The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-08-08

Details Of the Loss of the Steamer
Ragnvald Jarl,
BOTTOLFSBNs PBRILOUs TRAMP.

He and Two Companions Travelled Two
Hundred and Thirty Miles, Dragging an
Aluminium Boat Behind Them, to Bring
News OF Walter weilman's Expedition.
TROMsoE, Norway, Aug. s. Captain
Bottolfsen, who brought TO this place the
news of the loss of the Wellman Polar ex-
pedition steamer Ragnvald Jarl, gives, in
an interview, further details Of the ad-
ventures of the Wellman party. He says
that the expedition reached Walden Isl
and on May IA, when the pack Ice WAS be-
coming troublesome. Mr. Wellman and
his party started north on sledges on May
"a. On May 2S the screwing of the ice
commenced in real 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 cup of coffee on that
day the steamer was suddenly crushed by
the ice as if it we're a match box. The
water rushed in with terrific force and in
a few minutes the vessel was a complete
wreck. The crew in the meantime had
escaped to the shore.
The crew had been occupied for several
days previous in bringing provisions and
the aluminium boats ashore. They were
now obliged to take shelter in a great dog
kennel until they were able to build hut
from the wrecbaEe of the steamer
Through hole which had been made in
the side of the wrecked vessel the party
were enabled to save a quantity Of coal
and other useful articles. An express
p 8rty was sent after Mr.. Wellman, and
overlook him and his companions at Mar
ten Island. Wellman, Dodge and two
others returned to Walden Island and
held a council. Captain Bottolfsen, Web
feldt and a sailor volunteered to 20 and
seek for sealing vessels to the southwark
Mr.. Wellman resumed his journey
northward on May 81, but Bottolfsen and
his party were unable to start on their
trip, owing to the heavy pack ice, and were
still detained at the island on June %,
when Sando, Iversen, WiDship and Hey
erdahl returned to Mr. Wellman, owing
to lack of provisions and to troubles in
regard TO ice and water. On June 27 Cap
tain Bottolfsen and his party started
southwark in search of sealers, hauling
behind them a twelve foot aluminium
boat. They passed four terrible weeks of
storm and heavy snow, sometimes haul
where there was open water In this way
they Travelled 23O miles along the Spitz-
bergen islands. They were compelled to
throw away nearly all their extra cloth
ing and much of their equipment as the
boat was overloaded. Their passage across
Henlopen strait was particularly difficult
and dangerous, All of the party were wet
to the skin, and the cold being intense,
fhniT gTffarinua l,a
cold on the nights of July 10 and u was
simply awful.
In hut at Mosset 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 OF the 18th, but the
ice proved to dense, and they were obliged
to leave the gig and proceed, hauling the
aluminium boat, Seven Norwegian sealers
were seen east of the Morse islands, but
failed to respond to the party's signals.
At Morse bay they found Nordensiold's
hut, where a provision depot was main
tanned by a Tromsoe skipper named So
ciazon The party had to take their boat
around Welcome Point. On July 10 thev
were taken aboard the steamer Mallygen,
Captain Petersen. Heyerdahl was landed
~ A'NAN . AoAhhA ~ JUN L lblts6bI OyeIl,
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 a few Polar bears and rein
deer. He says that Captain Petersen
proved a sp plendid icemaster. BottoIfsen
is high in his praise Of aluminium boats.
The dogs he had with him proved useless,
ha,,v,,fr,rr a,,l h,I -, L.
He says that Sando and his companions
left Wellma4 June II, six miles east of
Platen, on his way to Ribes Island. All
his party were well. He says it is proba-
BILE that the two engineers and a stocker
who were left at Walden Island will be
rescued by sealers as soon as the ice and
weather becomes favorable enough for
them to proceed eastward.