The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-27
News OF Captain pottelfsen.


News of Captain Bottelfsen.
TRoMso, Aug 16.--IIere we oil are,
iacluding the dog, safe and sound. True
=, the instincts Of the civilized brute, the
first thing We did on landing once more In
civilization, after an absence of 3 u months
in the icy wastes, was 10 order big din
ner, bottle Of champagne and Havana
cigar. 1t is only 12 days since we left the
White Bear hotel at Walden island, away
up there on the top>of the globe, within
$50 miles as far as man has ever been In
that direction. Though our return has
been rapid, it was no. altogether an easy
task. For three days we had a pretty hard
time In the drifting ice, beset by dangers
and compelled To struggle from one point
of vantage TO another. Our sharpest work
was crossing the strait, and having once
gained the mainland We felt ourselves
masters OF the situation. Along the coast
Of Northeast Land we found some open
water and were glad TO discover the sea-
worthiness and sailing qualities OF our
aluminium boats. In choppy sens they
behaved admirably and against adverse
breezes sailed almost up TO the eye OF the
wind. On our way along the shore we
camped one night at a spot which boro
marks of having been also the camp OF
Captain Bottelfsen and his brave compan-
ions, who had dared the dangers of the
Arctic sea in boat Ia feet long and 4 "a
feet wide.
On our fourth day out we came to an
open sea and at Low island found q num-
ber of Norwegian hunting sloops working
their way northward as the ice slowly re-
ceded, looking for seal and walrus Ono
Of these brought us letter from Captain
Bottelfsen, which told briefly OF his strug-
giles TO reach Danes island and OF his de-
termination to go on TO Norway as soon
as possible and execute our order for an
other ship TO come out and take us back.
But the date of the letter was only two
weeks earlier and 1t really appeared that
with haste and good luck we might reach
Norway before he could hire his ship and
start on tho return voyage. Though we
were quite able to take care of ourselves
down the coast to headquarters and were
rather enjoying the trip, we decided TO
hire the fast sloop Berentine, Captain Nils
johnson, and 90 on without delay. The
Berentine proved fast sailer, and luckily
wo had fair wind, so that in two days
we camo to anchor before our headquarters
house in the Danes Cat. Right glad were
Professor Oyen and Mr.. Heyerdahl to sec
sought refuge there when their own ship,
the Malygen, sailed off to Norway with
Captain Bottelfsen without them. They
were in no danger of being compelled to
winter for Bottelfson was coming back,
and besides all the hunting ships would be
sure to call before returning TO Norway.
III forced 10 winter, they would have had
everything a man could wish for except
daylight and the morning paper, for their
comfortable house was literally full OF the
best provisions. Taking these stores and
the men aboard we set sail for Tromso.
Gains and adverse winds delayed us en-
route, and IL was with great regret we
learned, when near this port, that Captain
Bottelfsen had but four days before sailed
for Spitzbergen in the Malygen, being
towed out Of the ford by the kindness of
Captain Wempe of the German steamer
Stettin.
A Groundiess Rumor.
Great was our amazement to discover
that the world had been alarmed for our
safety, and that there had been reports to
the effect that every life In the expedition
had been lost. There never was even an
excuse for such rumors, and there never
was a moment in which we were unable to
take care of ourselves and make our way
unaided back to our headquarters. We
did not even have any need for the sery-
tees of relief ship, though we all felt
deeply grateful for the Kind sympathy
which prompted friends to arrange for one,
and which would have been dispatched
but for the full understanding OF the stu
alton and sterling good sense of our agent
at this port, Consul Andrew Aaeaard.
A pleasant incldent before separation OF
the members Of the expedition for their
homes was Il farewell dinner given by the
writer to all Of the men who had learned
TO value ono anotbcr's bravery and friend
ship under most trying circumstances.
Contrary TO the usual experience OF arctic
expeditions, every man returned from the
far north friend to every one of his com
rades, and when, at our little dinner, we
spoke of the probability of another expedi
tion 20 the samo field under the same lead.
ership every man begged TO DO taken with
It. Better men for such arduous task
could not be found than the gallant follows
who struggled with us during the past
summer We had sound plan, pru
dent method, an equipment well nigh per
feet, more arctic experience and skill IN
navigation and ice work than any pre-
vious expedition had ever had. In an ay-
erago season we should have accomplished
enough TO satisfy our ambitions, but ii
was a season of extraordinarily unfavora-
bic conditions, and though we had an en-
joyablc and interesting experience the re-
suit was small compensation for the out
lay and effort. The fortunes Of war are
notoriously tickle, but he who falters at
the first rebuff does not deserve success.
WALTER WELLMAN.