The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-08-15

Copyright. 1896. by tho Associated prcSS.J
VARDO, Norway, August 1i.-lTho
captain OF the WindwIri, tho British
steamer which has Just returned from
Franz Josef Land after taking supplies
TO the British North Pole expedition.
commanded by Jackson, and known as
the JackSon-IiaImSworth expedition.
filed Il Geographic message here yes
terdny describing the accidental meet
Ing between Jackson and DR.. Nansen,
and forming one OF the most remark
able Incidents In the history OF Arctic
exploration. for 1t appears that tho
Norwegian explorer had been living in
n hut quite close to one Of the English
vious to the meeting of the two men.
yet neither OF them was aware OF the
others presence in that vicinity. In
this message jackson describes his nc
cidcntal meeting with DR.. Nansen,
while the latter was travcrsIng the Ice
pack and 1t appears that IL was q lucky
meeting for the Norwegian explorer. as
the latter was mislcd, owing 20 mac
curaclcs In the map drawn by Payer.
the ]discoverer of Franz Josef Land, and
also because DR.. NRnsen's two chron-
oTeters and his watch having stop
ped. he was quite unable to establish
his positions and was consequently try
Ing 70 march westward to SpitZbergen,
Ovcc the Ice pack, which was not only
highly dangerous, but probably i'm
possible.
Jackson, after meeting Nansen, con-
Quoted the latter to Elmwood. the
headquarters OF the British expedition.
where the doctor awaited the arrival
of the Windward. which left the
Thames on June 10 and Vardo on June
IS. to take supplies to the Jackson ex-
peditlon and not to bring them back, as
currently reported.
Jackson, In the dispatch filed by the
captain Of the Windward, said: "On
June II, | met Dr.. Nansen three miles
out on q tloe s.. s.. Z. of Cape Flora and
under most extraordinary clrcum-
stances. He had wlntered in a rough
hut within a mile or two OF our north
ern limit In 1895 and this spring We
unwittingly came within a few miles of
his winter quarters.
DR.. NanSen left the Fran with one
companion, Lieutenant SIgard Scott
Hansen, u lieutenant IL the Norwegian
navy, and director OF the astronom
!cal, meteorological and magnetic OBJ
Serrations and reached latitude S6l4,
travelling northeast from where he left
the Fran. which was in 81 north. l0e
east.
Dr.. NlnSen expressed the greatest
surprise and the livelIest satisfaction
at meeting with us. You understand
how greatly the meeting affected me,
and my pleasure at the extraordinary
chance which had thrown It In my way
to render him service and restore hin,
to his friends"
Jackson then describes his own ex-
per!ences In exploring the western parts
OF Franz Josef Land, telling how he
has drawn extensive. accurate maps
and has discovered new regions, add
ing:
when the Wlndward left in 1895 we
Won on u months expedition 20 the
northwest on a little boat, the Mary
H~armswOrth and discovered a large
tract OF land to the westward. OF hith-
erto unknown limits and a magnificent
headland, composed OF Ice from It's
summit to Its foot and having at its
base q huge, unacceptable rampant OF
ice. We named It H~armSworth Cane.
and only approached the base of the
hcadIand with the greatest difficulty,
owing TO surglng masses of heavy Ice
anu furious gales, during which our
boat was upon several occasions near
ly smashed to atoms.
We landed on the coast as soon as
possible. and assembled the highest
peaks and made numerous geological
anu botanical collections.
Far up Cambridge bay we discover
gu another lofty ice headland and LIT
ed 1t Cape Frfthjof Nansen.
There our boat was nearly lost, ow-
ing to her sea anchor having carried
away and a huge block of Ice which
was Swerving round stove In several of (
her plankS. But. we managed to bale
her out and then, rigging another an
Choir. with oars, we had altogether a
very exciting voyage.
Il Is believed here that the Fran may
turn up here or Mt Bergen shortly, as
she stood the Ice very well, has plenty
OF provisions on board. and there was
no sickness among her crew when DR..
Nansen left her on March IA, 1895.
Professor Mohn says that the sc.cn.
tile results Of DR.. Nanscn's observs-
tions are magnificent and that several
Islands hnve been discovered. Dr.. Nam
sen, IN describing their life during the
winter Of 1S91-6 said:
When the bears flesh had been OK
haustcd, we were obliged to XIII the
weakest dogs to feed the others and
continue thus until the whole pack had
been slaughtered. Myself and my
companions started in the direction Of
S~pitzhcrEcn on May 10. After that We
occupied six weeks on snow shoes,draE-
glhg slcdcrs and Kayaks (thc Arctic
canoe), looded on slCdgcs after us. We
went partly overland and partly over
sen lee.
MI jackson proposes Ia remain In
me Arctic regions until \ summer.
with the intention Of pushing further
north. Jackson and his companions
are In excellent health and spirits and
tul' OF hope rs to the results of their
nNpNliilhp ~