Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-14
HAS HE REACHED IT,
Explorer hanSen Said TO Hare Found
the North Pole.
REPORT SENT BY HIS AGENT.
An Arctic Expedition That Was
Merely to Drift, Relying ON PeInr-
Sea currents-Comment ON the Al
legged Message.

ST. PETERSBURG, February IA
telegraphIc dispatch received here to-day
from Irkutsk. Siberia. says that 81
berian trader named Konchnareff. who
Is the agent OF DR.. Fridtfof hansen, the
Norwegian explorer, who sailed in the
cram June "a 1890. for the Arctic regions.
has received Information TO the effect
that DIR. Nansen has reached the North
Pole. and has found land there and is
now returning toward civilization.
In April last the Figaro. OF Paris. cir
culated a rumor that DR.. Nansen had
found the North Pole; that II is situated
on chain OF mountains. II was hen
added that he had planted the Norwegian
flag there. The story was generally re-
garded as being without foundation.
On September 18th Of last year advices
were received In London from the Danish
trading-station Angmag salIk, on the east
coast Of Greenland. that a ship. sup
posed to be DR.. Napsen's Fran, had been
sighted at the end OF July. stuck sast in
an ice-drlft.
Finally. on December 9Th. dispatch
from Christiania, Norway, stated thar
DR.. Nansen's wife had received a letter.
by carrier-pigeon, reporting that the ex-
peditien was doing Well AS no carrier
pigeons were taken north by the sansen
party, this report was evidently inaccu-
fate, but II was published for what Is
was worth
THE NANSEN EXPEDITION.
The expedition sailed from CHRISTIANS
June "a. 1898, the Doctors pfan being 10
make for the New Siberian Islands and
thence head north until the Fran. by
being Embedded In the Ice, would be COM
pened TO drift along the west coast OF any
land which might be found.
On August %. 1895, DR.. Nansen sem a
dispatch from Vardo, reporting that o.,
the I'd Of that month he was abont 10
san into the Kara sea. and thar the Fram
had behaved splendldly up 10 thar STAGE
Oh the journey. especially IN forcing her
way through the ice.
A London dispatch, dated March ar ~
last year, announced that a letter dsteS
hJoliefjord, February Ath, had REACHED
hammerfest, Norway, announcing thar =
Telegraph inspector at q station In the
mountains between Lehesy and Langf1ord
nad seen balloon moving In southeriv
uIrection' and believed that IL was possibly
NAnEInt
until the foregoing dispatch no frrther
news OF the balloon or Or. hansen had
been received.
WHAT THE REPORT INDICATES.
LONDON, February BIT Is pointe<s,
out here In well-informed circles that IL
we news OF Dr. Nansen's returning frora
the North Pole turns out 10 be coyrecf
Il indicates that the explorer has made
MS way back to New Siberia from the
Arctic regions. and is there awaiting IA
so.aoIe Ice conditions before commencing
his homeward journey.
kouchnareff, the man mentioned IN the
Dispatch from Irkutsk. Siberia, Via ST.
petersburg. as the agent OF DIR. Nansen.
who has received information that the
explorer has found the pole and Is re-
turning, Is Dr. Nansen's dog supplier.
He resides near the mouth OF the Lera
river. The people OF that locality pay fire.
quent visits to New Siberia, and may in
this manner have brought the ncws %
Kouchnareff.