The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-20
AS TOLD BY NANSEN HIMSELF.
The Arctic Explorer Gives the Details
Of His Expedition.

| L lie Nrctlc ENplOTcr blNcS the DclhilS
| Of His Expedition.
London, Aug. 10, 6 a. m.-The story
by the explorer himself of DR.. Nansen's
Arctic expedition and the adventures of
his party, together with the scientific re-
suits obtained, first of which is his sue
cess in penetrating to the highest latitude
hitherto trod by the foot of man, namely,
Sc degrees If minutes north, are given
to the world by the Chronicle this morn
ing following the story by Jackson of
the finding of Nansen, contained in II
dispatch from vardoe, Norway, yestcr-
day to the Associated Press.
| DR.. NanScn says in the Chronicle:
"rhc Fran left .Iugor straights. Au-
gust I, 1893. We had to force our way
| through much ice along the Siberian
| coast. We discovered an island in the
| Kara sea and II great number of islands
| along the coast to Cape Cheljuskin. In
! several places we found evidence of II
glacial epoch, during which time Siberia
must have been covered with inland ice
10 II great eNlell-.
"On September Is we were off the
| mouth of the Olenk river, but we thought
| it was too late to go in there to fetch our
| dogs as we would not risk losing year.
We passed the New Siberian islands Sep
TENDER 30. We made fast to foe in
latitude rs degrees 80 minutes north and
in longitude 113 degrees 81 minutes east.
We then allowed the ship to be closed in
by the Ice
"As anticipated, we were gradually
! drifted north and northwestward during
the autumn and winter from the con-
stantly exposed and violent ice pressure,
but she 1.-THE Franz surpassed our OK
pectations, being superior to any strain.
The temperature fell rapidly and was
constantly low, with little variation for
the whole winter. During weeks the
mercury was frozen. The lowest tenn
perature was 62 degrees below zero.
Every man on board was in perfect
health during the whole voyage The
electric light, generated by a windmill,
fulfilled our expectations. The most
friendly feeling existed and the time
passed pleasantly. Every one perform
ed his duty and better lot of men could
not be found. The sea was up 10 ninety
fathoms deep south of 20 degrees north
latitude, where the depth suddenly in
creased and was from 1900 to 1900 faith
oms north of that latitude This will
necessarily upset all previous theories
based on shallow polar basin. The
sea bottom was devoid of organic matter.
During the whole drift / had good oppor-
tunities TO take series of scientific OBJ
servations, meteorological, magnetic, as
Economical and biological; soundings, deep
sea temperatures and examinations of
the salinity of sea water. Under the
stratum of cold ice water covering the
surface Of the polar basin was dscov-
cred warm and more saline water, due
to the gulf stream, with temperatures
from 81 degrees to SO degrees. We saw
no land. no open water except narrow
cracks, in any direction
"As anticipated, our drift northward
was more rapid during the winter and
spring, while the northerly winds stopped |
or drifted us backward during the sum-
mer. On June Is, 1894, we were in 81 |
degrees, % minutes, north latitude, but |
we drifted then southwark only. On |
October 81 we passed so degrees north. |
On Christmas eve, 1894, latitude SO de- |
grees north was reached and few days |
later 81 degrees, 26 minutes, the fur
therest north latitude previously reached |
by man. On June 4 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 depth. This foe was
,verriden by great ice masses, which |
we're pressed against the port side with |
irresistible force and threatened to bury |
t not to crush her. The necessary pro-
visions, with the canvas kayaks and |
,ther necessities, had been placed in
'afety on the boat. Every man was
'eady OF leave the ship if necessary and
vas prepared to continue with the drift,
living on the foe. But the Fran proved |
ven stronger than our trust in her.
When the pressure rose to the highest
md the ice was piled up high above the
,ulwarks she was broken loose and
lowly lifted out of her bed, in which
he had been frozen. but not the slight
st sign Of "a split was to be discovered /