The Delta independent., 1893-10-18
DIR. NANsEN.s PLAN.
Now Features In His scheme for Push
Ing to the North Pole.

| Now Feature8 In HIS schemo iOr Iubh-
| Ing to the North Pole.
| DR.. Nansen, who sailed from
| Christiania on his little vessel Fran.
to force his way into the Arctic ice
near the New Siberian islands for the
purpose of drifting to the north pole.
took some precautions for possible re-
treat which were not mentioned in his
plans of the expedition. party has
been sent out to leave stores Of pro-
visions for twelve men at two places
on the island of kotelnoi, the largest
of the new Siberian islands. These
depots will be inspected in 1894 and
1895 to see that they are still service
able They are to be maintained for
the purpose of replenishing the
stock OF food if the explorers find it
: necessary to abandon their ship and
retreat south over the ice to the 81
berian coast.
| DR.. Nansen will not retreat south
unless fatal disaster overtakes his
vessel before he reaches the north
pole. If he should lose his vessel
after reaching the pole he would stock
his boats with food and drag them
south on sledges until he reached the
open waters of the East Greenland
sea. He did not wish to take single
pound of food from the supplies on
the Fran for these depots, and SO an
ind ependent party has been sent out
to cache an ample stock OF provis-
ions on the island.
Another new feature of his schem Q
is the taking along OF dogs to assist in
sledge hauling if he is compelled to
abandon his vessel This idea was
| suggested by the success of Peary in
employing dogs upon the inland ice.
If, however. he should find the ice OF
the Arctic ocean very rough his dogs
would be useless. as they have never
been found available under exceed
ingly rough conditions of tho ice
Sealers report that the sea around
the new Siberian islands was quite
open in 1888, 1889 and 1890. and that
within the last two years during the
summer season there has been very
little ice in that neighborhcod. slf
this condition prevails this sea on
Nansen will be able to steam con-
siderable distance north Of the
islands before he forces his vessel
into the ice.
Nansen is student and a scientific
man, but he has not the art OF max
ing himself very popular with the
general public. The result is that
his countrymen, as rulo, did not
take nearly as much interest in his
project at the time he started as
they did soon after he announced it
when he came back from crossing
Greenland The result was that he
did not secure quite as much money
as he desired for his equipment.
though he believes he is amply sup
piled with all necessaries for five
years. work in the Arctic regions.
Some authorities have faith that
Nansen will find the current north of
the New Siberian islands upon which
he depends to carry his vessel to the
north pole. He does not. however.
expect to reach that neighborhood,
even If he has excellent luck, in less
than two or three years 1t will not
be surprising, says the New York
Sun, il Lieutenant Peary outstrips
him in the race.
II the north pole is still to be
striven for. one advantage OF having
two expeditions in the field is that,
il both succeed, the report OF one
with regard to the condition exist
ing there will confirm the informa-
tion brought home by the other, and
will thus convince even the skeptical
that the north pole has really been
reached. 1t has often been said that
even II q party reached the pole
most people would be inclined to
doubt it until confirmation Of the
fact was secured by another expedi.
tion.