The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-08-11
COLD COMFORT.
Rough Experience of the North
Pole Explorers.
Wellman and Party Meet Rather Cold July
Weather-Their Ship Crushed in the
Ice but the Explorer ID
Safe,
Tho WelIman Expedition.

"ehuan Exp6uitiOus
TRoMsoE, 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 II, when the
pack ice was becoming troublesome.
Mr.. Wellman and his party started
north on sledges on May "a. 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 II 1t
were 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 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 q great dog kennel until
they were able to build hut from the
wreckage of the steamer. Through q
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 party
was sent after Mr.. Wellman and over
took him and his party at Martens
island.
On June 81 Capt. Bottolfsen and his
party started southwark in search of
sealers, hauling behind them i2-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 $50
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 dihi-
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
12 was simply terrible. In q hut at
Mosset bay they found and repaired an
old gig. On July Is 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. Peterson proved
q 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 II. miles east
of Cape Platen, on his way to Ribs ISL
and. All his party were we'll. He says
it is probable the two mates, two engi-
neers, a stoser 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.