New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-26
THE ARC re TOYAGERS.

The two great Arctic expeditions Of this year
have now sent Us what are doubtless the last
messages we shall receive from them until their
return. Lieutenant PcaN's came first. rs Is
gratefully remembered. his detailed letter. sent
hithcr by the returning Falcon gave sweeping
contradiction 10 the whole mass Of stories
regarding him that had been current. Some
reckless, fahroator had told lis that delay
and disaster had attended every step of the
explorers, and that the utter failure OF their
venture was well nigh certain; whereas the
truth was. aS I.icutcnant Pcary made plain. that
in e,cy particular they had been singuarly sue
ccssful. and that they disappeared from our
view into the sahara Of the North with the
best prospects # safety ard great achievement.
Left 10 their own resources on the shore Of
lngleicld Inlet. they will be able to send Us
no further word Of their veal or woe until they
meet the Falcon there twelycmonth hence.
DR.. Nanscn has also written a long last letter,
describing in detail tho progress of his cXpcd.
tion. II was on Jane u that his ship. the
Fran. steamed out Of the Narangcr Flord and
passed from the sight of Norway and OF Europe.
DEFENDING chiefly upon sail power they reached
YugorSlli strait the gateway Of the Kara Sea,
on August >. and thence sent this final message
home. All were then well. and everything in
excellent condition.; and the sea before them
was yet free from ice. Their intention was 10
keep near the Siberian coast until they reached
the mouth of the Olcnck River. near the Lena
Delta. There. il c,nYcnient. they might stop
~ take on fresh supplies but if not, they would
steer boldly away from shore, toward the north
1 -, a. 10, st.n
Siberian Islands where again they might stop
for some of the supplies which have been stored
for them on kotcInOi. the most western Of the
group: "but it is not probable" wrote DIR.
Nan>cn. "that we shall want them They
cNpectcd to PASS Kotclnoi in the early part of
September. After that. all il speculation.
They may. of course, find other islands,
hitherto unknown. beyond the new siberia
group: and. if So, there may be open water in
the straits and al ing the shores. Of which they
Will make full Use. But if not. there viii be
nothing left hut 10 let the Fran get SnuglN
racl, d in the Ice. rs >clidly l> possible and
diff with the current. DR.. Nan'cn believes,
and with good reason, that in those regions
the o Is Il con talt ocean current running north
va.d or northwcs'wlrd This would cary
hiin to or toward the Pole. and M any rate
far into the vast unknown realm lying
north of Wrangcl Island and Point Barrow,
the quarter Of the Arctic zone in which least
progres polc-ward has been made When, If
eyer. open water is reached. slil and steam
will again he used. But long time at least
wear or two must certainly clapsc before the
hardy yoyager, are again heard from. They
may emerge where the ill->tamed Jeanette
went IN or doubling back. they may regain
the coast of Norway By way OF Franz Josef
Land or Spitzbergen or yet. pressing more
boldly ACROSS the untiacked wastes they may
reach the land where Lieutenant Peary J, now
at work. and find kome-comnc Though the
familiar water, Of Bailin Bay. At the present
time they are probably able 20 do nothing bar
drift with the ice-packed current and the
anxious world can only wait and hone.