The New York herald., 1878-12-31
Preparing "a Relief Expedition to Rescue
the Vegas Party.
ABOVE THE EAST CAPE.
Action OF the Swedish Consul
in This City.
STORY OF THE NATIVES.
icy CABLE TO THE HERALD

/ N3>>>'S~S ~ $500 ~~~----~'J
BERLIN, Dec. 80. 1878.
The despatch to the HERALD. dated San
Francisco, December 10. published on the
11th, and worded as follows:-"Whaler
lately arrived from the Arctic Ocean report
that ship believed to be the larger OF the
vessels of the Swedish Polar Expedition is
blocked in the ice above the East Cape"
has caused great alarm among the German
and Swedish friends of Professor Nordensk-
j6d. the distinguished leader OF the expe-
dition.
so NEAR SUCCESS.
As the East Cape is at the northern en-
trance Of the narrows of Behring Strait. on
the Asiatic side, and so near the goal
sought by the adventurous expeditionists,
the feeling here is that if the HBRALD's
despatch be true the fate Of the party is
deplorable and bitterly disappointing.
EE1IrF EXPEDITION.
The friends and countrymen of Professor
Nordenskj5ld intend fitting out, without
delay. relief expedition, which will pro-
ceed to the point where he is reported to be
beset and afford him and his party all
possible assistance. Little difficulty will
be met in accomplishing this purpose, as
the ocean currents setting toward Behring
Strait from the Western Pacific favor an
easy and very direct approach to the East
Cape.
AN EARLY RELEASE HOPED FOR.
Those who are familiar with the move
ments Of tbt ice in this portion of the
Arctic Ocean hope that the Nordenskj6ld or
Swedish expedition will effect release in
the early part of the summer. Winds and
currents at present tend TO keep the ice
against the northeast coast of Siberin, and
therefore to lock the Vega in the foes north
ward Of the East Cape.
EAGER ron NEWS.
The friends of Professor Nordenskj0ld
are most anxiously waiting for confrma-
ton, or otherwise, of the HERALD's tele-
gram, and deep anxiety pervades scientific
circles, as the winter advances, for the
safety Of the expedition.
ACTION OF THE SWEDISH CONSUL IN THIS CITY.
The deep interest felt by the and people
Of Norway and Sweden in the Nordenskjold expedi-
tion to discover the northeast passage between
Western Europe and Japan was made manifest In
this city yesterday at the Office Of the
Swedish Consul General. The expedition. it
may be remembered. left Gothcnburg OH the
4th Of last July under royal patronage. King Oscar
Of Sweden having taken much interest in the matter
The result Of the expedition has already been
corded in the HERALD. To scientific men it afforded
unspeakable qualification. In the successful voy
age of the expedition around tho North
Cape Of Asia to the Lcna-an cxpansc
hitherto unexplored-they rightly saw new
and highly important field in geographical knowl-
edge opened up. On the 10th of the present month
Mr. Christian Bors. the Swedish Consul General re-
siding in New York. seeing in the HERALD
the news about . vessel being seen by
whalcrs near East Cape. supposed to be
one Of the Nordenskj0d expedition. forwarded
the same to his government by the first
steamer. Yesterday he received from the home gov
ernment cable despatch instructng him to procure
Immediately all information the subject possible.
and cable the same. Mr.. Bors accordingly telc-
graphed tho Swedish Consul at San Francisco, and
last evening received the following reply
SAN TRAScIsco. Dec. 30, 1878.
CHRISTIAN BoRs. Swedish and Norwegian Consul.
New York.
Captain Campbell, of the steamship Norman, of
New Bedford left st. Lawrence Bay October 20. The
natives from East Cape told him that they had
mau-ofwar forty miles north Of East Cape. The
tiyes are said to be reliable. Many of whalers
have wntered with them. CONSUL BREGGREN.
This despatch Mr.. Bors Immediately cabled to tho
Swedish government He has not yet been able to
obtain more detailed or definite information. Speak
ing ON the subject of the expedition yesterday
Mr. Bors said that he satisfied that
the vessel mentioned by the natives
probably the Vega. and that IL their information
to Captain Campbell was correct. and lie had no
doubt IL was, We must conclude that the ship Ia
locked in the ice for the winter
Tho Consul. however, did not express any fears for
the safety Of the vessel he expects further orders
from his government. and In the meantime will
prosecute his ina urics on the Pacific coast.