The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-08-15
THE DISCOVERY OF NANSEN.
His Accidental Meeting With Arctic
Explorer Jackson.
A JOYFUL GREETING ON THE ICE
The Norwegian Explorer Had For a Long
Time Been Living in a Hut Quite
Close to One of the English
Explorers Stations.

has Just returned from Franz JOSpiland AZ
ter taking supplies to the British North
Pole expedition commanded by Jackson,
and known as the jackson -Harmsworth
expedition, filed IA Geographic message here
describing the joyful meeting between
jackson n DIR. Nansen, and forming one
of the most remarkable incidents in theh his
tory of Arctic exploration, for it appear,
that the Norwegian explorer had been liv.
ing in a hut quite close to one of the En-
glish explorers stations for a long time
previous to the meeting of the two men,
yet not either of them was aware of the
others presence in that vicinity.
In this message jackson describes his
accidental meeting with DIR. hansen while
the latter was traversing the ice pack, and
it appears that it was Il lucky meeting for
the Norwegian explorer, as the latter was
misled owing to inaccuracies in the map
drawn by Payer, the disCoverer of Franz
Josefand, and also because DIR. Nansen's
two chronOmeters n his watch having
stopped, he was quite unable to establish
his position, and was consequently trying
to march westward to S~pitzbergen over
the ice pack, which was not only highly
dangerous, but probably impossible. Jack
son, after meeting hansen, conducted 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 2S to take supplies to the
Jackson expedition, and not to bring them
back, as currently reported.
jackson, in the dispatch filed by the cap
tain of the Windward, said:
son June II, l met DIR. Manson three
miles out on a foe, south southeast of
T,,,, J1nv, aud ,,pI,r ,,,Z ,ytp,,pJi
nary circumstances He had wintcred in IA
rough hut within II mile or two of our
northern limit in 1898, and this spring we
unwittingly came within a few miles of
his winter quarters.
"Dr. Nanscn left the Fran with one
companion, Lieutenant Sigard Scott Han
son, a lieutenant in the Norwegian navy
and director of the astronomical, meteOrO-
logical and magnetic observations, and
reached latitude 1914, travelling northeast
from where he left the Fran, which was
in 81 north, 102 east.
"Dr. Manson expressed the greatest sur
prise and the l~iveliest satisfaction at meet
ing 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 rende him SER
vice and restore him to his friends"
jackson then describes his own exper-
fences on exploring the western parts Of
Franz Josefand, telling how he had
drawn extensive, accurate maps n has
discovered new regions, adding:
''When the Windward left in 1895 we
went on a months expedition to the north
west in a little boat, the Mary Harms
worth, and discovered "A large tract of land
to the westward, hitherto unknown linn
-. a-1 q, ,AArrtH.n,t IanlI,,g a,,,,....l
of ice from its summit to it's foot, and
having at its base II huge, Unacceptable
rampant of ice. We named it Harmsworth
cape, and only approached the base of the
headland with the greatest difficulty, ow-
ing to surging masses OF heavy ice and
furious gales, during which our boat was
upon several occasions nearly SMASHED TO
atoms. We landed on the coast as often
as possible, and assembled the highest
peaks and made numerous geological and
botanical collections.
"Far up Cambridge bay we discovered
another lofty ice headland, and named it
Cape Fritjof hansen. There our boat was
nearly lost, owing to her sea anchor hay
ing carried away, II "A huge block of ice
which was swerving round stove in sew
eral of her planks, But we managed TO
bale her out and rig another anchor, We
had altogether a very exciting voyage,
This spring has been phenomenally
mild. Although we marched north a great
distance, using sixteen dogs and a pony,
we met after "A fortnight open water,
reaching from the face of IA huge glacier
east to the p~recipitOus end of another huge
glacier west. Advance by sleds was thus
cut off. We then struck southeast down
Markham sound, and added greatly to our
- ION. d.. go. v-.u. ,-,s,
stopped by open water, reaching entirely
across the sound, SO we turned westward,
and succeeded in exploring the entire
westward shores.
During April terrific snow storms,
coupled with rises in the temperature, en-
tirely broke up the ice and prevented
marching; but we tooka numberof valu-
able photographs"
1t is believed here that the Fran may
turn up here or at Bergen shortly,
Professor Mohn says that the scientific
results of DIR, Nansen's observations are
magnificent, and hat several islands have
been discovered. DIR. Nansen, in describ-
ing their life during the winter of lS95-96,
said:
when the bears flesh had been ex-
hausted we were obliged TO kill the weak
est dogs to feed the Others and continue
thus until the whole pack had been slaugh-
tered. Myself and my companions started
in the direction Of Spitzbergen on May 10.
After that we occupied six weeks on snow
shoes, dragging sledges and kayaks (the
Arctic canoe), loaded on sledges, after us.
We went partly overland and partly over
sea ice. l left the Fran in good condition
and drifting, locked in the ice.
"Mr. jackson proposes to remain in the
Arctic regions until next summer, with
the intention of pushing further north,
Jackson and his companions are in excel
lent health and spirits and full of hope as
to the results Of their expedition"