The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-03
Tcopyright. 1894, by walter wsllman.l

copyright. 1894, by Walter wellman.l
Ok BOARD THE RAGNvALD JARL, OFF
BRANDY BAY, Spitzbergen, May live
are making rapid progress toward the
most northern lands of this archipelago.
The Seven islands arc in plain view from
the deck of the ship, and with open water
ahead it looks as if we should be able TO
reach them I'm the morning or during the
night. We left our headquarters at Danes
island last evening at o'clock. All day
the barometer had been rising and the
wind diminishing, and during the after
noon we saw that the favorable moment
for an advance to the north and east had
arrived. In arctic navigation one must
always be ready To advantage by the first
good opening which presents itself. We
therefore made all possible haste toward
completion of our headquarters and get
ting things aboard. The dogs gave us
some trouble. They had enjoyed them
selves so much at the island that they
were loath to leave it, and one little fellow
we could not catch at all, but left him as
another companion for Professor Oyen.
This made tho number of dogs on board
As, quite enough FOR our purpose II the
majority of them will only prove useful in
harness. Late In the afternoon Professor
French went ashore and made observa-
tions for the magnetic variation, which he
found TO be is. 40 west.
The closing scenes at Dane's island were
rather picturesque. At 1880 Professor Oyen
came aboard, gathered up the last of his
house equipment and after saying his
goodbys to the other members of the expe-
dition started ashore. Between the ico foe
to which the Jarl was moored and the
shore 1t had been necessary TO bridge mar
row water opening with two of our ice
ladders, which came in very conveniently
for the purpose. A number of Mr.. Oyen's
Norwegian companions had remained at
the house to say farewell TO him, and when
he had Joined them they shook his hand,
crossed tho little bridges, pulling the
bridges after them, and then stopped and
gave three rousing cheers for Peter the
First, liking of Spitzbergen, as they
have dubbed their comrade. Carrying the
bridges, they came aboard, the colors were
run up, and the Jarl steamed out OF the
ford. We waved our goodbys to the sturdy
and studious scientist, who stood I'm front
of his habitation watching the last human
fnces he is likely to behold for several
weeks, without doubt the only man
whose feet at that moment were touching
the soil, or rather the snow, OF the Spitz-
bergen archipelago. He was indeed mon
arch of all he surveyed.
A smooth Sea In Sight.
At 9o'clock we rounded Hakluyt's head,
the extreme northwestern point of Spitz-
bergen, and were surprised TO find the sea
perfectly smooth after the long northeast
er. This was the only unfavorable sign
60 be seen, for the absence of swell indi-
Gated that at no great distance the sea was
a..
from the deck, and as we steered TO the
east we waited with considerable anxiety
the news which Captain Bottelfsen would
presently bring from tho crows nest. Our
anxiety was justiflable for at this point
many expeditions and hunting vessels in
Vulnerable have in the past been complete
ly stopped by pack ice barring their way
in every direction save south. It was here
that Sir Edward Parry on the 14th day of
June, 1897, plunged into the pack by
which his ship was held prisoner until tho
list day of June After carefully scan
ming tho horizon with his glass Captain |
Bottelfsen camo down from his eerie and |
reported no Ice To be seen save few loose |
pieces drifting about and a water sky TO |
the north and east. This good news in |
duced us TO change the course Of tho ship |
from tho east moro To tho north for tho |
purpose OF picl ing up tho icd, wherever it |
was, and following along its edge for a |
closer study of it's character that we |
should steam alone unimpeded in an open,
smooth sea, with beautiful weather, where
so many OF our predecessors had been
stopped was rare good fortune indeed
But with all our jubilation over the out
look we did not forget that our joy might
In an hour bo turned into sorrow, for here
abouts the Ice has an inconvenient way,
like some people we know, of making its
appearance when least wanted
But IL is one of the principles OF this ex-
pedition to have n good time while we may
and TO make the most of our luck while it
Is with US, knowing full well that there
are plenty OF hardships ahead So we
stood on the bridge and cracked our jokes,
all without gloves or mittens, basking in
the sun with temperature Of 81 degrees
Il. Could it DO possible this was the Arctic
sea i'm latitude SOP
In Tow OF n Berg.
About 2:80 o'clock this morning Cap
tain Bottelfsen stopped the Jarl, the ice
ahead appearing impossible. He had first
seen the pack In latitude 5000 and had
then steered more to the east to avoid it.
At length he ran among shore ice, or ice
which forms along tho coast or in the
fords and drifts out TO sea, and this being
rather compact and difficult 10 pass
through he had concluded to wait n more
favorable opportunity. We found tho Jarl
lying surrounded 10y fee about six inches
thick, smooth Of surface, snow covered
and lying In large foes extending as far
as the eyo could reach, though broken here
and thero 10y irregular leads. a dashing.
reckless Ice navigator, with ns stanch n
ship rs the Ragnvald Jarl under him,
would have pressed ON, but we arc learn
Ing that our quiet taciturn Captain Bot
telfsen Is carefulncss and conservatism
personified. lie says he would much rather
be safe than sorry, and tho officers Of the
expedition agree that this is just the sort
OF man we want i'm the crows nest. III
any reck.ossncss Is needed, we prefer 10
furnish it ourselves
Notwithstanding the delay tho Jarl had
made good progrsss She was lying few
miles north and east OF Moffen island in
a. n4I "A