St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-08
PERILS OF WELLMAN
Graphically Portrayed by
Capt. Bottolfsen's Story
Of the Wreck.
CREW NARROWLY ESCAPED
When the Vessel Was Crushed
Without Warning in
the Ice.
DAYS OF AWFUL SUFFERING.
A Never = to Be Forgotten
Journey in Search of
Relief.


Bottolfsen, who brought TO this place
the news of the loss of the Wellman
Polar expedition steamer Ragnyald
Jarl, gives in all interview further de-
tails of the adventures Of the WeIlman
party. He says that the expedition
reached Walden island on May II, when
the pack ice was becoming trouble
some. Mr.. Wellman and his party
started north on sledges on May "a. On
May % the scre wing of the ice COM
menced in 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 coffe on that day the
steamer was suddenly crushed by
the ice as if it were a match
box. The water rushed in
with terrific force, and In few minutes
the vessel was 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
ashore. They were now obliged to take
shelter in great dog kennel until they
were able to build hut from the wreck
age of the steamer.
Through a Hole
which had been made in the side of the
wrecked vessel the party was enabled
to save a quantity of coal and other
useful articles. An express party was
sent after Mr.. Wellman, and overlook
him and his companions at Martens
island. MIR. Wellman, Dodge ana others
returned to Walden island to hold
council. Capt. Bottolfsen. Web
feldt and a sailor volunteered to go
and seek for sailing vessels to the south
ward. MIR. Wellman resumed his Jour
ney northward on May 81, but Bottolf-
sen and his party were unable to start
on their trip owing to the heavy pack
ice, and were still detained al the island
on June %, when Sando, Iverson, Win
fhip anG Heyerdahl returned from Mr..
Weliman, owing TO lack of pro-
visions and TO troubles III regard
to ice and water, with orders and
mails from Wellman. vino had gone
forward. On June 9th Capt. Boltoif-
sen and his party started southwark in
a twelYe-fOOt aluminium boat. They
passed four terrible Weeks of storm and
heavy snow, sometimes hauling their
boat and sailing or rowing where there
was open water. In this way they
travelled 230 miles along the Spitzbergen
islands. They were compelled to throw
away nearly all
Their Extra Clothes
and much of their equipment. as the
boat was overloaded. Their passage
across Henlopen strait was particularly
difficult and dangerous. Ali of the
party were wet to the skin, and the
cold being intense their sufferngs were
most severe. The cold OH the nights of
July 10 and IL was simply awful.
In a hut at MosSel bay
they found and repaired an old
gig. On July 13 they tried to cross
Wide bay, but were obliged to return
owing to the fog and ice. They made
another start Oh the 18Th, but the ice
proved too deDSe,a land they were obliged
to abandon the gig and proceed, hauling
the aluminium boat. Seven Norwegian
SealerS were seen east of the
Morse islands, but they failed lc
respond to the paIty's signals. AT Morse
bay they found Nordensjold's hut,
where provision depot was maintained
by Tromsoe skipper named SOciazon.
The party had to take their boat around
Welcome point. On July 10 they were
taken aboard the steamer Malygen,
Capt. Peterson. HeYerdahi was landed
at Danes island to join Prof. Oyen, who
was we'll, but still declined to leave the
island.
Capt. BoLtolfsen says that during the
journey along the coast his party were
able to shoot few polar bears and
reindeer. He says that Capt. Peder-
sen proved splendid ice master.
Bottolfsen is high in his praise
Of aluminium boats. The dogs he
had with him proved useless. becom.
ing sore-footed, and had to be shot.
He says that Sando and his companions
left Wellman on June II, six miles
east of Cape Platen, on his way to
Ribs island. All his party were we'll
| He says it is probable that the mate.
two engineers. stoker and cook, who
were LETT at Walden island, will be
rescued by sealers as soon as the ice
| and weather becomes favorable enough
for them TO proceed eastward.