The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-24
Experienced Men Believe that
Their Ship Was Crushed
by Ice.
BUT ONE HOPE is EXPRESSED.
That the Explorers May Have Been
Able to Find Refuge
on Land.
(By Associated presgl

LONDON, July A.-Carl Siewwers
writes to The Standard that he is in
receipt OF advices from Norway that
leave little doubt that the Wellma n
Arctic expedition party is lost.
Experienced shippers just returned
from the Spitzbergen seas express the
same opinion, ana Col. Fielding, who
accompanied Capt. Nares's expedition in
1875. shares this belief.
The Pail Mall Gazette is in recent of
similar advices from Tromsoe, all con-
frming the general belief in the fate OF
the expedition.
The American North Pole Expedition,
IN command of Walter Wellman. OF
Washington. lelt Tromsoe. Norwa.i, on
BOARD the, steamer Ragnvold JaIi for
the Island OF Spitzbergen, on May "a
last.
The expedition included among other
members Astronomer owen b. French,
Of the United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey; Thomas Il. Mohun, a we'll
known medical man of Washington, and
on itia =. Dodge a photographer and
nars,, OF the United States Navy De-
In addition, the expedition included
, Mr.. Was sta Swedish member Of the
and skater; Wenship, an English engi-
neer; oyen. geologist from Christi
ANA; Alme. a meteorological; Hyerdah hi
srl,, J .i SKI runners and sportsmen
iiolll tne university Of Christiania, and
capt. Henderson, Of Aaelesund, the en-
ecutive officer and ice-pilot The mem
per, 9ers OF the expedition had with them
h hdty dogs; six aluminium sledses and
Nothing definite has been heard of the
GNpeu,tlon since IT. touched at Dane $
Island Island, on the northwest coast of Spitz-
bergen. where Prof. Oyen, the geologist.
was left, his only companion being a
Jog, to await the return of the expedi-
i iioha and guard the provision depot estab-
store consisted only of enough meat and
h2ur for eight men for six months.
on Juiy Prof; Oyen was seen by the
Yacht Squadron. and they left him some
fresh supplies. Later, the yacht made
"A search for the expedition. but found
III, inc routes badly blocked with ice.
An experienced walrus hunter, Capt
Joha nnsen. was also seen by the Saide
and he, expressed the belief that the
Ragnvold Jarl had been crushed by ice
ing for the members Of the expedition in
direction northwest from Spitzbergen
SO ,r soon w AZ the Ice permitted.
larl well fitted out for exploring with
cut the aid of ship, so it is hoped
that the reports received in London
Ragnvold Jarl and that the members
of the expedition will be rescued alive.
The Wellman expedition was distinct.
lively siedsinE expedition. the steamer
being only calculated upon to carry them
as far as the ice. where the real Arctic
journey was to commence.
The Raguvold Jarl was vessel OF
43S tons, and was built especially for ice
work. She was handled by one of the
best ice-pilots known.
The steamer was to proceed from
Danes Island to the edge of the ice
pack. probably between 50 and 81 degree.
north latitude, and there Mr. Wellmar
was to disemhark with fourteen men
fifty dogs and six sledges. The steamer
Was then to return to Danes Island
am the expedition was to push onwar,
IN sledRes: drawn by dogs over the ice
\ novel feature of the Wellman ex
petition was the Use of sluminum in thu
construction OF its boats and sledges
Three small boats We're constructed o
this metal and were built on the line:
1.ife-Saylng Service, thus securing grea
strength with extreme lightness. TIL,
boats had sledse bottoms, in order tina
they might be used on land as we'll a
on Nat"r. In the same manner the 81!
sledges, also constructed of aluminium
could, II necessary. be converted int,
boats. These sledges We're calcuate'
to carry loads of GOO pounds each.
Mr.. Wellman also took with him
Sc; Of aluminium bridges in order to cross
the ridges or hummocks which rise t,
the height of twenty or thirty feet whel
the icenelds collide.
The total weight of boats, sledses, in
struments, clothing. and fuel taken b!
the Wellman sledging party amounted
pounds. Mr.. Wolman. in an interview
In London shortly before leaving tina
city, referring to the chances of tn
expedition said:
The only thing that We feel certain
OF, Is that we shall return-not only L
Snitzbergen in September. but T.
Norway and to America before Thanks
giving bay"
MI Wellman WAS wcll-known news
paper man. of Washington. u. G, II
made no appeal to- the public or to pr
Nate individuals for funds preferring I
earn the entire cost of the expedition
which Is estimated to be about $1,000
Mr.. Wellman was to take what he cor
considered the true highway" To tn
north-that carved out of the ice by tn
influence Of the Gulf Stream in the MOI
wesan Sea. He calculated that at tn
easily march from SpitzbeTgen to III
Pole within a hundred daNS, and that