The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-17
DYCHE'S PLANS.
He Will Go to the Polar Regions
Again,
Even if 1t is True That DR..
Nansen
HAS FOUND THE POLE.
Dyche is Doubtful of the Nansen
Story.
He Has a Scientific Theory He
Wishes to Verify.

LAWRENCE, Kan. Feb. .17.-Prof. L. L.
Dyche, the state university professor, who
has but recently returned from the Arctic
regions, and who intends making an
other trip TO the Polar regions, has just
returned from lecturing tour.
1t was a matter of much interest
among the professors friends as to how
he would express himself the re-
ported finding of the north pole by DR..
Fridtief NanseD, the Norwegian ex-
plorer.
To the STATE JOURNAL correspondent
Prof. Dyche said: 81 don't give much
credence to the reported finding of the
pole by Nansen. This trader (Hon-
chaareff) was employed by Nansen to get
dogs for him.
at seems to me that if Nansen had
found the pole that he would have sent
word himself, instead of letting this
trader give out the news. Nansen is a
scientific man, and he certainly would
have sent word direct"
The professor explained that the fact
that the word came from Irkutsk, Sibe-
ria. showed that if Nansen had discovered
the pole he had changed his former
plans entirely. Nansen's plans, it
seems, were to sail from Norway to a
point north of Russia. Here he would
allow his ship to freeze tight in the ice.
He contended that the ice moved directly
over the polar regions and down past the
northern coast of Greenland. In two
years. time, Nansen thought that his
ship would be carried by the ice di-
rectly through the polar cap.
If the reports are true it would seem
that Nansen had either discovered the
pole and was returning by the same
route he had gone, or that he had been
seen by some Russian traders. and the
report given that the pole had been dis
covered.
''You will see," said Professor Dyche,
pointing out upon the arctic map, shat
the mainland of Greenland is much
nearer the polar region than this place
in Russia. Why didn't Nansen send
word that way instead of to Russia? And
another thing: Here it is midwinter.
There is practically no light up there
now, except moonlight, md there is ex-
treme cold. There is another thing that
makes it seem incredible"
Prof. Dyche showed the route taken
by Peary and Greedy.
"1ou see, they are much shorter routes
than that taken by Nansen, and there is
no telling how far north Greenland ex-
tends. That part has never been ex-
plored."
Even if this report be true, will you
make another trip up north?" asked the
reporter
:'Oh, yes" replied Prof. Dyche, my
designs are not upon the pole. l want to
go up as far north in Greenland as I can,
and if the pole hasn't been discovered
I'Il push on and try to find it. Even if
the pole has been discovered it won't
dampen my plans. But I doubt very
much whether it has been found.
"Nansen has been gone for over two
years and it may be that he was return
ing and that some one sighted his
ship aud gave out the report
that Nansen had discovered the north
pole.
II believe that the north pole is in a
sea of solid ice. The formation of the
land all around would indicate as much"
The professor is enthusiastic over his
proposed expedition. His theory is that
all animal life originated in the polar
regions. It will be one of the objects of
his next trip to make special investiga-
tion along this line.
When asked if he wouldn't like the
distinction of having found the north
pole, Prof. Dyche said:
"Well, yes; but l wish to explore the
north coast of Greenland, gather some
natural history specimens, and make an
investigation on my theory of the origin
of animal and vegetable life on this
Dlanet"