New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-19
DLSCOVERIES IN ICELAND.

A TALK WITH ". L. HOWARD WHO HAS JUST RE-
TURNED FEoM VISIT To THE ISLAND.
William Lee Howard has just returned from
from Iceland where he sent early in the summer by
the American Geographical Society order to settle
some disputed points IN the topography OF that island
Monday evening he was visited by TRIBUNE reporter
to whom lie gave an account of his summers travel.
al left New-Y0rk," said he "in March
last and went TO Leith, Scotland, where a
ship was fitted out for me, and then l went
directly TO Iceland Last year srted the island with
boat going every ford around it. and left some
ponies there for use the past summer but they had
all died in consequence Of the scarcity of food, One OF
the most important discoveries that
made was in determining whether Herdubried
was volcano or simply mountain
That now is settled satisfactorily to my mind; it is
volcano climbed the top OF itC74O feet above the
sea level The only way to ascend for 1900 feet was to
fly q large kite, with anchor attached, and rope
fastened the anchor After securing the anchor TO the
rocks above my head would pull myself up by means
of the rope BY repeating the operation many times
made the ascent in thrty-eight hours. The volcano
is composed of three parts the lowest ispagonc, the
middle and seepest part is basalic Gill; while the top
is lava This shows cOnclusely that IT, volcano, and
not a mountain. On the summit 1t was blowing and
showing so hard that could not fifty feet from
All tOpographers had agreed that this was not vol
cano -, ,.,,
trayersed the island but crossed 1t in four drcc
tons. The standard map Of Iceland was constructed
after twenty years labor by SkjOfndeIfjlOt but lie
placed many lakes it and traced several rivers that ne
had OF course he left out many inst nave
located. During the four months was oil TIE Island,
party OF 1fty-sX men travelled l1ol miles, 600 OF
them ON foot. We worked, OH an average, nineteen
hours day. During all stay there, II was constant
day light Several times when hurried, We worked
seventy hours without obtaining hours sleep
land base line and triangulated ninety miles along
river, traversed for the first time by white man; also
taking many photographs.
From HunafiOrdn started for Greenland TO sec II
could hear anything concerning the Jeanette On the
way met fishermen, who satisfied ne concerning
land and Iceland and the ice DID not melt during the
SUMMER sufficiently TO allow IL to come down as IL
usually does This had some advantages, Tor
ship could 20 much farther North than before but
less there now Satisfied that could hear nothing
definite concerning that ship returned 10 Iceland and
continued travels there. Here too, the game dogs
ponies ana sheep have died In great quantities from lack
OF yer1uFe The population Of Iceland Il being CON
santly crowded out toward the coast You cannot find
thirty miles from the coast In any direction IL j.
safe say from present appearances that within hity
years the entire island will be dcpopulated They are
is the taking OF the Iccandc girls 70
Utah. / convinced many Of theU! that they
would regret their coming to Amcca 10 become
MOTnODs The bishops OF that sect are using great IN
huence TO bear upOn the women ana succeed IN getting
many 70 euligrate.
My report to the Geographical Society win be given
in q lecture during tine coming winter after |
have made a map 81 Iceland, based upon personal
Sprengisunde, literally bursting sands desert
tending the island from north to south, which ~
full OF bOulders eyideny OF glacial origin; AID made
many observations concerning the movement OF glaciers
which will appear at later time.
also attended the Geographical Congress al Venice
way home"