Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
NANsEN, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER.
Successful End of His Trip Across the
Plateaus of Greenland.

Plateaus of Greenland.
CHRIsTIANA, June 14-On their return to
their native country the members of the Nam
sen Greenland expedition were rendered a re-
ception such as no King ever received in Nor
way within the memory of the oldest now
living. AS will be remembered. DR.. FIR. Nansen,
a young Norwegian scientist athlete and ex-
pert on skis Norwegian snowshoes) last
year organized an expedition for the purpose
of exploring the interior of the great ice plateau
of Greenland. The party consisted of six men,
all expert and daring ski-runners.
This expedition was the fourth organized
in recent years for the purpose of exploring
the ice desert of Greenland, and the only
successful among the four. DR.. Nansen and
his men effected landing on the eastern coast
of Greenland, in August last year, and by the
middle of that month were ready for the diff
cult march across the icy plains Nothing was
heard of the daring Adventures for months
and great anxiety was felt regarding their
safety, when the last Government steamer
from Greenland last fall brought the glad
tidings that, after most perilous Journey they
had reached the western coast of Greenland by
the end of September, and that they were all
safe. They were too late to catch the last
steamer, however, and thus were compelled to
spend the winter at Godthaab, the principal
Danish city or colony in Southwestern Green
land. They took the first Government steamer
this spring and arrived at Copenhagen on the
2lst of May, Mr.. Camel wholesale merchant
of that city, having betrayed the expenses of
the expedition.
For the gay Danish capital the explorers
were literally loaded down with receptions,
dinners, balls, royal orders and honors of every
description. The denizens of Christiana per-
ceived that they would have to exert them
selves if they should hope to eclipse Copen-
hagen, and it must be admitted that they have
reason to feel proud of their achievements to-
day. The reception committee included the
leading men in scientific, government, financial
and business circles in Christiania. The
grandest and most original feature of the re-
ception proceedings was the scenes enacted on
the beautiful waters of the Christianiafjarde
the soft lines of which reminds one of the
graceful maidenly beauties of Lake Mime
tonka.
The steamer having the explorers on board
was met in the middle of the ford by a fleet
consisting of Is steamboats, and hundreds of
sloops, schooners yachts and smaller pleasure
crafts, all gaily decorated with an abundance
of flags and bunting in the national colors, red,
white and blue. The day was beautiful. The
sky was clear and bright and the fleet pre-
sented grand and majestic sight as it headed
toward the harbor of the Christiania, the
sailing vessels carried on the wings of mod
crate breeze.
The quays and streets lining the harbor were
black with people. and on landing the explor-
ers were greeted with tremendous "hurrah,"
which fairly shook the foundations of the old
town. OF course, the inevitable speech-making
had to be gone through, but people cared little
about the speakers. The day was made holi-
day, practically, and business was all but sus-
pended. The people felt that the explorers
had conquered laurels for old Norway and
that DR.. Nansen had won himself name as one
of the most daring and successful among the
explorers of modern times. They were bound
to celebrate. A great peoples festival in the
evening closed the proceedings of this memoir
able day,