The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-14


nications from Dr. Nansen and Lieut.
Schottsnsen, from the island OF Varnae
These communications state that they
abandoned she Fran In the autumn Of
IssS and resorte6 to the Ice.
The steamer wIndward. carrying sup
plies 10 the Jaekson-Harnsworth expedi-
ton, picked them up near Franz josef
eventually drift TO the east coast OF
Greenland.
The best previous record was that OF
Brainard and Lockwood. OF the Greedy ex-
petition. on May Is. 1ss2-S degrees z4s2
minutes north latitude. Nansen therefore
approached degrees 4slz minutes. or
about I8 miles nearer 10 the north pole
than any previous explorer.
DR.. Fritjof hansen. the Norwegian sci
enlist, now IS years Of age. sailed from
christiana on June "a. 1898. on voyage OF
discovery to the Arctic regions, with the
intention OF reaching the north pole II
possible. He embarked on board the three
masted schooner Fran. which was pro-
vf3ed with 160-horse power steam engine.
She was OF 500 tons burden. and her sides
were so constructed as TO force all ice
meeting the vessel TO pass under Ii. thus
preventing all piuehing and Screwing. The
Fran was launched at Laurwik, near
Christlana, on October 2s. 1892, and the
Norwegian parliament gave DR.. Nansen
about So. 900 in aid OF his expedition. Ad-
dltional funds were forthcoming by pri-
vate subscriptions. including one of over
S5eo from King Oscar. The Fran was I'm
every way admirably equipped. and had
a crew of twelve men. all of whom occu-
pied the cabin, which measured only thir-
teen feet square and which was heated by
means OF an English petroleum stove
which consumed three hters OF petroleum
day. The Fran had enough fuel on
board 20 last eight or nine years, and she
also had a library consisting of 1000
books.
DR.. Nansen's plan was to make for the
New Siberian islands and thense SAN d.
rectly north until the Fran should be
imbedded In the ice. He proposed TO then
drift along with the ice. following the
west coast of any land that might be
met. A dispatch was received from the
doctor al Vardoe on August %, 1923, writ
ten in the Iugoraki straits on the I'd of
that month. announcing that the expedi-
ton was about 20 sail into the Kara sea.
and that the Fran so far had behaved
splendldly.
DR.. Nansen entered the university of
Christiania in 1850. and in 1852 went as q
passenger on the sealing steamer Viking
to Denmark straits and the east coast OF
Greenland. Il Is believed that this voy-
age laid the foundation for the ambition
Of his life. namely, that of discovering
the North pole. On his return from
Greenland he was appointed curator OF
the museum at Bergen, and held that posi-
ton until 1858. when he led small ex-
petition 20 Greenland and crossed the
southern portion of that country from the
east coast TO Godhead. on the west coast.
where the party wintered and returned
10 Norway In June. 1889. In September
1852. DIR. Nansen married Miss Eva Sars,
youngest daughter TO the late professor
OF zoology at the university OF Christi
ania. Mrs. Nansen has all along had SUI
preme faith In the return OF her husband.
She has a powerful musical voice, was a
professional singer before her marriage.
and has since APPEARED before the public
on various occasions. Or. and Mrs. Nan
sen have one child. a daughter.
Since Or. Nansen's departure for the
Arctic regions there have been a number
of reports circulated regarding his safety,
but they have all, up 10 the present, turn
ed out 10 be without foundation The
petition, which has brought DR.. hansen
70 that island. left yardoe for Franz Josef
land in order TO bring back the British
expedition on June Is last
In an interview with DR. hansen preyi-
Gus 10 his departure the explorer was quot
ed as saying: Having considered former
expeditions. their outfits and their routes,
I have made up my mind to build little
ship, make her as strong as possible and
Just large enough to carry provisions for
twelve men for i've years. When I arrive
AZ the New Siberian islands I will exam
Inc the currents and the ice conditions
and select the best moment for a start for
the farther north through ice-free water
which think will be in August or In the
-
wrote In his log that while the expedition
drifted In the ice north OF Bennett island
they saw dark water sky II is a sky
which shows the reflection OF water all
around. II must consequently be possi-
BILE 10 cover considerable distance in that
direction before we get fastened in the ice
and drift with the current which viii
probably bring MS out in the sea between
Greenland and Spitzbergen. We will then
have come down as far as the s0th lati-
tude, and If * be summer we viii have a
chance 20 get the ship loose and get home.
r. however. the ship should have sunk
before this time mentioned. the expedition
viii not he lost. as We would put I'D tents
and get oat sledges. as 7 have done before.
Hsd the jeanette expedition had SUM-
Client provisions ard had they remained
on the ice. the expedition would have had
q different result
How long 90 I think the expedition will
last? Well. ! should think the expedition
could safely reach Greenland SEA in about
two years. which VIII be about equal to
drifting two mics each tweuty-four hours.
The jeanette Grifted. the last day she was
asoat. much more. II we take provisions
Tor FIVE years should think we wsuid be
safe.
do think II too cold to remain at'the
North pole during The winter? No. / DO
nor. don't think there Is as intense cold
there as IN the northern part OF Siberia
OF IN the northern part OF Western Green
land We must remember that the pole
Is probably covered by the sea. from
watch there viii De much less cod than
from Ire tat and Of Northern Asa. The
regions around the pole have probably
comparatively MID winters and cold sum
users"
Length. rs feet. beam % feet: depth from
keel 70 deck. Is Ieet. With her cargo she
has about 500 tors q dead weight. ami
her huil was built almost entirely Of oak
ag6 n TIRE strongest manner posrh}e. Al
the p0lut exposed 20 pressure from thu
ice nsr sizes we're - "a = inches thick
and her hun was coated on the outside
wsth tee sheathsnx composed OF A thick
layer q greenheart. a ha-3 American
woa9. which has ar oily surface.
There have been . number of recent a.
Eenpts 70 reach she North pole. TIE at
tempt ncw II progress by the Jackson.
fsFus worth eNpe NttnE. whose shin. the
Win6Nsrs. has brought Dr. Naasen hack
- Norway. commences IN July ls.s TIE
Win3wzrd took tae expedition 70 Franz
Josef land. where y pots were established
prn-R rar8rg 70 the march r1rrh4rars TSA