The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-15
DISCOVERY OF NANSEN.
His Accidental Meeting with
Arctic Explorer jackson.


Time been LAYING III u hut Uuite Sioso
to Ono OF the English Explorers Sta
tlons.
vARDo, Norway, Aug. 49, The captain of
Che Windward, the British steamer which
has just returned from Franz Joseflnnd af-
Ner taking supplies to the British North
Pole expedition commanded by Jackson,
and known as the Jackson -Harmsworth
expedition, filod telegraphic message here
Describing the joyful meeting between
jackson and DR.. Nansen, and forming one
of the most remarkable incidents in the his.
tory of Arctic exploration, for 1t appears
chat the Norwegian explorer had been liv-
ting In hut quite close to ono of tho En-
glish explorers stations for long time
previous to tho meeting of the two mon,
yet not either of them was aware of the
others presence in that vicinity.
In this mSssage jackson describes his
accidental meeting with DR.. Nansen while
the latter was traversing the ice pack, and
Ut appears that 1t was lucky meeting for
the Norwegian explorer, as the latter was
misled owing to inaccuracies in the map
drawn by Payor, the discovercr of Franz
Josefand, and also because DR.. Nansens 8
two chronometers and his watch having
stopped, he was quite unable to establish
his position, and was consequently trying
to march westward to Sptzbergen over
Assit the ice pack, which was not only highly
dangerous, but probably impossible. jack
son, after meeting Nansen, conducted the
sntter to Elmwood the headquarters of
the British expedition, whore the doctor
awaited the arrival of the Windward,
which left the Thames on June 10 and
Vardo on June 2S to take supplies to tho
Jackson expedition and not to bring them
back as currently reported
jackson, in the dispatch filed by tho cap
tain of tho Windward, said:
"On June II, I met DR.. Nansen three
miles out on foe, south southeast OF
Cape Flora, and under most extraordi-
nary circumstances He had wintered in
rough hut within milo or two Of our
northern limit in 1895, and this spring we
unwittingly came within q few miles of
his winter quarters.
"Dr. Nansen left the Fran with one
companion lieutenant Sigard Scott Han
son, lieutenant in the Norwegian navy
and director of the astronomical, mctcoro-
logical and magnetic observations, and
Feacned latitude S6 IA, travelling northeast
from where he left the Fran, which was
In "a north, l03 cas5.
"Dr. Nansen expressed the greatest sur
prise and the liveliest satisfaction at meet
Ing with u.s. You understand how greatly
che meeting affected me, and my pleasure
et the extraordinary chance which had
thrown 1t in my way to render him SER
vice and restore him to his friends"
Jackson then describes his own cxper-
fences On exploring tho western parts Of
Franz Josefand telling how he had
drawn extensive, accurate maps and has
discovered new regions, adding:
"When the Windward left in 1895 we
went on q month expedition to the north
west In little boat, tho Mary Harms
worth and discOvereda II large tract OF land
TO the westward, hitherto unknown lin
its, and magnificent headland composed
Of ice from its summit to its foot, and
having at its base u huge, unacceptable
rmpart Of leo We named it Harmsworth
cape, and only approached the base of the
heidland with the greatest difficulty, ow-
ing to surglng masses of heavy ice and
furious gales during which our boat was
upon several occasions nearly smashed to
ptoms. We landed on tho coast as often
rs possible, and assembled the highest
peaks and made numerous geological and
botanical collections.
"Far up Cambridge bay we discovered
snother lofty ice headland, and named it
Cape Fritjof Nansen. There our boat was
nearly lost, owing to her sen anchor hay
Ing carried away, and huge block of ice
which was swewing round stove in sew
ssnl of her planks. But we managed to
bale her out and rig another anchor We
hxd altogether very exciting voyage.
"Thls spring has been phenomenally
mild. Although we marched north great
distance, using sixteen dogs and a pony,
we met after o fortnight open water,
Feaching from the face of u hugo glacier
cast to the preCipitous end of another huge
glacier west Advance by slcds was thus
cut off. We then struck southeast down
Markham sound, and added greatly to our
discoveries Of 1895. But we were again
stopped by open water, renching entirely
ecross the sound so we turned westward,
and succeeded in exploring tho entire
westward shores.
During April terrific snow storms,
coupled with rises in the temperature, en-
trely broke up the ice and prevented
marching; but VIC took number of valu-
able photographs"
1t is beloved here that the Fran may
turn up here or at Bergen shortly.
Professor Mohn says that the scientific
RESULTS of DR.. Nansen's observations are
magnificent, and that several islands have
been discovered. DR.. Nansen, in describ.
Ing their life during the winter Of lSJJ.96
aaid:
"Whcn the bears flesh had been OK
haustcd we were obliged to kill the weak
est dogs to feed the others and continue
thus until the whole pack had been slaugh-
tered. Myself and my companions started
In the direction OF Spitzbergcn on May 10.
After that we occupied six weeks on snow
Shoes dragging sledgos and kayaks (the
Arctic canoc), loaded on sledges, after us.
We went partly overland and partly over
SEQ ice lefb the Fran in good condition
and drifting, locked in the Ice.
"Mr. Jackson proposes to remain in the
Arctic regions until next summer, with
the intention of pushing further north.
Jackson and his companions nre in excel
lent health and spirits and full Of hope US
10 the results Of their expedition"
Says Nausen Had a Narrow Escape.
[ WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Commodore
Neville commented on the above cable
IS follows: 1T seems a most extraordi-
nary condition of affairs that the two
principal officers Of tho Fran should have
been found so far away from their ship
and separated from the other mombers of
the ships company. The meeting of Nam
sen and Jackson is to be considered an ex-
tremely apt one for tho former If his
ohronometer and watch had stopped ho
had lost his reckonings, and without
doubt would have perishod had he not
met Jackson. 1t Is extraordinary that
nothing Is said definitely of the wherea.
bouts of the Fran beyond the fact that
sho was abandoned in "a degrees north
Latitude"
Harvest Excursions
In order to give every one an opportu-
nifty to sec the grand crops in tho Western