, 1879-05-31
NORDENSKJ0LD.
Tho Latest Arctic Discovery.
}}uslnn dtffhrjfser.


:. Tho name Of Nordu'ssklpld, tito learned and
daring Swcde, IL tcnccforth to 10 added to tic
list Of auccessful explorers. lis has completed
Il great achievement, aud at tho samu time has
mado u distinct and original contribution u tho
sum OF HUMAN knowledge. Late In Uecea-
ber, wlluu within lew days coll Of
tho end OF Ills porllous voyage, ho was
blocked In thu fco near Kollott Land,
MI isla,ll Oft tho northeast coast Vi Siberia
Hero lle u1'd hts gallant company passed tic
winter, It Ia not yot known how, Htany feared
that thcy had met the faso of other explorers In
tho same destroying scas; und preparations on
a great sealo were already making to rescue
them II alive, or to lln1 traces OF their l6es.
Others wero more hopeful, aud predicted t1lat
they would come safely to port as Boon as the
warmer currents swept along that stormy coast.
Tllc!r 'contlaonco llus beca justified; and the
news OF tlIp arrival 0f thu Vo1a nlll lts gallant
crow ut Nuhrng Straits haa been received with
satisfaction aud reitef throughout the civilized
world.
l'rof. Nort,onsktolil has baen on many prepjous
Voyages Of adventure alIu discovery. Seven
years ago hu was sutertea by tbs Government VI
Hweden to command a!tdgo expedition toward
tho Pole. lie anl Ills companions wont fartl,cr
tl,an any travellers Ind gone before, but ths
difficulties wcTe too great for endurance, nti
the expedition was abandoned without practlcal
result. Threo years later, With tue cooperation
Of wealthy merchant of tiottcuburG, who shared
'lis enthusiasm, Prot. Nurdclsk1ola sailcd in
culnln mud OF nu0tllcr expedition a1ouE uM
coast, past Nora Zcfnbta, to tho Grcat centra,
rtvcrs Of Siouria emptying TITO tho sea+ 1t Was
tlle rst tne tho inhAUltanLs Of tllat vast rugton
realized the possibility Ut communication and
ttsf With E1sope By way q .o Arct1 Ocean,
ttonai bcncfactor+ Mercantile ventures wnro
successfully made over tho new rputu tho fol-
lowing yrar, aud have doubtless continued TO
this titne for northern sallors are COURAGEOUS
VI Tue s success q these enterprises ombolleuaa
him to uauessake 8 'aaFa Aastns adventure, asA
acnk q nassate 10 thu ParltIs 0ceau through tha
13chrIng Straits. King oscar. himself satlof
atd MI cntghtened friend antl patron Of learu-
INK, encouraged the project with personal SYM
patly and liberal grants OF money. Thu a6|est
OF Ills naval officers were contributed to tils
e1pclittou. aad representatives Of the EnGltsh
pna German nayius were invited to aeconpany
them. Eminent men VI scIance also contributed
their services, a1.l sullcd With thcn. Mr. Dick.
sou, tho Gottenburg merchant who had enabled
Prof.. Nor1unsklold tQ mkt hla earlier Voyages.
opened bis purse aRatnt und WY! gsls equal 10
to suil viii every possible dsvIca tl,at could
contribute 10 their comfn:t and tafety. Tho
Vega sailed on tha 4th Of July, 1873, and on tho
u OF May, 1870, nhc was ranortcs III the straits,
out Of dangsr, all on board wel!, aud about
starting fur hal.lo by way Vt tue Hudz Canal.
Wh2M thcV arrlvo at 1a1llng station, which
may not 10 far several weeks, wn shs!l 4aYu full
particulars ot tuls Interesting voyage. lta sue
cessful accomplishment will give Il fresh impulse
increasing Interest In geographical science,
tt Is Tie IFst genuine succcsa u'at
tlas crowred the otforts OF sailors tn
these northcrn waters for mauy years,
payi1ators Of tho world hays failed. It t!ss
demonstrated the possibility ot commerce bs-
twean tha Two great ocesus by . route hitherto
unknown. IAu value Of the discovery IL still
to bs shawu. llat to hayo found sn open sea
eastward from tie Atlantic to tho Pacific, and
to have actually made tAa lrst paasags, is q lis.
t4ueupn 70 ba proud u.