The New York herald., 1879-02-03
THE WINTER IN NORTHEAST SIBERIA
Sibiriakoff's Rescue EXpe-
dition Fitting Out.
A RUSSIAN NAVAL SEARCH SHIP.
The American Arctic Steamer Jeannette Relied
OH 10 Afford Assistance.
[BY CABLE TO THE HEnALD.l

BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.
LONDON, Feb. 2, 1879.
The great excitement prevailing through
out Europe concerning the fate of Pro-
fessor Nordenskj6lds Swedish Arctic ex-
ploring expedition, which attempted to find
q northeast passage from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean via the north capes of
Europe and Asia and Behring Straits, is
daily growing more intense. 1t being con-
sidered certain that the expeditionary
steamer Vega is beset in the ice some
forty miles northeastward of East Cape, at
Behring Straits, and at considerable dis
tance from any settlement, the friends of
the famous Swedish explorer and Of his
party are alarmed for their safety.
SEVERE WINTER SEASON.
1t is reported from Yakutsk, the capital
of Eastern Siberil and situated on the
Lena, from the mouth of which river Pro-
fessor Nordenskj5ld sent his last report of
the progress of the expedition, that the
cold this winter in Northeastern Siberia
has been and continues to be unusually Sc
vere At the mouth of the Lena the ther-
mometer has registered forty degrees below
zero.
REMEMBERING SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
Hence the position of the party in the
Vega is considered very perilous, and the
greatest interest is being manifested in its
fate among those familiar with the dangers
of the Arctic Ocean. The excitement in
London almost equals that of 1848 regard
ing the fate of Sir John franklin, Captain
Crozier and the officers and men of the
Erebus and Terror. People ask, Is this
going to be q parallel disaster, or will the
rescue parties reach the Vega before it is
too late?
PROMPT ACTION OF THE RUSSIAN ADMIRALTY.
Besides the vessel now fitting out at the
expense of NJ. Sibiriakoff for the rescue Of
Professor Nordenskj5ld, Russian man-of-
war is to proceed Immediately with assist
ance to the Swedish expedition. Orders
have been transmitted by the Russian Ad-
miralty for the Abrek, of the Imperial Rus
sian Navy, to 60 without unnecessary delay
to Behring Straits in search of the explorers.
The Abrek will call at Petropaulovsk, Kamts-
chatka, for Esquimaux with their sledges
and dogs, and then push northward to the
succor Of the beset expedition.
NJ sIBIRIAKoFr TO THE HERALD.
The following letter has been received
from NJ Sibiriakoff concerning the Ameri-
can Arctic expedition now fitting out at San
Francisco:
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:--
I am very glad to hear that the Jeannette
will be sent through the Behring Strait,
and that she will render every assistance in
her power to Professor Nordenskj5ld and
his party. 1 shall send my steamer, the
Norden skiold, of three hundred and forty
tons burden and sixty-horse power, which
will be ready on the tenth of May next,
through Behring Strait for the mouth of
the Lena. hope, however, that the Amer
lean vessel will pass the straits as soon as
they are practicable, and will render tins
assistance unnecessary. shall try now to
rescue Nordenskj6ld by land. Yours faith
fully, A. SlBlRlAkOFF.
TRADE WITH SIBERIA.
Apropos of NJ. Sibiriakoffs previous letter,
which was cabled to the HERALD, suggest
ing the organization of line of special
trading steamers to the River Lena, we note
the following in the Pal Mall Gazette Of yes
terday:-
'In consequence of the discovery of the
sea route to Siberia two schooners were
built at Tjumen and one of them, named
the Siberia, sailed last August, laden with
tallow, from Tobolsk and arrived at the
mouth of the River Obi on the Sd of Sep
n 2 Il - n