The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-08
in FROZEN NORTH
BottoIfsen Party's Terrible
Four Weeks Journey.
Weather Was Intensely CoId--PIucky
Travellers Surmounted Obstacles.

TRoMsoE, Norway, Aug s.-Captain
Bottolfsen, who Brought to this place the
news of the loss of the Wellman polar ex-
psdition steamer Ragnvald Jarl, gives in
an interview further details of the adven-
lures Of the Wellman party.
He says that the expedition reached
Walden island on May II, when the pack
ice was becoming troublesome. Wellman
and his party started north on sledges on
May "a. On May % the screwing of the
Ice commenced In real earnest. Near the
steamer were icebergs which lowered as
high as the yardarms of the vessels masts.
While the crew were drinking their after
noon coffee on that day, the steamer was
suddenly crushed by the ice as II it were
matchbox. The water rushed in with ter
rifle force, and In a few minutsSthe 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 ken
mel until they were able to build a hut
from the wreckage Of the steamer.
Through hole which had been made in
the side of the wrecked vessel the party
WSsO CiioOitu W bdN0 a qu0ntAby VI tooA
and other useful articles
An express party was sent after Mr.
Wellman, and overlook him and his COM
panlons at Marten island. Wellman,
Dodge and two others returned to Walden
island and held council. Captain
Bottolfsen, Webfeldt and sailor vol
to the southwark
Mr. Walltnap rasu,,,ad hts io,,rpov
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 20,
when Sando, Iverscn, Winship and Heyer-
dahl returned from Mr.. Wellman, owing
to the lack of provisions and to troubles in
regard TO ice and water, with orders and
mails from Wellman, who had gone for
ward.
Journey Full Of Hardship.
On June "a Captain Bottolfsen and his
party started southwark In search Of seal
ers, hauling behind them 12-foot alumni
ium boat. They passed four terrible
weeks OF storm and heavy snow, somo-
times hauling their boat, and sailing or
rowing where there was open water. In
this way they travelled ESQ miles along the
Spitzbcrgen islands. They were compelled
TO throw away nearly all their extra
clothes and much Of their equipments, rs
the boat was overloaded.
Their passage across Henlopen strait
was particularly difficult and dangerous.
All the party were wet to the skin, and the
cold being intense their sufferings were
most severe. The cold on the nights OF
July 10 and IL was simply awful. In a hut
ut Mossel bay they found and repaired an
old gig.
On July i3 they tried to cross Wide
bay, but were obliged to return, owing to
the fog and ice. They made another start
on the 18th, but the ice proved too dense,
and 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 to re
spond to the party's signals.
At Morse bay they found Nordenskjold's
hut where provision depot was main
tained by a Tromsoe skipper, named Soc
ciazon. The party had to take their boat
around Welcome Point.
On July 10 they were taken aboard the
steamer Malygen, Captain Pedersen
Heyerdahl was landed at Danes island to
join Professor Oyen, who was well, but
still declined to leave the island.