The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-08-20
SCARCITY OF DOGS
NANSEN'S REASON FOR NOT BRING.
ING BACK THE NORTH POLE.
The Explorer Says That fl He Had
Number of Dogs and Canoes The
Pole Would surely Have Been
Rsached-He Met Jackson on
Franz Josef Land.

Nardoe, Norway, Aug. lG.-Dr. Nan
sen says that the Fran dritted with
the ice in n westerly direction to ST
degrees, and he expects the vessel will
eventually arrive ut Spitzbergen. He
adds that wherever they penetrated
they found the ice broken. Large
quantities of water were also found
$500 meters deep. Below the depth
of 100 meters the water was appre-
ciably warmer, probably owing to the
gulf stream. Rocky sears Of which
the explorers had no previous knowl-
edge, prevented entrance into the Ole
mex river for days.
In consequences of the scarcity Of
dogs with the expedition DR.. Nanseen
was compelled to turn back at 1913.
He adds that if he had been provided
with a sufficient number of dogs and
canoes the pole would have been
reached. The land voyage was most
arduOus, but extremely valuable scien-
titic results were obtained. In 1895
DR.. Nansen reached the north coast of
Franz Josef land and built a stone
house in which he lived all winter.
The Jackson-Farnsworth expedition ar
rived ut Franz Josef land the following
spring.
Related by hansen.
London, Aug. 16.-The story in detail
by the explorer himself of DR.. Nan
sens Arctic expedition and the adven-
lures of his party, together with the
scientific results obtained. first Of
which is his susscss in penetrating to
the highest latitude and hitherto I'M
trodden by the foot of man. namely,
Sc deg. II MN. north. are given to the
world by the Chronicle this morning.
DR.. NanSen says:
The Fran left Jugor strait Aug. 4,
1898. We had to force our way through
much ice along the Siberian coast.
We discovered an iceland in the Kara
sea. and a great number of islands
along the coast to Cape ChcliuSkin. In
several places we found evidences of
IL glacial epoch, during which North
ern Siberia must have been covered by
an inland ice to great extent. On Sept.
IL we were at the mouth of the Olnek
river, but we thought it was too late
to go in there to fetch cur dogs as we
would not risk losing a year. We
passed the New Siberian islands Sept.
22. We made fast to n foe in latitude
IS deg. I min. north and in longitude
Loo ueS. % llil. east. we lIltn dlIOWtu
the ship to be closed in by TIE ice.
LAS anticipated we gradually drifted
north and northwcstward during the
autumn and winter from the constant
ly exposed and violent pressures, but
she the Franz surpassed III eXpccta-
tons. being superior to any strain. The
temperature fell rapidly and was con-
SANITY low. with little variation for
the whole winter. During weeks the
mercury was frozen. The lowest tenn
peruture was 90 degrees below zero.
Every man on board was in perfect
health during the whole voyage. The
electric light, generated by a wind
mill, fulfilled Il expectations. Every
one made pleasure his duty and Il bet
ter lot Of men could hardly be found.
THE sea was up 10 ninety fathoms
deep south of 10 degrees north, where
the depth suddenly increased and was
from 1,600 to 1900 fathOms north of
that latitude. This will necessarily
upset all previous the, ries based on a
shallow polar basin. The sea bottom
was remarkably devoid of organic
matter. During the whole drift | had
good opportunities to take series of
scientific observations, meteorological,
magnetic. Astronomical and biograph-
zeal. soundings, deep sea temperatures,
examinations for the salinity Of the
sea water, etc"
Washington, Aug. 16. - Commodore
Melville. enginccr-in-chief Of the navy,
who was q member of the Inflated
jeanette party which served as the
pattern for Nansen's attempt upon the
north pole, holds that the result of the
explorers voyage, as now understood
here. clearly proves Narsen's theory of
the polar district to be groundless. In
the opinion Of Commodore Melville,
Nansen has only paralleled the cele-
brated voyage Of Wyprecht and Payer.
in the Tegethoff, and has followed
their drift.