The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-09-19

The Existence Of q Northeast Passage fuity
Demonstrated.
[By Cable 70 the New York Hcrald
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Sept. 4.-The
Swedish exploring steamer Vega, belonging
10 the Nordenskjold expedition. arrived al
this port Tuesday evening, having success
fully accomplished the northeast passage.
The health ~ the entire ships company l.
excellent. have just seen Prof. Nordensk-
jold, who says during the latter part 81 Feb
ruary he sent 4 lcttcrto DIR. q. Dickson u
Gothenburg. from winter quarters Of Vega,
but has no intimation his patron received IL
THE PROFESSOR SAYS:
sWe sailed from Gofhenburg Iuly 4. 1873,
and four days sail brought "a 10 Trom>oc,
Norwegian port ON the Island ~ I.ancw,
where our outfit Of furs anu neccssaries for
high ATTITUDES was completed. Herr
we were Joined by the companion
from Tromsoe, and passed through Yugor
Strait Aug. ,. There was not = particle ~
Ice 70 h. seen between Waigafscn and the
Continent. The karaza, hitherto dreaded
BY all sailors in Arctic regions, was equally
free from Ice. aud anchor Was cast ~ Port
Dickson, near the mouth ~ the Yiese-si.
Aug. q. After three days delay there the
| two steamers IL our expedition >;eercd north
east toward the dreaded Tainur land and
North Cape. lee arrested our passage. and
We were compelled 70 remain at Tajo,r four
DAYS. Aug. ~. T-ejekiu, the extreme north
ern point ~ Asia. was reached. where short
rest was taken. The Vega eoasiesl the PENN
| suia, very little Ice being encountered. and
anchored nt the mouth Of the Lena River
Aug. ri. To the northeastward We could-ee
the Islands of New siberia, but were unable
70 explore because Of the great field Of ice
that gin their shores. The mouth ~ Ko-
lowyn River. = broad estuary. VA, found
open. and We hasfcned 70 make all possible
progress eastward.
ouR DIFFICULTIES
soon began to be heavier. and increased dali
". We were delayed much b. ice between
Cape Cook and Van karena- We crossed
kolinf>ch BAY on sept. - with comparative
ease, but were imprisoned on The 18th near
Tchuktchi settlement We winicrcd in pack
ice AT this point, one mile from land. The
entire ships company maintained the best
Of health and spirits. Not a single ease ~
scuryy occurred on board During the
shortest day the sun was above the horizon
less than three hours, and then only the
upper limb wns visible. At this point
much time was devoted 70 interesting
scientific and photographic studies. There
were 400 inhabitants in the several
Villages near by. who subsi>ted ~ fishing
and sealing. They are called Tchukiehi,
and are very agreeable class ~ people for
an exploring party 20 meet. They supplied
the expedition with bear and reindeer meats
The cold was intense, averaging 3s-2 de-
grecs below Fahrenheit. The game was
abundant in the spring, Wild fowl being "a.
ken In large numbers. We were detained
in the lee AZ this point ga days. but were
released on July Is, and passed the East
| Cape into Behring Straits ON the .Fh. such
i the story Of our voyage.
FULLY ACCOMPLISHED THE OBJECT
for which the expedition was sent out by DR..
Dickson, namely: practical proof OF the
existence Of northeast passage. Then the
Asiatic coast was followed, and - Law
renee Bay was crossed TO Port Clarence,
Alaska. There we crossed 20 kanyan,
Y dredging carefully In order 70 determine the
formation Of the bottom Of the sea, many
specimens Of the fauna and dora being obtain-
ed. The location, breadth, velocity, and ap-
proxmate volume Of the currents OF the
Arctic and Pacific polar currents were char
tered and calculated. Having touch
ed at St. Lawrence Island. we
next proceeded to Bchring Island. where we
received the first news from Europe through
the resident agent Of the Alaska Trading
Company. The fossil remains on Behring
Island are ~ immense variety. A new ma
rinc animal wa here discos cred. which was
named Ehytina StelIari. The Vega left .hc
island on August ~. and had pheasant yoy-
age until August n. when ~esere salc Wa
encountered. accompanied with lightning.
During the storm the lightning struck and
shisered the main topmast. slightly inluring
several men.
VIZ ARRIVED orr YOKOHAMA
nj half-pa~f :, sept. > All arr well. and no.
deaths have occurred during the voyage.
The Vega l. the fir>f vessel ~ MAKE the pns-
sage. and think the VOYAGE from Europe 10
Asia by Rchring strait j. certain and safe.
with very little more experience cf nasi-a-
tion In the Northern seas. from jaiian ~ The
mouth OF the Lena River. There An 10 diffi-
ctlifir- in the proper season fur experienced
sailor. The Lena River tap rii;ra siberia.
aud a large prospective trade caii rradils "
developed. The Vega viii r.inain a loh0-
hama about fourteen dass."