Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-19
The Fate Ofthe DiImphna Fxpe.
CliffOn-
London Standard.

On the 18th of July, 1882, the
Djimphna sailed out OF Copenhagen
harbor and the plaudits which the
kindly Kjobenhavners are never 10th
to bestow on any enterprise in which
the national credit is understood to
be concerned. Besides the comman.
der, the party consisted Of Lieutenants
Olsen aud Porde OF the Danish navy:
Lieutenant De Rensis of the Royal
Italian marine; DR.. Barch, as surgeon
and botanist; Herr Holm as zooloGisu
Herr Litonius, a Swede, as engineer;
Herr Ernst, mate; and a crew of fit.
teen men, one of whom, the Norwei,
gian, Peder Sivertsen. had shared in
the glUries of the Vega expedition.
The vessel was provided for twenty
seven months, and eoaled for fifty days
with full steam at six knots, besides
being rugged as a three mast schooner
with square sails in her foremost. She
also took among her stores several
sledges and nine dogs-nOt of the
Esquimaux, but Of the Newfoundland
breed. Lieutenant Hovgaard's plans
were not kept so secret as those Of the
unfortunate De Long. Substantially,
we understand, the expedition
was to proceed first to Cape
Chelyuskin, on the Siberian shore,
and thence to make for Franz Josef
Land, pushing for The North next
sping in sledges. His main objects
we're, OF course, to ascertain whether
Franz Josef Land extended to the
neighborhood Of Cape Chelyuskin,
whether the conditions of the current
Of ice were such that a basis for fur.
Their exploration could be reached
without too great risk; and, finally.
whether the eastern coast Of Franz
Josef extended to the northward at
this point. His intentions when last
communicated with were to winter
near Cape Ohelyuskin, the most north
erly point Of Asia, on the southern
coast of Franz josef Land, if it could
be reached, and to return within six
teen months. Observations we're also
to be taken throughout the winter,
in accordance with the programme OF
the international Expeditions now
wintering in Siberia, Greenland, Cum.
berland Sound, Jan Mayen Island,
Spitzbergen, and at various points on
the northern shores of America. 1t is
to be feared, however, that these plans
have been frustrated by the causes
which so frequently shatter the hopes
of the Northern explorer. The voyage
OF the Djimphna seems, up to the last
reports, to have proved somewhat
unfortunate. Toward the end Of
August she was struggling with the
ice in Jugor Strait, and at a later date
she was reported frozen up on the
coast OF NOvaia Semlai. Then came
a rumor, for a time accepted as au.
thentic, that she had been crushed of
Waigatz Island; but il has since APP
peared that this report refers not tC
the Djimphna, but to a sailing ship
most probably one Of those engaged in
walrus hunting.
The folly of permitting the expedi.
ton to start without a second vesse
to fall back upon ia case of disaster is
however, already sufficiently evident
No pews having been received from
the Adventures, Herr Camel, tn,
principal promoter of the expedition
has engaged Herr Larsen, who shareC
: in the hardships Of the i'll fated Jean
, notte, to start for the Waigatz il
search Of the party, so as, if possible
to render them succor. Most proba
e bly, this will take the shape of a con
Joint Dano Dutch Expedition, for th
Hollander's vessel, Varna, is believe,
to be ieebound in the same vicinity
5 We learn from our Copenhagen cor
8 respondent that Captain Norman ha