The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-18

but went down In one OF the storms which
are frequent at that season.
Il ia another case Of Arctic disaster In
vitsd by foolish daring. This enterprise
was encouraged by older heads than those
| OF tho young men who attempted to carry
It out: but everybody concerned showed
| good deal more enthusiasm than prudence
or good judgment.
| ia. BJoRI1Na and s. KALsTINIUs we're
students in the University Of Christiania.
| Norway. BJ6RLING. the leader Of the ex-
petition. was only twenty years old. and
| his comrade was twenty-four. They were
| advanced students In natural history. and
| had studied polar exploration with the
| greatest interest They desired to visit
| the coasts OF northwest Greenland and
| Ellesmereland. to make collections OF lora
and fauna. Partly as reward for their
diligence and attainments In the class room,
the university encouraged the idea. More
over. the museum OF the institution was
to be enriched by the collections made. The
university provided fine lot OF scientific
Instruments and a supply OF money that
would have been adequate II the students
could have carried out the enterprise as
they planned 1t.
Their purpose was to go to st. Johns.
Newfoundland. and take passage on
whaler for Lancaster Sound. From that
point they intended to set out In stout
whale boat. skirt the shores OF Elesmere-
land, cross the mouth OF Smith Sound, row
down the Greenland coast until they we're
considerably south OF the site OF PEARY's
first winter camp. and then cross the bay
to Lancaster Sound. whore, as already men
toned. they expected to be picked up by
whaler returning from the hunting grounds.
Unfortunately, when they reached st.
Johns last year, the whalers had gone
north. There was nothing to do except to
return home. unless they provided their
own means Of conveyance; and here they
made fatal blunder.
Rather than 70 homo defeated. they
decided to buy vessel. Their funds
were not adequate for the purchase OF
suitable boat. and 80 they bought for
5000 the WORKOUT schooner Ripple. She
had survived her period Of usefulness. and.
in her best days. had never been intended
to battle with Arctic ice. No vessel should
attempt to cross Melville Bay unless spe-
cially strengthened for conflicts with pack
ice. The Ripple. however. would do we'll II
she kept afioat in the open sea. Everybody
at St. Johns urged the young men to give
up the idea. but they would listen to no
reason or argument.
They had great difficulty in finding three
men. as foolhardy as themselves. to man
the vessel. At last, however. they secured
the services Of CHARLES KAHN as Captain;
GILBERT DUNN as mate. and HERBERT
MACDONALD as cook. 1t was necessary for
the young explorers. themselves. to help to
navigate the schooner. Their funds were
then 30 low that they were able to provi-
sion her with only scanty two months
supply Of the cheapest food. Flour, pork,
molasses, and tea formed their entire com.
missary stores.
1t was believed when they started. by all
who heard the story. that they were going
to certain death. The young men. how
ever. were sanguine that they would have
successful trip. They safely reached
Godhavn. on Disko Island. and everybody
there was very much astonished when they
unfolded their plans. An American gentle
man, who was there. tells us the Ripple was
leaking so badly that he thought she
might sink In the harbor. But when the
good people Of Godhavn found the young
men were determined to 60 on. in spite Of
the entire inadequacy Of their equipment.
they gave them some guns and ammuni-
ton. considerable supply of provisions.
and sent them on their way rejoicing.
That was the last that was seen Of them.
The whaler that reports the loss OF their
ship found near the cairn the grave OF
seaman Of the party, whose name Is not
given in the cable report. The others were
either drowned by the swamping Of their
boat. or. reaching the west side OF the bay
and not finding a whaler. they persisted
miserably OF their prlvations. There Is no
hope Of their being alive. for IL they had
survived the winter OF 1892 90 they would
have been found by the whalers that went
to that region last summer.
A more foolhardy enterprise was never
undertaken. and the result is not surpris-
ing. No man can win fame in the polar re-
gions unless common sense has voice In
shaping the details Of his undertaking.