The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-08-16
WELLMAN ALL RIGHT.
The Arctic Expedition Suffers Greatly but
 Seems to Re Safe.

AaAS --sNtNS sApcuitioh SuHeTS UEeaL1y uut
 Seems to He Safe.
 TEoMsoE, Norway, Aug. s.-Capt. Bottolfsen, who brought to this place the news of the loss of the Wellman polar expedition steamer Ragnvald- Jarl gives in an interview further de- tails of the adventures of the Wellman party. He says the expedition reached Walden island on May F, when the pack ice was becoming troublesome. Mir. Wellman and his party started north on sledges on May 24. On May 2S the screwing of the ice commenced in real earnest Near the steamer were icebergs which lowered as high as the yard arms of the vessels masts. While the crew were drinking their afternoon coffee on that day the steamer was suddenly crushed by the ice as if it were match box.
 The water rushed in with terrific force, and in few minutes the vessel was complete wreck. The crew, in the meantime, had escaped to the shore. The men had been occupied for several days previous in bringing provisions and the aluminium boats on shore. They were now obliged to take shelter in great dog kennel until they were able to build hut from the wreckage of the steamer. Through a hole which had been made in the side of the wrecked vessel the party were enabled to save quantity of coal and other useful articles. An express party mt nft took him and his party at Martens island.
 On June 27 Capt. Bottolfsen and his party started southward in search of sealers, hauling behind them 12-foot aluminium boat. They passed four ter rible weeks of storm and heavy snow, sometimes hauling their boat and sail ing or rowing where there was open water. In this way they travelled 23O miles along the Spitzbergen islands. They were compelled to throw away nearly all their extra clothing and much of their equipment, as the boat was overloaded. Their passage across Henlopen strait was particularly diff cult and dangerous. All of the party were wet to the skin, and the cold be- ing intense their sufferings were most severe.
 The cold on the nights of July 10 and l2 was simply terrible. In a hut at Mosset bay they found and repaired an old gig. On July 13 they tried to cross Wilde bay, but were obliged to return, owing to the fog and ice. They made another start on the 18th but the ice proved too dense and they were obliged to abandon the gig and proceed haul ing the aluminium boat. Seven Nor wegian sealers were seen east of Morse island but they failed to respond to the party's signals.
 Capt. Bottolfsen says that during the journey along the coast his party was able to shoot few polar bears and rein deer. He says Capt. Pederson proved a splendid ice master. Bottolfsen is in high praise of aluminium boats. The dogs he had with him proved useless, | becoming sore footed, and had to be shot.
 | He says Sando and his companions left Wellman on June F, miles east of Cape Platen, on his way to Ribs isl and. All his party were well. He says it is probable the two mates, two engi- neers, a stoIer and cook, who were | left at Walden island, will be rescued by sealers as soon as the ice and weather becomes favorable enough for them to proceed eastward.