The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-24
is WELLMAN LOST2
Arctic Explorers Ship Believed
to Be Crushed by Ice.
Grave Fears as to the Safety
of the Party.
MAY ALL BE DEAD.
One of the Party Left Behind
to Die Alone.
Prof. Oven Found With Only a
Dog for Companion.

LoNDoN, j uly 24.-Carl Siewwers writes
to the Standard that he is in receipt of
advices from Norway that leave little
doubt that the Walter Wellman arctic
expedition is lost
Experienced shippers just returned
from the Spitzbergen seas, express the
same opinion and Col Fielding, who ac-
companied Capt Narez' expedition in
1855, shares this belief.
The Pail Mall Gazette is in receipt of
similar advices from Tromsoe, all confirm
ing the general belief in the fate OF the
expedition.
Inc following reply to an inquiry has
been received
CHICAGO, July "a
To ,,- the General Manager Of ths Associated
The fact that there was so much float
ing ice this year led Mr.. Wellman to be-
lIeve tnat his vessel, the Rahnavald Jarle
could get further north tnan any ship
had ever reached before. This informA-
tiOn WIS cOrroborated by great many
navIgatOrs whom he just before ne
left Reports that come about the loss
Of the expedition arise from the fact
that fishing and other vessels have nor
seen the Kahnavald-Jarle, which thew
would have done in ordinary seasons
Private cablegrams to the Herald from,
TrOmsoe say that even if the vessel IL
lost there Is no reason for anxietv for
the crew, wnlcn Is undoubtedly upon the
ice somewhere making its wav toward
the pole. Wnen MIR. w Gilman laft Trorr
soc 1t was with the understanding that
the vessel should come back and brinsr
reports OF the expedition up to the time
that ne Gould send messengers back
from the Interior and undoubted the yes
sci ls waiting at some point for such COM
munlcatlon. He arranged that the.vesseIs
taf~ T..l.
ID and August l, but possibly the vessel
might be still later. 1t was to return to
Norway to coal up and TO prepare for
the return trip to bring Mr.. Wellman
back, which would require il TO leave
about August Is, consequently there is
no occasion for alarm Until arter that
time.
LSignedl JAMES W. SCOTT,
Publisher Chicago Herald.
Believed to BE Crushed by Ice.
Arctic shippers report that the How of
pack-ice. and its density this SUNNI er
would prove irresistible to any vessel,
however strong.
They believe that the Rahnavald-
Jarle has been crushed in the ice and ex-
press the belief that there is q remote
chance that the men Of the Wellman ex-
peditiOn have been saved or managed to
get upon an ice-hoat, in which case they
believe that the explorers are in a most
dangerous position.
Should the forebodings Of the arctic
shippers prove true. and if the Rahna-
vald-Jurle was crushed without warning
it is probable that the nembers of the
expedition were unable TO take any large
quantities of supplies with them upon
the ice foe, even supposing they sue
ceeded in escping thereto.
When questioned regarding the effect
iveness of the aluminium boats in such
an emergency, the arctic captains ex-
pressed the belief that thev would be of
no use in such pack-ice.
The last heard from the expedition it
was at Danes island off the northwest
coast of Spitzbergen where Prof Oven
remained alone with dog to guard the
provision depot esta blished there.
Mr.. Fielden, the owner of the yacht
Saide, has received news of Prof Oyen's
distress from Captain Johansen, of the
sloOp Anna
Mr.. Fielden instantly ordered the
Saide to Danes Island, and she reached
that spot the next day, but only to be
welcomed by the professors dog. Oyen
was found in his bed in almost dying
condition. He had given up all hope of
ever seeing the face of a human being
again
Professor Oysn Bitter.
Upon a table in the professors quar-
ters was found a letter containing bitter
reproachez against Wellman, whom he
accused Of having left him in the lurch
promised that a man should stay with
him and share his frightful solitude. But
it appears at the last moment. WellmAn
decided that a man could not be spared
and so the professor had TO be content
with. the company of his dog.
The Saide also reported that Prof.
Oyen SO badly provisioned when he
was found that his early death appeared
inevitable. But in spite Of his sufferings
and the thought that death was lowering
over him, the professor refused to be
taken off Danes island, insisting upon
remaining there, faithful to his trust,
even though death was the result of his
continuing at his post of arctic solitude.
The Saide, however, left quantity of
provisions, and also presented the pro-
fessor with some medicines of which he
stood in great need.
Thus was Professor Oyen left in com
pany with his brute friend. probably to
die on Danes island, another victim add
ed to the long list of persons who have
given their lives to the Arctic explora-
ton.
TThe Walter Wellman referred to is
we'll known to the readers of the STATE
JOURNAL as the correspondent who fur
nished such valuable letters from Wash
ington- The expedition left Philadelphia
about five months ago.l