The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-07
THINKS WELLMIN II SAFE.
At orney Macdona Believes The Arctic En-
pedit OF 10 all Right

| There are mauy men In this city well
versed in all matters pertaining TO Arc
| tic navigation, who feel that there is not
the slightest foundation for the fears that
| any calamity mas befalen the expedition
which started for the North Pole under
! the command Of Walter Wellman.
| Unwilling to take the alarming reports
| concerning the expedition which have
| been caDled here from London for what
| appears on the surface, these experts
| read between the lines, and their knowl-
| edge OF the territory enables them 10 pick
! reports.
or all the authorities on Arctic explora-
ton in this city, there IS none better
posted than Assistant District Attorney
Harry y. Mcdona. He was one OF the
party who sailed In the Inflated Leannette.
de ~as away for eighteen months and
traversed the same route taken by the
Wellman expedition.
When ! saw him at the Manhattan Club
Yesterday Mr. Macdona said:
see no reason for any ankle
q, concerning the safety of Mr..
INST place. the story Of Wellmau's
jeopardy seems to be made out of whole
cIoth' ana there is not single statement
IN the cable dispatch which, lay the way.
seems to have been concoctcd in London
1t is without foundation I'm fact.
"A seeming OF authenticity IS given 10
the alarm by the fact that Mr. Fielding
saw Dr oven on Danes Island. where
Mr. Weilman left him. Not word IS
stated about how long Mr. WeIlman had
been absent when Mr.. Fielding visited
the Doctor. That the Doctor was OH the
verge or starvation is prepOsterOus. FOR
at Danes Island at this time OF the year
are dozens Of walrus hunters Whalers
and cod fishers who make a harbor in
Smcerenberg Bay, which separates Danes
Island from the main shore. Then. Danes
Island Is not the dreary place some Of the
hOrTOr-mOngerS would have the public
believe since English yachtsmen Ike
Leigh Smith, Lamont Campbell and the
gentleman who paid Or. Oycn q summer
call frequent the harbors therab0ut during
July and August.
THE sympathy that has been lavished
on the abandoned Doctor may find some
relief when ! tell you that at this time
OF year the sun is always In the sky. and
that the temperature is never. EXCEPT in
rare cases below - degrees. Perspiring
New Workers might be induced To change
conditions with the Doctor without much
perSuaSiOn.'
"Then YOU think there is no danger TO
either Mr.. Wellman or the Doctor
certainly the Doctor is in no danger
If what IS said Of his position is true.
About Mr.. Wellman the case is different
/ can only guess about him. for ! have
no Information as 10 what route he took
after leaving Danes Island. But as he
Is in truth only a passenger on the Ragn-
valid Jarl, whose skipper knows the wa
ters between SpitZbcrgen and North East
Land and who has spent twenty seasons
In and about HenlOpen sound, I can see
no reason for alarm. unless the skipper
has gone mad and left the navigation Of
the vessel 10 some incompetent bOatman.
OF course nothing of this kind has hap
pened ana IL is my opinion that as soon
as the sun begins 10 set, which viii be
early next month. Mr.. Wellman viii be
heard of, probably from Hammerfest or
Tromsoe through some Of the early ar
rivals from the fishing and hunting
grounds of North Spitzbersen. New
York Herald.