The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-08
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Details of the Loss Of the Steamer
Ragnvald Jarl.
BoTToLrsENs PERILoUs TRAMP.

He and Two Companions Travelled Two
Hundred and Thirty Miles, Drag gins an
Aluminium Boat Behind Them, to Bring
News of walter weiiman's Expedition.
TRoMsoE, Norway, Aug. g. Captain
Bottolfsen, who brought to this place the
news Of the loss OF the Wellman Polar ex-
petition steamer Ragnvald Jarl, gives, In
an interview, further details Of the adj
ventures Of the Wellman party. He says
that the expedition reached Walden ISL
and on May II, when the pack ice was be-
coming troublesome. Mr.. Wellman and
his party started north on sledges on May
"a. On May 20 the screwing Of the los
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 cup of coffee on that
day the steamer was suddenly crushed by
the ice as il it were a match box. The
water rushed in with terrific force, and in
few minutes the vessel was a complete
wreck. The crew in the meantime had
escaped to the shore.
The crew had been occupied for several
days previous in bringing provisions and
the aluminium boats ashore. They were
now obliged to take shelter in great dog
kennel until they were able to build a hut
from the wreckage of the steamer.
Through hole which had been made in
the side of the wrecked vessel the party
were enabled to save a quantity Of coal
and other useful articles. An express
arty was sent after Mr.. Wellman, and
overlook him and his companions at Mar
ten Island. Wellman, Dodge and two
others returned to Walden Island and
held a council. Captain Bottolfsen, Web
feldt and a sailor volunteered to go and
seek for sealing vessels to the southwark.
. Mr.. Wellman resumed his journey
northward on May 81, but Bottolfsen and
his party were unable to start on their
trip, owing to theheavy pack ice, and were
still detained at the island on June 23,
when Sando, Iversen, Winship and Hey
erdahl returned to Mr. Wellman, owing
to lack of provisions and to troubles in
regard to ice and water. On June "a Cap
tain Bottolfsen and his party started
southwark in search of sealers, hauling
behind them a twelve foot aluminium
boat. They passed four terrible weeks OF
storm and heavy snow, sometimes haul
, ing their boat, and sailing or rowing
where there was open water. In this way
they travelled $50 miles along the Spitz-
bergen islands. They were compelled to
throw away nearly all their extra cloth
ing and much of their equipment, as the
boat was overloaded. Their passage across
Henlopen strait was particularly difficult
and dangerous. All Of the party were wet
; to the skin, and the cold being intense,
their sufferings were most severe. The
cold on the nights of July 10 and l2 was
simply awful.
!, In hut at Mosset Bay they found and
repaired an old gig. On July IS they tried
to cross Wide bay, but were obliged to
made another start OF the 18th, but the
). ice proved to dense, and they were obliged
: to leave the gig and proceed, hauling the
aluminium boat. Seven Norwegian sealers
were seen east of the Morse islands, but
/ failed to respond to the party's signals
. At Morse bay they found Nordensjold's
I hut, where a provision depot was main
tanned by Tromsoe skipper named So
| ciazon. The party had to take their boa
i around Welcome Point. On July 10 they
! were taken aboard the steamer Mallygen
| Captain Petersen. Heyerdahl was landed
D at Danes Island to join Professor Oyen
: who was well, but still declined to leav,
:, the island. .-=." ..
: Captain Bottolfsen says that during tn
i. Journey along the coast his party wer
h. able to shoot few Polar bears and rein
deer. He says that Captain Pedersei
proved a splendid icemaster. Bottolfsel
is high In his praise OF aluminium boats
The dogs he had with him proved useless
D becoming sorefooted, and had to be shot
He says that Sando and his companions
q left Wellman June II, six miles east o
= Platen, on his way to Ribes Island. AL
his party were we'll. He says it is proba
), BILE that the two engineers and q Stoke
d who were left at Walden Island will b,
:, rescued by sealers as soon as the ice an,
q weather becomes favorable enough TO
them to proceed eastward.