The New York herald., 1879-02-24
WHERE is NORDENSKJOLD ?


WHERE is NORDENSKJOLD?
IN RUSSIA AND GERMANy-M. sIBIRIAKoFF
AND HIS ASSISTANCE TO GEOGRAPHICAL.
scIENcE-RELIEF EXPEDITIONS ORDERED BY
THE CzAR-THE rUNGUsEs ORDERED TO THE
RE- CUE.
LONDON, Feb. 4, 1879.
Our Berlin correspondent writes that the blight
harbor in which the Vega is supposed to be ice
bound is fair anchoring ground not far from
large village of native Tchoutchouks. distant about
200 miles from trading post Plover Bay, which
can be reached by sledges in thirty forty days.
Assuming the Vega to be really at anchor in this bay
surprise cannot be suppressed at Nordenskj0ds long
silence One of the Gothenburg papers justly
marks that message from Nordenskj0ld, forwarded
by the native Tchoutchoubs their dog sledges,
proceeding at the rate of about fifteen miles in
ty-four hours. ought to have long ago reached Alba.
zine the furthest teegraphc station. situated under
So deg. latitude and 43 deg. longitude.
M. sIBIRIAKoFF
NJ Alexandra Sibiriakof, whose enthusiasm in the
cause of carrying aid to the Vega is we'll known to
your readers. is invalid Russian Of great wealth
and liberal views. When the Bremen Geographical
Society sent out DIR. 'Finck DR.. Brehm and Count
waldburgLeil on an expedition to the AL. Yen
esei some years ago he furnished $4,000 roubles
for partial defrayment of their expenses and as
sisted them also otherwise by letters of
mendation. &c: He likewise generously supported
Professor Nordenskj0ld in his present well his
former voyages. He may well be proud Of the re-
suits of Nordenskj0ds explorations as they demon
strated the possibility Of direct navigation to Siberia.
BRIGHT FUTURE SIBERIA.
Considering the importance Of these recent discov-
cries it cannot bc surprising that great hopes and
ticpations of brilliant future everywhere the
talk in Siberia. At st. Petersburg, Moscow, Min,
Novgorod and the principal towns of Siberia proper
movements have commenced for founding o large
stock company for the object of the increase and
tension of Sberia's commercial relations with Eu-
rope China and Central Asia. For the prospectuscs
issued apparently well founded calculations are made
at the immense wealth which might be gained by
making Siberia the intermediary between China and
Europe The Alb. Yenesei. Irtisch and Lena. partly
arising in the mountainous regions Of the Celestial
Empire, navigable almost to their very source;
that the rich products OF Cathay might be easily
transported to the ocean and thence shipped to Eu-
rope.
AID EXPEDITIONS sENr OUT BY THE czAa.
The Russian government, conscious Of the large
profit to be derived from realization OF. this scheme
and tulxawere OF the great significance of Nordensk
j0ld's explorations. has given orders to Baron
Friedrcks. the Governor General OF East Siberia to
ance to the Vega and her valiant crew. In compli-
ance with this telegraphic ntimation, the authori
ties at Irkutsk informed the natives Of the perilous
position of the steamer. sledge party. provided
by the government with fool dogs and reindeer,
has been organized and started for the place at which
Nordenskjold is supposed to be imprisoned. The
commander of the naval station at Wladiwastock has
also been appriscd to send ~ soon as the weather
permits, to Behring Strait, of his vessels for
Nordenskj0ld's discovery.
OPINION OF Mr. LATKIN.
A very interesting, communication has been ad-
caalt fhA ffu- hv
Latkin, who accompanied Nordenskjold far the
Lena, ard discusses the question where the Pro-
fessor may at present be and how he best be
pcached. Mr.. Latkn who had sailed on board of the
Lena, left the vessel on her departure for Yakutsk
Islands, remain some time the Ladjef Island and
then follow Nordenskj0ld TO Behring Strait. The
OF the sad fate OF the Vega induced him to aban
don this project Mr.. Latkin being so well acquainted
with the Russian part of the Arctic region, his opn
ion deserves special attention. He doubts the ve-
racty OF the report that Nordenskj0ld has been de-
barred near the East Cape by the ice from continuing
the voyage, because according to his experience.
open sea generally exists there up TO the middle or
have been frozen in on the entrance to Behring
Strait attempts at reaching him ought to be made
from Nischr- Kolymsk or Anardyrsk.
CHANCES OF REACHING THE VEGA
If Nordenskjold, as is not Improbable has been
wrecked ut the New Siberian Islands, where he con-
emplated ancloring for few days, 1t would not be
difficult to ind him, particularly hunters from Ust
Jansk or ivory merchants settled at the mouth OF the
Tudigirka annually visit this archipelago well as
Tadiie and the Koteny Islands in order to collect
the teeth and bones OF the antediluvian mammoth.
air. Latkin airrns that of the hunters
main those islands the whole year through
ACCOMMODATING parties could thus DO easily organ
isea especially in , winter r The 6est tune sor s~en
merchant, aud Mr.. Hedcnstrom. a distine euished
schol"r, have made themselves famous in the Begin
ming OF this century, is the months OF February and
March, and also the first part OF April.
THE wRANGEr ISLANDS.
In case Nordcnskjold passed the new Siberian
archipelago and wintcred the Wrangcl Islands it
will certainly be more difficult but not impossible to
establish a communication with him. The wrangel
Islands are, according to the latest Russian maps,
situated about three hundred vcrsts to the north of
Cape Schilaskoi and 200 versts from Cape Jakan. A
sledge expedition has often been already under
taken anu greater scale than now necessary,
could be despatched tor the Wrange Islands II few
hardy. enterprising mon were TO join IL, The most
practical being for such excursion has certainly
already passed. but attempts might nevertheless still
be rnade Mr. Latkin estimates the expenses OF q
sledgc party either to the siberian archipelago or
the wrangcl Islands at only about twenty Thousand
rublcs. We entirely agree with Mr.. Latkin's re-
marks that even such expeditions for tho discovery
of Nordenskj0d should fail in effect small tribute
of gratitude for the wondrous achievements of the
heroic explorer would at any rate have been accorded
him.
LATEST INFORMATION
telegraph report from Baron Fredericks, the
| Governor General of Eastern Siberia to tho Russian
Minister of the Interior, In which be gives
count of his endeavor to assist Nordenskj0d i'm his
supposed distress was received. The despatch. dated
Irkutsk. the 18th 25th) OF January, reads follows
ION hearing that the Vega with NordcnskjOd and
his party reported to be frozen up the East
2d of January, TO despatch from Nshni koly msk or
some other suitable place, experienced Tung-
uses. with reindeer siedges, for the help of
| the daring swedish navigator. and at tho
same time to propagate as fast possible among
the native tribes the intelligence Of Nordenskj0d
perous position. also ordered him TO threaten
the severest punishment for any offence or cruelty
committed against the needy explorers. The Gov
OF Frimos likewise received instructions from
iuo 10 send Tunguscs to the Anadyr bay and thence
| to advance the ice far as they could. Afraid
lest these scdge expeditions owing to the ateness OF