The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-16
He May Have Reached the Pole ny
Permitting the Fran to Drift with
Ice Until Land Was Touched.
VIEWS OF GENERAL GREELY
FLAWS IN THE REPORTS POINTED
OUT BY THE AMERICAN EXPLORER
Attempt To Rob Lockwood of Well
Merited Honor-Opinions OF Lieut..
scheutx and Others.

LONDON. Feb. 15.-The British consul at
Archangel. capital Of the Russian govern
ment of that name. telegraphs confirming
the report that DIR. Nansen is safe and re-
turaing from the north pole.
The news OF DR.. Nansen's success has Gre
atei intense interest I'm this city. The report
received from Irkutsk. Siberia, was gener-
ally discredited at first. although more faith
was placed in il than in the previous rumors
which have reached London during the past
twelve months. The dispatch from the Brit
ish consul al ArchaRgel. given above, Is re-
garded as conclusiveiy showing that the Nor
wegian explorer is homewari bound. even IL
he has not discovered the pole. Dispatches
received here from different parts OF the
continent indicate that the same interest in
the news from the north is manifested
throughout Europe. and II is also generally
credited at the European capitals, although
even DR.. Nansens wife and relatives did not
believe the announcement which came
through Kouchnareff. the agent OF DR.. Nan
sen near the mouth OF the Lena river, resi-
dents of which locality frequently visit New
Siberia.
Later advices say that news OF DR.. Nam
sens safety was sent by Kandarof. the
al Russian official in the Yakutsch region.
who was a member of the Siberia-Koffs ex-
pedition. DIR. Nordenskjold. who is in Chris
tiana, is inclined TO beneve the news Of DIR.
Nansen's safety. at any rate. even IL 1t is not
true that he has succeeded In discovering the
north pole.
According to the opinion of Arctic experts
here, when the Fran left Kara sea, In 1895.
she may have found the sea northwards free
of ice and pushed on until she was locked
in They add that she may then have been
allowed to drift until the expedition came to
,laad around the pole, and that d.. Nansfn
and his party may have returned in siedses
TO the Siberian islands, where. IL Is believed.
DR.. Nansen ard his companions may have
been stopped by the broken ice. DR.. Nansen
wrote to Baron Toll from Yugoro straits.
saying that he expected 10 return to Koteny.
Siberian islands where dogs have been
awaiting him.
Mr.. Scott Kettle, a member OF the Royal
Geographical Society. and the agent Of DR..
Nansen in England, in an interview to-day,
said he was surprised that he had not re-
ceived a telegram from DR.. Nansen. but ne
thought 1t probable that the explorer had
returned after reaching the pole. He added.
however, that he did not know exactly how
DR.. Nansen would prove he had been there.
except by his report and observations.
Advices received here from Stockholm say
that the Foreign Ministry has received prom
ises from the governments OF Great Britain
AMI Russia to give all the assistance poss-
BILE to Prof. Andres projected balloon expe-
dition 20 the north pole. Mr.. Clements r.
Markham. president of the Royal GeograpA-
ical Society, is sending a circular TO Canada.
with a drawing of Prof. Andres balloon.
asking the Dominion authorities to take
cry step possible to have the balloon
watched for and reported. II seen. TO the
British government. The Hudson Bay Com
pany will bear the cost OF the distribution
of a large number OF these circulars In the
northernmost districts OF the Dominion. An
Official of the Royal Geographical Society
states that large sum OF money has been
raised to aid Prof. Andres scheme. which Is
thought to be feasible.