The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-17
The Frozen Seas.
THE FATE OF THE DIJNPHNA EXPEDITION
THE SEARCH PARTY--A P0RLoRS HOPE.
rIondou gtaud.rdf

THE SEARCH PARTY--A P0RLoRS HOPE.
rLondon Standard
On the 18th Of July. 1882, the Diimphna
sailed.out Of Copenhagen harbor amid 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 commander.
the party consisted OF Licutepants Olsen
and Parde, OF the Danish navy; Lieuten-
ant De Rensis, OF the Italian Royal marine; |;
DR.. Barch, rs surgeon and botanist; Herr
| Holm, as zo0logist; Herr Litonius, a
| Swede. as engineer; Herr Ernst, mate, and
crew Of fifteen men, one OF whom-the
Norwegian Peder Siyertsen-had shared In
the glories Of the Vega expedition.
| The vessel was provisioned for twenty
seven months, and coaled for fifty days
with full steam at six knots, besides being
rigged as three-mast schooner with square
| sails on her foremast. She also took among
her stores several sledges and nine dogs
not OF the EsquimauX but OF the New
foundland breed. Lieutenant Ilovgaard's
plans were not kept so secret as those OF
the unfortunate Lieutenant De Long. Sub
stantialy, we understand, the expedition
was- TO proceed first 10 Cape Chelyuskin,
on the Siberian shore, and thence to make
| for Franz josef Land, pushing for the
north next spring in sledges. His main
objects were, OF course, TO ascertain
whether Franz Josef Land really eX-
tended TO the neighborhood Of Cape
| Chelyusbin whether the conditions
OF the current Of ice were such that
basis for further exploration could
be reached without too great risk; !; and,
| finally, whether the eastern coast OF Franz
Josef Land trended to the northward at
this point. His intentions when last COM
municated with were to winter near Cape
Chelyuskin, the most nortberly point OF
Asia. or on the southern coast OF Franz
josef Land, il it could be reached. and TO
return within sixteen months. Observa-
tons were also to be taken throughout the
winter, in accordance with the programme
OF the International Expeditions. now win
tering in Siberia, Greenland, Cumberland
Sound, Jan Mayen Island, Spitzbergen,
and at various points on the Northern
Shores OF America. 1t Is TO be feared, how
ever, that these plans have been frustrated
by the causes which so frequently shatter
the hopes OF the northern explorer.
The voyage OF the Diimphna seems, up
to the last reports, TO have proved some
what unfortunate. Toward the end Of
A ugust she was struggling with the ice in
,Jugor Strait, and at later date she was
reported frozen up on the coast OF Noyaia
Semlai. Then came rumor, for a time
accepted as authentic, that she had been
crushed of WaigatZ Island; but il has
since appeared that this report refers not
to the Diimpbna, but TO q sailing ship,
most probably one Of those engaged in
wallUs hunting.
The folly OF permitting the expedition TO
start without second vessel TO fall back
upon in case OF disaster is, however,
already sufficiently evident. No news hay-
ing been received from the adventurers,
Herr Camel, the principal promoter OF the
expedition, has engaged Herr Larsen,
who shared in the hardships OF the Inflated
Jeannette, to start for the Waigatz in search
OF the party, so as, if possible, to render
them succor. Most probably this will take
the shape OF n coniolnt Dano-Dutch eXpe-
diti0n; for the Holanders' vessel ,Varna
is believed to be icc-bOund in the same
vicinity.
We learn from our Copenhagen corre-
spondent that Captain Normann has re-
turned from st. Petersburg, where he had
been sent to perfect the arrangements for
the relief party, and that Herr Larrsen's
expedition will consist OF fifteen sledges,
drawn by dogs and large number OF
reindeer. which will supply at once beasts
Of burden and yenison wncT needed. To
what extent Herr Larsen will he success
full it would of course be rash to prophecy,
though the chances are all in favor OF his
finding the missing crews perfectly well,
ii in no small peril from ice.
Waigatz Island may be regarded as
southern continuation OF Noyaia Semlai,
from which it is separated by the Kara
Strait, and from the Russian mainland by
the narrow Jugor Pass. This portion OF
the Arctic Ocean is every winter firmly
frozen over, and with the aid OF the
Samoyedes, who during the summer Craze
their vast herds Of reindeer on the tundrdS
in the vicinity, could be reached with COM
parative ease. Still the task cut out for
Herr Larsen will be no child's play.
Arctic travelling is at any time danger
Gus work. and TO cross an arm OK the sea
in the depth Of winter is task which has
rarely been attempted by white men. As
it would be rash to depend on chance seals
and walrus, food must be carried, unless,
indeed, the reindeer are TO be slaughtered.
Even then, as the deer can get no food on
the ocean, forage for their wants must be
borne.
Wild storms of snow every now and
again sweep over these wastes, and the Bit
ter winds cut to the bone even the natives
of the North, clad though they are in
swathes OF skin and fur. The tent and
the sleeping-bag will prove poor protec-
ton against such blast, and after allow
ing for the chance OF n rough, hummocky
path, and for the difficulty Of sighting a
Ship, which is mere speck in the vast
world OF frozen waters and snow-covered
desolation, we must accord Herr LaTr
sen and his gallant confrfres the credit
of having undertaken a northern forlorn
hope. Still the story Of Mr.. Leigh Smith,
which we had the pleasure OF telling so
very recently, leads us to entertain great
hope Of Lieutenant Hovgaard's being still
well and enjoying the qualified comfort
which a Christmas-day in seventy degrees
north latitude is capable Of imparting.
A Brave Little Bark.
NIL hot oil