The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-10
ARCTIC EXPLORATION,

&c oil the SIBERIAN sea. IL II hkSlN
that early next summer we shall
have tidings from along the coast
which may give us some idea of the
early experiences Of the party.
"Dr. Nansen hoped, before the
winter night came on, to reach the
of the New Siberian
Islands, nearly two-thirds of the
way across the Arctic sea, north OF
Asia. He hoped to find here the |
northward setting current, upon /
which he is depending to carry him
across the polar area. 1t is not al
all certain, however, that he was
able to attain this far eastward
point He would have to go far
enough north to round Cape Chel-
yuskin, the most northern
point of Asia. 1t is not at
all certain that he was
able to pass this Arctic promontory,
for Captain Virgins, in his journey
across the Kara sea to the Jenissei
river last summer, found the drift
ice very close inshore, many miles
south of Cape Chelyuskin. If
along the more northern coast
Nansen found this drift ice hug
ging the shore line, he may have
found it impossible TO push further
east unless he met a lead through
the ice that he could follow i'll that
direction.
1T seems certain that the eXpe-
dition either succeeded in rounding
Cape Chelyuskin, or else pushed
into the northern ice, west of the
cape. Captain Virgins says that
if DR.. Nansen had been compelled
to retreat for the winter to Dickson
Haven, or to some other point on
the coast west of Chelyuskin, we
should have heard of him before
this time, from the numerous
natives who roam about regions
and communicate with Russian set
Elements.
For several years the Russian
/ Government and certain scientific
societies have maintained stations
on the New Siberian Islands, at
the mouth of the Lena river and at
various other points along the
coast, for making observations.
Much of this long coast region is
better known and much better
mapped than it was at the time OF
the lamentable disaster that cost
the life of Captain De Long and his
comrades. The chances are some
what more favorable now for the
rescue of a party cast away on the
north Siberian coast. If the Fran
is crushed in the ice and Nansen is
compelled to retreat to the Siberian
coast, there is little doubt that the
party will regain the civilized
world in safety. All the natives
along the coast, west OF the Lena
river, know of the expedition, and
have been informed that they will
be handsomely rewarded if they
improve any opportunity to assist
the party.
In the opinion of Capt. Virgins
we shall hear from Nansen before
the winter is over, if he got past
Chelyuskin and called at the mouth
of the Olenek river for the dogs
that were awaiting him there. He
says the messenger who was wait
ing with the. dogs would be certain
to carry letters from Nansen tc
Irkutsk or Yenisseisk.
Most Of the authoritive writers
on Arctic topics in Europe seem &c
have considerable confidence in DR..
Nansen's bold project. He, may,
after all, come home with discov.
cries worth the danger he is court
ing. All the friends of the expe,
dition will be glad to know, amiC
all the uncertainties of the enter.
prise, that assistance will be al
hand if the party is compelled to re.
treat by way of the Asiatic coast, >