WIS re-
NAMED in the ice, since under the uu-
favorable conditions we were loath TO
lose the twenty miles that we had gained
and we hoped that an easterly wind would
again open the ice; added to which we did rot
want to winter at SO cold a part as Cape Nassau.
Instead however, of an easterIy wind a calm
with heavy snowfall, set in; the temDsrature
fell and the loose ice became a compact
mass, in which We lay for three weeks"
The speaker then went on to say that it was
only on the 9th of September that the ice broke
up, strong north wind parted the ice into i'm.
mense masses, and in the midst of one OF these
the degeth9fi; firmly frozen up, drifted now to
peTature fell, and the pressure of the pack ice
began to be felt On the 18th of October the ice
foes began TO get smaller, and the ship was in
danger OF being crushed, at one time being
raised up and at another sinking down. For five
months the explorers lived in continual excite
ment and danger, and this constant state of
peril by day and night was the hardest part to
bear of the whole voyage. The boats, with pro-
visions in them, were kept always resdy on
deck, so that the Tegethoff might be abandon
co at moments notice. In January, 1873, they
reached % degrees north latitude. For five
months during the summer of that year thew
worked at the extrication of the ship; but in
getting back. By the end of August there ware
thirty feet of ice under the vessel So in Sep
tember the work OF extrication vas relin1uished.
1t was at the end of August that the new land
was first sighted and this greatly reioiced the
explorers, AS it was felt to be the first positive
result of the expedition. By the middle OF
October they were in so degrees north latitude
The ice foe in which the vessel was embedded
diminished in size, and at last reached the main
land, where 1t fixed TO firm ice, and there the
ship lay immovable. AT this point it was that
-
extraordinary splendOr Of the Northern Lights
and here it was that Lieutenant Payer made his
sleigh journey. In the spring the explorers re-
solved to abandon their vessel. The boats were
placed on rollers ard provisioned, and at eight
=. IN. of the 10Th Of May they pushed off from
me IegethOf The commencement OF tue
journey was fearful. Between huge ice blocks,
deep snow and pools OF water the boats pro-
ceeded, every instant death threatening the eX-
ploTers. In a fortnight they had only succeeded
IN making seven nautical miles. On the 1Tlh of
June they came from the land Ice into the sea-
and what with the ice and the water their la
bOrs were tremendous. After two months they
again sighted the ship. Then came stronger
winds and larger tracts of water, SO thew were
able to get over greater distances with the boats
IL was not, however, until the 18th of August
that they came to perfectly open sea, and here
II was decided that the crews should all row in
turns, which WAS accordingly done and pro-
grsss made at the rate of forty miles a law.
Inc expedition steered toward Nova ZembIs In
the hope OF finding there some Norwegian yea
SELF; but none were to be found. The condi-
uon Oh me explorers was comfortless in the ex
treme. The sea ran high, the temperature was
low; often wet through, they were unable to
cook anything. No Norwegian vessel being
found, they determined to see if they could and
Russian salmon fishing craft in any of the
bays. On the 2fth of August thew discovered a
schooner, by the crew of which they were
taken on board and treate most kindly. They
shared with the explorers all thew had and on
the 81 OF September landed them in Norway
LIEUTENANT PAYERS ACCOUNT OF FRANZ ID.
sEPH LAND.
Lieut.. Payer, who followed Capt. Weypreaht
gave most interesting description of the new
ly discovered Franz Joseph Land. He said it
was doubtful whether the new land was An
island or continent At first they saw only a
hlgh white wall. Between the 9th of March
and the 4th of May the explorers MAIDS three
journeys to the country on sleighs Tue s!eighs
carried sixteen hundred weight, AMI were
dragged by himself, five Of the crew, and three
dogs. The explorers found a long sound Oyer
100 miles in breadth, which divided the country
into two parts. In this sound there were many
hl6nds The surface Of the country is chiefly
monolethic. The general character of the land
differs widely from other Arctic regions ana
possesses none of the Alpine formations met
with IN East Greenland and Spitzberyen. The
land is full OF plsteaux, amphItheatrical forma-
TONS and blunt cones, and it is possible IN At
the country also possesses volcanoes. 1t va
RES In altitude. The bills are from O01 70
5000 feet in height. An immense glacier, ff-
teen German miles in length, is found in the
great SOUND. All the sounds are full of colo+-al
lceberRs, which possibly lind their wsy through
some Aslatic sea passage. After iourneylng for
twelve days the explorers arrived in latitude 81
deg. 80 sec, and at that point the barometer
rose TO ten degrees; black clouds appeared noon
the horizon, the ice became brittle, the birds
new northward, and everything betokened tia,
they were in the vicinity of an open sea They
saw many foxes, and countless birds covered the
rocks along the coast. They concluded their
journey in northerly direction on the 18th OF
prll, when they reached latitude 50 deg s Ses
Lieutenant Payer does not believe that this
country is accessible to ships, for il they came
from the north how could they return? In the
south and In the sound Of Franz Joseph Land
there is no anchorage, and even if a ship should
succeed reaching the north OF land the retarn
would be too dangerous.
Both the speeches OF Captain Weyprecht and
Lieutenant Payer were Enthusiastically re-
ceiYed.
The SIMPLE STORY of the heroic defense of
slA men OF his command near the Wasblt4 ri yer
Iexss, as 'old by General Tiles in a sub report
10 the War department OF his recent battle with