The Washington times., 1894-03-18
MRS. WELLMAN'S CONFIDENCE.
She Has No Doubt that the Polar Explorer
Will Return in Safety.

She Has No Doubt that the Polar Explorer
Will Return in Safety.
Out on the deep, blue bosom of the broad
Atlantic the good ship Britannia is breasting
the waves and beating her way TO the shores
of Old England; and pacing her snowy decks
are the four intrepid Americans who started
out to carry their flag into the icy loneliness
of the vast northern desolation- They are
Walter Wellman, the veteran newspaper cor
respondent, and three friends, who Will ae-
company him on his perilous tour, all full OF
Yankee confidence, pluck, and energy.
Up in pretty, warm home-nest in fiat in
town are the wife and children of the Arctic
explorer; and the daily routine goes on un-
disturbed by the dangers which threaten the
head of the household. There are several
small rooms. all sweetly and neatly furnished
in a woman's tasteful way with pretty orna-
ments. photographs of the husband and the
children. and books on Arctic travel. In
coy corner is Walter wellman's desk, full OF
literary litter, and scattered about are books
and maps of the pole ana volumes OF northern
exploration.
Mrs. WellmaD is n slight woman, with blonde
hair, blue eyes and easy manners. The warm,
bright room looks very home like. and the
childrens prattle seems like music till the WIS.,
itor thinks Of the one who has left 1t all-per-
haps forever.
Mrs. Wellman is very retiring, but she loves
to talk of her husband.
1T has been about n year since Mr.. Well
man first thought of this plan" she said the
other day, land ever since then he has been
reading books ON polar expeditions and de-
rpfipq- bis aprira ttma T. n the suhipst 7 have
no fears for his safety. His confidence in the
plan preveats our entertaining such thought.
He is so full of this absolute reliance Oh him
self that we cannot but feel an equal con-
iidence. AIr. Welman will go direct to Lon
don and there lay in good supply of cloth
ing and food stores for the trip. The larder
will be well supplied with canned goods and
soup powders. From London the supplies
will be shipped to Norway, and there ten
strong. young Norwegians will join him. Mr..
Wellman has chartered a whaling vessel, and
from Tromsoe. a town in the north of Nor
way. he will sail with his entire party on the
first OF May for Spitzbergen-
- He has with him six sleds and three boats
built of aluminium. These last were made in
Baltimore. and are long enough to carry the
men over the reaches of water that they may
encounter in crossing the ice packs. They
have species of runner underneath which
enables them TO be pulled easily by two men.
The boats are made with water-tight bulk
heads. and are therefore practically unsink-
able The sleds will be used for carrying
stores. and are also made of aluminium and
are water-tight, 50 they can float in the rear
OF the boats.''
but have you no fear that Mr. Wellman
will meet the fate that has befallen so many
Arctic eXplorers?" was asked.
"Oh. no. not the least" she answered.
"The steamer takes Il biz load OF provisions
h..f bf.h hue ,F
plies From this point they will set out over
the vast iceileld and travel north for about
fifty days OF course this will be difficult. as
the surface of the ice Is rough, upheaved in
masses as big as house and full of pits of
soft snow. Forty dogs viii be taken along to
pull tht sledges.
When the party has been out on the ice
twenty-five days, part of the men will be
sent back TO Spitzbergen with dispatches; SO
| shall hear from my husband once before he
returns. Mr.. Wellman and the rest will con-
tinue North for twenty-five DAYS longer They
hope to penetrate further toward the pole
than any men have ever gone. Before Mr.
Wellman left. the Press Club presented him
with pretty silk flag. saving that he was to
tie it on the North Pole" l am making a
flag for him now. which will be the ''expedi-
tion iiag.n and this one he will bring home.
The other be will leave at the furtherest point
North that he reaches. By this time il will be
the middle OF July and the party will set out
on their return, reaching Spitz5ergen the first
of October, or by November at least. In this
month all whaling ships leave Spitzbergen. so
as TO clear before the ice prevents them. But
even should they winter there. it will not be
an unpleasant experience, for this being the
base OF supplies. they will have IA comfortable
time during the long Arctic Winter. OF course.
the following Spring would see him home. l
hope. however. that he viii be in Washington
before hext Christmas"
Mrs. Wellman evidently has no breads.
Her five little girls are rs gay and full of hap
piness us if their father had only gone to his
Office