The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-17
Wal TER WELLMAN IN A ROUGH SEA.
Graphic Description Of the Sieaming to Sptzbergen.
Beginning a Disastrous Trip,
The First Glimpse Of the Wonderful Midnight SunPerec Harmony Among
the Members Of the Expedition Introduction to the Ice
After Days Of Unexpectedly Clear Weather.

was enough for us all Even the sick ones
gave over their hopes OF shipwreck or dyna-
mite explosion when we told them how
fast we were speeding toward the north.
what Wise Norwesians said.
In Norway al the wise old sailing mas
fers and would be experts shook their
beads when they heard we were going TO
tail ON the lst day of May. Too early.
Better wait till the 10TH" they said.
They admitsed this was favorable year,
but still there must be n great deal OF ice
20 the north. There always had been ice
and always must be ice. Nevertheless we
concluded to adhcre 10 our programme.
We had studied the Spitzbergen region
not in the light Of one mans experience,
but in that of a thousand experiences run
ming through 200 years, and we felt con-
fdent we had a reasonably good chance OF
pushing our way through to Danes island
in from 10 10 10 days. It must be con-
fessed, however, that the majority of us
were looking rather eagerly for ice tho first
day out. We knew that when the Ragn-
valid Jarl was once within the ice there
would be no more rolling and pitching
and the dinner bell would cease from
inocking, for tho water within the ice Is
as still as pool in the woods Often, one
skipper told us the ice Is formed below
Bear island, but those of us who hoped for
relief in the neighborhood of the rocky
islet discovered by Barentz 800 years ago
were doomed TO disappointment. Wepassed
to the westward OK the island at 3 o'clock
yesterday morning in bowling gale, with
the mercury below the freezing point, but
the only ice TO be seen was that which
made crystal ship and fairy rigging Of
the Ragnvald Jarl
Here, in latitude AZ north and longi-
tude To- 80 east, we entered what is known
and has been known for two centuries as
tho''Whale Fishers Light" IL is bay in
the ice, ,indcnting from 90 to 100 miles to the
north, and has been followed by the whale
fishers ever since Barentz made known to
the world the richness of the Spitzbergen
feeding grounds. This bay is the product
OF tho gulf stream which washes the coast
of Norway and off Tromso divides into
two currents-one entering the arctic to
the north of Norway and thence into the
Kara sea, the other going straight north
ward along the Spitzbergen coast and Civ
ing this region "a climate much warmer
than that of any other land of equal prox-
unity TO the pole. Three years out of four
the whalers have found it necessary to bore
through moro or less ice to the north and
west of Bear island. The shoot of the gulf
stream, after struggling upon the surface
against the colder waters from the north,
was finally compelled to dive underneath
its enemy. Currents of different tempera-
trffes do not readily mix as long as motion
remains, and the specific gravity of the
gulf water being considerably greater than
that of the polar sea, because more salt,
bn al rnl nf for izir r1e tn IN
top is here reversed, and the common re
suit is an upper or ice stratum flowing
south and n lower, warmer or gulf stratum
flowing north and reappearing through
the tendency of warm water To rise off the
western coast of Spitzbergen and produc-
ing there early in every year region OF
comparatively ice free water.
More potent than the currents In this
part of tho arctics are the winds, and this
year they have evidently blown for some
days from the east and have cleared the
ice away. Several times our shippers were
sure they could sec the leo klink to the
north, that yellow tingc in the horizon
caused by the reflection of the suns rays
from the ice and which Is SO unmistaka-
BILE as TO be great aid TO arctic naviga-
ton. But for once the skippors We're mis-
taken, and we sailed on hour after hour,
with a rollicking breeze and a rolling sea,
and never n kit OF ice large enough to
mix cocktail with TO be seen In all tho
horizon. No one could tell whittier tho
ice had gone, but the splendid fact was
that il had disappeared, and we were
steaming without hindranco through tho
very waters where we had most expected
trouble and where the whale fishers have
I'm the past sound it necessary TO wait
many a weary week before finding an
opening.
Last evening we were enough within
the lee of the land, the south cape of
Spitzbcrgen lying due east of US, to have
the advantage of n sea n little less bolster
Gus. SO the entire party plucked up cour
age, gathered in the cabin, sat about on
the locr b-aced against walls, tables and
one another--for the Jarl was still bob
bing about like kite in n gust of March
wind-and sang songs and told stories
through happy evening. We wero all
surprised TO find what cosmopolitan q par
ty we are. The latest songs from the
American stage, the popular airs from
the London music halls, were mingled
with the freshest bits from the boulevards
and gardens Of Paris, tho students songs
of Liegc and Christiania and even the vari-
ETY. thenter farandoles from Copenhagen,
Stockholm and St. Petersburg. Though
we represent four countries and speak half
"A dozen languages, we are developing a lot
of good fellowship, and every one of us is
early learning the valuable lesson of how
TO make a joke OF our hardships and dis
comforts.
Harmonious Company.
The truth is, We have been luckier In
our men than anything else. Fully half
of them were chosen by the expeditions
agents, but so far as can be discovered no
mistakes have been made. At any rate,
in all our arduous or dsagrccable duties |
on board ship not a striker has been found,
not man too proud TO DO nenial service
or to perfo-a any labor that will help the
expedition toward success. Our shipboard !
organization Is very simplc. Professor
French, DIR. NAHUM, Mr.. dodge and Cap
tain Petersen have been instituted assist
ant executive and advisory. Each day
one Of them Is appointed officer Of the day
20 assist the lender in tho executive work.