The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
FOR THE SOUTH POLE
noRcHGREvrSK TELLS ALL ABOUT
HIS PROPOSED EXPEDITION.
Appliances He VIII Take with Him,
and Something About the Ant
arctic and It's Possibilities.

WASHINGTON, Apris 81 have just
had a talk with the great antarctic ex-
plorer. His name is Carsten Egberg
Borchereyink. and he Is the first man
who has ever landed on the great conti-
nent which Is now believed to lie about
the south pole. The hemisphere Of North
and South America contains little over
sixteen million square miles Mr.. Borch-
grevink claims that the continent OF
which he IS. TO some extent, the discov-
erer. contains eight million square miles,
and SAYS he IS convinced II is twice as
large as all Europe. His journey to this
unknown land was through vast bodies
OF floating ice. and at times he drifted
between snow-clad peaks, some or which
kissed the sky at an altitude OF more
than two miles above his little vessel
His trip was over five thousand miles In
length, or longer than that made by Co
lumbus, and the ship ia which he made
the voyage was a steam whaler OF only
go tons. He had TO sail before the mast,
in order TO be able to make the trip. and
he submitted to all kinds Of hardships
that he might carry Out his desire for ex-
ploration.
was introduced to Mr.. Borchgrevink
by the Hon. Gardiner Hubbard, the pres
ident Of the National Geographic Society
at Washington, and spent a morning
with him not long ago. during which he
gave me some interesting information
as to the expedition which he will make
next year TO explore this new continent.
Before I give the chat, however, let me
tell you something about the man. His
name is Borchgrevink, which should be
pronounced as though 1t were spelled
Bork-re-vink. He is a Swede and was
born in Christiana about thirty years
ago. He stands, judge. about five feet
nine in his stockings, weighs 100 pounds
and has a straight, well-rounded form.
His features are almost German in their
cast. His eyes are blue, his hair light
brown and his mustache is OF sandy
hue. He has high forehead, a straight
nose and lips rather thicker than ordi-
nary. In repose his face is rather stern,
but as he talks his eyes light up with
smile. He appreciates a joke, and he
gave hearty laugh now and then dur
ing his descriptions OF some Of the
humorous incidents connected with his
voyage. Mr.. Borchgrevink is a we'll
educated man. He went to college in
Sweden and continued his education at
one OF the German universities. He
speaks English nuently. and our chat
was In that language.
NANSEN AND THE NORTH POLE.
In talking about his first desire for
polar exploration he said that he had
for years aimed to go to the north pole.
and that all Of his studies had been with
that In view. He told me that he had
worked together with hansen and that
the two had often taken excursions to-
gether in Norway to harden themselves
for future work Upon my asking as to
what he thought OF the reports of Nan
sens having reached the pole. Mr..
Borchgrevink replied:
at doubt It The news from Nansen
comes to US at the wrong time OF the
year. Had he reached the north pole we
should have heard from him in Septem-
Der, instead OF in the middle OF the win
ter. Had he been successful do not see
why he should have come back over the
same road that he went in going to the
pole His idea. you know, was TO get
into a certain stream, which he thought
flowed around the pole, and to have
fioated or drifted right around it Why
he should have gone to the pole and then
come back fighting against the current
cannot see. / think there must be some
mistake about the reports"
What kind Of man is Nansen?"
asked.
He is a man of great force" was the
reply. He is very enthusiastic and full
of energy. and at the same time is cool
and calculating. He is not crazy en-
thusiast, as many people suppose. He
laid out his plans on what he believed
m hc soil 10. do ND ho
that he will succeed
How about the balloonist's voyage to
the pole? Do you think there is any
chance OF his SUGGEST"
who can tellp' replied Mr.. Borchgre-
wink. II met Mr.. Andree during the geo.
graphical congress at London last July
and had chat with him about his pro-
posed trip. He argues very plausibly as
TO his schemes. You know King Oscar
OF Sweden is much interested in il. King
Oscar is a man OF extraordinary ability
he is well up in science and is quite an
able writer. 1 meen by;this that he can
write things himself. He Us not like many
other monarchs who have posed before
the world as having literary ability, who
have had others do the writing for which
they have gotten the credit. King Oscar
is much interested in science. He has
paid much attention TO arctic explora-
ton. and he has giVen quite lot of
money to further Mr.. Andree's expedi-
ton.
In connection with this" Mr.. Borch-
grevink went on. II heard a curious
story about King Oscar the other day
which somewhat illustrates my idea Of
Andree and his trip. A well-known geog-
rapher OF Philadelphia paid a visit to
Sweden month or so ago, and during
his stay there he met his Majesty, the
King. His Majesty talked with him at
length about geographical subjects and
among other things asked the PhiIadel-
phian what he thought of Andree's expe-
dition- Hereupon the Philadelphian
laughed, and replied that Andree must
be crazy and that his whole scheme
savored OF lunacy The King answered
the Philadelphia that he might possibly
be right, but that IL the balloon expeii-
ton savored Of lunacy. 1t was a sublime
lEDacy- / don't think that the Philadel-
phian knew that the King had contrib
uted to the expedition"
SOME OF ANDREE'S DANGERS.
How long will Andree's balloon voy-
age probably be. Mr.. Borchgrevink
TT is Andree's idea," was the reply.
that he viii be able to fly over the north
pole in about a week. He will carry his
koT