The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-20

ms IL is so arranged that we can all of
us live and sIeep in the saloon only. We
shall then shut the doors of the cabin
closely; to go into the open air we have TO
pass through four thick doors and thus we
need not let in more cold air than we like
In order to obtain a pleasant place for
promenading, the deck of the Fran will
be sheltered by a huge tent in the winter.
This will also add 10 the snugness. Upon
the whole, l think we shall possess coy
and comfortable winter quarters. Our sa-
loon we havemade as homelke as we have
been able The first Norwegian artists have
decorated our walls with beautiful pictures
of our home Every one has in his cabin
pictures of his dear ones. The saloon as
well as the cabins is lighted with electric
light, the walls and roof are painted white
and al night when all lamps are burning
II really looks quite festive reminding you
of home and happiness. and certainly not
of the Polar solitude. We have also plen-
~ OF books of all kinds-thanks to several
friends of the eXpedition-and games in
any Variety and also an organ and other
musical Instruments We can thus get mu-
steal entertainment, reading, and, II this
Is no longer satisfying. we can inlay at
chess, dominoes, halma and cards at
pleasure. 1 believe the winter Will not be
felt as very long, though the night may
last six months.
OF provisions we have plenty and in
great variety; much more so. / believe
Than most previous expeditions in the
Arctic. Variety of food is the most inn
portant thing, in order to avoid scurVy,
which has destroyed so many well equip
ped expeditions. We have of course tim
ned meat in all possible forms-boiled,
roast and corned beef. ditto mutton, rab-
bits cOllOps oxford sausagcs outlets
pork. ham, bacon. etc, timed fish and
roe in various forms; timed fruits. dried
fruits, jams, marmalades blanc mango,
custard powder. egg powder and baking
powder concentrated lime juice, RHINE,
peas, pea soups. lentil soup bean soup,
boVru, dried vegetables. biscuits, chOco-
late, steam cooked and dried meal and
flour Of various kinds, dried fish, dried
potatoes, preserved milk, with sugar and
Wi a9Fr uaI foo trNn
sugar, etc; and, above ALL butter, which
is most important in the cold, where you
especially want fat. We carry six tons
of butter. For sledge expeditions we have
specially concentrated and light food,
principally consisting of dried meat with
fat, called emergency food" We shall
also use biscuits and butter steam cooked
| meal for porridge, milk, chocolate, dried
hsh, dried fruits dried cranberries, SUI
gar, a little compressed tea, and also some
biscuits. For drinking we shall have
nothing except water, which we shall get
by melting snow. This water we may,
however, mix with lime Juice and sugar,
or with milk or make tea, chocolate or
soup of 1t. and thus we shall have pleas
ant drinks. A good drink is also water
mixed with oatmeal. Spirituous drinks
will not be allowed; tobacco will be dis
tributed in very moderate ratiOns on
board ship; on sledge expeditions no to-
bacco, or very little, VIII be allowed.
We are now, as / write this, steering
eastward across the sea from Norway to
Novaya Zemlya, through fog and against
L.
glimpse of Goose Land, on Novaya Zem-
Iva, and were just steering in there when
the fog came again and shut us out from
the world around US. We were obliged to
steer out to sea again and make for Yugor
Strait, the most southern strait which
separates Novaya Zemiya, or rather
Waigats, the most southern island, from
the continent. Here we expect to meet a
small vessel, which have sent from Nor
way, with fifty tons of coal. At Khaba-
rova, in Yugor Strait, a Russian. front
helm, is also awaiting us, with more than
thirty sledge dogs He had to travel from
T1umen, in Siberia, last winter to the
Ostjaka to buy these dogs, and had then
to travel the long way from Siberia
through the north of Russia to Pechora
and from there he Travelled with the dogs
to Yugor Strait in company with the
Samoyeds, who go north in the spring 1
hope we shall find the dogs in good con-
dition as well as Trontheim himself who
will possibly accompany us on the expedi-
ton.
When we have got our dogs and coal.
and If the strait and the Kara sea are
open, we shall make our way eastward
along the Asiatic coast as quickly as pos
sible. If we still find open water we shall
go on eastward along the coast until we
reach the mouth of the Oenek river. to
the east of the Lena Delta. If we have time
l shall go in there to take twenty-six
sledge dogs which are waiting for us. The
reason why i want to get dogs there also
is that the dogs from East Siberia are
stronger and better than the West ST.
berian ones.
ward the west coast of the New Siberian
Islands. If the season is favorable hope
to find open water a good bit northward
into the unknown regions. We shall 20
as far as we can northward in open wa
ter, and when we can do so no more
choose our place and run the Fran into
the ice.
Then our work will be done for long
time, probably, as the ice will have to
carry us further north. That such will
be the case, if we only get far enough
4 n
If we drift many years in this way the
life may become somewhat monotonous
1t has been said that this expedition is
very risky; indeed, l believe this is the
general opinion. ] cannot agree with it,
The reasons why II is considered risky
are, however, of different kinds Some
people say there is no such current as
have supposed-the ice does not move
at all; others say the ice is only carried
along by occasional winds; others, again
say there are certainly currents, but no
body knows where they will take you
A few people agree with me that there
must be such a current as / maintain
there is, but the ice is dangerous and
may destroy u.s. or we may he stopped by
unknown lands in the north. Nothing Of
current ! do not see why II should be
risky to go; we shall be unable TO adj
vance and will be able to return when
we see we are mistaken If there are cur
rents, however, or If the ice is only moved
! by winds which have the same effect we
must certainly, in less than five or six
coasts of the Polar sea, and wherever
we come we shall be able to reach hu-
man dwellings, whether it be on the
American or the Asatic side; The Polar
basin is really so small that in the
course of five years we must be drifted
across it, whatever the. speed may be-
If the ship is destroyed we will make
use of our boats, as | have already men
toned land If our drift is stopped by land
we shall either have to try and get
aloat again or have to travel over the
ice and make for the nearest land known
The Polar basin is not 50 great as to rem
der this impossible, when you have an
equipment especially adapted for II. and
take care to travel with the currents
and not against them.
But all these and many other similar
questions we shall probably be able to
answer more fully when we return
whether we have been successful or not.
EngIand's Naval Expenditure.
London, Feb. 1.-THE Pail Mall Gazette
says Right Hon. George j. Goshen first
Lord of the Admiralty. viii announce the
naval programme of the government on
Monday Besides the sum of co. 800 600
which will be asked for the construction