The herald., 1896-08-15

| oui Jugs as we would not risk losing
year. We passed the New Siberian
islands September 22d. We madefast
to a foe in latitude rs degrees so min
utes north and in longitude 1873 degrees
~ minutes east. We then allowed the
! ship to be closed in by the ice
AS anticipated we We're gradually
advancing north and northwestward
during the autumn and winter from the
| constantly exposed and violent press
| ures, but she (the Franz surpassed oui
expectations, being superior to any
strain. The temperature fell rapidly
and was constantly low, with little var
iation, for the whole winter. During
weeks the mercury was frozen The
lowest temperature was 62 degrees be-
low zero. Every man on board was in
perfect health during the whole voyage
The electric light generated by a wind
mill fulfilled our expectations. The most
friendly feeling existed 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 ninety 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
Polar BASIN The sea bottom was re-
markably devoid of organic matter.
During the whole drift had good op-
portunity to take a series of scientific
observations, meteorological, magnetic,
astronomical and biological, sounding,
deep sea temperatures. examinations
for the salinity of the sea water, etc.
Under the stratum of cold ice water.
covering thesurface of the Polar basis.
L soon discovered warmer and more sa-
line water, due to the gulf stream. with
temperatures from 81 degrees to 80 de-
grees.
we saw no land and no open water.
except narrow cracks in any direction
AS anticipated, onr drift northwestward
was most rapid during the winter and
spring, while the northerly winds stop-
ped or drifted us backward during the
summer. On June Is, 1894, we were in 81
degrees so minutes north, but we drift
eu then southward only. On October II
we passed SO degrees. On Christmas
Eve, 1894, latitude SO degrees north was
reached and a few days later SO degrees
"a minutes. the fartherest north latitude
previously reached by man.
on January 4 and the Fran was ex
posed to the most violent ice pressure
we experienced. She was then firmly
1roze min ice more than 30 feet of meas
ured thickness. This foe was oyerrid-
den by great ice masses which were
pressed against the port side with ire
sistible force and threatened to bury
If not to crush her. The necessary pro-
visions, with the canvas, kayaks and
other 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
living on the foe. But the Fran proved
even stronger than our trust in her
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 before the slightest
sign of split was to be discovered any,
where in her. After that experience I
considered te Fran almose equal to any
thing in the way of pressure. After that
we experienced nothing more of the
MINI, pGt Jul uIlIl WAS T8ulUIN cO0tin-
ued uorth and northwestward.
LAS 1 now with certainty anticipated
the Fran would soon reach her highest
latitude north of Franz Josefland, and
that she would not easily fail to carry
out the program of the expedition, viz
to cross the unknown polar basin, de-
cided to leave the ship in order to ex-
plore the sea north of her route Lieu
tenant Johansen volunteered to Join
me. and could not have easily found
a better companion in every respect
The leadership of the expedition on
board the Fran left to Captain Sever
drup, with my trust in his qualifica-
tions as leader and his ability to over
come difficulties. 1 have no fear but
that he will bring all the men safely
back. even if the worst should happen
and the Fran be lost, which consider
improbable.
"On March we reached 81 degrees,
north. Johansen and left the
Fran on March IA, 1895, at S3 degrees, SO |
north, and 102 degreeh, II min
utes, east. Our purpose was to explore
the sea to the north and reach the high
est latitude possible and then go to
via Franz Josefland, where
we felt certain to find a ship. We had
twenty eight dogs, two sledges and two
kyaks for possible open waters The
dog food was calculated for thirty days,
and our provisions for 100 days. We
found the ice in the beginning tolerabIy
good travelling, and so made good dis
tances and the ice did not appear drift |
ing much. On March % we were at %
degrees. 10 minutes north. Although |
the dogs were less enduring than we had
hoped. still they were tolerably good. |
The ice now became rougher and the |
drift contrary. On March % we had |
only reached S5 degrees. 35 minutes.
1--WE were now evidently drifting fast |
toward the south. Our progress was |
very slow. 1t was fatiguing to work our |
way and carry our sledges over the high |
hummocks. constantly being built up |
by the foes grinding against each other.
The ice was in strong movement and |
the ice pressure was heard in all direc- |
tions.
ION April we were at So degrees. so
north, constantly hoping to
meet smoother ice. On April we reach
ed S6 degrees, 8 minutes, north, but the
ce became rougher until on April 7 it
got so bad that l considered 1t unwise to
continue our march in a northerly di-