Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-03-23
TO THE NORTH POLE.
The Wellman Party Leave On The
Polar Expedition. .r-

The Wellman Party Leave On Their
Polar Expedition.
New York, March 14.-Walter Well
man, the famous newspaper correspond
ent, sailed today from New York by the
steamship Britannia en- route for the far
north. He Is going toward the north
pole, and to it ii that shall prove posi-
BILE. There will be in his party three
Americans besides himself - Professor
Owen B. Bench, who comes from the
United States coast and geodetic survey,
with high reputation as a scientific man
and for work in the field in Alaska and
the West; Thomas b. Mohun, M. d.,
who has been in successful practice for
some years in Washington, and who is
admirably equipped in learning and ex-
perience for the responsible work before
him, and Charles @. Dodge, of the navy
department, a capable photographer and
artist. These three young men have
been selected from among scores of ap-
pllcants.
In Norway ten more men join the
party-hardy young Norwegians,. enthu-
siastic in exploration as were their an
cestors, and number OF them univer-
sity men devoted to the pursuit Of know
ledge in the fields of botany, geology and
other sciences. A number Of the Nor
wegians have had experience in the ice
fields of the Arctic ocean AS whale and
seal hunters, and are adopts in the art of
navigation and travel incident to that
hazardous calling.
Most Acrlic expeditions with which
Americans are familiar approach the pole
by way Of Smith Sound. Even English
have chosen Greenland route for most OF
their efforts. But the Wellman party
does not 60 that way, strewn with wrecks
Of ships, bleaching bones and sdead
hopes. They choose rather that high
way to the far north carved out of the ice
by the influence OF the Gull Stream in
the Norwegian sea. The same waters
from the south climate, with ports open
the year round in ATTITUDES, which, in
Greenland, are frozen fact nine or ten
months in the year, wash the western
shores OF the island of Spiizenbergen and
leave them moderately free Of ice,' ex-
cept in midwinter. Nor do they plan to
leave the north pole in ship. The yes
sci has not yet been built that will sail
to the pole, or nearer ii than five hun
dred miles Navigation to the pole has
failed often enough to be abandoned till
airships take the place OF marine yes
sells.
After putting finishing touches upon
their outfit at the town TIomsoe, far
north in Norway, the fourteen men sail,
about the first day of May. for the island
OF Spitzenbergen, which lies to the east
OF Northern Greenland. There, at Danes
island, where is fine harbor, they will
establish headquarters. At this point
they will be under the shadow Of the
eightieth parallel Of north latitude, that
circle high on the map which many in
domitable Arctic explorers have never
reached aud which but few have passed
For all but the most fortunate or persist
emit it has marked the limit Of progress to
the northward. From there they go to
Spitzenbergen. That is the only half
way house, the point of departure, the
stepping stone to the inner polar region
Though an uninhabited land OF wonder
full scenery, of romantic and tragic his
tory, Of rare sport with ice bear, wslrus,
reindeer, seal, foxes and birds, they will
not tarry on its shores longer than few
days in which to land stores and eetab.
lish headquarters station in q comfort
able house already standing there
Leaving couple of trusty men in charge
Of the station, and with a safe hsrbor
near by for the steamer, they will put on
and make an effort to set as near the
pole as possible.