The Portland daily press., 1896-08-22
He Describes the Adventures Of His
Polar Expedition
AND THE SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OBJ
TAINFD.
Went to the New Siberian Island, Then
Drifted Toward the Pole.

adventures of his party, together with
the scientific results obtaining, first Of
which Ia his success in penetrating to
the highest latitude hitherto trod by the
foot of man, namely, Sc degrees IA min
utes north, were given to the world by
| the Chronicle thissmorning. DR.. Manson
says: "The Fran left Jugor strait Au-
gust Il, 1893. We had to force our way
through much Ice along the Siberian
coast. We discovered an island in the
| Kara SEA and great number of islands
along the coast to Cape Cheljuskln. In
several places we found evidences of a
glacial epoch, during which northern
Siberia must have been covered by an
inland ice to a great extent.
con September Is we were off the
mouth of the Olenek river, but we
thought 1t was too late to 80 in there to
fetch our dogs, as we would not risk
losing a year. We passed the New Sibe-
rian Islands September 20. We made
| fast to foe in latitude rs degrees Sc
minutes north, and longitude 1873 de-
grees 81 minutes east. We then allowed
| uAAO oi1Ap w No SAOspA i4A W OiAo ACo1
DRIFTED NORTH AND NORTH
WESTWARD.
Gas anticipated, we we're gradually
drifted north and northwestward during
| the autumn and winter fr ON the con-
SANITY exposed and violent ice pressUres,
but she (the Frsm) surpassed our ex-
Dectations, 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 GO degrees below zero.
Every man on board was in perfect
health during the whole voyage. The
electric light, generated by windmill,
fulfilled our expectations. The most
friendly fealing existed, and time passed
pleasantly. Every one made pleasure his
duty, and batter lot of men could hard
| ~ be found.
THE sea was up to 80 fathoms deep
south OF 81 degrees north, where the
depth suddenly increased, and was from
l, 600 to 1900 fathoms north of that lat
itude. This will necessarily upset all
previous theories based on a shallow po-
| lar basin.
The sea bottom was remarkably de-
void of organic matter. During the
whole drift had good opportunities to
take series of scientific observations
meteorological, magnetic, astronomical
and biological; soundings, deep sea tenn
peratures, examinations for the salinity
of the sea water, etc. Under the stratum
Of cold ice water covering the surface Of
the polar basin, soon discovered warm
or and more saline water, due to the gulf
stream, with temperatures from 81 degrees
to 80 degrees.
ave saw no land and no open water
except narrow cracks, in any direction.
AS anticipated, our drift northwestward
wac most rapid during the winter and
spring, while the northerly winds
stopped or drifted us backward during
the summer. On June IS, 1894, we were
in 81 degrees 50 minutes north, but we
driftsd then southwark only. On Octo-
Der 81 we passed 80 degrees north. On
Christmas eve, 1894, latitude SO degrees
north was reached, and few days later,
SO degrees "a minres, the furthesE north
latitude previously reached by man.
FRAM'S WONDERFUL ENDURANC E.
"On January and the Fran was
exposed to the most violent ice pressures
we experienced. She WAS then firmly
frozen in les of more than thirty feet of
measured thickness. This doe was over
ridden by great ice masses, which were
pressed against the port side with ire
sistible force and threatened to bury, if
not crush her. The necessary provisions
with the CANVAS kayaks and other equip
ments 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 pres
sure rose to tho 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,
but not the slightest sign of split was
to be discovered anywhere in her. After
that experience, l consider the Fran al
most equal to anything in the way of ice
pressure. Afterward, we experienced
nothing more of the kind, but our drift
was rapidly continued north and north
westward.
DECIDED TO LEAVE THE SHIP.
GAS 1 now with certainty anticipated
that the Fran would soon reach her
highest Ia altitude north of Franz Josef
land, and that she would not easily fail
to carry out the program of the expe-
dition, viz: to cross the unknown polar
basin / decided to leave this ship in order
to explore the sea north of her route
Lieut., Johansen volunteered TO join me,
and | could not easily have found bet
ter companion in every respect. The
leadership of the expedition on board the
Fran l left to Capt Sverdrup. With
mystrust III his qualifications as q lead
err and his ability to overcome difficulties
! have no doubt that he will bring all
the men safely back, even If the worst
should happen and the Fran be lost,
which consider improbable.
son March we reached 81 degrees
minutes north. Johansen and left the