New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-08

I southwark on July 10 We had reached 50 degrees
a minutes north. and a degrees east longitude
There We got the Fran Of the grasp Of the
ice by blasting with guncotton and powder. and
began 10 force our way southwark during me
constant and violen. pressures. None OF these
were. however, so dangerous as that whiGn We
had At New Year before Nansen left us. lmme-
diatey after his departure were occupied in re-
moving the huge mass OF ice which on that occa-
sion was pressed against the Frams sides. A.
the end Of March. Just as the last portion OF this
ice was being removed the ice suddenly cracked in
all directions round the ship. and broad water
lane formed. which came within few feet OF
the Fram's stern. Strong pressure very soon be-
broken up that the Fran at the end OF July lay
close to open A single mine was sufficient
AS this mine exploded the Fran glded
from the ice into the water like ship being
thunder the crew cheering loudly she struck
the water. Having been brought into safe har-
IN August, frozen III ne icc-prssSuie r a r.
ing this year. OF no great importance IN compar'-
During one week in June this summer ussl at
the height of the spring tides. the FRAN was regu-
Tl 5P0ffd TO h Me hen once S
twice day lifted six 10 nine feet and ner bottom
casiors the Fran proved to be the very ship for
ice She was quietly lifted. and not m noise or a
board were NOT disturbed in their sumber even zen
aWolie in the morning in ignorance of what mad
n e aInS the " T Sow p bgb '
lifted above the ice.
The temperature Of the air was pretty even
during hole voyage and did not fall lower
.'a curing thu first winter. The depth of the sea
found before Nansen's departure VIZ, 800 TO
1890 fathoms. In the temperature OF the there
stream water Under the cold surface water In
creased little IN body as We came westward
sary equipment during our whole drift kept
in readiness on the ice IN the neighborhood Of the
The time passed Comfortably and peacefully
n SER ,n 20 a rdi o''v o.
principal work was to take the regular obServa-
feet the y hole time and We had no sign Of scurvy
When tie ice began 70 slack little this summer
"a difficult task. owing to the huge ice piled up
o In y wnsh do our Snip was frozen
ms using mines OF up 10 100 pounds of powder
GMncotton proved the best
southward through i5D miles Of close ice. The ice
va as rule very high and he foes were
with telescopes. 1t often seemed he hopeless
ship for Ice Navigation ' would Rays been sH a
useless 10 Try 10 force our way through ice masses
ne, that We broke our way through foot by foot.
33nd Aere The ICE was too had for this ii was
I'VE came or Of The ice, on August l3-,he same
doe. in Norway After Jew hours OF sailing we
ne, WITH d snip from Tromsoe. and here Captain
Bo,tolfsen Immediately came on board the Fran.
Naturally the first thing asked was whether
Nansen and Johansen had been heard Of Our low
At oar Liberation from the ice turned TO sorrow
when We were told that no news Of him or his COM
panion had been received and few on board hoped
to see them again ! felt however. that there was
stil no gocd for anxiety. as thought IL pos
sihle that they had arrived al Franz Josef Land IN
the autumn. and that they miSht have Wintersd
there Rottolfsen told Of Andre and We there
fore made our course for Danes Islands
But AndieA could give no better news about
our lost comrades. ard We decided 20 90 10 Norway
for the lates- information and thence straight -
Franz josef Land in search of hansen and JONAH
sen. The Fran was quite IN condition 10 START on
'ew Polar expedition al once. W. had san a
fuii "qulpmer, OF provisions. etc on board We had
also left good supply OF coal. hut We would II
necessary laVe taken more on board on the night
= August p We entered the kvanang FtArd and on
the morning OF tho Isj landed al Skjarvoe
where the telegraph master brought US the happy
news that our comrades mad arrived before us-in-
telhgence watch Was received with feelings ess.er
imagined than described OTTO SVERDRUP'
To this communication | nave nothing 10 add AZ
present except that the Franz looked as strong and
reNa,. as ever. Sver1rups own accoun, describes
which ne mas taken care OF his shin and brought
her safely cut of the Polar ice which all wise men
predicted would destroy her and ourselves
FEfDTJOF NANSEN.