The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-17
DOCTOR NANSEN'S
OWN ACCOUNT
The Arctic Explorer Gives Details Of His
Expedition.
VALUABLE DISCOVERIES ARE MADE
Many Previous Theories as to the
Frozen Regions ExplOdcd..H His
Ship Fran Drifting..The Nor.
wegian Confident That She and Her
Crew Of Ten Men Will Reach Spitz.
bergen in Safety.


of DR.. Fridjof Nansen himself of his
Arctic expedition and the adventures of
his party. together with the scientific
results obtained, first of which is his
success in penetrating to the highest
latitude hitherto trod by the foot of
man, namely Sc degrees IA minutes
north, are given to the world by the
Chronicle yesterday. following the story
by Jackson of the finding of Nansen.
contained in Il dispatch from Vardo yes
terday DR.. Nansen says:
The Fran left JugOr Strait Aug. 4.
1893. We had to force our way through
much ice along the Siberian coast. We
discovered an island in the Kara Sea
and a great number OF islands along
the coast to Cape Cheljuskin. In sew
eral places We found evidences of a
glacial epoch, during which Northern
Siberia must have been covered by an
inland ice to d great extent.
"On Sept. Is we We're on the mouth
OF the Clenek river, but we thought 1t
was too late to go In there and fetch
our dogs. as We would not risk losing
a year. We passed the New Siberian
Islands Sept. 22. We made fast to u
floe in latitude ~ degrees 80 minutes
north. and In longitude 133 degrees 81
minutes east. We then allowed the ship
to be closed in by the Ice.
"As anticipated, we gradually drifted
north and northwest during the autumn
and winter from the constantly exposed
and violent ice pressures, but the Fran
surpassed our expectations. being SUI
perior to any strain.
SINTY-TWO BELOW.
"The temperature fell rapidly and
was constantly low with little varia-
ton for the whole winter. During
weeks the mercury was frozen. The
lowest temperature was G2 degrees be-
low zero.
Every man on board was i'm perfect
health during the whole voyage.
The electric light, generated by a
windmill, fultlled our expectations.
The most friendly feeling existed
and time passed pleasantly. Every
one made pleasure his duty and bet
ter lot of men could hardly be found.
I'VE saw no land and no open water
except narrow cracks, in any direction.
AS anticipated. our drift northwest
ward was most rapid during the win
ter and spring, while the northerly
winds stopped or drifted us backward
during the summer.
"On June IS, 1894. we We're on 81 de-
grees 81 minutes north. but we drifted
then southwark only. On October 81 we
passed 81 degrees north. On Christ
mas Eve. 1894. latitude SO degrees north
was reached, and "a few days later SO
degrees "a minutes, the furthest north
lat do Sl .I Inv,
"On January 4 and the Fran was
exposed to the most violent ice pres
sures we experienced. She was then
firmly frozen in ice of more than thirty
feet of measured thickness. This tloe
was overriden by great ice masses.
which were pressed against the port
side with irresistible force. and threat
ened to bury. If not crush her.
THE necessary provisions, with the
As now with certainty anticipated
had been placed in safety upon the ice
Every man was ready to leave the ship
If Necessary, and was prepared to con-
tinue with the drift, living on the foe
But the Fran proved even stronger
than our trust in her.
ABANDONED THE FRAN.
"As l now with certainty anticipated
that the Fran would soon reach her
highest latitude north of Franz Josef
Land and that she would not easily fail
to carry out the programme of the ey-
pedition, viz, to cross the unknown
Polar basin, 1 decided to leave the ship
in order to explore the sea north of the
route. Lieutenant Johansen volunteer
ed to join me and I could not easily
baN ttar m, ~ i'm
respect The leadership of the expedi-
ton on board the Fran l left to Cap
tain Sverdrup. With my trust in his
qualifications as a leader and his abil-
ity to oercvome difficulties I have no
fear but that he will bring all the men
safely back. even II the worst should
happen and the Fran be lost, which /
consider improbable.
"On March 3 we reached 81 degrees
4 minutes north. JOhansen and ] left
the Fran on March IA. 1895. at SO degrees
So minutes north and 1O2 degrees 81
minutes east.
Our purpose was to explore the sea
to the north and reach the highest
latitude possible, and then to go to
Spitzbergen via Franz Josef Land,
where we felt certain to find "a ship. We
had twenty-e eight dogs. two sledges and
two kayaks, for possible open water.
The dog food was calculated for thirty
days and our provisions for one hund-
red days We found the ice in the be-
ginning tolerably good travelling, and so
made good distances. and the ice in did
not appear drifting much. On March 22
we were at S5 degrees 10 minutes north.
Although the dogs were less enduring
than we hoped, still they were tolerably
good The ice now became rougher and
the drift contrary. On March 25 we had
only reached IS degrees 10 minutes
north. and on March 20 IS degrees 30
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
by the foes grinding against each
other. The ice was in strong move
ment and the ice pressure was heard
in all directions.
FORCED TO TURN BACK.
ION April 3 we were at S5 degrees 30
minutes north. constantly hoping to
meet smooth ice. On April we reached
Sc degrees 3 minutes north. but the ice
became rougher until. on April Z. It got
so bad that considered 1t unwise to
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