The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-19
The Swedish Roll OF Honor.

We frequently hear Americans speak
of Sweden and the Swedes as land and
people of the wintry regions, too frigid
for the enterprises and the civilization
Of modern times, whereas the fact is
that Sweden, in respect to culture. edu-
cation, manufactures, agriculture, navi.
CATION and1 government, stands pre-
eminent among the countries of Europe
and IN many respects far ahead OF the
average states of North America, and it
is gratifying to know that our native
born neigLbors are beginning to realize
this fact. The Philadelphia Exposition
done q great deal to open their eyes.
The Congresses lately held In Stock
holm on the subject OF Archaeology and
Prison discipline also attracted much
attention, and now tho Arctic expedi-
ton OF professor Nordensk jold has again
demonstrated the right of the Swedes
to front place on the nations Roll of
Honor.
The follow ing, taken from the Phila-
delphia Times is fair sample of the
newspaper comments of the day, on the
great expedition:
prof. Nordensk jOld has written bis
name at the top of that long list of brave
explorers who have for centuries sought
to solve the mysteries of the Arctic
Seas. He has at last accomplished the
great feat which his predecessors have
cssayed in vain, and his name will go
down to history as that of the first man
in the worlds history who has made
| . hr- Of hn A fra
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The gallant Swede who has thus Sc.
cured for himself an undying fame, has
for some years devoted himself to Arc
tic exploration, aided both by private
Iiberality and government patronage.
Unlike most vOyagers IN those latitudes,
he did not turn his attention to the
northwest. but sought to 60 round the
continent by skirting its northern coast
in an essterly direction. After several
preliminary ventures along the nor
thei Dborder Of the Russian empire,
Prof. Nordenskjold embarked at Got
tenburg, southwestern seaport of
Sweden, on tho 18th of last July, upon
bis most ambitious enterprise, which it
is just announced by the cable has been
crowned with entire success. His vcs-
sci, the Vega, was originally q steam
whaler and had been expressly prepared
for the hazardous voyage. Three weeks
later she had joined, ut Tromsoe, a CON-
panion ship, which was to escort her on
the first part of the journey, and the two
vessels left the Norwegian coast on the
25th of July. On the LIST Of August the
expedition passed through the Yugor
Strait, south Of Noya Zembla, and by
the 9th Of the month had called through
the Kara Sea ard reached the mouth of
the Ienisci river, in north western 81
BERN, whore they stopped for three
days. Proceeding on the 9th of August,
they doubled the North Cape OF Asia on
the 10Th, and on the 9th reached the
mouth OF the RIVER Lena, midway along
the Siberian coast, where the Vega par
ted company with her escort which pro-
ceeded up the river. This was the last
definite news from the expedition, and
IS the professor had confidently cxpec-
ted to get through to Behring's Straits
during the early Autumn, the passage
of fall, winter and almost the entire
spring without authentic intelligence
from him had awakened the grsvest ap.
prehensions that Nordenskj old was des-
tined to become q second Sir John
Franklin in the unhappy issue OF his
Preparations were already
making to send fresh expeditions in
search Of him when the welcome news
Is received that the Vega arrived in Beh-
rings Straits early in the present month.
The professor intends to complete
the most wonderful voyage on record
by sailing down the Pacific, through the
China Sea and Indian Ocean, and thus
return to Sweden by way OF the Suez
Canal, the Mediterranean and the Allan
tic.
The scientific world will await with
impotence full reports Of the explorers
during the nine months
that he has been lost sight Of. The CON-
nercial world, too, will feel . degree of
interest in this practical realization of
hat shorter route to the East Of which |
navigators have dreamed for centuries,
Ihoagh few people are sanguine enough
IT'LL TO hope that the northeast passage,
aow for the 6rst time accomplished By
N exploring vessel with much difficulty,
An ever be made . feasible highway
or commerce.
But, whatever the practical result. Of
'is voyage, the voy ager has 1t last made
us own fame secure, aud the name Of
SordenskjoId will 60 down TO posterity
= one OF the moot saccessfai explorers
4 modern tina