The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-15
WAS 60 DEGREES.
BELOW ZERO.
DR.. Nansen'S Own Story of His
Explorations.
For Two Weeks the Mercury
Was Frozen Solid.
RAN OUT OF DOG FOOD.
Dog After Dog Killed to Feed
Other Dogs.
Bear Neat and BIubber Nam
sens Only Food For Months.

trip in detail by the explorer himself
Mr. Nansen, together with the scien-
tific results obtained with his success
in penetrating to the highest latitude
hitherto not set foot on by man, are
given to the world by the Chronicle
DR.. Nansen says:
The Fran left Jugor strait August
4, 1893. We had to force our way
coast. We discovered an island in
the Kara sea and a great number of
islands along the coast of Cape Chel-
Juskin. In several places we found
evidences of the glacial epoch during
which northern Siberia must have been
covered by an inland ice to a great ex-
tent.
mouth of Olnex river, but we thought
it was too late to go in there to fetch
our dogs, as we would not risk losing
a year. We passed the new Siberian
islands September %. We made fast
to a foe in latitude 78 degrees and so
minutes north and in longitude 1873 de-
grees 81 minutes east. We then al
lowed the ship to be closed in by the
ice.
LAS anticipated, we were gradually
dfifted north and northwest. The tenn
perature fell rapidly and was con-
stantly low with little variation for the
whole winter. During weeks the mer-
curry was frozen. The lowest temper
allure was g. degrees below zero. Every
man on board was in perfect health
during the whole voyage. The cleo
trio light generated by a windmill full
filled our expectations. The most
friendly feeling prevailed and time
passed pleasantly. Every one made
pleasure his duty and a better lot of
men could hardly be found.
THE sea was up to 80 fathoms deep
south of 70 degrees north, where the
depth suddenly increased and was
from 1900 to 1900 fathoms north Of
that latitude. This will necessarily
upset all previous theories based on a
shallow basin The sea bottom was
remarkably devoid of organic matter
During the whole drift had good OPP
pOrtunity to take a series of scientific
observations, meteorological, magnetic
astronomical and deep sea tempera-
lures, examinations for the salinity of
sea water, etc. Under the stratum of
cold ice water covering the surface of
the polar basin I soon discovered
warmer and more saline water, due to
the gulf stream, with temperature from
81 degrees to SO degrees
I'VE saw no land and no open water
except narrow cracks in any direction.
As anticipated, our drift northwest
ward was most rapid during the win
ter and spring, while the northerly
winds stopped or drifted us backward
we were on 81 degrees 81 minutes north
but we drifted southwark only. On
October l we passed 80 degrees north
On Christmas eve, 1894, latitude SO de-
RTeeS north was reached and a few
days later SO degrees "a minutes, the
furthest north latitude previously
reached by man.
'On January and the Fran was
exposed to the most violent ice pres
sures we experienced. She was then
firmly frozen in ice of more than 30
feet of measured thickness. This foe
was overridden by great ice masses,
and threatened to bury if not crush
her. The necessary provisions with
the canvas kayaks and other camp
equipments had been placed in safety
upon the ice. Every man was ready
to leave the ship if necessary and was
prepared to continue with the drift
leaving on the foe. But the Fran
proved strong. When the pressure
rose to the highest and the ice was
piled up high above the bulwarks she
was broken loose and slowly lifted out
of her bed in which she had been
frozen. Not even a split was discov-
cred anywhere. Afterward we exper-
fenced nothing more of the kind, but
our drift was rapidly continued north
westward.
LAS I now anticipated, the Fran
would soon reach her highest latitude
north of Franz Josef1and and that she
would not easily carry out the pro-
To cross the unknown polar basin. I
decided, therefore, to leave the ship
in order to explore north of here. Jo-
hanson volunteered to join me, and
COQlQ not nave IOuIQ DGLIoE COM
panion in any respect. I left the ship
to Captain Sverdrup. With my trust
in his qualifications as a leader and his
ability to overcome difficulty, have
no fear but he will bring all the men
safely back. even if the worst should
happen and the Fran be lost, which
I had good reasons not to expect.
our purpose was to explore the sea
to the north and reach the highest Iati-
tude possible and then go to Spitzber-
gen via Franz JoSehand, where We felt
certain to find the ship. We had %
dogs, two sledges and two kayaks for
open waters: The dog food was cal
culated for 80 days and our provisions
for 100 days. We found the ice in the
beginning toIerably good travelling, so
made good distances. On March %
we were at So degrees 10 minutes north.
Although the dogs were less enduring
than we had hoped, still they were toll
erably good. The ice became rough
and the drift contrary. On January Is
we had only reached 50 degrees and 40
minutes north.
we were now evidently drifting fast
toward the south. Our progress was
very slow. It was fatiguing to work
our way and carry our sledges over the
high hammOckS constantly Delng DullJ
up by the foes grinding against each
other. The ice was in strong movement
and the ice pressure was heard in all
directions.
Ion April 8 we were at So degrees 50
constantly hoping TO meet some ship
We We're then at So degrees IA minutes
north We made an excursion on skeeS
further northward in order to examine
as to the possibility OF furUher ad-
vance But we could see nothing but
ice of the same description humTnock
upon hummock to the horizon looking
like a sea of frozen breakers. We had
low temperature during nearly three
weeks it was in the neighbOrhood of 40
degrees below zero. On April 8, it rose
to eight degrees below zero but soon