The morning call., 1894-08-08
LOST IN THE ICE.
Tale of the Wreck of
WelIman's Ship.
CRUSHED BY GREAT BERGS.
The Regnvald-Jarl Was Ground
to MatchWood.
CLOSE CALL FOR HER CREW.
Yet the Explorer Pushed on, Leaving
the Sailors to Take Care of
Themselves.

TRoMsoE. Norway. Aug. 7-Captain
Bottolfsen, who brought to this place the
news of the loss of the Wellman polar ex-
petition steamer Ragnvald-Jarl, in an in
tervew further details the adventures of
the Wellman party. He says the expedi-
tion reached Walden Island on May II,
when the pack ice was becoming
troublesome. Mr.. Wellman and his party
started north on sleds on May "a. On May
% the screwing of the ice commenced in
earnest. Near the steamer were icebergs
which lowered as high as the yardarms of
the vessels masts.
While the crew were drinking their
afternoon coffee on that day the steamer
was suddenly crushed by the ice as if it
were a matchbox. The water rushed in
with terrific fierce. 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 taking
provisions and the aluminium boats ashore.
They were now obliged to take shelter in
the great dog-kennel until they were able
to get away from the wreckage.
Under hollow which had been made in
the side of the wrecked vessel the party
were enabled to save a quantity Of al
and other useful articles. An express
party was sent after Mr.. Wellman and
overlook him and his companions at Mar
lens Islands. Mr.. Wellman, Dodge and
others returned to Walden Island and held
a council Captain Bottolfsen aud sailor
volunteered to 60 and seek for sealing YES
sells to the southwark.
WaIlru ad n 10 h.
ward on May 81, but Bottolfsen and his
party were unable to start on their trip on
account of pack ce and were also de-
tain ed on the island until June 8. when
Sando, Ivoson, Winship and Heyendabl
returned from Mr.. WellmaD. owing to lack
of provisions and to troubles in regard to
ice and water, with dogs and mail from
Wellman.
On June q Bottofsen and his party
started southwark in search of sealers,
hauling behind them a 22-foot aluminium
boat. They passed four terrible weeks of
snow 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 S.iiZbergen
Islands. They were compelled to throw
away nearly all their extra clothing and
much of their equipment, as the boat was
overloaded.
In passing across Henlope Strait it was
particularly difficult and dangerous. Ali
the party were wet 10 the skin and the
cold being intense their sufferings were
most severe On July Is they tried TO
cross Window Bay, but were obliged to re-
turn owing 10 the fog and ice. They made
hut iaa
proved too dense and they were obliged to
abandon the gig and proceed. hauling the
aluminium boat.
Seven Norwegian sailors were seen east
of the Morse Island, but they failed to re-
spond to the party's signals. AT Morse
Bay they found Nordensjold's hut, where
a provision depot was maintained by a
Tromsoe skipper named Soco AEON. The
party had to take their boat around We'll
come Point.
On July 90 they were taken aboard the
steamer Malygen, Captain Peterson.
Heyendahl was landed at Danes Island to
join Professor Oyen. who was well, but
still declined to leave the island.
Captain Bottolfsen says that during the
journey along the coast his party were
able to shoot few polar bears and REIN
deer. He said Captain Peterson proved a
splendid ice.master. BotoIfsen is high in
his praise of aluminium boats He says
Sando and his companions left Wellman on
June II, six miles east of Cape Platte, on
his way to Robes Island. All his party
were well. He says it is probable that the
two mates, two engineers. a stoker and
cook who were left at Walden Island will
be rescued by sealers as soon as the ice
and weather became favorable enough for
them to proceed eastward.