The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-08-22
NORDENsKyOLD AND HIS vOY.
AGES.


explorer, Prof Nortenskjold. had
brought his steamer. the Vega. out Of
the ice in Behring's Strait. where she
Ia, been confined during the winter
and has begun his hcmewsrd journey
through the Pacific Ocean.
This announcement is thst Of the first
successlto find q northwest passage from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Prof.
Norden.kjold started on this most per-
ilous and most important expedition on
the. .4th OF July. 1878 He started from
Gothens burg In the Vega, accompanied
by . corps OF scientific specialists in
addition 70 q crew of able ssamen, who
had hsA experience in navigating the
Arctic seas. The details Of bis voyage
ss far as they have been received are
fell Of interest, and show as we'll the
daring and the perseverance, OF the ex
p.orer.
Nordenskjold began his esrcsr as an
explorer in 1872. The problem he took
upon himself 10 solve was whsthe or
not there is uavigsbls water north Of
Asia from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific.
He had before him the records Of the
efforts of Cabot. Willoughby. Barentz.
and Behring. rs vel! as Of others whose
names are also Familiarity known. He
studied all these from the expeditions
Of the Northmen and the Ioelauders to
the latest expeditions in 1871 and 1873.
III which many gallant Nosweaelans
lost their lives. From these records he
l..-,al ea.aeat thanptac That had
been held. aud t. what extent the facts
IS sscertained by the explorers proved
or ,.isproved them.
Previous to 1872 Nordenskjoli had
engaged 10 six voyages. In ttat year
be Was selected by the Swedish Govern
ment 70 undertake . sledgs journey
from Spi,xbergen 70 the north pole.
The explorers encountered dssasters
and we're compelled to return home the
following year without having gained
much information. though they acquired
= deal Of experience.
Ia 1873 the Professor wss able
through the geu,rosity If Mr.. Oscar
Dickson. wealthy merchant OF
Gpth-u>burg. Ia essay tne prot OF his
bcll.f that there Is = IA, igSbIs sea north
of A,i,. He sailed from Tromsoe. y
port on the northern coast OF Norway,
on the sth of June Of that year, and on
the l2th Of August reached the mouth
the Ynri.ic River. the middle one of
the three large water courses OF north
ern Asia. BY thus voyage he establish
ed the fact that the Sea Of Kara is nav
igable, and also opened water route
to most desirable parts Of Siberia. he
named q port at the mouth OF the river
Dickson's Port. in honor of his patron.
This voyage also gave additional color
to the probability Of . route to China
by way Of the Yneisei River In the
following year he made another voy-
age. sailing from Tromsoe Oh the Goth
Of July. His patron bad replaced the
small vessel of the year previous With
q staunch little steamer. the Iner. She
was freighted with goods suitable for
the Siberian trade. The voyage to
Nova Zembla was made in FIVE days
but on passing through the straits that
separate that Island from the main land
be found the Sea of Kara. that he had
navigsted so easily the year before. full
of drifting ice. After waiting several
days he began beating in the ice up the
Nova Zembla coast. and at latitude 12
found himself in an open sea. BY the
middle Of August be again reached the
mouth Of tho Yueisei River. He as
cendcd it for some distance. aud, hav-
ing disposed Of his cargo to advantage.
returned to the port he started from
after IN absence Of seven weeks.
These voyages went for to convince
the Professor that the northesst passage
could be made. To prove it he threw
oil his energy into the undertaking, and
his patron fitted out . more extensive
expedition. An appeal WAS made to
King Oscar. and he at once became in.
terestsd in the enterprise. OF the f20.'
000..or $l0O, 900 required. Mr.. Dickson
contributed fl2,0OO. and the Govern
mont and Mr.. Alexander SibiIiakof the
rest. King Oscar commissioned several
Of the ablest officers OF bis navy to sc-
company the expedition. Several emf
nent savants volunteered their services.
The feet consisted of four vessels
the steamer Vega, which carried the
originator and commander Of the expe.
dition, tho steamer Lena. sod two
smaller vessels fitted out to open trade
with eastern 6iberia. The last three
we're the property Of Mr. S,biriakod.
Nordenskjolds steamer, the Vega. was
osiGinAlly Q steam whaier. She WAS
built in bremen. Her timbers are teak
wood. and, though . staunch vessel.
shs VS. thoroughly overhaulod aud
brsced. Her engines snd machinery
are Of the most nodsru kind and Of un.
usual power. Noedeuskj jold started in
her from 0othsuburg. one Of the south.
er, ports Of Sweden, 90 the Alb Of July.
cad on the 22d Joined the escorts At
Tromsoe. The Vegs WAS commanded
by Lieut. L Pslander. and his first offi
Ger VAS Lieut. Z c Brusewitz, both of
the Swedishinavy. Prof Nordenskjolds
STAFF consisted Of DR. Rjellmaun. bo'a-
mist, Of the University Of Upsula. DIR
Stu1berG. . geologist. and DIR Almquish.
q famous physician. At the request Of
their respective Governneuts. Lieut. A
Hofgsard, Of the Danish navy. Lieu,
Giacomo Boye Of the Italian navy, and
Lieut. Nordquis, Of the Russian navy
were added 70 Nordenskjolds staff.
The Lena was commanded BY Capt
Johsnnsen. Eleven days after starting
from Trcmsoe, they sschored of Port
Dickson. They remained there three
days to make upland despatch cores
pondence and complete THAR prepare